The tension in the air was palpable as the two groups remained locked in their staredown, limbs twitching as muscles tensed with building energy. Only the elf, seemingly the leader of the newcomers, appeared entirely at ease, an irritatingly smug smirk etched on his angular face.
"What have we here?" he drawled, the loftiness of his silky voice equally as irksome as his expression. "A few mangy mutts trying to steal our hard-earned quarry out from under our noses? You are quite brave—or quite stupid. I suppose the truly desperate are willing to risk anything for a little gold…"
"Your quarry?" Vax parroted with a hint of incredulity, only daring to risk a glance at the woman for a moment before snapping his attention back to the elf.
As he raised one well-manicured brow, the elf's smirk twisted into more of a sneer. "And now you feign ignorance. You think us that stupid to fall for such a simple trick? You're lucky we find your efforts amusing otherwise we'd have already struck you down. And you, little wizard-"
Sweat trickled down the back of the woman's neck as the elf's eyes flickered over to her, a shiver running down her spine. Her stomach clenched painfully as he peered at her so intently it was as if he was looking right into her soul.
"-have just proven exactly why you shouldn't be out here. After somehow managing to give us the slip, you didn't just thank the gods for your luck and put as much distance behind you as you could. No, you foolishly circled back to search for something you lost. Tell me, do you think that whatever you left behind was worth coming back for now?"
Though shame burned hot on her cheeks and in her chest, the woman did not lower her head but rather kept her gaze fixated on the elf. However, this apparently only amused him further as he just chuckled.
"I suppose it doesn't matter either way. This little game of yours has come to an end, Reyen. Do yourself a favor and stop making this harder than it has to be."
"No," Reyen retorted firmly, though Vax noticed there was a slight quiver to her shoulders as she spoke. "Even if I screwed up, I made it this far on my own and that has to count for something. I can't give up; I won't!"
"My dear, it is adorable that you think you have a choice in the matter," the arrogant elf jeered, his tone unquestionably condescending as he leered at her. "Now cease with these dramatics and come along quietly. No one else has to get hurt-"
"She's not going anywhere with you." Vax cut in sharply, surprising even himself as all attention suddenly snapped to him.
"Uh Vax, what are you doing?" Scanlan hissed through gritted teeth and a strained smile, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow as his eyes darted from foe to foe. "This chick's drama isn't our problem!"
Pike flashed her fellow gnome a disapproving frown, "So we're supposed to just turn a blind eye?"
"Uh yeah, kinda! We already have our own little issue to deal with in case you've forgotten!"
"We were never getting out of this without a fight anyways." Vax retorted, eyes flickering briefly back to Reyen as she stared up at him in disbelief, "Might as well make the most of it and knock these cocky bastards down a few pegs."
With a loud, exasperated groan, Scanlan ghosted his fingers over the strings of his lute while Pike tightened her grip on her mace. "This hero crap is getting really old really fast."
His body taut like a snake poised to strike, Vax lowered his voice to a whisper only Reyen was close enough to hear. "We have a better chance of getting out of this if we work together. Do you know any spells that are really loud?"
Her brow furrowing slightly, Reyen gave a subtle nod.
"Good. Use them."
In that moment, Vax transformed into a blur. While the dagger in his hands soared from his fingertips in the elf's direction, his heel kicked out behind him and collided with the shaft of Reyen's staff, sending it into the air. Understanding dawning upon her in the nick of time, Reyen bolted to her feet and thrust her hand in the air, her fingers curling tightly around the rod as it collided with her palm. The memorized incantation already tumbling from her lips as the silvery light enveloped her hands once more, she shifted her attention to the halfling, kenku, and aarakocra perched on the tree bough and focused the magical energy she was summoning amid the three of them. The glowing silver orb that materialized in the air flickered for but a moment, hardly an intimidating sight, before detonating in a flash of force, light, and sound. Pained cries sounded from the three targets as they were jettisoned into the air, the shrill ringing of the spell still echoing in their ears as they tumbled, and their human compatriot hardly had time to utter a startled yelp before being crushed beneath them as they landed in a groaning pile of tangled limbs.
Any trace of the elven leader's smug sneer evaporated as he ducked out of the way of the airborne dagger, his face now twisting into a snarl as his eyes darkened. "We were asked to bring you back alive, but nothing was ever said about you being unharmed. You wish to play rough, brat? Fine, we'll entertain your delusions of grandeur for a little longer."
