Venom's muscles were still sore from having been flung around like a ragdoll by that tentacled beast he'd fought. Despite the attack having been several bright's ago, his back still pulsed with every step he took. He cursed himself, not for the first nor last time, that he should have brought a potion of healing with him. He made a mental note to pick one up when he got the chance.

Through his journey to the Grove, he'd passed through most the forest and into the edges of Reapmire, a large swamp that wrapped around the northern edge of the Grove. As such, the ground had progressively gotten more damp. On occasion Venom would accidentally step into a small puddle covered by grass and curse as he pulled his drenched boot from it.

Luckily, he'd came across one of the small trails that lined Reapmire. Eventually, they converged into one road leading straight through the swamp. Technically, it was the safest path into and out of the Grove. But that was only for the wildlife. Having only one major path through the biome meant all manner of people stalking it for merchants or travelers.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence, more so a pair of voices.

"Ma'am, are you hurt? Who did this to you?" A deep but gentle voice came from down the path.

"Thank you, I had gotten attacked by some wild beast that traveled too close to the path." A gentle woman's voice announced.

Up ahead, beyond a turn in the path, Venom could faintly make out two figures. The first was an orc clad in chainmail. A worn pack and greataxe were slung over his back. He was knelt down to aid the second person: a woman in clothes that seemed oddly too clean for supposedly having just survived an attack.

Venom swore under his breath as he quickly faded into the trees. "I this guy really falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book?" The assassin scanned the trees and brush just beyond the edges of the path, while making sure he himself was out of sight.

It didn't take long for his suspicions to be proven right. He spotted three others hiding in the brush just beyond the road. One of them wielded a bow and arrow. Whilst another wielded a pair of shortswords. The third was slightly more armored. Rather than just the simple leather of the first two, the third wore a fine breastplate with a greatsword on their back.

As soon as Venom spotted them, the armored man stood and stepped onto the road. Venom could now fully see the man, and his eyes narrowed. He was no human. He had black scales rather than skin. Two white horns stuck from the top of his head that curved forward to stop above his brow. He was a Dragonborn.

The dragonborn cast his hands out. "Why thank you traveler. It's good to see you have such a kind heart as to help an injured woman." The dragonborn took the greatsword from his back. "I'm sure you'll be kind enough to empty your pockets to someone who needs it."

The orc glanced at the blade in the Dragonborn's hand as he grasped for his own weapon.

Suddenly, an arrow shot through the air, piercing through the back of the dragonborn's knee. The bandit cried out as he fell to one knee. "Who the hells shot that arrow?"

The bandits around Venom quickly began to look around. One even stepped onto the road and drew their sword.

Another arrow flew through the air, striking the other bandit in the shin, causing him to fall onto the ground.

Draedon looked back to the woman who had been leaning against a tree. However she had left her spot and ran into the distance.

The dragonborn cried out. "Keslie, the fuck are you aiming at?"

The archer standing behind a tree scanned through the brush where the arrows were coming from. "I-it's not me boss. There's someone else here." He pulled an arrow back and fired an arrow just as he saw movement. The arrow stuck into a tree where Venom had been. Now he sat within the trees branches before knocking an arrow and firing it into the neck of the archer. He let out a gurgle as he grasped for the arrow in his jugular before falling over into the mud.

Back on the road the dragonborn snarled at the orc. "So you knew about our ambush, huh? Who's your friend out there?"

The orc cocked his head to the side. "I'm not sure what-" he was cut off when the dragonborn struggled to his feat and swung their sword, only for it to effortlessly be knocked aside by the orc. He scowled at the dragonborn as the bandit began to regain their balance. He then switched the grip of his axe to hold it in one hand before punching the bandit in his scaly snout.

The bandit stumbled back again. He blew out his nose and a small clump of blood shot into the mud.

Suddenly a second arrow shot through the air, landing into the smaller bandit. This time, the arrow struck through their chest and they fell limp.

Finally, Venom wandered onto the path; knocking another arrow onto his bow. "You don't seem to be from around here, orc. You fell for the oldest bandit trick in the book."

