Mason stepped out in front of the great tree, feeling it radiate warmth and pleasure as his feet touched the temple floor.

"Oh, druid, it's...it's beautiful."

The old 'elf' woman knelt at the sapling and made some kind of maybe religious gesture, muttering quiet words. Mason thought of all the creatures who seemed to try and hurt the great trees for their own benefit, and couldn't help but feel a healthy dose of...distrust. He 'helped' the old woman to her feet.

"I'm sorry but I don't know you, so you're coming with me. My friend needs help and there are healers here."

"Y-yes, of course...I...of course. I understand."

Mason carried Becky with one arm and half carried the old elf with the other, yelling for Alex the second he left the temple. Then he marched across the settlement ignoring the many civilian eyes, straight towards the infirmary.

"Mason!" Carl was apparently out for a walk with Silvie, and both moved to intercept Mason's path. The older man's eyes took in the scene, lingering on the old woman and some of Mason's transformations. "Alex went with you, Mason," he said, looking slightly concerned.

Mason blinked. Right. Alex was with Phuong and the others, probably still locked in a dungeon. He practically felt the headache of exhaustion or maybe continual danger pulse through his brain, yanking him back to reality.

“Becky’s hurt,” he said, his voice raw. “I need anyone who can help.”

Carl just nodded, and Mason kept on towards the infirmary. Sylvie ran ahead and opened the door, and he carried Becky past a wide-eyed Darlene. Aila was inside with one of the system tablets, her feet on a stool. She obviously heard the door swing open and leapt to her feet.

"It's Becky," Mason said, which he supposed was obvious but he what he really meant was 'I need help, right now'. "She hit her head. She got a little healing, but I think she's still bleeding. Concussion. I have no idea."

Aila nodded, pretty eyes wide for a moment as they locked on her wounded friend. Then instinct or habit took over and she was helping Mason set her on a cot.

"We have a surgeon. Sort of. One of the girls from Sanctuary. Sylvie can you..."

"I'm on it," said the former 'mayor'. "I'll get Rosa, too."

She dashed off and Mason just stood there feeling useless. Did he try his power again? He looked at Strength of the Pack and realized it was sort of greyed out, like he couldn’t use it here. He clenched a fist and cursed himself for a damn fool. Did it only work in dungeons? In combat? He just didn’t know.

"Help me with her clothes," Aila said, working at some buttons. "I know you said it's her head, but I should check her, I see other problems."

Mason nodded and helped Aila strip Becky down to her underwear. She had several smaller injuries but nothing major that he could see with Hunter's Mark or his eyes. He still felt vaguely numb, helpless, and desperate to go kill something. Then Sylvie and a bleary eyed Sanctuary girl he assumed was the surgeon came running in.

She and Aila took turns inspecting, saying some words Mason didn’t follow. A few minutes went by until the Aila finally kicked everyone out, and took Mason’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Don't worry, we think she’s OK. But heads are tricky. We’ll stay with her and try Rosa’s potions, maybe we can put a bit in an IV. Anyway, the infirmary will help. I’ve seen it fix some nasty wounds. And Becky’s tough."

Mason had the little Finn in his arms in a crushing hug before he realized. She kind of froze but soon hugged him back, and he let her go with an awkward smile. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry,” she said with a big smile. “It happens. I didn’t mind.”

Mason took a deep, calming breath, knowing he was in charge and could only ever allow small moments of weakness.

"Thank you," he said, letting her go. After that he just paced and mostly forgot about the old elf woman standing awkwardly in a corner. Sylvie came back with Rosa, and the girls set up some kind of bag/potion drip as they intended.

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Mason eventually walked to the fountain and dipped himself inside, clearing away the blood and transformations so as not to distract and frighten the settlement.

He returned to the infirmary, and back in the entrance Rosa gave him a hug then stood beside him with her arm around his. But he'd recovered himself now and felt his own strength help the room.

Haley eventually came too, and after letting her visit Becky a minute Aila kicked them all back out. They all just sat in the 'lobby', Haley soon on Mason's lap, her head on his shoulder, not bothering to ask any questions.

When the feeling of crisis had finally ended, most eyes began to turn to the pointy-eared old woman standing nearby like a statue, no trace of intending to take a seat.

