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friendlyforestbeast · 1 year

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Husk/Yikes: Heartstrings

(D&D story, 6995 words, mid campaign)

Authors: @hellscribbles, @friendlyforestbeast

CW: death, abuse, blood and violence mention, religious trauma, bug mention

Someone had been outside Husk's wagon for some time now. The rustle of their footsteps through the grass was just barely audible to Husk's keen hearing. They'd heard them come and go several times already, once they had even placed a foot on the first stair to their door, but had quickly retreated again. Twice in the last week they had let their guard down and been ambushed, it would not happen a third time.

Husk moved through their caravan silently as they kept their attention on the creature outside their door, absentmindedly fiddling with the recently purchased furnishings for their small home. A low table and some floor cushions, a portable stove for cooking, a stand holding a few recently acquired treasures, and a makeshift bed of expensive furs they still didn't quite feel belonged to them. They had straightened and re-straightened the few items they owned repeatedly, uneasiness forcing them to busy their hands while they waited to see what the unknown creature outside would do. The thought had crossed their mind that it was perhaps Doro coming to retrieve one of his possessions he’d left during their short time sharing the wagon but the footsteps were too light, too careful to match the heavy stride of the six-foot Aasimar.

The pacing stopped. Tension in their arms coiled like a spring and they could feel their nails extend into claws reflexively, threatening to pierce the cushion they were adjusting. They held their breath, waiting for their visitor’s next move. After a moment of deafening silence, they heard an exasperated sigh and the familiar tone of a velvet voice, the words too muffled by the door between them to make out. Though they made out the distinct syllables of "ridiculous".

Despite their human guise as Chase, their ears twitched as apprehension eased into barely contained curiosity. Recognizing the voice as belonging to Yikes, Husk furrowed Chase's brow, wondering why he had been pacing outside their caravan for this long, and at this hour of the night too.

Keeping their steps light, Husk slinked to the door. Their hand hovered over the cold metal handle for a moment before turning it without a sound. Misty night air greeted them as the door silently swung open. The sound of crickets and cicadas enveloped them as they took in the environment, the bright colors of Eclipse's campground appearing in blacks and whites to their eyes. They focused their gaze on the familiar porcelain figure standing a small distance from their doorstep.

Yikes was dressed in rumpled sleep clothes, his shoulders slumped and arms wrapped around himself tightly. His brows furrowed in worry as he leaned against the neighboring wagon for support. Before husk could call out though, Yikes attention snapped to them.

"Uh-!" Yikes sputtered, relaxing his posture to conceal the anxious look he'd had a moment ago, replacing it with what Husk could tell was a carefully crafted smile. "I'm sorry, I wasn't sure if you were still awake." His voice sounded apologetic, but the nervous edge it held gave him away.

The hair on the back of Chase's neck rose as Husk tensed involuntarily, scanning their surroundings more closely as they leaned out the door, looking for hidden figures or watchful eyes. Of course, they found nothing, but that did little to ease the creeping apprehension forming at the back of their mind. The last few days had been nothing short of catastrophic. Compared to the bloody scene from this morning, Yikes was looking better but only barely. Exhaustion seemed to exude from his every step, he was clearly distressed.

“You’re welcome anytime, Yikes,” Husk smiled, trying to alleviate Yikes' worry, grateful that their guise as Chase had an air of sincerity and warmth to it. “Is everything alright?” Yikes’ cheeks darkened in what Husk could only assume was a blush. “Y-yes! Everything's alright, I was just feeling restless. I was uh… I was coming to ask you something.”

The rising alarm at the back of their mind turned to confusion, which they concealed with a welcoming grin, Chase's face lending itself well to the expression. "Of course, would you like to come in?" Husk opened the door wider and cheerfully gestured for Yikes to come inside. "I've set up the kettle so for once I can offer tea."

Yikes hesitated a moment longer before nodding, offering a grateful smile. “Tea sounds wonderful. Thank you, my love.” Yikes approached slowly, climbing the steps until his height overtook Chase’s, then followed them inside the wagon. Yikes paused for a moment before deciding to lounge at the small table. “I’m happy you’re settling in here, this place is quite cozy now.” Yikes commented warmly, his blank eyes staying with Husk as they moved through the space to the kettle.

Husk grinned, “I’m glad I was able to find a few things before leaving Pidehold, including a few souvenirs.” They nodded their head to one corner of the room where one of Rosepike’s stolen awards stood proudly displayed in the corner.

