MEN WHO NEED THERAPY

No one from the organization had found them yet; the greenblood kept moving, only coming into port for supplies and picking up job payments, or finding half-decent parts for Alcyone to tinker with.

So far, it seemed to have worked. There had been other hazards aplenty - pirates, sea monsters, even ocean zombies at one point - but in the last few weeks Hester had felt a greater sense of confidence and happiness than he had in several sweeps.

He had friends now - a wyvern rider, Sirrah, competitive and daring, as unlike a typical cavern jade as he himself was. A shopkeeper fuchsia, Tanguy, who was quiet and down to earth, utterly unlike any other royal Hester had met. 

Even a lowblood clown! He never would have imagined such a thing.

Despite Lunaes’s strange tendencies and religious beliefs, Hester found his cheerful spirit and accepting nature comforting. Alcyone liked him too.

The rust was fun to go jogging with, too - the novelty of it, exercising on his own time (with a friend!) just because he could. Having the energy to spare for it.

Sirrah and Tanguy were fun to fish and swim with, though the former was usually riding her wyvern, the latter working in that strange, traveling magical shop. He thought of them often, marveling that he now knew people who had a good chance of staying alive for sweeps.

He made his way below deck to the boat’s minimal ablution trap for a quick wash - he wished it had a proper shower, but it clearly hadn’t been meant for anyone to live on it long-term, and he hadn’t had the money and time to install something new.

The greenblood had just grabbed the soap and begun to wash his hair when he heard a loud clunk, then scratching noises up above.

Fuck, he thought. It’s some giant predator bird. Or a dragon. Probably after the catch…

I need eyes on our guest to fire. Ugh, I can’t see it. You’ll have to go on deck.

Alcyone’s reminder made Hester wish for the hundredth time that the ship had more than three cameras - none placed directly on the deck - and unlike some fancy models, they couldn’t swivel around or anything. So it figured she couldn’t see whatever this was.

He’d secured the catch with weights and ropes, fastened it tight, and put a heavy-duty tarp over it, but none of that would stop a truly determined thief. Especially anything with better weaponry and intelligence than a common beast.

If only this damn boat had better defenses and proper artillery, but no, it had clearly been intended as an explorer vessel. It had energy shields that temporarily repelled bullets and minor psi attacks, but not much else. 

Its guns could be kindly described as modest; one for short-range stun charges, the other for low-caliber bullets that would only pierce a small dragon’s scales. Neither were fast to maneuver and clearly intended for two trolls to manually operate at once; one for aiming, the other to fire. 

Alcyone could handle them effortlessly, but it didn’t change their capabilities.

What was that? The guns are offline.

There was some panic to Alcyone’s tone, full of sinking dread at the realization that she had been suddenly disarmed.

What? That didn’t make any sense. 

Maybe if he was quiet, he could sneak to the camera in the respiteblock and she could fix what was wrong and shoot before it attacked them. 

He sighed and shook his head, splattering soap and water droplets before swallowing, steeling himself as he slowly crept out into the hallway.

A horrible screech sounded as a reddish black thing crashed down the metal steps in a heap of stinking feathers and skin.

Hester swore and jumped backwards, letting out a few sparks in surprise.

What the fuck was that?

He doused it in an exhale of flame as it scrabbled to rise; his stamina and aim had improved since his fight with the maroon on the beach.

It screeched again, so loud it made him almost ill.

As it finally rose in a smoking mess, staring at him with the white eyes of the dead, understanding struck.

This was the maroon from the beach - only horribly warped, more bird than man, a skeletal beast beyond all troll reason.

His flames sputtered and died quickly; the thing dripped puddles of saltwater, and it snapped at him with wide jaws, clumsily trying to get closer.

Luckily it didn’t have much room to maneuver in the boat’s narrow hallway; that and its sodden, heavy wings were likely why it hadn't mauled him yet. 

