Friends

Krek sat on the bank of the river, dangling his feet in the cool water. The sounds of birds and frogs combined in an oddly pleasant harmony. Light from the orange moon danced across the water. He heard soft footfalls, and Alya sat beside him. For a moment they were silent, listening to nature's chorus.

"I've been thinking about what you said. About my life. . . You're right, you know." He said softly, "My destiny is my own. But can I trust myself to make the right choices?"

"We can help you, if you want to walk a new path."

"Do you trust me?" He asked.

"Yes."

"That's very foolish. I'm a monster from. . ." He cut himself off and sighed, "I even don't know what 'good' and 'evil' are. I'm dangerous"

"Night-Strider is a predator, a wolf. He could attack me. Leafreader could snap one day and kill us all. . ." They both laughed at the idea of the gentle wood elf as a homicidal maniac.

"But, seriously Krek, just about everyone is capable of causing pain and suffering to others. I could easily kill a man with just my bare hands, and gods' know I've been tempted a time or two. . ."

Krek believed her, she was linked with the wolf, she was a predator. Of course, he was a different order of creature altogether.

"Tell me, Alya. What in the Nine Hells attracted you to me? I know you're not shallow enough to just want a man for his looks. Not to mention the fact that I'm a troll."

Alya looked into the gentle waters beneath them. Krek's legs were long enough to allow his feet to dangle in the cool river, but she couldn't reach it. "I'm not sure. There's just. . . Something about you. I can't describe it."

"Well, I guess I am irresistible. A real force of nature." The troll laughed and shook his head and Alya chuckled as well.

He looked into the water, as if he were looking through it. His expression became sombre.

"Have you ever heard of Urdlen?" Krek asked.

"Yes," She replied, she had heard of the foul thing, "He. . . It is the gnome god of bloodshed, greed and blind destruction. It's a horrible creature."

"I've seen it. Once, while the drow were fighting a group of insane gnomes and took me along. The gnomes summoned their god to help. It looks completely harmless, cute even. Just a giant, white mole. But that cute mole tore an entire drow raiding party to shreds, myself included. I only survived because I was a troll. I think it killed some of its own worshipers, too."

"Why didn't you run away then?"

"I was Charmed. I had no choice but return to the Matron Mother who owned me. Every minute of my life among the drow I was bound by spells. I'd have Teleported out of there in a second given the chance. But that is not the point. Urdlen looks innocent and harmless, but he's a bloodthirsty monster. Things are never what they appear."

"No, they don't. Some things that look monstrous are actually very gentle. . ." She smiled, her face glowing in the moonlight, "The Circle will help you, if you want to change, become less. . ." She suddenly realized that she didn't have a specific reason to consider him 'evil' beyond his own claims of wickedness. "Whatever you think makes you feel so hopeless. If you don't want to change, that's your choice. I won't judge you. I'm a predator too, remember."

The light made his ebon body shimmer. He turned to her, his green eyes shining brightly.

"I know." He made an exaggerated yawn, "Of course, living here, I don't have to live like I did in Azzagrat or Menzoberranzan. . ." He smiled, revealing glittering white teeth, "Though I should warn you, I don't think I'll ever qualify for 'saint'. . ."

"Neither will I." She smiled back, "But just because we look at the world differently doesn't mean we can't be friends, does it? I don't think any two people look at the world the same way. . ."

"So we're friends, then. For now." He sighed and turned his luminous green eyes toward the moon.

"Right. And don't worry, if you try anything funny, I have several blessed weapons on my person." She replied.

"Maybe I'm the one who should be afraid. . ."

The End.

Notes:

I hate ending my story so quickly, but I have reasons I won't go into why I can't go on right now. I may or may not pick it up again one day.

Well my friends, it appears poor Krek has been seduced by The Light Side of The Force. . .

Urdlen is funny, it's an adorable eyeless white mole who teaches the death and destruction of everything good and beautiful. It's pure evil incarnate, but cute. Urdlen is also genderless.