Yikes’ gaze followed their gesture and he laughed upon seeing Husk’s prize. “I didn’t even notice you took that.”

Husk shrugged, still grinning mischievously. “I like to collect knicknacks.”

They could feel Yikes’ gaze still on them as they began to fiddle with the newly assembled stove before sighing and resigning to using druidcraft to light the fire. Muttering the incantation under their breath with a small wave, the lilac hue of Husk’s magic gave way to a small orange flame illuminating the small room. Their mind was racing at what could possibly have made Yikes so worried, and why he was staring at them so intensely. Husk was glad they were using Chase’s form, it was one of their older faces that they had given a cheerful disposition, and was easy to hide behind. That and human features were far less expressive than their own. Their natural ears and tail reflected whatever thought crossed their mind, they couldn’t help but grimace with mild annoyance.

Their mind drifted back to the events of the last few days. It had been turbulent to say the least; between the werewolf attack and the entity contacting him and Azule in their dreams, it was no wonder Yikes was on edge. But why had he come to them?

“Are you healing alright?” They asked softly, “I have some herbs leftover if you’re feeling unwell? Or do you have any wounds that still need mending?” Yikes smiled, weariness at the edges of his face. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you, but tea is just fine. I feel better after resting.” Yikes paused, heat rising to his face again as he continued, not meeting their eyes, “but how are you feeling? I’m sorry if I made you uneasy.”

The moment of silence filled as the kettle began to give a low whistle to signal the water starting to boil. “Uneasy?” Husk’s brow furrowed in mild confusion. “I’ve come away completely unscathed the last few days. The least I can do is offer my help where I can, especially after the effort you all put into saving my life.” They sighed, “I will admit, I am feeling a little out of my depth when it comes to nightmares and gods but I’m grateful I can at least offer to heal you all.” A beat passed between them. “I’m feeling lost in it, too,” Yikes murmured as his eyes drifted back to Husk, his gaze glassy and unfocused. “But your company means more to me than I could ever tell you, truly.”

Their ear twitched, which they hid by rubbing their neck with their hand. “I’m glad. I was worried you were going to try and tell me I should leave and not get tangled up in this Ladybug business.” They tilted their head and grinned. “You can’t get rid of me so easily, Yikes.”

Yikes huffed, “I won’t tell you what to do, but I do worry I’m going to get you killed, or worse,” his expression softened, he leaned more heavily on the table as he continued. “But I’m glad you’re choosing to stay. I don’t think I could leave either if our roles were reversed.” He laughed.

Husk chuckled as they magically extinguished the flames from the stove, “If the Ladybug wants my soul so badly then I hope she likes fleas.”

Yikes laughed in response, the worry in his tone dissipating, though after a long moment he winced. “Though, I uh… I actually meant I’m sorry if I made you uneasy by lurking outside your home. If I’m being honest, I’m not used to anyone being keen enough to hear me when I’m stalking around the grounds at night.” That made Husk snicker. “Oh, don’t worry about that.” They began to spoon tea leaves into the strainer and flashed Yikes a grin. “I’ve always been a nosy bastard.” They were still nursing their wounded pride as an assassin after being ambushed by both Sorovar and Palen. If anything, hearing the fleet-footed Yikes outside their caravan was reassurance they had not lost their touch.

Yikes only chuckled in response as Husk finished preparing their tea. They placed the two mugs (both of which were stolen from the Pidehold guardhouse) on the table and took a seat next to Yikes. If it was not the nightmare or werewolf ordeal that was on his mind then they had no idea what could be troubling him.

Yikes murmured a soft thank you, breaking his gaze from Husk finally as he took the mug. A moment of silence stretched between them. The sound of Yikes’ long nails tapping a beat against the ceramic cup eerily loud between them. Yikes appeared to have relaxed since coming inside, though his ears still sat too low for Husk’s liking.

“You mentioned,” Husk started hesitantly, “that you had something you wanted to ask me?” Yikes winced. “Yes, I do. I have… a strange request of you,” Yikes’ voice was heavy with guilt as he spoke, “but I don’t want you to do anything that’s uncomfortable for you.”

