The Rats of Spire's Edge

With the jarcoban hunting packs no longer out for our blood, Stoler initiated a head count. "Are any of you injured?"

Of the two surviving knights and two templars, only the knights suffered any real damage. Stoler's team managed to avoid the worst of the fighting and walk away mostly unscathed. While driving the carriage, sir Gallien croaks out, "Nothing a good long rest won't fix. Conrad and I'll be out of the fight for a while, but we'll survive."
Wal's blood red scales shimmer in blood. Discerning between his and his victim's is impossible. Naz's arms are coated in admittedly shallow cuts compared to the gorge taken out of my arm and Maheed somehow managed to avoid any noticeable damage.

Summer lays on the carriage bench and weakly says, "Unable... Am I... To remedy injuries."

Aroura manages to snake her way through the over populated carriage until she's standing over me. "Is your arm broken?"

I actually don't know. The gorge is certainly deep enough to reach bone, but the searing pain and flowing blood is preventing me from checking further. With pained breath, I manage to squeak out, "I don't know. Maybe."

After a moment of consideration, she leans over me. "Naz, I've a need for your hands. When he removes his hand, you'll pry open the wound. I will assess the condition of his bone."

"Is that necessary? You can't just preemptively repair the bone?"

She shakes her head. "My condolences. I must precisely ascertain your condition lest you develop cancer."

I don't know what that is. I'll have to trust her judgement then. "Son of a bitch! Let's do this."

As Naz maneuvers his way to me, I'm given a cloth to chew on. Stoler is ordered to provide light, Wal is ordered to hold my arm still and Maheed is order to get out of the way. A few clean absorbent cloths are provisioned as Wal threatens to tear my arm off, holding it perfectly still.

"Remove your hand."

As soon as I do, a cloth is thrown in the wound shooting a soft yet searing pain I've never expected to feel from cloth through my entire arm. Immediately, Naz invades, tearing apart my already torn arm. Through my muffled screams I can hear Aroura issuing orders, but can't care to comprehend them.
That process repeats again and again. New bolts of pain resurging like a storm until after what feels like days, it stops. Aroura slumps back, appearing as exhausted as I am. She turns to Naz and Wal, then mumbles through heavy breaths, "I'm sorry... I can't... Do any more."

Naz cleans his hands before holding her shoulder. "You've done enough Tavi. These scratches aren't anything to worry about."

Wal adds, "I've survived worse."

She goes to say something but it swiftly turns from an incoherent mumble into nothing as she passes out from mana exertion. Aroura is placed carefully on the bench opposite of Summer so that they might rest well.

Just before the rangers are given cloth wrap to bandage our wounds, I weakly clench the air again and again. That's more than I could do before... While most of the muscle in my arm have been restored, Aroura collapsed before she could replace the skin. A pink and red slash burns across my forearm, still bleeding. It'll leave a nasty scar, but a good story. I'm just grateful I can use my hand again.

Suddenly, I feel like puking. Why? I lean out of the trunk and heave yesterday's meal on the road. Even when there's nothing left I heave and heave. Tears fall from my eyes, though I'm not sure if it's because of the retching or because I'm alive. I thought for sure I was dead... Images off the people I've killed flash through my head. So many poor fuckers who somehow ended up serving the beastmen.
No, no they don't deserve my pity! Those mother fuckers are serving monsters who would destroy the world! Even if they ended up in that position the same way I did, they should have refused!

Finally my body stops retching and I force myself to keep the tears in my eyes. No one has time for my sissy bullshit. Besides there are things I need to take care of. As I wrap up my arm along with the wounds on my back and some smaller cuts I didn't know I had, I say, "Maheed."

Startled, he zips to face me. "Y-Yes?"

"I'm sorry I had to yell at you like I did. You did really well. Thank you for saving our asses out there."

I notice his tail flap to life before he forcible settles it. "Oh uh... Thanks."

"You see, this is where you can have some confidence in yourself and say 'you're welcome!' "
He laughs nervously, but doesn't actually say anything. "Seriously. You did good." 
He nods and can't help but let his tail flap a few times. I turn to Wal and Naz. "You too. Wal, you were an absolute monster out there. Naz, thank you for guarding our liege."
I wanted to say 'reining our liege in,' but that would be disrespectful of the woman who just saved my arm and my life.

They both nod before we're overtaken by the excited chatter of the remaining knights praising Wal for his outstanding performance while I receive nothing for my judgement calls. It doesn't matter. I've come to expect this from the humans. 

Fuck, I'm tired.

Despite being forced to retreat, all our losses, abandoning two ballistea, and the advent of beastmen in the West, the knights and templars are rather jovial. Only Stoler seems to be taking this with any degree of dread. I stare at him with a side eye analyzing each movement. Although it's impossible to see any nuanced movement or expression through his armour, it's clear that he's deep in thought.
A flash of the moment when he blasted the beastmen commander churned over in my mind. Why did you help me, chosen?

As it turns out, I was lost in thought too, since I failed to notice when Maheed took his place right beside me. Saying the carriage is cramped would be an understatement, but there is still room in the trunk for Maheed to stay without being so close. I suppose it doesn't really matter.
Slowly, I adjust myself until I finally get into a seated position where Maheed follows me. My saved arm lands on his soft head and out of instinct I start petting him. I laugh slightly. "Sorry, I know you don't like to be pet. I'm just... Appreciating my hand."

If he ever responded, I certainly didn't catch it. He didn't remove my hand apparently since it was still on his sleeping head. Glad to know he doesn't mind my pets apparently.
Where are we? Staring out of the trunk, it looks like we're in Spire's Edge at the dusk of firstday. We've only just arrived as evident by the concerned onlookers fading in and out of view.

I had guessed we we're heading to the local noble's manor to rest for midday, and it looks like I was right. We're eagerly let into the baron's gates and the baron himself rushes out to meet us.

Stoler steps out to greet him. Right then, let's see what he has to say. I lurk out of the trunk, stumbling from a sudden dizzyness, collapsing to my knees, waking Maheed in the process. I have to see what Stoler says to the Baron. With great effort I manage myself to my feet, using the carriage as a cruch. The world blurs and they sound fuzzy, but I catch what they're saying.

Stoler bows to the baron. "Sorry to impede once more, baron Edwig, but would you house us until the break of second dawn?"

"Of course! But you must tell me what happened. Are our roads safe?"

Stoler remains bowed. His tone turning more grave. "I'm afraid not. Baron. I suggest you bolster the town's garrison and rally the militia as soon as possible."
The baron becomes visibly worried but Stoler holds up a hand to calm him. "Fret not. We've struck a crippling blow today. They'll not bother you or your town before the templars exterminate this threat."
An unimpressed 'hmph' frees itself from my breath. The templars were going to get themselves killed if I hadn't intervened. Stoler continues. "Even still. These are no mere brigands. It is best you prepare your people for war."