9: Realizations

 Where do I begin...

I woke up in a relatively low spot that next morning. We all did. We were in a new time, in what seemed like a new world, surrounded by new people with the fate of all time on our shoulders. Given the circumstances, we were handling it rather well I think. At least everyone else was.

The killing of the wolf rattled me pretty hard. It made me rethink my actions over and over. Was I wrong? Can I be trusted? Am I just putting those I care about in danger? It was a lot to take on. I was rather depressed as it were.

Wolf girl was still gone. But Teletestin wasn't, and he was right there to let me know that my only option to get rid of that ring was to lose my arm. If I didn't, I would initially gain strength and then withered away, turning into an undead like a zombie. Eventually the ring would overtake me and I'd become Vorden. My choice to wear it or not really wasn't a choice. It wouldn't come off by me just taking it off and I wasn't about to become some nasty zombie. So I agreed to have the arm removed. Though it was more of an acquiescence than an agreement. It had to be done.

About that time, wolf girl arrived back at the cabin and her Direwolf was alive again. It came in and growled at me. I don't blame it. Something was different though. Wolf girl now had a platinum streak that ran through her hair where there hadn't been one before. And her face...it held pure contempt and it was aimed straight at me. When she entered the door, she moved straight for me without hesitation.

"You!" she said. "You killed my wolf. And you have no idea what it cost me to bring him back. Things that I can never get back. All because of your selfishness."

"I..I..am sorry but I felt I was trying to do the right thing at the time."

A fist came flying in my direction. I heard Damaia scream from behind me and scuttle up as the blow landed across my jaw. I reached out my arm and held Damaia back. I told her its ok. I deserved it. It was over. My faithful little friend. I appreciated her for trying to defend me. But I knew this was not a fight worth risking herself over. I could only hope that this would bring some closure to the event and we could move on to the bigger problem: dealing with these wizards and getting back home.

After the punch, I needed to be alone. I needed to be away from the group. As Teletestin began explaining to the group what was going on, I snuck out and went to the wading pool and sat on the water's edge for a while.

The Direwolf joined me, hesitant at first, but eventually succumbing to my pets. I told him I was glad to see him alive. I think he understood me and accepted my apology. He had certainly accepted it better than his master. 

I looked up after a while to find Miresta and Norah had joined me. They sat next to me and said that they needed me inside. I told them that I was afraid that my presence would do them more harm than good. It seemed as though they'd have more success without my fouling things up. They both shook me and cried nonsense. They assured me that I was an integral part of the group and what's more, I was their friend. Their friend! I was shocked by the word. I had never felt that from anyone in my life. I hugged Miresta and then Norah. I think it was the first time they'd seen me cry.

Teletestin quickly joined us outside along with the rest of the group. He said he was going to give us tools to fight these wizards. He reached into my chest and pulled some sort of spectral pendant from it. It was a boon of some sort. We all got them. He said that they would come in handy when we reach the lair where these wizards were, and that was our next stop - AFTER we dealt with my arm.

At some point during the madness, an airship appeared and floated near the cottage. Out from it came another Teletestin, a future Teletestin. Now there were two: My Agoron and this future Teletestin. 

"Climb aboard everyone," future Teletestin said. "Bogden, we'll have that arm off in no time."

I gave Agoron a strange stare and he assured me that, though strange, his future self was more capable of healing me.

And so we climbed aboard, not knowing what to expect next.