Fulfilling debts and bargains was something they were well accustomed to. It came naturally to the fey and even if Yikes hadn’t expected them to, Husk had always intended to repay their debt, but Yikes’ visible anxiety gave them pause. If Husk didn’t know any better they would have thought they’d be burying a body tonight. “Of course, if it’s within my power, I’ll do it.” The smile on their face was genuine but curiosity gnawed at the edges of their brain.

Yikes took a deep breath, then leaned in close and asked in a low, eager voice, "could I see your true form again?”

Husk jolted, nearly spilling their tea. They laughed nervously and brushed a hand through their hair to hide their twitching ear. “S-surely, there’s something more valuable than that I could offer? Steal some jewels? Send letters filled with bees back to Selbas?”

“More valuable?” Yikes asked with concern, openly examining their expression. “No, there's nothing else I want, but your comfort is always what's most important to me."

Husk was quiet for a moment as the realization dawned on them; Yikes had never seen another changeling before they’d clumsily shifted in front of them. It was a first for Husk as well, they remembered how overwhelmed they had felt when they first laid eyes on Yikes. Days spent in anticipation waiting to see if they’d finally found another living changeling or just another hoax put on by humans for a quick coin.

They regarded Yikes’ delicate, charming features and a wave of self-consciousness fell over them as they thought of their own imposing form. It didn’t matter what humans thought of them, but revealing themself to another changeling made them nervous. The difference in appearance between the two of them was stark, to say the least. They glanced again into Yikes’ eyes. Husk could see anxiety in Yikes' carefully manufactured expression, but another, deeper emotion lingered in his features too. A desperate, starving desire, the same flash of emotion they'd seen from him when they first told him they were a changeling back in Pidehold.

Slowly, they nodded their head. A little discomfort was a small price to pay given Yikes had saved their life twice now.

Husk could feel Yikes’ silent anticipation beside them. They let out a shaky exhale and shifted their focus intently to the mug of tea still warm in their hands. It was cheating but they let their hair grow first, letting the long, white locks cover them like a flimsy shield. Next came the faint and familiar popping and cracking of bones and muscle as their height gained several inches on Chase’s unassuming stature. The spikes on their shoulders and elbows threatened to pierce the fabric of their shirt and likely would have, had it not been one of their looser nightshirts. Lastly, they let their tail and ears grow out. Worried how their uneasiness might alarm Yikes, they focused their attention on keeping their ears in a neutral position, but their tail wound itself around their leg like an anchor, it was a childish habit they never could shake. Wordlessly, they clasped both their hands around the mug and tried not to look at their reflection in the tea. Already they missed the calm, cheerful veneer Chase had provided them.

Husk could feel Yikes shift in his seat beside them, the faint scent of vanilla filling their senses as he leaned closer, his face barely coming into view through their curtain of hair. His usually half lidded eyes were wide with awe, sparking an emotion they couldn’t quite name to cut through the anxiety forming in the pit of Husk’s stomach. It felt pleasant and warm. Slowly, they turned their head to look at Yikes, trying to keep their expression neutral and their ears steady.

Yikes met their eyes as he slowly raised a shaking hand, fingers hovering an inch from the pieces of hair concealing Husk’s face. “Is it alright if I touch you?” Yikes asked. Husk dipped their head lightly in a small nod. Being touched always made them uneasy but they trusted Yikes. Yikes shifted his nails to be short and blunt before proceeding. Husk tried not to jump as Yikes gently ran the tips of his fingers along their cheek, his movements excruciatingly slow. The feeling of his caresses an alien ticklish sensation. He pushed hair out of their face as he moved, tucking the collected locks behind their pointed ears. Even in near total darkness Husk could see Yikes’ eyes flicking around their face rapidly, studying every detail. Yikes’ hand lingered behind their ear, the heat of his skin stark against the cool air around them. His eyes finally left their face after a long moment to study a lock of hair held lightly between his fingers, guiding the strands of hair closer to him as he pulled back, the warmth of his hand receding with him.

A beat passed, then two. Yikes let the piece of hair fall from his fingers. Instead reaching out again to run careful fingertips over their shoulder, brushing the spikes there lightly through their clothes. The warmth from the tips of his fingers grew as he gently stroked his hand down the length of their arm, his touch slow and soothing. Husk realized in their efforts to stay still they had been holding their breath. Exhaling slowly, they glanced at Yikes, his gaze was entirely focused on following the path of his hand down their arm. An expression of wonder had spread across his face as he turned their hand over to look at their palm, aligning his own hand with theirs, appearing to compare them. His left ear flicked with inquisitive excitement as he laced his fingers with theirs. Husk felt their unease giving way as they lost themself to Yikes’ awe.