"Oh. I saved an elf," Mason said, then turned with a sigh. "I suppose we'd better all introduce ourselves."

The old woman came to life, smiling shyly as she bowed.

* * *

Her name was Dariya, and apparently her people were basically nomads, moving up and down the continent with the weather and migration of game and dangers. They had some scouts, but also an oracle, who helped explore and choose their paths with magic. And apparently with Wyrdwalking. But Dariya had ‘gotten lost.’

"If it's so dangerous, why do it at all?" Mason asked.

"Our need was great," the elf explained. "A tribe of centaurs trapped us in a marsh. They've taken the plains just South of the forest and claimed it as their own. They wouldn't let us pass, but we cannot stay in the marshes much longer. We had to find another way."

"How long ago was this?" Mason asked.

Here the old woman twisted her hands together and shifted in her seat.

"Many days. I must return to my people. Am I...a prisoner here?"

Mason still didn't trust her, but he wasn't afraid of her, either. And Blake was right, they had to at least try and make friends in this dangerous new world. Or at least not treat everyone like enemies. Making allies with basically pointy-eared people was a hell of a lot more appealing than orcs or goblins.

"No. You're our guest," he said, trying not to think of all the players still at the mountain, or the many, many other things he needed to do. He had to trust the others to handle things without him. He took a deep breath.

"I can move quickly, and I know the terrain. I can't promise what I'll do, but if your people really just want to travel, and need protection, they seem in the right. Do you want my help?"

Dariya blinked, then came forward before Mason could pull away, taking one of his hands in both of hers.

"Praise the moon goddess," she said, "for sending you to me. I swear my people mean only to move, to keep safe. Thank you, druid, thank you."

[Objective gained: Find and protect the elven oracle’s tribe. Reward: Greatly improved relations with Western elves, and minor improved relations with all elves.]

Mason nodded at the elf and sighed at the system message. His mind was far more tired than his body. He suspected he could leave immediately and travel for a day or more without rest, but the results might not be pretty. He glanced at Haley and Rosa, then at the corridor leading to Becky. He didn't really want to leave any of them.

Before he could speak the old elf met his eyes and pat his hand.

"My people have waited this long, druid. Please, rest, if we can go in the morning, it would be more than enough."

He nodded gratefully, than asked Sylvie to find the woman a house, or at least a room.

"She can stay with us," Carl said, with a knowing glance at Mason that also said 'and I'll keep an eye on her'.

Mason thanked everyone then left for the hall, surprised to find a group of civilians outside the infirmary. They asked about Becky and offered their prayers, and Mason thanked them too.

"Everyone loves Becky," Haley explained, coming out beside him with her arm around his. He nodded because of course they did, she was beautiful and friendly and genuinely kind.

And in a reasonable world that made any kind of sense she wouldn't be fighting giant robots and risking her life. She'd be helping her folks on the ranch, laughing at family barbecues, and maybe going to a movie with Mason.

Rosa stepped up beside Mason on the other side. She took his other hand and both girls gave him a smile.

"Too busy in there," the Mexican tapped his head with a finger. "My abuela used to tell me when I was a little girl—'Rosalita, do what you can do when you can do it, that's all there is. That's life. So stop worrying.'"

She took on an older woman's voice and expression, and it was so ridiculous Mason couldn't help but smile.

"Everyone's alive, yes?" Haley said on the other side. "You succeeded? At the mountain I mean?"

"We did," Mason agreed, knowing they were trying to cheer him up. And doing a pretty good job.

"Then that's all you can do," Rosa smiled and winked. "Some day it will go worse. But not today. And today life here is beautiful, the sun is shining, and you have two very pretty senoritas on your arms."

"That's true," Mason grinned. "And the sun is nice, but I'm tired. I could use a rest."

"He's ruined our surprise," Rosa said, looking at Haley around Mason.

"Not entirely," Haley said. Something about the looks they were giving each other was giving Mason a mixture of lust and concern.

"I guess we'll see." Rosa shrugged, then looked forward like they hadn't said anything, nose slightly tilted in the air. Mason looked back and forth between both girls, no idea what they were talking about, but not entirely sure he cared.

"You're both coming to the hall, right?" he said.

Haley rolled her big, blue eyes, then batted her lashes at him, the picture of innocence. "Yes, Mason, we're both coming to the hall."