While the somewhat battered halfling, kenku, and aarakocra crawled off of the unconscious human and staggered back to their feet, the minotaur and half-orc both charged with mighty bellows. While the half-orc made a beeline for the two gnomes, the minotaur set his sights on the half-elves, nostrils flared and horns lowered as he barreled toward them with building speed. The crack of Pike's mace breaking bone and the half-orc's pained howl greeted Vax's ears just as he hurled himself out of the bull hybrid's path, but a glance over his shoulder made his stomach drop when he noticed Reyen still rooted in her spot, her frightened eyes locked on the beast. However, before the rogue's fingers could even brush against the hilt of his other dagger, the wizardess raised her staff high above her head as another string of syllables spilled from her lips before slamming the hilt against the ground as hard as she could. The raucous roar of thunder flooded her surroundings as the minotaur was flung several feet away from her before landing on his back with a thud, and as he tried right himself again, Vax sprang into action and sliced two deep gashes along the back of the beast's knees before darting out of reach again.
A shrill screech echoing from above beckoned the half-elves' gazes skyward just in time to witness the aarakocra descending on them, having traded his bow for a pair of gleaming daggers. However, before he could close the remaining distance between himself and his prey, a familiar shimmering purple hand materialized with the strum of a few chords by Scanlan's skilled fingers and promptly backhanded the avian into a tree, where he stirred for a moment before falling still. However, just as the hand reared back in preparation of flattening the wounded minotaur, it stiffened for a moment before detonating in a burst of purple light and sparkles.
"Uh, Scanlan, is it supposed to do that?!" Vax called over his shoulder.
"No!" Scanlan squawked in reply as he barely managed to dodge a strike from the kenku that had snuck up on him. "That's never happened before!"
"Someone counteracted his spell. I've witnessed some of my instructors do it before." Reyen interjected, her eyes already surveying the clearing for the opposing source of magic as she already had a suspicion of just who was responsible. Sure enough, her eyes locked with that of the elven leader just as his grinning lips began to utter another spell, and though she summoned a fistful of crackling flames in almost an instant, hoping to strike before he could complete his incantation, her efforts were in vain. The world around her shimmered as a transparent dome of magical energy enveloped her, the blaze in her palm fizzling within seconds before sputtering out completely. Though her lips chanted frantically, not a sound was heard nor did even a trace of her magic's silvery light manifest. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she sprinted for the barrier's edge, but before she could break free, a projectile of sickly green energy rocketed past the border, forcing her to stop in her tracks to avoid getting hit. Her mind hurriedly filtering through her now fairly limited options, she waved her hands wildly to try and get Vax's attention, and when his eyes shifted towards her, she began gesturing from her lips to the dome to the elf, desperately hoping he would understand. However, just as comprehension was dawning on him, Vax heard a heavy grunt, the shifting of dirt, and quiet chanting echo from behind him. He spun around just in time to witness the minotaur rising back to its feet as his halfing comrade knelt beside him, the wounds on his legs mending in mere moments beneath her hands as the healing incantation bubbled from her throat.
"Well that's just bullsh-" Vax began to groan, but his grumbling was cut short as the minotaur swung its warhammer down towards the rogue with a mighty roar. Springing out of the way with mere seconds to spare as the hammer collided with the patch of dirt where he had been standing moments before, the half-elf swiped at the halfling as she darted past him in Reyen's direction, her handaxe clutched to her chest, but his blade only pierced the air. Detecting a flicker of movement in his peripheral, he rolled out of the way as the minotaur's warmhammer came smashing down again near his head, realizing only too late that he had situated himself directly in the beast's path. The hybrid's hoof slammed into his chest as he cried out in pain, pinning him to the ground as it raised its weapon overhead one final time. Just as it was about to deal the killing blow, however, a familiar roar overpowered the other sounds of battle all around the rogue as something big and gray charged into view, colliding with the minotaur and knocking the hybrid off of its feet.
"NO ONE CRUSHES PUNY VAX BUT ME!" Grog bellowed ferally before embedding his ax repeatedly into the minotaur's chest.
At first, Vax could only just stare, but eventually a tentative smile spread across his lips as a wave of relief washed over him, "That comment should not be as comforting as it is right now."
As the rogue scrambled back to his feet, a deafening bang assaulted his ears, followed by the pained scream of the elf mage as he clutched his clavicle, blood seeping into the fabric of his shirt beneath his palm. To Reyen's relief, the dome surrounding her rippled for a moment before dispersing, although she only had a moment to be thankful before the armed and inbound halfling yanked her mind back into the battle. A spell was already poised on the tip of her tongue as she wound back her open hand, but before she could utter even a syllable, her opponent yelped loudly as an arrow sailed seemingly out of nowhere and pierced her hand, forcing her to drop her weapon. Both the halfling and Reyen turned their heads in the direction from which the projectile had come, but rather than an archer, they were greeted by the sight of a massive brown bear clad in armor barreling towards them with the snarl. The halfling could only manage a squeak of terror before she was knocked off her feet, her eyes already rolling back in her head before she even hit the ground. As the bear's large head swiveled towards her, Reyen froze, her breath catching in her throat as her heart raced. However, after staring her down for a few painfully long seconds, Trinket merely snorted at the stranger before lumbering towards Vax, the rogue affectionately scratching under his chin as soon as he was within arm's reach.
