Keyleth stares after him sadly, watching Orym go, his proud shoulders set lower than she would like. He didn’t turn back to her, back to observe their people. He just walked on, off towards the distance, shoulders low, head held high, feet dragging just a tiny bit. The Faun and the Genasi just barely half a step behind him, not reaching over yet, not offering comfort or words the wind would bring to Keyleth, but there nontheless. They would swoop in as soon as Orym would walk out of side of their home, when he wouldn’t feel watched, wouldn’t need to be strong for just a few precious moments.
He had come home, with found family and friends, to rest and sit back, to talk, to relax and to find and center himself again. And she was sending him out. Again. Sending him off to another important quest, not much time to rest and no time to find himself again, to bath in their midst.
She felt strangely guilty. But it had to be done, he would find other pieces to complete himself, to fill in the holes and caverns inside himself he didnt even know about. She was sure of it.
But still...
She had been in his place once upon a time, only the wind walking with her, the leaves crunching under her soled feet. She had looked back then, tears brimming in her eyes but never falling, watching her beloved people wave after her. But Orym didn’t look back. Strong as ever. Such a brave and strong soul in such a small body, bursting and filling the form.
She wished-
“Spirits of the Wild, I beg of you, follow him, guide him, lead him, light his darkest hours, gift him warmth in the cold and never let him feel alone. For we are with him, if not in body than in spirit and thought. Please. Please acompany him, send him comfort and lend him a hand when he feels down.” she whispers softly into the whispering winds around her.
And only for a short moment, a single second, there was a feeling of something heavy on her shoulder, a soft nuzzle to her cheek and fur brushing over her arm. A shimmering of displaced air right in front of her and then there was the wind moving, like something was happily prancing before bounding off, after the Halfling, a long tail wagging. And she smiled, knowing that the Wild spirits had send a companion, even if it would not be seen.
“Spirits be with you Orym. Come back home safely.”