Hester knew with grim experience what undead were capable of, remembering the humming-wasps.

He took out his cargo hook from his pants pocket. Not ideal; he did not want this thing close enough to bite. Even getting too much of its blood on him was a bad idea; some zombies spread that way.

Wait. Fire wouldn’t work here, but…

Hester breathed on his weapon, infusing magic into his flames, pouring almost every bit of heat he had directly into the hook and tip. 

Not a second too soon as the beast finally balanced on its scaly talons, wings tucked in, and lunged for him with dripping jaws.

Hester shoved his hook right into its open throat, rewarded with a gurgling, choking noise and a stench of noxious sizzling, burning flesh that spurred a hacking cough. 

“Fucking…hell…” He managed between coughs, throat almost as sore as it used to be when he breathed fire.

The thing didn’t move. Was it dead for good this time? 

I can’t get a good read on its vitals. But I’m not picking up any impulses or brain activity.

He waited a few moments after Alcyone’s tip, then - with a few grunts of effort - managed to extract his hook from its body and wipe it on the beast’s own black feathers. 

The heat magic had faded and he stowed it again, sighing. 

He’d just wanted to clean himself up. Was that so much to ask?

Then he froze, feeling and hearing the knock on his boat’s side that sent the greenblood stumbling slightly. A knock too regular and loud to have come from anything but another vessel pulling up close.

His anchor remained dropped, too…

Pirates again? Obnoxious, but maybe they’d just take his catch and leave. Shitty, but better than having to fight them off. He let Alcyone handle most of their money digitally, keeping little of it on him in case of incidents like this.

Carefully stepping over the now-slumped birdlike undead and the water it had shed, Hester quietly walked over to the stairs, but didn’t go up yet; instead he stood in their shadow, trying to sharpen his eyes to make out what was going on above.

Not an aspect of his magic he had a lot of control over, but it barely took any energy, and - ow - it was working a little, as someone stepped into view.

“Hester Shawgh.”

Thadus Valent.

Did that guy ever quit?

“You may have blocked our remote control, but you cannot miraculously escape this time. I should thank you for killing Naitos; he led us straight to you without even realizing what he was doing, but he is no longer useful.”

Of course. The guy had to fuck him over one last time.

“I have already sabotaged your ship’s weaponry, and I am wearing fireproof armor. You cannot win. Surrender.”

Scrabbling came from behind Hester.

Could it be…?

Hester looked back at the feathered monstrosity struggling to stand once more. 

Naitos wasn’t truly dead after all. 

He should’ve figured; usually took decapitation or a full burn to keep a strong undead down.

An idea struck like lightning.

A risky one. A potential lifesaver.

Into the water - If you think you can swim faster than that thing, I can handle oxygen.

He managed a slight, grim smile as scrambled up the stairs, taking a bullet to the leg but he’d already hit the ground screaming and Naitos dove over him -

- straight into Valent, hurtling them both off the side of the boat with a huge splash.

Hester breathed hard, allowing himself a few moments of stillness, knowing that wouldn’t stop either of them for long.

Sure enough, the QPIN ship - bigger, no doubt with a hidden gunner protected from anything Hester could do - fired a warning shot at his feet as he dragged himself up onto his good leg, jade blood dripping on the deck.

They didn’t have to bother. He knew he couldn’t beat them.

Luckily, he didn’t have to.

Hester breathed in, pained, hiccupy, but still taking in air.

They shot again, missing him - but while Valent had destroyed the ship’s guns, he hadn’t had time to sabotage its shields. Alcyone activated them, knowing they could only take so much, hoping it would be enough. 

Then he dove into the water - on the other side from Valent and Naitos. For a few moments he reeled from the cold, but he rallied easily, swimming powerfully as he had since he was two sweeps old.

His leg ejected the bullet and blood trailed as he swam - more process material returned to Alcyone, more scaly flesh in its place. Still hurt like hell, but he wouldn’t bleed out. 

