Lot had happened to Ak’ka over the past few months. Got trapped in a high security prison where she received the worst mortal injury of her life. Nearly died to the Lycan curse marked by the gnarly scar on her shoulder. Joined the fighter’s guild, burned a tavern down. That was fun. Beat the hell out of some rogues. Had to learn how to live with the Beast.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Ak’ka lived for battle, and each new challenge was only a scar or an experience she’d survived. And if she could live through all that shit, if she could live with the Monster of the Mountain livin’ in her blood and tryin’ to take over her body every waking and sleeping moment, then Ak’ka could survive anything. Plus, she’d made plenty of friends. Taki and the tidal serpent Keiga, the latter who’d joined her side as a traveling companion. Shaa, Sylvari… not to mention Videl, the Snowball, the kid that had asked her for a spar not long after meetin’ her, and sparkin’ a strange kinda protective instinct Ak’ka hadn’t been prepared for.

It had been a while since she’d met him… that had been right before. Well. Before she got kidnapped by those bastards who trapped her in a prison and the Beast nearly killed her from the inside and out. Since then she’d pretty much kept herself up north, not exactly trustin’ the monster not to take over while she was on the job. At least the north was safe. She could hide herself in the Coldwoods if she was ever too dangerous to be around people.

But each day she survived and grew stronger. Strong enough that she no longer feared losing control to the Beast. And no monster, in her soul or not, was gonna stop her from doin’ what she loved most - glorious battle. And with a good friend, to boot? Hell, there wasn’t nothin’ better.

“Hope ya ain’t afraid of spiders, snowball.” Ak’ka cracked her knuckles, body alight in anticipation. The two were patrolling the borders of the Shadewood. The dark forest was known for the dark monsters that lurked within. Death and danger for the regular stray traveler; a grand time for those who craved the fight. Ak’ka was hardly in Moonglade, so she’d never had the pleasure of setting foot in the place. If rumors were to be believed, she wouldn’t need to. Monstrous spiders, the size of people, were pourin’ out of the trees and devourin’ whatever they could get their hands on. Ravenous, deadly, and mean. Oh, beating the hell outta these motherfuckers when they dared poke their ugly mugs outta these woods was gonna be fun.

Even though she’d said it first, Ak’ka doubted Videl would be deathly afraid of the crawly creatures. The one thing she’d learned at their last meeting was that Videl conquered his fears with an ancient, primal determination wiser than his years. Even if he was scared, ya wouldn’t notice. He just kept fighting, kept pushin’ forward. A quality she was pretty damn proud of whenever she watched him. Even though it had been months since they saw each other last, Ak’ka had checked in with sparse letters whenever she could. And now they got the chance to go on their first real mission together. She was lookin’ forward to watching the kid in a proper scrap.

“Been a bit, ain’t it? Bet you’ve been pretty busy. Let’s see how much stronger you’ve gotten.”

---

Bringing Pets
Keiga, Tidal Serpent - counts against NPC cap

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Spiders, Again
Participants: Two or more
Location: Moonglade
Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown, Choice of 2 Common crafting materials
Description: Giant spiders have always been an issue in Moonglade, and are a constant threat for anyone brave enough to enter the Shadewood. However, the recent disturbance in Charon's primordial energy has affected most wildlife, causing them to behave unnaturally. Swarms of giant spiders have recently been seen roaming around outside the Shadewood, even crossing into villages and established homesteads. We need help in corralling these spiders back into the Shadewood, or flat out killing them, whatever helps keep the citizens of Moonglade safe.

Much like had occurred with Ak'ka, Videl had gone through quite a few changes in the time that the two had been apart. He had been sure to let her know as much through his correspondence letters of course. The fact that he had met the love of his life, someone that they both seemed to know, a vampiress known as Sylvari. How he too had joined the Fighter's Guild and the times in which his emotions had gotten the better of him, leading to him nearly killing a few people. In some instances, actually having taken their lives. There was also the fact that he had grown all around stronger in the ways of glacial magics and his mastery over the spear. So many changes in so little time.. Life had truly been cruel to him, to force him to grow to such an extent. And yet he was all the more thankful for these experiences.

At the moment, Videl had been riding atop of his Frigid Steed, Lumi, the pair heading off in search of these giant spiders. While had hadn't quite encountered such beasts before, Videl was certain that there wasn't much of anything for him to be afraid of. Not when it came to beings such as these. When comparing this experience to the time that Sylvari and himself had to fight off a swarm of Glimmertongues, these spiders were likely to be nothing. He had grown much stronger since then..