A long moment of silence passed as Yikes continued to stare at their hand clasped in his, ears twitching every now and then as he got further lost in thought. His calloused thumb mindlessly rubbing consecutive circles along Husk’s knuckles. Eerie silence filled the room, only broken by Husk’s own hammering heartbeat in their ears, almost painful in its intensity.

They cleared their throat nervously. “Uh, sh-shall I stand up and do a twirl?”

Yikes looked up finally, the dazed expression of reverence morphed into an embarrassed blush, causing Husk to curse themself quietly for their carelessness. Yikes’ eyes snapped to Husk’s hand still held in his, then clumsily opened his hands for Husk to free themself. “I- I’m sorry, what I’m doing is weird, isn’t it?” Yikes forced a chuckle as he spoke, “If you’d like to change back you’re free to do s-”

“N-No, it’s fine!” Husk stammered out, a little too quickly. “I mean, I don’t get to be myself very often and it’s…nice.” They allowed themself a small smile. “I… don’t know how long it’s been since I let someone else see me.”

Yikes let out a breathy sigh of relief, the heat on his cheeks fading in its intensity. “Alright, as long as you’re sure this isn’t troubling you.” Yikes paused, searching Husk’s face for an answer.

“I’m very sure.” Husk reassured him, surprising themself by how sincerely they felt it.

Yikes relaxed fully at their words, gently taking Husk’s hand again and this time they didn’t flinch at his touch. “I’ve just never seen anyone who looks like me before, I didn’t know what other changelings looked like before you.” Yikes laughed softly, his voice filled with delight.

Husk nodded, smiling along with Yikes. “I’d given up years ago, I honestly didn’t believe it when the guards told me there was a changeling with the circus.” And then quietly added, “I’m glad I met you, Yikes.”

Yikes smiled warmly at them, “I’m glad I met you too, Husk.” Yikes whispered back lovingly, then continued in an excited tone. “I was afraid you were another scam at first. It happens a lot in freak shows, but in all the times someone tried to trick me, no one’s tried running away from me, you had to be real,” Yikes said with a cheerful laugh. He began to mindlessly stroking the details of Husk’s hand once again as he got lost in their conversation.

“It was not my most calculated moment,” they admitted, laughing alongside him though the sting of embarrassment had not faded. If Moth ever found out how badly they reacted they would never live this down. “I expected meeting you to be a trap, if I’m being honest. So I didn’t actually have a plan for meeting another changeling.”

Yikes tilted his head as if debating something before speaking, “It almost was a trap, in a way I suppose. I… may have tried to charm you at the show that night,” Yikes admitted sheepishly.

“That’s understandable, I wouldn’t have trusted a nosey guard either,” Husk laughed, unbothered by this revelation. Yikes wasn’t the first fey to try charming them and probably wouldn’t be the last. Yikes hummed in amusement. “Regardless, I’m glad it didn’t work, influencing your mind isn’t how I would have wanted to start our relationship.”

“I would’ve done the same if I could,” Husk shrugged, “if it had worked I might not have run away with my tail between my legs.”

Yikes chewed his bottom lip, “I wouldn’t have wanted to stop you from running, at least-” Yikes paused, searching for an explanation, “not like that. I tried to charm you because I thought you were a threat to me, I wouldn’t want to rob you of your choice to run." They regarded Yikes with an apologetic smile. “Still, I’m sorry if I scared you and for causing that entire mess.” Their actions that night had led to Yikes being arrested, they could tell Yikes harbored no ill will towards them but they couldn’t quite shake the guilt.

Yikes chuckled reassuringly, "there's no need for you to apologize for that, I didn't handle myself any better, chasing you through the streets like that." Husk grinned, waving their free arm dramatically. “Well, on the bright side, at least Pidehold now has some exciting rumors to keep them occupied for the next few months. A changeling and their human guard lover is as tantalizing as it gets.” Yikes snickered at the thought. “I’d be tempted to return there next year just to see how the story has escalated, I’m sure ‘Chase Barnes’ left quite a mark on the city.” Leaning back against their pillow, they chuckled thoughtfully. “I’d quite like to know myself. I wonder how’d they react if they knew sweet little Chase was a conniving monster filled with spikes and pointy teeth.” They playfully clawed at the air, extending their nails slightly. To Husk's surprise Yikes didn't join them in their laughter, instead he tilted his head in concern, studying them for a long moment before speaking in a gentle, far too sincere whisper. “That ‘conniving monster’ did that city an enormous service by uprooting its corrupt guard force. Boring, prejudiced little humans who would be blind to your beauty wouldn't make those actions any less honorable, Husk."