It would attract predators, though. He had to keep moving, despite the pain. His lusus was out hunting somewhere…maybe the little dragon would come back and help like he had before.

Then greenblood cut through the cold sea, trusting Alcyone to pilot the ship. 

To his surprise, he didn’t pass out. But he couldn’t do much else besides quickly swim onward, except listening to the QPIN ship’s shots. 

Was Valent dead? Naitos, too - for good this time? 

Maybe he’d get lucky and they’d kill each other. Wouldn’t that be nice.

These shields are horribly inefficient. They’re already almost gone.

He heartily agreed with her. Hester could only hope they’d be enough to -

Their boat rammed into the enemy. He couldn’t blame Alcyone, much as his heart twinged at the damage - it was probably their best chance of making it out alive.

The waves from the impact nearly sent Hester spiraling, but he managed to keep control, stay on course.

Still he heard distant shots from the QPIN vessel, and sunlight wasn’t far off.

This was it, then.

Hester got himself to shore, hauling himself onto the sand, grains sticking to his wet body as he shook himself off as best he could. His fire magic had helped him adjust and keep moving in the water, though out of the sea, it was getting uncomfortably warm. Dawn was almost here, deadly light beginning to make him squint.

The shots stopped. He heard shouting.

What?

Hester didn’t dare call out. It could well be the empire, pirates or some other gang. All it probably meant was that he’d die a little later than he thought.

Get up. We need to find shelter.

A few minutes later, a woman walked over to him.

She was one of the strangest-looking trolls he’d ever seen. 

Long white hair in a messy ponytail, only the very ends tipped with black. Black horns except for their colorful red-orange-gold tips. Violet markings on her face - violet eyes - but no fins. A yellow symbol on her shirt. 

Black markings covering most of her arms and legs. Even her rapidly waving tufted tail had some.

Hester blinked. Was she a mutant? Or was he hallucinating now, imagining her and the silvery insect flitting about near the woman?

Hester–

Then…she started healing him.

Reddish pink sparks flashed around her horns and eyes and he felt his raw flesh relax, settle, stop aching from the wound it had replaced. His shoulders slumped in relief.

“Thanks.” He murmured. 

He didn’t understand, but he had no energy for questions. He was just grateful to be alive.

“We can’t stay here.” She said quietly. “Made them sleep quickly, but one might’ve called for help before I did. If you can walk, follow.”

Hester struggled, coughing slightly, but managed to get to his feet. He stumble-walked as fast as he could, injury healed but still raw, heat creeping up his back. Whoever this woman was - wherever she was taking him - he felt instinctively that it was somewhere safe.

“What’s your name?” He mumbled. “I’m Hester.”

Hester, be wary. Anyone can turn on a dime when they realize how useful we are as a tool. 

Alcyone was right. But he had to show he could cooperate, or the woman might change her mind - even if he was wrong, he was low on options for not burning to death right now.

“Can’t say my name. Can only give you my title.”

He blinked. Someone this young had a title? Or was she older than she looked? Her eyes did seem ancient.

“Okay. Your title?”

She sighed a little as they walked across Hanhai’s hot, pale sand, ears and tail flicking slightly in a way he recognized as embarrassment. 

With the boats behind them, the pair came to a strange, RV-like vehicle - but bigger, with extensions and seams that implied it could be much larger than it appeared. The silver insect started flying toward it.

He made out the words WELLSPRING CLINIC on its side as the woman finally spoke again, tone reluctant.

BY PURCHASING MY ADOPTS, YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE FOLLOWING.

You must Credit me for the design

You may NOT edit my original work in any form or way.

You may change the design and species after you've bought the design, but must keep the design recognizable and Still leave me credit.

Gender and bloodcolor is ultimately up to the buyer.

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You can however store it in your deviantart sta.sh, post it to tumblr profiles, or upload it to websites like toyhou.se with proper credit. (Lil-Nort)

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