#baldur's gate three

They had come out of nowhere, three men with voices that slithered, oily and unsettling. The way their eyes lingered, the too-friendly smiles that curled at their mouths… You felt it - a shift, a wrongness. So you left, quick and polite, but they followed. They called after you, laughing, asking questions you didn’t want to answer. Questions that made your skin crawl.

And so you ran.

Now, the forest was your shield, but it was also a maze. You couldn’t recognize your surroundings. You had never gone this far into the woods before. Your lungs ached, your legs screamed for rest, but the thought of stopping turned your blood cold. You pushed harder, stumbling slightly as your boot caught on a root, but you caught yourself, and pressed on.

The sounds behind you had quieted - perhaps they had given up. Or perhaps they were waiting. Watching. You shook the thought away and focused on the rhythm of your pounding feet and the rush of your breath. Ahead, the trees seemed to thin ever so slightly. Maybe there would be an opening, somewhere you could hide, somewhere you could stop running. You needed to rest, your body begged to rest.

You could only hope, for the love of the gods, that you could rest.

You dared to glance back - just for a moment as you entered the clearing - straining to hear or see any sign of them. Nothing but the rustling of leaves and your own frantic breath. Relief flickered at the edges of your mind. Perhaps you did lose them. Perhaps-

Thud.

You collided with something solid, something massive; large. The impact knocked the breath from your lungs, and you tumbled backward, landing hard against the damp earth. Your palms scraped against the twigs and grass as you pushed yourself up, blinking through the shock.

And then you froze.

A low rumble broke the forest’s silence. A deep sound that you felt more than heard. Your eyes widened in horror as they traveled upward, meeting a wall of thick brown fur. A bear. A brown bear loomed above you, its sheer size alone dwarfing you where you sat. It turned its broad head, eyes settling on you.

The world seemed to still. Your heart, which had moments ago been racing, now felt like it might stop altogether. You didn’t dare breathe. You didn’t dare move. The bear huffed, a soft snort that sent a gust of warm air wafting against your face. Every instinct screamed at you to run, but your body wouldn’t listen - paralyzed beneath the weight of those watchful eyes. 

The bear didn’t lunge. It didn’t roar or rear back on its hind legs like every terrifying tale you’d ever heard. It just stared. Deep eyes fixed on you with an intensity that made your breath catch. But, instead of aggression, the creature’s massive head tilted slightly, its ears twitching forward in a gesture that seemed almost… Curious. It was hard to believe…

The bear sniffed the air again, a low, thoughtful sound escaping it. Then, to your utter disbelief, it took a step closer. The leaves crunching beneath its paws. Every muscle in your body told you - screamed for you to move - but you still couldn’t. 

Closer now, so close you could see the flecks of gold in its hazel eyes. The bear lowered its head, nostrils flaring as it continued to sniff you. You flinched just slightly as its wet nose pressed gently against your skin. What was happening? Bears weren’t supposed to act this way. Yet here it was, massive and impossibly calm.

Your wide eyes searched its face, half-expecting it to snap out of whatever strange tranquility it held. But again, the bear didn’t growl. Didn’t snarl. It simply lingered.

“Come on, sweetheart! We know you’re out there!” One of the men called out, his tone dripping in mock sweetness. Another laughed, low and menacing, as heavy footsteps crunched through the undergrowth.

Your stomach dropped. The three men emerged into the clearing, their grins fading the instant their eyes landed on the massive bear towering over you. You shrank into yourself instinctively, your breath quickening as panic clawed at your chest. The bear’s eyes flickered to you, and something in your expression seemed to ignite a spark within the furry beast.

A low rumble began deep in the bear’s chest, vibrating through the ground beneath you. One of the men stumbled back a step, his wide eyes flickered nervously from the creature to you. He muttered a curse under his breath, but his hand moved to hover near his weapon.

You scooted back, your fingers digging into the ground. Your gaze darted to one of them, who reached for his bow, his fingers brushing the taut string. The bear’s growl intensified, and it moved then, stepping forward, its massive form blocking any path to you. Its head lowered slightly, eyes narrowing. Protective. There was no mistaking its intent now - it wasn’t just a warning. It was a promise. The bear’s eyes never left the men as it moved, its muscles coiled, its fur bristling along its back.

It was clear: come any closer, and the bear would act.

The bear stood its ground, unblinking, unwavering. The ringleader of the men hesitated, his hand still lingered near his bow, but as the seconds stretched. He seemed to be weighing his options. 