The orc tilted his head to the side. "Bandit trick?"

The dragonborn turned to the assassin and snarled as a dull green light began to pulse in his throat. "Fuck off!" As he spoke a guesser of acid sprayed from his mouth.

The assassin leapt to the side to dodge most of the acid, however some still hit his leg, burning through the leather and the top layer of his skin.

The dragonborn growled as more acid began to bubble within his throat. However a fist slammed into the back of his head, knocking him into the mud and causing his body to go limp. The orc then casually grasped the dragonborn and propped him against the tree the 'injured' woman had been prior. He then turned to the assassin who was addressing his wound.

"Ugh, fucking acid. First the damned abominations in the cave," he dug into a satchel on his side and brought out a vile of clear liquid before pouring it on the wound, causing him to wince under his mask. "Then a dragonborn with fucking acid."

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Suddenly a pair of hands moved to hover over his leg as a faint gold light began to flow from them. Before he could see what they were doing, Venom grasped the orc's hands and moved them away. He was about to speak when he noticed the pain in his leg was gone. Still holding the warrior's wrists, he glanced at his leg to notice the wound had been healed, not even leaving a scar.

"I healed you." The orc said.

Venom's gaze trailed up to the orc's face. He scanned him up and down before finally letting his wrists go. "I can see that."

Venom rose to his feet but quickly took a step back away from the orc.

The orc smirked, holding down a small laugh. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just healed your wound."

Another moment of silence passed by as Venom slowly put his bow back onto his back.

The orc stuck out a gloved hand. "Draedon."

Venom tilted his head. "Excuse me?"

Draedon raised a brow. "My name... it's Draedon." He looked down at his hand. "Is that not a greeting here?"

"What, no... I got..." Venom sighed. "Yes it's a greeting but why the hell are you introducing yourself?"

Draedon just looked more confused. "Because... it's kind."

Venom sighed inwardly and turned away. "Well thanks for the name. Bye." He began to walk away.

It didn't take long for Venom to notice the second steps of footfalls behind him. He turned around, causing the orc to stop. "Why are you following me?"

"I am not," the orc spoke. "We are just going the same direction."

Venom continued down the path, trying not to pay the orc any mind. He'd just leave the orc at nightfall. Or if he was lucky, he'd just run off somewhere.

"So why are you going to the Grove?" Draedon asked.

"Who told you I was going there?" Venom asked without even turning to face the man behind him.

"No one. The kobolds just told me this path was one of the only ones to the Grove. So I just thought that's where you were going."

Venom let the sentence settle for a moment as they walked. "I'm just going there for work."

"I see." The orc said. "I'm going there cause a prophecy said so." He added a few steps later.

Venom halted abruptly and turned to the Paladin. "A prophecy?"

Draedon nodded. "Yes, it's when a mage or shaman uses divination magic-"

"I know what a prophecy is." Venom spat. "What made you think believing it was a good idea?"

The orc shrugged. "The last time she had foretold a prophecy was when she foretold the leader of my tribe was forming it in the first place."

Venom kept walking, letting silence settle again. "You don't seem to be from around here."

"I am not." The orc smiled. "I'm from the Crags, a place filled with mountains and magma. Dwarves have made several keeps-"

"I know what the Crags are." Venom spoke over Draedon. "You're halfway across the Jarlands."

The orc nodded. "I am well aware." A few steps of silence followed. "What is your occupation?"

"Does that matter?"

"It's useful information if we are to be traveling together. For example I am a Paladin of Tirian."

"I could tell by the symbol on your armor." Venom had yet to look back at the orc.

"I see. Are you a follower of his?"

Venom glanced back briefly before looking ahead. "Do I look like a follow a god of law?"

"He is not just the god of law. He has domains in many things," suddenly Venom found himself regretting his question. "He is the god of challenges. Of Oaths. Of Triumph."

"And justice if I recall." Venom found himself finishing.

"Exactly."

Venom grumbled.

"Do you worship any gods?" The Paladin asked.