Starting as a distressed squawk sounded behind her, Reyen spun around just in time to witness Pike slam her mace into the side of the kenku's skull, the bird-like being's body tethered in place by a tangle of long vines she swore had not been there previously. Her senses still on high alert and her nerves abuzz, the wizardess slowly surveyed the battered bodies of the defeated mercenaries until her eyes finally settled on the only one who remained conscious: the elven mage. Clenching her jaw, she slowly strolled towards him, returning his venomous glare with her own stony look as she reached his side.
"Well? Go on, little wizard. Strike me down and enjoy your delusions for a bit longer," he snarled up at her through gritted teeth. "You've gotten this far because of luck and pity, but that won't sustain you out here forever. Sooner or later, you will be forced to face the truth: that you are nothing more than a naïve brat who's wandered too far from home-"
With a sickening crack, the bottom of Reyen's staff smacked against the mage's temple, silencing him. As the adrenaline finally began to taper off, a heaviness settled over her body and the throbbing of the wound on her hand grew more prominent. Digging through her pockets, she eventually found a small cloth that she draped over the gash before gripping it tightly in her other hand, grimacing slightly as the pain intensified.
"Here, let me help."
A jolt shot through Reyen's body as her eyes darted in Pike's direction, her mind struggling to comprehend just how the little gnome had managed to creep up on her despite the clattering of her armor. Her eyes first analyzed the small hand innocently extended to her followed by the cleric's kindly face, searching for even the faintest traces of ill intentions, and upon her examination yielding nothing, she hesitantly deposited her injured hand into the gnome woman's palm. However, her trepidation soon evaporated as soft, warm light radiated from Pike's fingers, soothing warmth permeating Reyen's hand as the cleric murmured the words of the healing spell.
"Thank you." the wizardess breathed as the light of the incantation started to fade, flexing her fingers in amazement while Pike simply grinned up at her.
"So, somebody want to tell us what the hell happened?" Vex proclaimed as she approached her brother with Percy and Keyleth in tow, her keen eyes swiftly scanning him for injuries. When nothing major caught her eye, her attention shifted to Pike and Reyen, her expression hardening towards the latter who flinched beneath her steely gaze.
"Vax and Pike wanted to play noble heroes and dragged me into it." Scanlan whined, "Frankly, I think your brother's brain got a little fried when he was hit by that lightning spell earlier."
Vax shot the bard a disapproving glare before meeting his sister's gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line as she waited for him to make his case. "She needed some help. She was being hunted, Vex."
"And why is that? Who even is she and when did she become our problem? Last I checked, we have other rather pressing matters to worry about right now." Vex retorted sharply.
Scanlan threw up his hands in exasperation. "THAT'S WHAT I SAID!"
"We were already caught in the crossfire because of some misunderstandings. Saving her meant saving our rear ends as well. Besides, I thought we were giving the 'good guy' thing a try now." Vax replied coolly, adding just moments after as a thought crossed his mind, "Speaking of which…"
His hand disappearing beneath his cloak, Vax eventually withdrew the small pouch they had found, Scanlan's mouth falling agape at the sight of the little bag in the rogue's hand.
"Hey! When did you-" the flabbergasted gnome started sputtering, but Vax paid him no mind as he approached Reyen.
"I believe this belongs to you," he cooed with a reassuring smile as he held the coin purse out to her, Reyen's eyes went wide at the sight of the little bag.
"Thank you," she murmured as she grabbed the purse and clutched it to her chest, her fingers stroking the soft material. Lowering her gaze, Reyen's eyes momentarily grew glassy as her focus shifted inward, and whether she realized it or not, her lips quietly began voicing her thoughts, "He wasn't wrong though. I should've just kept going rather than turning back. It was a stupid mistake...but it's one I can learn from."
With a sharp shaking of her head, a gleam of clarity returned to Reyen's face before she met Vax's gaze again, "How can I repay you?"
Vax blinked, caught offguard by the inquiry, "What?"
"You stuck your neck out for me, even though I was a complete stranger and I shocked you thinking you were another mercenary. I'd like to return your kindness."
"There's really no need-"
"Now hold on a minute." Scanlan piped up as he sidled up alongside Vax, eyes twinkling in that way they always did when he was scheming. "The lady is trying to express her appreciation, and it would be incredibly rude to turn down her hospitality, wouldn't it? Let's see what she has to offer!"
Before Vax could protest, a gurgly rumble greeted everyone's ears. All eyes turned to Pike, whose face flushed scarlet as she shyly hugged her grumbling stomach.
"Hmm," Reyen mused thoughtfully, an idea forming in her mind, "I think I know just the thing."