Blaidd
He wandered along the dark cavernous path, quiet and sneaky as he did. The temple just had some silly dagger he figured Malli would like for her collection. It was really pretty eith a deep orange glowy color, and Malli went wild for red and orange.
He sniffed around, only finding a dusty old coffin that he bumped with his nose. It glowed, pulsing for a moment before a pair of hands grabbed and pulled him in. He thrashed, obviously, but the lid slammed shut moments layer before it suddenly seemed to take a tumble down the worst smelling waterslide ever.
When the wolfman finally regained his senses, his feet punted off the lid. He groaned slowly, rising with a hand rubbing his face. "Never much liked waterfall rides." He muttered groggily as he rose, stepping out onto the wet stone as he looked around cautiously for a moment. It was a dark blue cavern, illuminated sparsely by glittering refractions along the watery floor, cast off fungi that dotted the walls in lovely shades of teal, blue, and turquoise. "Maybe I spoke too soon."
He looked around, taking in the lovely scenery as his hand brushed over a wall. It was almost soft. The rock was dense, but it almost felt like it was porous and barely away from becoming fluid. Yet when he pressed harder, it was as firm as any stone he had ever felt. "Talk about a fine view." He passed through a corridor of crystals, distant clicking like insectoid legs in the distance. They sounded nearly the size of horses.
"Just where in Ranni's name did I end up?" He scratched his head, a little confused and more than a little disoriented.
"The ainsel river." A familiar voice said behind him. He turned, seeing the strange black armored knight who had briefly travelled with them.
"Friend!" He exclaimed, running over and splashing water before tackling her in a hug that made the significantly smaller lady chuckle.
"Good to see you too, Blaidd. I am afraid, however, I have a request for you that may seem... Unkind." Her tone was grimmer than the wolfman wpuld have enjoyed. "There is a great reckoning coming"
"I have sensed a bit of a shift in things." She chuckled.
"Yes. I suppose you would have. However, a certain someone may seek to impede the last leg of your groups voyage. I... need you to simply promise me something."
"Anything for a friend."
The knight removed her helmet, revealing a head of more orange than red hair that sat in a tight braid. Her eyes burned nearly as brightly blue as icy blocks in sunlight. She had a rather sharp pair of eyes, smaller, yet intense. She was pale, mostly, with a hint kf cream to the undertone of her pronounced cheekbones. "Promise me, no matter what, you will not let Marika fall."
"Well. Ya don't gotta make a promise on that, friend. She is a friend, too." The wolfman pounded his chest once with his fist. "No one ever gets left behind. Not so long as I can help it."
The knight smiled gently. He began to notice similarities in the hairline and nose to someone before she redoned her helmt, sealing it with a click of its latch. "Then let's het topside."
...
"So." Blaidd bit into another leg of ant meat as they walked back into the daylight. "I was thinking." He hefted up the head of an ant. "You think I could make this a shield for Malli? Awful tough stuff."
"I think the girl would adore it and never use it, yet never take it off." This was satisfactory to the wolfman as he tossed aside the snack and began working his claws through the head.
"So. Who are you, anyway?" He asked, licking his snout of excess juices as they walked.
"...My name is Chrona." She answered.
"Chrona. That's a pretty name. Sounds like a clock, but, more interesting." She chuckled lightly. "What?"
"Just glad to know Malli has a good boy like you to take care of her."
"You. You mean it?"
"I do."
Blaidd howled, and how he howled with such joy at those words that he nearly missed his little girl's answering howl, but he had taught her well. "Malli?!"
A distant, echoing howl of a very small child with far too much enthusiasm answered as Lady Rennala and his little Malli came into view. He rushed over, scooping her up above the small flower bed where they stood. "There she is!" She lifted and tossed her, much to the girls laughter and endless amusement.
"I beat a troll Papa! A whole ghosty troll! I'm gonna be a real hero and a knight just like you and auntie Lunie!"
"No way!"
"Uh huh! And check out the cool slashy friend I got from Granny!" She drew out her shiny knew sword.
"Wow!" He laughed. "Well! Every knight needs somethings to go with that sword!" He beamed as the others joined them.
"They do?!"
"They do!"
"What kinda things?!"
"Well, every good knight needs her first shield. To protect your heart." He offered her the anthead shield, the insides attached using sinew and magic glue to form a firm grip. "Because your sword is your arm." He smiled, showing her by extending her arm. "It is your reaching ambition."
"Ambishun." He laughed as she said it in the most serious of tones.
"Your shield is your chest, for it guards your heart. With it, you have love."
"Love!" She cheered, swinging both eagerly with a giggle before tucking the shield onto a strap Blaidd helped secure on her back. It was so.large thay it became far too cute on her, despite the remaining vicera.
"Lastly. Every good hero needs a back-up plan."
"Back-up plan?" He secured the dagger tonher belt as she gasped. "Papa... its the prettiest people poker I've ever seen..."
"And this is your back-up plan. All else fails, this is your knife is the dark. Your secret weapon. With this, you have assuredy."
"Ashuready." He smiled, rufflingnher hair as she giggled happily.
"Ay. Ya sure are ready."