Paul had to think fast. Nelly’s angry face and accusatory tone didn’t bode well for them at all. There were any number of lies Paul could tell to smooth things over. But there was only one that he could think of immediately.

“Oh that’s easy.” Paul gestured to his head. “Us elf’s got that spell going through our heads all the time. If we just focus a lot more magical energy into it, it forces our bodies back into shape quicker. Otherwise I’d turn back into a small fox.”

Nelly looked dubious. “Lucky elf’s then.”

Tim was quick at this moment to reach back into their tent for a shirt to cover up their chest. The unmarred skin a possible give away as to their miraculous healing properties.

Nelly looked over at Mark and Francis. “At least you two look normal for what we’ve been through.”

The two tired individuals in question looked haggard from staying up all night and keeping watch. Their hair was greasy, clothes ruffled, and yawns were being suppressed.

“We’ll now that you’re all awake, I’m going to wash my face.” Francis turned towards the river. “And then we can get moving!”

Mark and the rest began packing up. Tents dismantled, bedrolls rolled, cookware packed away and nestled within itself and finally backpacks loaded.

With the campsite done, the only thing left was to put out the fire.

“You got a water spell?” Gary asked Paul.

Paul could have put the fire out with [Prestidigitation], but wanted to see what magic the other man had. “Sorry, not on hand.”

With an annoyed click of their tongue, Gary held a palm up and chanted. “[Water Ball].” A blue rune ring formed above their palm and above that a ball of water materialized. Giving it a gentle toss the ball of water splashed over the remains of the fire causing a hiss and poof of smoke to appear. Gary turned back towards the group and flexed their fingers.

“Well done.” Paul commented and shouldered their bedroll.

“Easy first level spell.” Gary waved their hand in front of their face. “Nothing to it.”

The group started their march towards town. Their pace was faster heading back than on the way out. The route was known and warm beds were awaiting everyone. They marched with a will.

It was early evening and they had been walking all day when they spotted the closed gates of West Green. The tall wooden walls of the city never looked so welcoming.

Nelly shouted at the gate when they got close enough. “Hey! Open up!”

The sound of someone climbing a ladder led into a helmeted head peaking over the top of the wall. “Who goes there?” they shouted.

“Nelly and Gary from Everett’s Group!” Nelly shouted back. “And friends.”

“What? You’re supposed to be dead?” the guard questioned. “Gimme a moment to get the gate.” They climbed back down to open the gate an inch.

“That really you Nelly?” the eye said as it peered through the crack.

“Yes it is Tom.” Nelly sounded tired. “We’ve been in and out this gate for months.”

The gate opened a bit wider to reveal Tom’s relieved face. “OK just don’t want no ghosts or zombies to try and get in.”

“Those things aren’t around here Tom.” Nelly sounded exasperated. “Now let us in, we got to report back.”

The gate opened fully and the group made their way through town towards the adventurers guild. But on the way, they spotted a crowd gathered around the Cup and Crow. Excited whispers filtered through the air as people closer to the centre retold whatever was happening to the people at the edge.

Nelly and Gary gave each other hard looks and started forcing their way through the crowd. The four also had some insatiable curiosity and joined them in pushing. A familiar voice was telling a story from inside the inn.

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“There I was, standing in front of the bear, sword drawn and shield raised. Gary had been struck down and Nelly injured.” Everett was standing in front of the fireplace. “The cowardly bear had struck the first blow, and it was a devastating one. I stepped forward and started dancing with the beast. We exchanged sword and claw blow for blow, but one especially strong swipe knocked me off my feet and sent my sword flying.”

Everett quieted down a little. “It was then that the animal took it’s chance and mauled Nelly beyond recognition. I suspect the meal it made of her increased it’s blood lust for it’s next moves were full of wild fury.”

Everett mimed his next few actions. “So I scrambled for my weapon. Barely getting it up in time to block the ferocious swipes that came my way. It was then that I tripped over a stone and fell on my back.”

Some people near the front gave a gasp of suspense.