Venom shook his head. "Never had a reason to. Not like they've ever done much for me."

Draedon let an amused smirk wave over his face. "I'm not sure if you understand how most religions work."

"I know enough to not care for the gods." The elf responded.

"Not even Janus?"

Venom pulled his hood over his pointed ears at the name of the maker of the elves. "Not even Janus. Now, if you'd shut your mouth, I'd like to journey in silence."

Only a few steps passed when Venom heard the orc behind him mutter an 'ok' then fade to relative silence, all except for their footfalls in the mud.

***

The closing came much later than Venom had hoped. The blue sky faded to black with faint white flecks dotting the horizon.

Venom sat atop the branch of a tree. Remnants of the mud he'd been walking through still caked the soles of his boot and bottom of his cloak. While he never really cared for the cleanliness of his gear- as long as it persisted to function- the mud was starting to get to places it very much shouldn't. The thought of sleeping in the mud, bedroll or no, made a disgusting chill run through his body.

At the base of the tree, caring not for the muddy ground, was Draedon. He was cozily fitted into his larger-than-average bedroll. His hand hadn't unclenched from the pendant around his neck. Venom was sure he'd seen a dull golden glow come from the necklace despite the orc's insistence it wasn't magical.

Venom had contemplated taking his gear and simply leaving down the path; forgetting about the random passerby he'd met. But every time he thought about it, he found himself subconsciously running a hand over his leg. Regardless of whether he liked it or not, if the orc hadn't healed his burn, he would have been walking through the marsh with a limp at least till he reached the grove. Overall, having a healer on hand at nearly all times proved useful.

Venom glanced down at the sleeping orc, then to the axe propped against the tree. It also helped that he could take care of himself fairly easily.

The elf scanned the edges of the trees for what felt like the hundredth time. He didn't see anything. Nor had he the time before that, nor the time before that.

He would stay with the orc until they reached the Grove. Then he'd let the paladin follow whatever 'prophecy' led him there. After all, it wasn't any of his business.

Vernon noticed something- snapping him from his thoughts. A figure sat atop the branches of an adjacent tree. Despite his eyes being able to see in darkness nearly as well as full daylight, he couldn't discern any features from the form. Likely from the fact it simply had none. A figure was the most accurate description of the thing looking at him. They were just a black humanoid thing. No clothes. No ears. No gear or items of any sort. Its only features were a grin across its 'face' and a single red eye vertically across the center of its head.

"Why are you following me?" Venom asked.

"Why are you moving?" The figure asked almost as quickly. It's voice quiet, but just loud enough to be heard. Its voice was high pitched, but it felt more as if it was altering its voice to make it so rather then it being that way naturally. Its voice had a slight echo to it, however it wasn't in the same langue it spoke. Or maybe the words Venom could understand was the echo.

The figure held up a finger as a small golden necklace began to spin on around its finger by the chain: Draedon's pendant. The pendant's light dulled every time the necklace swung close to the figure, brightening up again as it spun away.

"I see you've made a friend." The figure said. Its eye glanced down to the sleeping orc at the base of the tree.

"Don't get your hopes up." Venom spat back.

The figure chuckled before turning his head to the side. "See, he's made a friend. I told you he could do it."

Venom turned to where the figure looked. After seeing nothing he turned back only to flinch and grab the hilt of the dagger at his side.

The figure now crouched at the edge of the branch Venom sat upon. Its head was tilted slightly to the side as if examining a strange animal it had never seen before. "You know you're going to have to make a choice on my deal eventually."

"I have. Several times. It's no, it always has been." Venom's eyes narrowed in annoyance under his mask.

"If you don't make a choice, someone is going to have to make it for you." Its eye narrowed slightly. Venom couldn't shake the fact it was trying to show an emotion it had never felt: pity. "Well," the figure suddenly stood up. "I suppose your stubbornness can't be helped. Also, there's a mosquito on your neck."

Venom suddenly found his eyes opening to the orange sky of the early opening of the Atlas. His hand suddenly slapped against the side of his neck, right where a bug had been sucking his blood.