Despite their careful control, Husk’s ears jerked upwards and they could feel the heat of a blush race across their cheeks. They stammered as they processed what Yikes said but couldn’t quite find the words they were looking for, they weren’t even sure what they were feeling.

Unable to explain the less than altruistic reasoning for their actions in Pidehold they eventually muttered a quiet “thank you”. They took a long sip of their own now cold tea, not meeting Yikes’ gaze for fear they’d give themself away.

From the corner of their eye, Husk could see Yikes narrow his eyes in scrutiny, seemingly unsatisfied with their unconvinced acceptance. They resisted the instinct to pin their ears back like a scolded child. Though after a moment Yikes glanced around the room, perhaps to allow them a moment to breathe.

Silence stretched between them before Yikes spoke again. “I… I came here quite late, would you like me to let you get some rest?” Yikes asked with remorse.

Their heart sank as Yikes let go of their hand. They didn’t want their conversation to end on a sour note. Scrambling to recover themself, they chuckled. “I keep awake quite late, mischief is best done in the dead of night.” They smiled mischievously. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like to ask me? You’d be saving a certain circus owner from getting hungry moths delivered directly to his wardrobe.” Yikes blinked at them, then burst into laughter. “I suppose delaying his fate a little while couldn’t hurt,” Yikes chuckled, clearly more than happy at the invitation to stay longer, which made their heart flutter in giddy relief. He moved to retrieve another of the floor cushions, stretching out on their floor and sighing quietly in relief. He nestled in the pillows for a moment, making a show of making himself comfortable.

“I have endless questions for you, my love,” Yikes paused, it was only a few moments but Husk could feel a restless anticipation begin to emerge, eventually Yikes hesitantly spoke. "I can pick something else if you'd rather not answer, but… could I ask about your parents?"

Husk leaned on their elbow as they stretched themself out mirroring Yikes, but still keeping a little distance between them. It had been a long time since they’d thought about their parents, it no longer filled them with sadness as it once did. “I never met them, I was switched with a human child when I was very young. Didn’t even know I was a changeling until I was twelve. The archdruid said it was a spell of some kind, but I never found out the details.” They paused for a second and smiled, “but the humans who raised me were very kind.” Yikes listened intently, pausing for a moment before speaking. “I’ve heard legends like that about our kind. From what humans say, the changeling offspring of doppelgangers will sometimes appear as other races until their early teens, but those were accounts I heard from our hunters' perspectives, I didn’t give them much thought before.” Yikes pondered.

Husk let their ears flicker in surprise. “I didn’t know that.” There were rumors about changelings in Llaethpotel as well but none of them were very helpful, unless it was to suggest creative ways one might eat a first born child. Husk felt a pang of longing in their chest, they really didn’t know anything. “I know it’s not part of the deal,” their ears pinned back guiltily, “but would it be ok if I asked you some questions, too?”

Yikes smiled invitingly. “Of course, Husk. I’d love that, what would you like to know?” Yikes said sweetly.

They had come to accept that answers always came at a price, but Yikes was offering them freely. They let their tail sway happily behind them and they felt giddy with gratitude. “What were your parents like? You said you grew up with your mother?”

Yikes smiled, unsurprised by the question. "Yeah, I was with my mom until I was thirteen. I think she was genuinely an elf. I look too much like her now as an adult." A brief sorrow came over Yikes as he sighed, "I'm afraid I know next to nothing about my other parent, or even my mother really, but I know she seemed to know more about my shapeshifting than I did for most of my childhood."

Unaware they had slowly inched closer to Yikes, Husk was no longer pretending to hide their curiosity. “What was it like being able to shift as a kid? It took me years to hold a form for longer than a few days and,” they laughed sheepishly, “I kept forgetting to hide my tail.”

Yikes joined them in their laughter this time. "I was really quite bad at it, too. It hurt to stretch and change my skin when I was little so I never wanted to practice it, I'm afraid I was quite the crybaby as a kid." Yikes chuckled, his eyes lowering to half lids as he reminisced. "I couldn't stay in a form for long until I was ten I think, keeping it consistently the same between shifts was another struggle." Yikes refocused on Husk, curiosity glinting as he finished, "what was it like? Finding out you were actually a changeling?"

