a leech, some orcs, lone wolf and lycanthrope

as Ambriel gets up she is unable to oversee the large, black leech that has come closer to her camp, drawn in by her warm blood. the mindless creature is intent on sucking her various fluids from her body, most likely a less enjoyable encounter for Ambriel

Ambriel is nearly jumping out of surprise, and disgust, as she want to avoid the horrible creature

"beeeaaarhggg! Cherub! we have a problem here!"

and she tries to get her weapon quickly

the leech throws itself into Ambriels general direction

Ambriel tries to quick-step on side to evade the leech

but the leech is jsut too big and smals onto her, its mouth latching onto any exposed flesh. Ambriel can feel it suck, draining her blood

while Ambriel is stuck with that leech on her, Cherub tries to swiftly help her.

encumbred by the leech, Ambriel has diffuclties to moves accordingly, but she tries anyway to hit it.

the leech is connected to Ambriel and unwilling to let go, resulting in a hit by Ambriel

even with the burden, Ambriel manage to land a serious hit on the leech, cuting it entierly. Both parts drop on the ground after Ambriel brush them off. Cherub was ready to help bit it wasn't needed anymore, and then look around if there is more.

Ambriel is pissed off.

"Damned, it will leave a scar on my skin if i don't get that treated."

she use the heal spell on that bite mark, hoping it won't result in a scar.

the flesh heals, leaving no remnant of the attack behind

after that awful morning, Ambriel prays to calm herself, checking if someone is still listening

indeed, she feels some divine answer, as the sun breaks through the leaves and coalcesces into a loaf of bread. this magical food will sate Ambriel for three days.

Ambriel thanks for that food and goes exploring.

not far off her path, Ambriel can hear grunts and a language the doesn'T speak. it seems two individuals are talking to each other

with the necklace, she can understand what they talk. it seems they got attacked by leeches as well, but fended them of in a similar fashion. right now they both seem to tend to their wounds.

Ambriel uses signs with her hands, hoping to communicate her intention to help them

Ambriel gets closer with her hands visible

"hello"

she stands on front of two tall orcs, both well armed and armored. several leeches lie slain on the ground. they both look at Ambriel with astonishment. one of them answers in common, with an accent: "Hello yourself."

"i also had to fend my self with theses leech. I could help if you want"

"Help? As you can see we already killed these."

they look a bit confused, not sure what kind of help Ambriel refers to

"i can have water to clean wound, better not get infected...."

"Oh. You are a healer?"

one inquires and offers his muscular arm, that has multiple bite wounds.

"i can help to clean and bandage your wounds... Yes."

they both let Ambriel help with cleaning and binding their wounds. they are shallow injuries, it seems the orcs were as hurt in total as Ambriel was. given that they killed trice as many leeches as they were that is no easy feat. Ambriel can clearly make out the iron hard muscles under their skin, the warrior like stature of both of these seasoned warriors. they are patient, waiting for Ambriel to finish her work

Ambriel treats their wounds but talk not much. Sure they are impressive warrior, and Ambriel doesn't want to engage a fight, it would be hard. She hopes that they can part away after that without trouble.

after she is done they check out her work

"Well done. We could use a healer in our midst. Come and life with our tribe."

its not an order. More of a suggestion.

Ambriel diplomaticly refuses the invitation.

"That's an honor, but i'm on a quest, and i hope to acheive it. I'm sorry, i can't join you."

"That is too bad. You take care. And good wishes on your quest."

"you as well. Bye."

Ambriel is glad they didn't try to force her to stay. So she gather her stuff and Cherub to get going

having food and water, Ambriel has less trouble on her mond to find shelter before night, so she decides to explore some more

at dusk some of the wild predatory creatures of the forest awaken, and soon enough Ambriel faces a hungry wolf that seems to mistake her for a meal

"Cherub, a wolf! It must be starving to get to us like that"

the wolf is fast, but Ambriel is just a tiny bit faster

Ambriel drives her longsword to intercept the wolf coming at her.

Cherub charges after Ambriel missing to connect

the wolf manage to jump back, avoiding Ambriel's sword, only to be on the path of Cherub's new weaponised arms. The wounds seem to be fatal, ans the wolf dies quickly.

after that Ambriel chooses to make camps as the night fall

it seems the lone wolf was the vanguard or pet of something else. soon enough Ambriel hears howling nearby, and the creature is coming closer, apparently not fazed by the darkness of the night

Ambriel gets up and readies for battle

"Cherub, we have company!"

the creature growls

she tries to identify the opponent

"must be the wolf's pack"

the humanoid creature stepping out of the shadows is definitely not a wolf, Ambriel is sure it is a lycanthrope. it growls again, a wary gaze on Ambriel and cherub

Ambriel is surprised

"Huh??.. Hum... hello?"

she can hardly make out the words, but she finally understands them after listening closely

"Murderer. You killed my firstborn."

Ambriel is too struck to clearly think about all this, couldn't try a diplomatic way... She can't deny she had killed that wolf... So she take a defensive posture, waiting.

"And now you want to kill me too. What monster you are. Your form betrays you. Not even a word of apology."

he stands there, waiting for Ambriel to strike him down

"At least you clearly want to kill me, not rape me like most of this damned forest!

and i won't apologize for defending myself before "

he doesn't look like he wants to kill

"Killing you would not bring my son back to me. Nothing will do that. But i do not want to kill. It was his first time changing and he ran awa before i could follow. Now he has been slain because you cannot control your own power or that lifeless creature. But if you do not wish to atone, just leave me in my grief."

"the celestial ways have me to ask, for clarification. That one attacked us and we defend ourselves. As its death would be by our hands, why should we atone for? And what would you have suggested?"

"You could have just defended yourself. Or trief to knock him out instead. Aren't you celestials all about life? As for atonement, i'd accept it if you were willing to bear a new cub that i'd raise in my dead sons' stead."

" the celestial ways are also about some free-will, that cub of your attacked us. If i should atone for every creature that attacked us, it would be endless..."

after a bit, Ambriel is rather sure that not only she doesn't have to bear his cub, indeed, she is positive he has been lying about it and just been trying to mate with her

"i hope you'll find a pack, and have new cubs"

he is a bit angry that his rouse didn't work but he parts ways

Ambriel let him go