A soft laugh would belt forth from the T'saya's lips as he kept an eye out for any sort of movement. His gaze would normally have settled on the half orc, as he had spoken to her, but his several months with Sylvari had adjusted his mind to be a bit more cautious. "I can assure you that I've got nothing to be afraid of here. Not only have I grown quite a bit in the time that we've been apart but I've got my Mama Ak'ka here. What's there to be afraid of when I have you by my side?~" His words were teasing and light hearted but also held a depth of sincerity to them. He had genuinely believed that she could swat aside anything that stepped in their way. Of course this would only be his fallback for if he found himself getting overwhelmed. An event that he didn't quite foresee coming, given how powerful the pair were.

Although he had the possibility of searching for these beasts from the sky, given a few of his unique functions, Videl had opted to remain down on the ground with his 'Mama.' It had been far too long since he had seen her and as such, he wanted to enjoy all of the time that he could with her. Perhaps someday he could even introduce her to his beloved and the three could have something akin to a familial standing.. "Missed having you around by the way.. It's been too long."

Ak’ka gave a satisfied nod at Videl’s assertion he wasn’t afraid. “Good, good.” Not that she expected him to be. If she’d learned anything from their last meeting, it was that he confronted shit that scared him with the stubbornness of an unmoving wall of ice.

She thought back to what Shaa said, back down in the bowels of that prison.

Bravery isn’t the absence of fear but comes in spite of it.

Wasn’t something Ak’ka was familiar with - not when orc families taught that fear was something you ate for breakfast, and if you let it rule you, it would chew you up and spit you out - but it was something she thought Videl embodied, young and just startin’ out his journey, and still, he didn’t let nothin’ phase him.

Not that he was so little anymore.

Ak’ka wasn’t too big a fan of horses but the cold mare seemed pretty docile enough, and it wasn’t too spooked by Keiga slitherin’ by her side, keeping an eye out for any eight-legged monsters. Not to mention he carried himself different on it. Not a little snowpuff anymore but a storm, ready to unleash the rage upon the world. Ak’ka nodded while he spoke, a proud grin on her face. ‘Course he’d grown stronger. She knew he would.

“Can’t wait to see it. No better test than trial by fire. It’ll be a good test, too. It’s the duty of the strong to protect the weak - Mama Ak’ka?”

There weren’t many things in this world that could stun her into silence, but somehow, Videl had managed. She was so used to guarding against insults that somethin’ akin to an endearment left her feeling like she’d feared herself up for a punch and received a hug instead.

He was probably just teasin’… makin’ a jab at her age. Folks didn’t wanna get close to Ak’ka. Not like that.

She ran her thumbs over her knuckles, feeling callouses and scars under her touch, lettin’ out a lighthearted scoff in response to his teasing. “Sure. I’ll be a mama bear if I need to be. If those spiders come for my cub I’ll show ‘em the claws.” She laughed, mimicking a halfhearted swipe in the air. She wasn’t especially on guard - she usually wasn’t. Even if Ak’ka didn’t pay attention to her surroundings, she could handle most anything that tried to ambush her. Still, she kept her gaze on the edge of the woods, just in case. This fight was different.

“Not that I think ya need the protection. But I’m here, and I ain’t gonna let anything happen.”

She nudged Keiga, the reptile whipping up to look at her. She gestured towards the woods, givin’ the hunter something to do so they weren’t completely unaware. “Keep an eye out for any spiders, yeah?”

Keiga nodded and slithered away, lettin’ the two continue their conversation unimpeded.

Ak’ka rubbed at the back of her neck, unsure what to say for a moment in the face of Videl’s sudden earnesty. “I missed ya too, Snowball.” She replied. In the grand scheme of things it had only been a couple’a months. But those months had been long and action-packed. “The world’s been crazy. Too much shit goin’ on and it don’t sit right with me.” She frowned and crossed her arms. “Ended up joining the Fighter’s Guild ‘cus everything’s got me on edge. If I got the power to do somethin’ about it, may as well.”

She turned to look at Videl with a solemn nod. “Makes me all the more glad yer gettin’ through it okay. So long as you live to see another day, you’ve got the power to keep on movin’. That’s what matters.” She wasn’t all that great at care or concern, and outright askin’ felt awkward - in her own way, she was trying to make sure Videl was alright.

A soft tinge of crimson had overtaken the T'saya's cheeks as Ak'ka had referred to herself as a Mama Bear and himself as her Cub. While he was the one that had initially started this, by calling her Mama Ak'ka, he hadn't thought that he would accept the phrase so easily. The fact that she had called him her cub had quite honestly filled him with a sense of warmth that he felt far too little of. It were as though the two had actually established something akin to a familial bond. This.. This was something that he needed far more than he was willing to accept.