Husk tilted their head, wanting to ask Yikes more, but it was their turn to answer. “I thought,” Husk admitted, smiling wryly, “that I was just a really clever druid.” They shrugged in embarrassment. “Thankfully I had the foresight not to tell anyone else but I was a menace.” Husk then allowed themself a toothy grin, “I was one of six kids, so you had to be sneaky and it was nice having an advantage over the others. I could only change certain features and my voice but one day I finally figured out how to shift completely.” They paused, grin wavering a little, “I wanted to shift back, it was dinner time and I’d taken my sister’s face to pull a prank on her but I… couldn’t remember what my face was supposed to look like.”

Yikes listened intently as they spoke, “is that when the spell broke?” He asked in a gentle voice.

“Yeah.” They sighed and absentmindedly began to braid a small section of their hair, “I ran away before my family could see me. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I’d stayed.” Husk shrugged. “It was a long time ago now.”

Yikes nodded in understanding, “I’m sorry, that couldn’t have been easy,” he left another pause between them before speaking again, “you were one of six? Did you like having a lot of siblings growing up?” Yikes prompted again.

“It was never quiet in our house, that’s for sure.” Their smile returned, remembering them fondly. “We grew up on a farm so there were always chores to do. I was the best at worming my way out of them, but we were always there for each other. I cared for them all dearly.” They turned their eyes back to Yikes. “What was the place where you grew up like? Were there other fey there?”

Yikes paused, debating something for a brief moment before speaking. "I grew up on an island off the coast, we had a sheep farm. It was quiet, we lived outside the human’s village in the hills. My mother was the only other healer besides the cleric to Seira, people came to her when they needed more discrete remedies." Yikes stopped to study Husk's expression more closely now, but instead of the playful scrutiny he'd held before, there was a hint of unease. It only lasted half a second before he sighed, making up his mind and relaxing, the passing fear in his eyes returning to his usual inviting allure.

"There was a feywild portal in my mom’s water well. Lots of fey came out of it, nearly all of them malicious. They never hurt me or my mom," Yikes briefly wrinkled his nose in disdain, "-unprovoked," he added quickly. This piqued Husk’s interest but they remained quiet hoping Yikes would continue, which he did, returning to his leisurely pace. "They terrorized the village, and the humans retaliated.”

“You grew up near a fey portal?” Husk’s ears bobbed up in interest. “There’s also a portal in the woods of my homeland that’s guarded by the archdruid, along with the fey in her grove. We didn’t get along with humans any better there. We were just… preemptive about some things.” Yikes was already vaguely aware of what they were up to in their home country but the details were better left for another conversation, though they still noticed his ears perked up in interest. They tilted their head inquisitively, deflecting any possible follow up questions. “I’ve never heard of a portal in a well before. Did any of the fey speak with you?”

Yikes smiled fondly. “Sometimes, the Quicklings liked to talk. A few Darklings liked my mothers music so they made deals with us a lot, but I was kept away from the portal until I was older, children and unseelie fey aren’t often a good mix,” Yikes chuckled.

“I see. It’s getting Quicklings to stop talking, that's the trick.” Husk laughed. “I didn’t meet any other fey until I was much older so my etiquette was terrible. Nearly lost my head once.” They’d had a few near misses, they could laugh about them now but they were terrified at the time. “I have yet to cross one of our kind that badly, yet.” he laughed, then pinned his ears back in annoyance, “though, I did accidentally anger a Meenlock once when I was little.” Husk’s brow furrowed, and their tail twitched. They’d never met Meenlock in person but knew of the horrors they inflicted. “That must’ve been terrifying. Were you alright?”

Yikes waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, it was a long time ago now, I think I was six? They’re horrid little bastards, but they can be soothed if you give them enough warm milk and distract them onto a new target.” Yikes glanced at Husk and paused, then gave them an apologetic look. “It did leave me with a fear of parasites though.”

“That is a very justified fear.” Husk replied, horrified. They would not want to encounter a Meenlock as an adult, much less a child. “I’m glad you escaped in one piece.” Yikes shrugged, then looked curiously at them. “Can I ask what fey tried to steal your head?” He asked in a light tone.