“She not worth it.” He muttered, giving one last wary glance at the bear before turning to leave. The others followed his lead, retreating into the forest, their quick footsteps fading into the distance.

As the men disappeared, you felt the dam inside you break. The tears welled up, hot and unexpected, and they spilled over your cheeks. Relief, fear, exhaustion, they all mixed together in that moment. You wiped at your eyes, trying to steady your breath, but the emotions kept coming, raw and unrelenting.

Shutting your eyes, you rubbed your wet cheeks, trying to pull yourself together. After a deep breath, you opened them again, only to be met with an unexpected sight. The massive, comforting bear that had once stood protectively before you was gone. In its place, standing tall and broad, was a man, his back facing towards you. Your eyes moved, raising, meeting boots, legs, waist, before landing on the back of his head; his hair was almost honey-brown.

“Gods!” You gasped, your heart hammering once more. Jumping up, you took a couple of steps back as the man turned to finally face you.

He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his expression calm, warm even. "My apologies," He said, his voice deep and soothing. "I do not mean you any harm."

You eyed the man in front of you. And gods, was he tall - he was taller than most people you’d come across. His shoulders were broad, and there was a noticeable strength in his build, especially in his arms where the muscles flexed with every slight movement. His skin was a tan - sunkissed - and his hair fell just past his shoulders in soft waves. His hazel eyes met yours and for a moment, you found yourself caught in their gaze.

You were speechless.

There was something about him, something rugged yet strikingly handsome, that left you staring longer than you should have. 

You swallowed hard, finally finding your voice, “Who… Who are you?”

The man placed a hand over his chest, a gesture both formal and sincere. “I am the druid, Halsin,” He said, his deep voice steady and kind.

“A Druid?” You echoed, still wary, though the tension in your shoulders began to ease. “That- that makes sense. As to why you can shift to and from a bear, then.”

Halsin offered a hint of a smile, a calm reassurance settling in his features. He lowered his hand to his side, his hazel eyes still fixed on you with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Why were those men chasing you?” 

You hesitated, brushing your hands against your dirt-smudged skirt, still trying to catch your breath. “I was just picking berries,” You admitted, “And they… Well, they started bothering me. Saying strange things, trying to corner me, so I ran. To get away from them.”

Halsin frowned deeply at this, the warmth in his face clouding over. He glanced at the earth for a moment, shaking his head as though searching for words. Finally, he said, “Some men are like weeds - they grow where they shouldn’t, choke out what is good, and refuse to be easily removed. Yet even weeds can be dealt with, given the right tools.” The words were wise, but something about his delivery - so matter-of-fact, paired with his furrowed brow - struck you as unexpectedly funny. You couldn’t help the soft laugh that bubbled up, surprising even yourself. Halsin glanced at you, a flicker of amusement in his hazel eyes. “What did I say?” He asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upward ever so slightly.

You shook your head, still smiling. “Nothing. It’s just… Thank you.”

His expression softened further, his head dipping slightly, as though the gratitude humbled him. “You are safe now,” He assured you. “That is what matters.”

You nodded, “I’m Y/N.”

Halsin gave a small smile, inclining his head in greeting. “It is a pleasure to meet you, though I wish the circumstances had been kinder.”

You then glanced up, noticing the sky painted with streaks of orange and purple. The sun was beginning to set. “I should be getting home,” You murmured, your voice tinged with lingering reluctance.

Halsin’s brows lifted slightly. “Would you like me to escort you? The forest is unpredictable, and after what happened…”

You shook your head, a soft chuckle escaping, “I doubt those men will bother me again - not after seeing a bear leap to my defense. They probably think I’ve got one as my personal bodyguard now.”

That earned a quiet chuckle from Halsin, the sound deep and warm. “A fair assumption,” He said, his eyes glinting with amusement. And with another raise of his hand to his chest, he bowed his head once more, “May the Oak Father guide you home safely.”

You turned to leave, but something held you back. Pausing, you glanced over your shoulder, hesitation clear in your expression. “Will I… Ever see you again?”

For a moment, Halsin simply looked at you, his hazel eyes warm; thoughtful. “The forest has a way of bringing kindred spirits together,” He said at last, a small, knowing smile gracing his lips. “If we are meant to cross paths again, we will.”

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips, before turning to head home. With each step, you couldn’t shake the thought, as the sun sank lower on the horizon, that your paths might cross again. A quiet, lingering feeling settled in your chest, one that whispered you hadn’t seen the last of him. And deep down, you held onto the hope that, one day, you would see the Druid Halsin again.

~~~