A couple of curt nods would then be offered in response to her words, pulling Videl away from his thoughts and towards the subjects that Ak'ka could have been mentioning. Since the two had departed, they had both grown in strength. Such a growth was often accompanied by several trials. Trials that Videl could only imagine in regards to his Mama. "Funny enough, I actually managed to join them not too long ago as well. Myself and my companion Sylvari. She.. She means everything to me. So to have her fighting by my side brings me great joy. Especially when one considers how strong she is. Perhaps.. Perhaps the three of us will team up to kick some ass, yeah?" A soft laugh would escape from his lips at this point as his gaze had continued to scan the area surrounding them.

"I'm glad to hear that we think so similarly all around. While it's taken me awhile to get here, and will take even longer to get to where I want, I've managed to overcome my past self and achieve a far greater strength than I had imagined. If we all continue at this rate, I'm sure that we'll be capable of overcoming any further issues that might stem up within the world. Whether that be another Vulcadreaus level threat or what have you." Of course he had no idea of how horrifying Vulcadreaus and Scern had been. Nor could he imagine how strong he'd have to become in order to handle such threats. When compared to the heroes that risked everything to save the world, he was nothing more than a bug. A bug that was struggling to reach the top. Only time would tell if he could achieve such a thing.

Ak’ka half expected Videl to continue the joke - cus he still had to be jokin’, there was no other explanation- but instead he stayed quiet while Ak’ka spoke. Didn’t occur to her that maybe he was hopin’ for some part of it to be real. Didn’t need to know someone for a long time to know ya cared about them. Maybe Videl felt awkward ‘cus both of them learned early on to be pretty self reliant, so the idea of meeting someone who fit into your life and made you care was pretty jarring.

Maybe Ak’ka was awkward ‘cus she didn’t hate the idea.

Either way. Wasn’t like either of them really knew how to just come out and say it. Even if it meant expressing things through jokes and concern, even knowin’ the other was tough.

Ak’ka’s eyes widened when Videl mentioned knowin’ Sylvari - that he cared for her dearly, that fighting by her side was a source of pride and joy. Finding people you could spend your life with, it was a treasure. But it was somethin’ real special to find someone you could die with.

Huh. Small world.

“I know Sylvari.” Ak’ka noted, rememberin’ her encounter with the knightly gal up north. Some real friendly competition they’d had - enough to show her the gal had some real battle prowess. The gait of a huntress. It didn’t surprise her that the Snowflake and the Snowball were close allies… or that they joined the fighter’s guild together.

“Guild’ll be better with the both of y’all in it.” Ak’ka gave a begrudging nod of approval. “Yeah. I think we could kick some real ass together.” Sylvari had a real flame in her, a white-hot fire that burned bright for justice. And Videl was tough as ice. “Any time y’all find yourselves in need of an extra pair of arms or two, I’m there.” She grinned, anticipation thrummin’ in her veins. Wouldn’t be a spar between the three of them but they could definitely tear up the streets.

She nodded while Videl spoke - his convictions as bright as ever. She couldn’t help but be… proud was probably the right word. It was the feeling she once got as the head of her tribe, watchin’ her people grow and conquer. Then she found herself startled that she’d even had a memory of her tribe in the first place. Mortak was dead and she wouldn’t ever have another one.

“Listen, Snowball.” Ak’ka picked a piece of meat from her teeth with a nail while they walked. Picture of wisdom, she sure was. “Thing I’ve learned about gods and immortals is that they’re born with power and they got centuries to cultivate it. They don’t know the struggle to fight for it. But the things that makes humans special is that we die.”

She closed her eyes and remembered the boisterous laughter of her clanmates, orckin coming together in battlesong.

“We die and that makes life worth holdin’ onto. And that already, to me, makes ya stronger than any Vulcadreus. Life means nothing to them. Death means nothing to them. But if you got the passion in yer heart then you’ll find a way to win.”

Even the worm turned, or so the saying went.

‘Course, Ak’ka wasn’t no worm, but recent events had proven even though the orc was big, life was bigger. She had to grow with it. Adapt to any threat. It was the duty of the strong to protect the weak, and, well; right now, the weak needed protectin’.

“Yer makin’ good progress, though. Time in the guild’ll help. They got teachers for fightin’, sure, but there’s no better teacher than experience-”

The sound of something slithering through the grass caught her attention. Keiga. Ak’ka knelt down, waitin’ for the serpent head to poke its way out. Hard for a snake to look nervous, and Keiga wasn’t the type to be so easily spooked, apex predator he was. He ate eight-legged crawlies for breakfast. But he still looked unnerved.

Somethin’ in those woods spooked him.

“No sign of the creatures. But I think I found their lair. Webs and bones and a copse of trees. These… cocoons. Probably meals they were saving for later.”

“That so?” Ak’ka held out her hand and let Keiga coil around her. He was a pretty damn big serpent, but on a ten-foot hulk of a woman he looked about regular size. He perched on her shoulders while she stood, addressing Videl. “Keiga thinks he found the nest. No sign of the crawlies, though. Be alert.”