Role

Chapter 6

The awkward shyness that Aurew displayed in the company of two-legs became
more pronounced as her timid footsteps departed Darsylon. She visited the
big cities of Galadon, Voralian City, Hamsah Mu'tazz -- even Seantryn Modan;
all teeming with people, sights, sounds, smells but no apparent friends.

All in all, Aurew found this more than acceptable; she had already been
responsible for the death of one friend (Audune) and wasn't eager to shoulder
that burden again. Except... being a shape changer was grueling and painful
to boot. Horns here, tail there, hooves, claws, fangs. These were the spells
of almosts and what-ifs. Even with as many of them put together as possible,
Aurew struggled on her own. She trudged through her studies long enough to
tap into the body of a coyote, which brought her a brief moment of joy. Would
this mischievous, canine spirit be enough to reunite her with her beloved
cooshee? At the least, she would be able to understand him better!

But being a two-leg sometimes four-leg is so lonely and she missed the
faithful, unconditional companionship of Audune, even if the result was
always Aurew speaking on behalf of both of them.

Hoping to fill the silence (and learn a thing or two about combat), Aurew
began hiring people to keep her company (mercenaries, mind you). She kept
them fed, gave them coin, and boldly took the fore of every battle she
could. 'Let the sacrifice be me,' Aurew thought silently.

It proceeded as planned, until an exuberant warg and orc combination sent
Aurew fleeing for her life. Her brave Nankorf-eating dwarven charge threw
his body to the front without batting an eyelash. That was, of course, the
last thing Aurew wanted and she was rewarded by returning to see a slightly
wounded orc and warg, and a very dead dwarf.

Aurew was sad. Not Audune-sad, but had this gruff dwarven mercenary left
behind any family, friends, lovers? Maybe she could look but then it dawned
on her -- she didn't even know his name. What a horrific, impersonal thing,
to pay someone money, to watch them lay down their life, and not even have
the decency to ask who they were while they lived. In death, this all became
apparent. Would she be one of the nameless, faceless many that were so easily
sacrificed in the name of... something?