“Oh, it was a cranky old redcap.” Husk grinned impishly. “I bit him and called him a gnome and he took offense to that for some reason.” They gave an over-exaggerated shrug, “but we made up and now he only implies that he’s going to kill me.”

Yikes laughed, a more bright, wholehearted laugh than he usually allowed himself. “Surviving a redcap and making up with him is quite a feat.” Yikes said, genuine admiration in his voice.

“It was dumb luck more than anything,” Husk admitted, “truthfully, he was forced to stop trying to kill me by the archdruid.” Husk turned their attention back to Yikes. “Did your mother teach you how to speak with the fey?” Yikes smiled fondly. “She did. After the Meenlock she spent a lot of time teaching me fey mannerisms and tricks. After that I spoke to them when I could." Yikes' face saddened as he continued, "I couldn't go near the village until I had control of my shapeshifting, so I spent a lot of my childhood with Quicklings and sheep."

Husk pursed their lips lightly, debating their next question. Yikes had been more than generous with his answers already. “You don’t have to answer but… what was the village like?”

Yikes' sorrowful expression deepened, but he showed no signs of closing off. "Scared, most of the time anyways. They clung to anything they thought would offer them salvation, I don't think I can really blame them for that though." Yikes trailed off, getting lost in thought before speaking again, "there were kind people though, here and there. Ones who hadn't been worn down by years of hardship and hatred. I liked them quite a bit."

Husk’s ears drooped. “Would you tell me about them?” They asked softly, prompting him to continue.

Yikes smiled sadly. “There were a few villager’s who came to my mother for healing a lot, usually the older folks who remembered the times before the church, back when the humans and the fey were friendly. I think most of them were just finding excuses for company though, bards are good for that sort of healing.” Yikes opened his mouth as if to continue, then paused. His ears lowered from their neutral position. A flicker of that same fear they’d seen earlier returned, but Yikes began speaking again despite it. “I was friends with a few of the human children towards the end of my time in Wallowale. They were too young and curious about the world to have the blind hatred their parents had developed,” Yikes laughed quietly, but the sound held no joy, “even the cleric’s daughter was kind, too kind for her own good really.”

They could see troubled memories coming to the surface on Yikes’ face, Husk wanted to reach out and take his hand but decided against it, instead tracing a long, red nail against the grain of wood between them. “I almost pity humans,” they admitted finally, “Their curiosity turns to hatred and violence so quickly if the answers do not easily present themselves.”Husk’s nail dug into the wood. “I grew up on stories about how terrifying the fey were supposed to be and those words stuck to me like barbs after I found I was one.” Their eyes flickered back to Yikes, he hummed in empathic understanding, his eyes still resting on them. Husk stopped tracing the wood, their brow furrowed and without thinking they asked. “The village… they found out, didn’t they?” Yikes opened his mouth as if to respond, his expression neutral, almost practiced, but he closed it again. His eyes became unfocused, getting lost in troubled thoughts again. His left ear began twitching, wanting to pin back flat in a defensive position. It was a nervous habit Husk noticed, it happened when Yikes lied.

With a pang of guilt, Husk realized they had asked too much. They averted their gaze. “I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have asked that. It must’ve been so painful.” Yikes’ gaze cleared and he snapped back to reality, he began nervously twisting a ring on his hand. “N-no, it's alright, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Yikes said.

He took a shaky breath and sat up, the distant but pleasant warmth from his body pulling away with him. His hair fell over his expression once more. He ran a hand over his face as he exhaled, though he seemed to only grow more rattled with every second. Husk wanted to reassure Yikes but something in his eyes made them stop. Yikes hesitated, a quiver in his voice as he spoke, “they found out because,” another pause and a breath, his voice a meek whisper when he finally spoke again. “Because I told them. What happened was my fault.”

The quiet, agonizing heartbreak in Yikes’ voice stirred something deep within Husk, their chest burned with an all too familiar ache. Without thinking they reached out and wrapped their arms around Yikes’ shoulders. “It was never your fault.” They whispered firmly. Yikes tensed before melting into Husk’s embrace, his shoulders slumping as he turned to bury his face in their long hair. The faint vanilla scent of his skin enveloping their senses once more. His breathing turned ragged and wet as the tears Husk had known were coming began building in his throat, “I-I thought I could trust them- I wanted to trust them-” Husk began to gently stroke his feathery hair. “Don’t blame yourself for the cruelty of others.” They continued quietly. The ache in Husk’s chest grew, it pained them to see Yikes this way.

