Interlude

Errrkkkk’s watch started as it usually did, he added wood to the fire, no need to conserve this wood. It all needed to burn to ash before they left in the morning. Once the fire was back to a dull blaze, he walked the perimeter of the camp while stretching his wings. Once that was done he located the tallest tree just outside of the fire’s brightest light and flew up with a few powerful flaps of his wings.

He found a large enough space for him to perch and watch over the camp and its outlying areas. It was moments like this that made him thankful they had Roden with them. As great as it was to have his high vantage point, he had to admit he couldn’t see much of anything in the dark. With his scouting being futile in the presence of Roden’s wards, Errrkkkk set to meditating. He prayed to the goddess Era,

“Please forgive my hesitation, I will get stronger so I never have to hesitate again and make you proud, cacaw.”

Out of the darkness came a soft feminine voice that sounded like a breeze,

“The Lady Era is proud of you, young one."

“Cacaw! What the hell!? Cacaw!” The sudden intrusion of the silence had taken him off guard and nearly caused him to slip off his perch, only his outstretched wing kept him from tumbling out of the tree. He looked around vigorously searching for the source of the voice.

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“I am right here, feathered one. I mean you no harm. I was sent here to speak with you.”

Errrkkkk could just make out movement in the direction of the voice. When he strained he could see a humanoid shaped silhouette sitting on a thick branch to his left. He could just make out the vaguely feminine features, the figure had long hair that flowed past her shoulders. From what he could make out it had a lithe body that easily held it stable on the branch.

“If Era sent you, what’s the message, cacaw?”

“I already gave you the message, dear one. She wants you to know that you did well. That you were faced with what could be seen as a crisis of faith and you prevailed in a way that was beyond what the Goddess expected from one so young.”

“I wasn’t strong enough. If I was stronger I could have saved her, cacaw.”

“That may be true, but by your sacrifice, demonstration of purity, and conviction something far greater has come about. You see in its final moments that tree was comforted by your kindness and with its last thought it thanked the goddess for having met you. This gave the goddess a rare opportunity. She has placed a blessing upon you. All you must do to confer that blessing is care for and nurture your little root and it will grow into a strong guardian. One that will protect you as you did for its mother. ”

“By the Goddess, I will do this, cacaw.” His voice taking on a solemn tone.

There was a moment of silence followed by the feeling of soft hands wrapping around him from behind. In that gentle embrace Errrkkkk felt a sense of warmth and comfort.

“The Goddess loves you dear one. Never forget that.”

As her grip of him loosened she faded back into the branch they shared, her body slowly being absorbed into the tree itself until Errrkkkk was alone once more.