When morning came I woke up the girls and introduced them to Tobias. We did a thorough search of the camp now that it was daylight. We found that all four of the thugs, for want of a better word, had had some chain mail shirts for armor. I had the skeletons put those on. Missy found a couple of longbows that were better than the ones she and her sister used. We also found two long-swords and a few daggers. In the bag that they had, we found about 50 pelts of all different kinds of animals, we were in two minds about keeping those, but Tobias moved to a shaded area under the trees turning into his spirit form and informed us that it would be a waste not to keep it and that using it to make us more powerful would mean at least something good came out of this. He also asked that when we got back to his body that we skin it for the same reason.

Strapping the pack and the longswords to Freki for now. Aura took the daggers as a backup to her crossbow. The skeletons mounted a head on a spear each and with that, we slowly made our way back to where we left the cart getting there just after noon.

As we hadn’t had breakfast yet everyone was hungry. I made a small campfire took some of the supplies and made us all lunch. In the meantime, Missy and Aura skinned Tobias' body taking the pelt and then burying the rest in a small grave that the skeletons had dug. Tobias in true bear fashion then just laid down on top of it and started to snooze.

Of course right when lunch was ready Grim and his party showed up. With Grim riding on top of a snow-white wolf. And four cubs trailing them as well. After getting off, the she-wolf and her cubs trotted over to where Tobias was snoozing and proceeded to lay down next to him. Over lunch, Grim told us how his quest went.

“Without the cart and all riding on Ivy we made good progress. We found the den with Ethel over there badly burnt inside.” Pointing to the White she-wolf. “It looked like she put up quite a fight, as we found the body of what looked like a magic-user just outside the den. When we got inside we saw that there were four cubs in there with her but badly underfed. Sissy worked her magic healing up Ethel. While Moira quickly flew back here to grab some food and we spent the rest of the day getting Ethel and the cubs back up to strength. Moira and Omega took watch over us during the night and were surprised at getting a small boost of power in the middle of the night. Once morning broke we slowly made our way back here. By the way, we looted that wizard or whatever he was, while there was nothing left we were able to get his staff for Missy.”

At that I told them our story, pointing to the heads. I glossed over some of the things that I did that night with only Grim picking up on the fact that I left a few things out. Giving him a look of ill tell you later, we decided it was probably for the best to slowly make our way back to storm cove as Ethel and the pups were still a bit weak. Tobias offered to pull the cart so we had Ethel and the pups get on. The girls also insisted that I get some rest as well as I only had a few hours of sleep the night before. After a small token of protest, I also made my way onto the cart. Using Ethel as a pillow and the cubs crawling and snuggling all over me I had a surprisingly good sleep.

I was woken up for dinner. As it was now dark Tobias was in his spirit form. The skeletons were setting up the tents while Grim was cooking

“Tobias you said that you and Ethel had an agreement. Would you be willing to tell us more about it, as a friendship between a bear and wolves doesn’t happen too often?” I asked while everyone including the new pack got their food.

As soon as he said that white paw smacked his head and Ethel looked at him and growled, that Sissy translated as don't be a dumbass you did everything you could including giving up your life.

At that Ethel first looked to Grim who gave a nod, then looked back to Sissy. Grim said, “As one of the perks of bonding with Ethel I can also understand her, maybe not her words but at least her emotions. As a thank you and knowing that we would probably be in more danger. She asks if you would be willing to take care of her cubs after we have escorted you to Maiden’s rest. As a ranger, you would be much better suited to keep them safe than we could.”

Sissy came over and gave Ethel a hug “It would be my pleasure. I'll treat them as my own.” Then looking at Ivy with a laugh “Ivy there is great but her form of cuddling can be a bit painful at times.” I could swear that I saw Ivy getting an embarrassed look on her face.

“I think it's time to head to bed. As I had a good sleep on the cart me the skeletons and Freki can keep watch.” And with that, the girls all got into the tents and went to sleep. Grim stayed behind a bit longer and as soon as he thought the girls were sleeping he sat down next to me.

“I could see you didn't tell me everything that happened last night and that something is bothering you.”

So I proceeded to tell him the whole story of what happened. While I was telling him the story I figured out why I didn’t want the girls along. It wasn’t because of fear of them getting hurt. It was fear of them seeing the real me. The darkness that I now knew that was a part of me. That I was afraid of what I really wanted to do to those men that tortured all those animals.

Grim stood up, and then suddenly decked me. And with that, he shouted “Get your head out of your ass, do you think you are the only one that deals with a dark side. Look at me I’m half-orc. I deal with wanting to hit something every damn minute.” Then in a quieter voice and with a slight chuckle “Good thing you're always around to act like an ass so I can punch you. But to keep it real I use my cooking as an outlet. Find something or” now looking over to the tents where his shout had woken up the ladies and head were poking out to see the commotion, he whispered “or someone”. Then back to his normal voice. “Get a damn hobby.” Then marched over to where he had put up our tent.

When he passed Missy and Sissy’s tent they got out and said. “It's time to cash in on the other favor.” And proceeded to drag him into their tent. Grim looked over his shoulder and winked at me before entering.

Chuckling at the Grim’s antics I spent the rest of the night trying to come up with something. Drawing a blank as I never really had that many interests. Always busy studying. Playing games like chess and go with the guild master and the matron. If it wasn’t for Grim dragging me out for stuff like sword practice I would have hardly left the building. Figuring it would hopefully come to me I spent part of the night playing with the cubs a little ways off from the camp when they woke up early.

We went slow on the way back to give Ethel and the cubs time to recover. And needing to take a slightly different route because of the heavier cart having issues near the edge of the swamp. As such it took us another two days and nights to make it back to Storm Cove. When we got back we sold everything but the bear pelt and used the money to get two donkeys to hitch up to the cart and added enough supplies to last us a month on the road.

As we decided to spend a few days n Storm cove to be sure Ethel and the cubs were okay for the trip. Me and Grim both got saddles for Tobias and Ethel to make for a slightly more comfortable ride. Grim turned the bearskin into some blankets that we used to pad part of the cart where the cubs would ride. When we were ready to go Aura showed up with a second cart with Freki in front pulling it along. This one looked like a box on wheels. She explained that it was a mobile tinker shop and that her dad gave her his old bag of holding filled with hopefully enough supplies to start working on making Geri and finishing her quest. It also had tools and such for doing basic weapon maintenance.

At that, we all mounted up and made our way down the coastal road between Storm cove and Maidens rest. Quickly getting into a regular pattern of me resting in the cart a few hours during the midday, and then taking up watch during the night. Aura doing an hour of work on Geri each day after breakfast. Before we packed up and moved out again. Not having to rush we set up camp about an hour before dark, Playing with the pups and giving them a chance to stretch their legs while Grim made us food. After dinner, we all sat around the campfire telling stories and getting to know each other better.