Yikes shook his head under Husk’s soothing hands. “It wasn’t cruelty, not at first. Those kids, they accepted me- they liked me. I knew better than to tell anyone- I knew what could happen.” Finally the building sob soaking Yikes’ words overtook him. He nestled closer, heated breath brushing over Husk’s neck. Shoulders shaking as quiet, heartbroken cries escaped him, “I- I just- I just wanted someone to know me- I didn’t want to be alone anymore.”

Like a dam wall giving way to pressure, Husk felt a flood of emotions threaten to envelope them. Memories of their years in Iljak rushed to the surface. How accepting the other kids had been of Husk’s form had truly saved them from despair and self-loathing, only for adults to rip what little self worth they had to shreds. They’d tried to convince themself they enjoyed their own company, that they didn’t need to rely on others, but they looked at Yikes and now their heart ached for that connection.

Husk squeezed him tighter. “There’s no crime in wanting people to know the real you.” They spoke softly. “The humans knew you weren’t a threat to them, their actions are not your fault.” They continued to stroke Yikes’ hair.

At last Yikes wrapped his arms around Husk in return, letting his body lean entirely on theirs in order to stay upright. He clung to them as he unraveled, his cries deepening to quiet anguish as he tried to speak again. “T-they thought my mother was a night hag. They thought they were protecting themselves, t-they didn’t know any b-better. If I hadn't said anything, it wouldn't have happened," Yikes choked out miserably. “They were fools committing atrocities in the name of their goddess to hide their cowardice.” They hissed, unable to stop the venom seeping into their voice. “You shouldn’t bear the burden of finding excuses for the likes of them.” Yikes huddled closer, his ears raised as he processed Husk's words. The sounds of his sobs echoed around the wagon as his breathing began to even out, his cries slowing.

A long moment passed and Husk started running their other hand up and down Yikes’ back soothingly. It had been a long time since they had comforted anyone, they were quietly glad it came back naturally to them.

Husk had shared small touches with Yikes before, a looped arm here, a squeeze of the hand there, but it was only fully holding him now that they noticed for the first time how small he actually was. His shoulders were slight and delicate under the flowing clothes he wore. Husk could feel the bones of his spine poking out as they rubbed his back. The arms clinging to them barely more than lean muscle and bone. His height and clothes distracting from just how fragile he was underneath.

Their thoughts turned to their few days spent with Yikes. The consistent, engulfing kindness he showed them, despite them not deserving it. The care he gave them whenever they unknowingly gave him an opening. It had barely been a week but Yikes had enamored them with care. Warmth and comfort were luxuries that came with a steep price, a price Husk wasn’t often willing to pay, but Yikes’ affection came without strings.

Husk’s thoughts strayed back to their recent fight with Palen. The splash of blood that had colored their vision red as the wolf’s teeth ripped into Yikes’ shoulder, inches from his throat. How quickly her claws had nearly brought Yikes to his knees right before Husk’s eyes. The day of illness and poisoning he’d attempted to downplay to cure his lycanthropy curse before it claimed him. And then the nightmare. So many things had gone wrong and yet Yikes had endured it all, putting the wellbeing of others above his own even while suffering extreme exhaustion and barely being able to walk. Meeting him was one of the few good experiences Husk had had since arriving in Menlin and their heart wrenched at the thought of any more harm coming to him. They couldn't, wouldn't allow it to happen again. Not while their heart still beat and their claws could still rend flesh from bone. Nothing would lay a hand on Yikes, nor would they let anything or anyone stamp out his shining kindness and joy.

“And.” Husk’s voice was barely a murmur as they pressed their cheek against Yikes’, “I promise you, you won’t be alone anymore. As long as you want me here, I’ll stay.”

—- End.

#creative writing #hikes #Yikes nailo #Husk #dnd short story #dnd #dungeons & dragons #short story #thank you so much for writing with meeeee I haven't written in a v long time so this was so much fun!!#also please understand Husk thinks their feelings are platonic unfortunately druid wisdom doesn't mean they are emotionally wise #d&d #dungeons and dragons #this art is canon now I thought it wouldn't be for ages but here we are #thank you so much for ingredients-for-brain-soup and controlledchaosetc for reading through our drafts!!#also beware of comic spoilers XD #dnd ocs

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