Old Feelings and New Friends

I awoke with a start and a faint gasp.

Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump!

Grabbing at my chest, I tried to breathe. It had been the first memory in a while that really shook me. And, as a result, caused my body to tremble. I raised shaky hands to my face, where I wiped the tears that had been draining from my eyes while I slept.

With heavy breaths, I slowly began to control my racing heart and regain a semblance of composure. All the while, I listened to the sound of a crackling fire and faint discussion.

Aesandoral and Rionriv were having a hushed conversation. My heart sank as I wondered where Sharzin’s voice was.

Pushing up from the furs I rested against, the mound shifted, and a head raised to look at me. I had been sleeping against one of the wolves, who quickly nuzzled its snout to my face. It licked at my cheek for a minute as I gently rubbed at its chin.

“Thanks…pup,” I spoke hoarsely, patting the beast as I stood.

Wow, give Aesandoral a ViewTube channel and have her compete with Cesar Parris for the position of top dog.

“Where’s your pal, huh?”

The voices quieted for a moment beyond my room as I overheard the shuffling of bodies. Before the sound of footsteps reached me, I had already stepped from the small closet into a run-down space that resembled a sizable guardhouse.

“Iz!” Rionriv and Aesandoral cried out as I emerged.

They both quickly rushed forward, the second wolf in gleeful pursuit.

Aesandoral ran in faster, locking her arms around me in a passionate embrace. Squeezing tightly at my shoulders and cradling my head, she released a deep sigh of relief as she pulled me into her chest.

Bah-dump! Bah-dump! Bah-dump!

I was suddenly stricken with a pang of anxiety. The dream was fresh, and my mother’s words still tainted my mind like venom.

Instinctively flinching at her embrace, I panicked and wrenched myself away. Grabbing at my chest, I held a hand out to her, doing my best to keep her away for the time being.

Fugging—it’s just a dream. I tried to think, but the words ‘weak’ continued to bounce around my mind like a pinball.

It’s over. There’s no…she can’t—

Immediately realizing what had happened, Aesandoral blushed and stepped back from me.

“We-We were worried.” She whispered shyly, diverting her gaze for a moment before glancing at me with an ashamed look.

Goddamn mommy issues, fug off! I cursed myself as I ran a hand through my hair and tried to move onto a different topic.

“How long was I out?” I asked, pushing the dream from my thoughts and shaking my head to clear the memory.

“It’s been about a day,” Rionriv said as she approached, inspecting me closely with that look of hers.

A day?! Crap, that’s a setback to the schedule.

Rionriv crossed her arms before continuing.

“Don’t expect the same affectionate display from me. After all, you have some explaining to do, you perv.”

Pointing to her chest and the torn shirt from where I had ripped the bottle away, she eyed me for a moment. After which her expression softened as she, too, seemed to find a bit of relief.

“Regardless of your lechery, I’m glad you’re okay, Ishara. You definitely worried us when you wouldn’t wake up after we administered the potion.”

I looked between the two of them, ignoring the fact that I had been in a brief coma, before jumping to the next most important topic.

“What about Sharzin?”

Rionriv and Aesandoral’s faces scrunched as they looked away from me. My heart sank. But, before I could ask anything more, I noticed a quickly approaching threat over their shoulders.

“Cave Bear!” I cried out as I pushed past the two of them.

What’s a bear doing here? They must have missed it on their final sweep since it wasn’t in the initial scheme. I’ll take care of it. I’m not weak! I-I can solo this!

I raised a fist to strike, but froze as a squeaky voice cried out—

“No! Don’t!”

Sharzin dashed in from the darkness between me and the yearling dire bear with her arms wide. “His name is Sharmin. He’s my cuddly bear.”

Wait, Sharzin? Why is she defending the bear? And why was it letting her?

Frozen, I stared as the beast seemed to be nuzzling its nose into her hip. It was afraid of me.

Confused, I shot a look back at Aesandoral, who quickly glanced away.

I understand now…

“No,” I said bluntly. “No, bear. Two wolves are enough.”

“I want a bear!” Sharzin cried loudly. “I almost dieeeeed. I named him. I love him! He’s my trauma buddy bear!”

I sighed and rubbed my eyes for a moment. While I was having a night terror of a past life, Sharzin was getting a trauma bear. And not the build-a-kind.

“Ugh!” I growled.

Moving forward, I gripped her on the shoulder and looked back to Aesandoral. With a clearing of my throat, I delivered a stern order.

“Okay. You can keep the wolves and the bear. But no more pets, you two! Understand?”

“Deal!” Aesandoral and Sharzin replied excitedly as they cuddled their respective creatures.

“Fuggin’—we’re the only party in history that returns from a dangerous dungeon dive with more members than we started."

Shaking my head and sighing, I looked over at the three who now glanced at me expectantly. “So, can anyone tell me what else I missed?”