“The bear was upon me in an instant. It’s jaws open wide and aimed at my neck. But I was able to keep my sword pointed at it’s chest. With the weight of the bear and the strength of my arm.” Everett patted their biceps. “Was enough to push the blade straight into it’s heart!”

Everett got a sad look on their face. “I can only mourn my friends now. I had a spare healing potion for emergencies. So I drank that and made my way back here.”

“Everett you lying son of a bitch!” Nelly shouted. “You left us for dead!”

The crowd instantly erupted into noise but a space was cleared. Nothing like a little bit of small town drama to provide a bit of theatre.

“Nelly!” Everett was stunned. “You’re alive!”

“No thanks to you!” Nelly spat. “If it wasn’t for Mark and them.” Nelly pointed at the four back by the entrance. “We’d all be dead, especially you! You KNOW what shape you were in when they dragged your sorry carcass out of that cave.”

“I uh.” Everett stammered.

“If you think that we’ll forgive you for this.” Nelly continued on her rampage. “You’ve got another thing coming. We’re heading STRAIGHT to the guild to set the record straight.”

Nelly looked over her shoulder. “And Mark, Grab him. Else he’s going to run a second time.”

Mark strode forward and took up one of Everett’s arms. Then frog marched the man out into the street. They were going to have an enlightening conversation with Julia and the guild master.

The walk over to the guild drew the crowd with them. The mass of people making a complete ruckus in the normally quiet streets. It was turning out to be quite the production. Nelly and Gary leading the way. Mark forcefully carrying the despondent Everett. The other three still loaded down with travelling packs.

The guild was in sight. Peeking out the door was Julia who eyed the approaching mob with a tiny amount of apprehension. She quickly made her way inside and hissed at the guild master. “Put the cards away, something big is happening.”

As the group made their way to the door. Julia turned to the crowd. “Everyone wait outside, we’ll get to the bottom of this.” Which elicited a number of grumbles from people wanting to see it first hand.

Everyone who wasn’t part of the mob, Nelly, Gary, Everett, and our four, made their way inside. Julia closed the front door and leaned against it.

“OK, what’s all this then?” Julia asked with a breathless tone.

Nelly stood ramrod straight and pointed her single good arm directly at Everett. “I’m here to report abandonment, quest falsification, and that Everett here is a son of a bitch.”

The guild master stood up from where they were sitting. “Those are some bold accusations. But from what Everett told us when he first got back, I’m inclined to believe them.” The guild master stalked around the table and approached the cowering Everett. “I recall a story about valiantly dispatching the beast, mourning the loss of your companions, then making your way back here alone. Isn’t that right Everett?” Each word seemed to his the man with the weight of his own lies.

“I may have exaggerated a few things.” Everett squirmed in the iron grip of Mark.

“A few.” the guild master’s gaze pierced into Everett’s soul. “Julia, what’s the punishment for crimes such as these?”

Without hesitation, Julia listed. “A drop in rank, five quests done in recompense, and a pain geas to make certain they get completed.”

“Sounds about right to me. Can’t have such talent go to waste.” The guild master nodded never taking their eyes off of Everett. “Of course this is a first offence kind of thing, I suspect the second punishment will not go nearly as well.”

“But, this guild doesn’t get nearly enough quests!” Everett whined. “I’ll be stuck here for ages!”

Ignoring Everett, the guild master turned to face the others. “So our heroes of the day then. I take it you took care of the bear?”

“Bears, there were two of them.” Mark spoke up after depositing the despondent Everett into a chair. “Had some help from the hermit who lives north of here. But our plan worked out in the end. Got a Little complicated half way through with Everett showing up though.”

“And yet you pulled through.” The guild master kept a similar stare as before. “Julia, what’s the reward for feats such as these?”

Just as before, Julia was quick to answer. “Commendations and a rank up. Though that would normally require a witness.”

“We’ll vouch for them.” Nelly immediately said. “Life saving not withstanding, I did promise I would find a way to pay them back. This seems like a good start.”

“Easily done.” The guild master clapped Mark on his shoulders. “I’ll have Julia handle the details, but let me be the first to welcome you to rank one!”

“You guys did all that and you were just rank zero?” Gary stared at them agog. “What have we been doing with our lives until now?”