The crew is walking back to camp together enjoying the sun that has come out after the successful pit fight. A weight seems to have been lifted off of the wildlife as they are out and frolicking. Even Ethelred noticed some late season blackberry growth. Gustav notices all of that, but doesn’t look very relieved or happy. Gustav uncharacteristically starts a conversation with Alexis and Telosh.
“I am sorry you both have lost so much to battle evil and the enemies of humanity. Telosh, your arm and body were weakened. And you both have aged and lost time that might never come back. We all knew that we risked injuries and death. But since we are finding so much strange magic I suppose we should have known these unnatural injuries would be inevitable.
How does it feel? Is it harder to walk? Do you feel weather more? I know the attitude of the aged often change. Sometimes they are more mean and nasty after feeling cheated away from the life they hoped for. Sometimes they relax and become calm and loving to their children and spouses. Has your mind changed as well as your body?
Is there anything I can do to make things easier? Should I try to make your sleep more comfortable with fluffy pine needle bed sites? Should I help you stretch in the morning? Or should we be fighting it and try to find a wizard who can reverse it?”
Gustav gives a confused look. A thought rolls over his face and then converts to a guilty and sad look.
Telosh smiles at the ranger, accepts his kindnesses, and looks at the greying Sutheroni with a simple smile.
“We lived. We closed the pit. We did it together.”
“Some of us us lost more,” he looks again to Alexis, then to his own withered but no longer blackened arm, scarred and oddly pale,
“But we all lost something we will never get back.” He looks at the ranger, and then at the craftsman.
“I’m sorry. I’m grateful. I couldn’t have closed it on my own… I hope we can still be a team…”
“Berries and salve are more than plenty Gus, thank you.”
Alexis gives a smile to his friends. It’s not as full-a-smile as usual, but still full and genuine.
“We did it! Those three won’t soon forget us! A few years of loss for me, to prevent an overrunning of humanity by the dark forces. I’ll make that trade every time.”
“Gus, I’ll take all the back rubs, foot rubs, mineral baths, and food you can manage. An old man needs to be taken care of” he says with a wink.