Trauma

After receiving an improvised, larger fur dress for Eve from the tribe's makers (which they had apparently been working on for most of the morning), you take her back to town. After you land, you peak inside the church, where you spot Kris and Gilford sitting next to each other in one of the pews. You turn to your goblin companion. "Hey, I'm gonna ask her if she wants to meet you, okay? If she doesn't, we're not gonna **** the subject. She's already had...a lot to deal with."

"Even though I protected her from Borak?" Eve rests a finger on her chin.

"Well...PTSD can be pretty bad. I don't think it'd be a good idea to **** her into a situation with a goblin...well, anytime." You rub the back of your head, before patting the top of hers. "I'll be right back, I promise.."

She pouts. "Okay..."

You enter the church, slowly approaching the pair of priests.

"-...know, yet," Gilford starts. "He may have saved us, but I still don't think I trust him."

"Cynical much, Gilford?" You round the two to the pew in front of them and sit at an angle to face them. "It's okay, I'm not offended. Better safe than sorry, after all."

"Dusk..." The man looks flustered at first, before rapidly recomposing himself. "Kristhyra here was asking more about you, given her recent...discovery."

"Yeah...I'm still sorry about that, Kristhyra. It's not a thing that most people are going to be okay with, case in point." You gesture to Gilford. "Speaking of monsters, though, I'd like you to meet Eve, if you're okay with it. I know you're still getting over this morning, but now that the secret's out, I thought I'd ask."

The elf shares a look with Gilford, concern on her face. "I...not sure..."

"I'm not going to **** the issue, especially since she's a goblin. It's up to you, and I'll make sure she doesn't bother you if you don't want to see her."

Gilford steps in. "Take your time. This isn't something you should rush int-"

"FUCK OFF!" The three of you immediately turn toward the entrance, with yourself recognizing Eve's slightly changed voice.

"Shit..." You immediately get up and dash outside.

You come out in time to spot a goblinoid form leap onto some man's upper body and start punching his face. The man stumbles back, falling onto his back as Eve's hands quickly become bloody.

"Eve, stop!" You rush over and pull the temporarily-frozen goblin off of her victim.

Her frozen state is quite temporary, as she almost immediately begins flailing again, trying to escape your grasp. "H-he was saying we don't belong here! He s-said..." Eve's voice suddenly stops when she happens to look to the side. You follow her gaze to spot Kristhyra watching in horror, hand over her mouth. "Nos..." You release the goblin, who looks down at her bloody hands, then back at Kris, before looking back down and holding her head.

"Eve, what happened?" You kneel down next to her, lightly holding her shoulder as you see her wide eyes.

"Nosiel..." Eve shuts her eyes, tears in them, before she begins dashing off to the north.

"Eve!" You take a few steps after her before looking back at the man with a bloody nose. Now that he's not being assaulted, you recognize him: Harold. "Oh, you again?"

"Oh, fuck you! This is why you monsters don't belong here! It attacked me for no reason!" He slowly stands as he checks his nose.

You're about to retort, but feel a hand on your shoulder. "I wouldn't call threatening her 'no reason', Harold." You turn, seeing a man with black hair stepping forward. "And she's not an 'it'." As the crowd begins forming, he continues. "The town voted, and your side lost. They deserve a chance, without being harassed on the street. She may have lost her temper, but you provoked her. You can't turn this around on her, Harold."

Seeing the crowd around him, Harold scowls and storms off, holding his nose the whole way.

You turn to the man who helped you. "Thanks, but I need to-"

He nods. "Go. It's clearly important. We will catch up over dinner."

You barely register what he said as you begin rushing off.

[[Translated to humish for reader's convenience]]

Kristhyra...I'm so sorry... Eve keeps running, beyond the edge of town. Among the trees, she feels much faster, but not fast enough to run away from her problems. I...I couldn't... She stumbles, falling to the side and into the shallow water of the riverbank. On her hands and knees, she takes a moment to catch her breath, and the slow-moving water reveals the tyrant goblin's fearful reflection. Why... Eve trembles, smashing her hand into her mirror image. What's wrong with me?! She runs her hand over her stomach. Where...where are they? Her mind shudders. I...already... The goblin's stomach turns queasy, and she vomits to the side.

'We aren't getting away...but we can stop them from making more...'

Wait, why am I-

'We'll get out of here, I promise.'
'Why wouldn't I come with you?'
'Oh gods, they're dead!'

Who is-

'I'm the best hunter, around!'
'We're not as underprepared as you think.'
'You're not alone.'
'I'm not leaving you!'
'We're here to help.'
'We're sticking together, right?'

'Nosiel...stay strong...'

"Get out of my head!" Eve throws her head back, pain erupting from her temples. Tears run down her cheeks. "What's...happening to me?"

"Eve! Where are you?!" You trot through the edge of the forest, not being the tracker that (you assume) Eve is. Eventually, you spot her, if only barely, prone in the wide, shallow part of the river. You slide down the edge of the riverbed before dashing over to her. Spotting a slew of arrows trailing from the top of the riverbed, you put together that she must have fallen into the water's edge. What stops you though, is the bloody water flowing from where Eve kneels. "Eve!" You drop your polymorph, rushing over to the kneeling goblin.

Eve weakly turns her head to you, her eyes red and cheeks puffy. "I...I didn't...keep my promise..." She falls back, and you barely catch her before she'd hit the ground.

"Eve, you're bleeding!" You immediately start healing her gut, which is full of small stab wounds.

She clutches a bloody arrow in her hand and weakly grabs one of your hands with her other. "Dusk...d-don't leave me, p-please. I c-can't go back...I can't..."

"I'm not gonna leave you behind, Eve. Just hang in there. You're going to be okay."

"Stop...I need...to keep...my pro..." She doesn't finish the thought, falling limp in your arm.

You pause for a moment, even stopping your spellcasting. What? You shake your head, returning to healing her.