Chapter 4: Bonded
#5 of Small Shadows
Mug sat on the deck of The Watcher, his paws dangling off the side of the ship as it sliced through the night sky. He watched the ground far below him whizzing by at an incredible speed. He felt the air flowing through his fur as a voice from behind him called out.
"Something on your mind there lad? You seem troubled." Wilford said, his voice booming over the high winds. Mug got up from his precarious perch and walked up onto the upper deck. Wilford made a small flurry with his hand and the air around them pushed up and away. The bubble they were in made small whooshing sounds around the edges, but nowhere near the deafening roar from before.
"Thanks and yeah. I've got alot on my plate right now. Hard to sleep with the fate of the world weighing on your mind." Mug tried his hardest to keep his composure but at the end of the sentence his words wilted. "What if we fail? Or some of us die? I've fought so hard to fucking make it to this point. I got my cousin back, found a new family that genuinely cares for me. But what if it's for nothing, Wilford?"
The wind outside of the bubble howled as Wilford closed his eyes for a few moments. "It's one of the great questions in life, Lad. Why do we press on in the face of insurmountable struggle and strife? I guess it depends on who you are asking." Wilford was quiet for a few more moments, letting Mug stew in that semi answer. Before he had a chance to respond Wilford piped back up.
"You know lad, ye always seemed aloof. Not really belonging anywhere. At least as far as I seen. But after all this time traveling and living with the Jesters, you've changed. You've made bonds with people that have changed ye. You don't want to give that up. These people matter to ye and you are willing to fly into the most damned place in the world to fight for that." Wilford Smiled down at Mug warmly. "Admirable really. It takes more to stay and fight than to run."
Mug laughed at that, catching himself as he doubled over. "Wasn't supposed to be that funny lad." Wilford mused, confused at Mug's sudden outburst.
Mug waved for a second as he caught himself. "No no, I just. I learned that lesson the hard way. Before I joined up with the Jesters I was a deserter for the Iron Kings Army." At that Wilford chuckled softly. "Alright, I won't report you lad."
Mug shook his head softly. "No need, I was absolved a while ago. When we freed the Halls of Wolfgar, after that the Grand Marshall gave me a proper honorable discharge in service to the Crown for helping." Wilford smirked at him.
"So that's what was happening that day! Well if you got a pardon from Lyria herself you couldn't have done anything too bad!" Wilford exclaimed with a hearty chuckle. Mug stayed quiet, not reciprocating the laugh. Wilfords laugh began to die out and the air grew quiet between them. The tension hung in the air before Wilford cut it short "If ye want to talk, I'll listen lad."
"I-I freaked out after one of the skirmishes near the borders of the Blackstone territory. We had set up a forward operating camp and got attacked shortly after." Mug started, his voice shaking. He took in a big breath and after exhaling proceeded flatly. "I ran. I was scared and I ran away from the only people to treat me right after I left home. People who were my family. I abandoned them and they died for it." Wilford nodded solemnly. "So yeah." Mug continued. "While it may not be the worst thing to happen. Hell I bet most militaries have their hands full with AWOL soldiers...It doesn't change...I still had to learn a very hard lesson from that. One that cost me a family and-" He cut himself off, wiping at his nose and sniffing softly. "I won't let their deaths be in vain. Let's just leave it at that." Mug said curtly, his voice slightly colder.
Wilford nodded quietly. After a few moments of silence Wilford spoke softly. "It's always scary. I went from frontliner to engineer and I have only been making things like this Airship to prevent any more deaths from happening. It was a tough decision to make but hey, least ye owned up to it. Not many people can do that." he said softly. After a few more seconds of silence Wilford let go of the wheel and placed a hand on Mug's shoulder. Mug looked up at him and Wilford smiled softly down at him. "Lad, you've done more good than bad in the world. That much is plain to see. Don't let yourself be blindsided by the bad." Mug nodded as he teared up again. "I'm sure they see that plain as day, wherever they rest. So don't beat yourself down."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." he said as he stood and stretched his arms and back. "Really I do Wilford, I think I am going to try and get some more sleep." He headed down below deck contemplating Wilford words. Mug had spent so much time focusing on everything bad he had done that it destroyed his mental state. Sleepless nights, his problem with drinking, attacking his friends after waking up from night terrors. He had to be better, for them he shook his head to control the spiral that was his thoughts. Tomorrow was the day, The Siege of the Citadel. He couldn't lose his nerve now. He crawled up and into one of the hammocks and relaxed into the soft down blankets. Feeling himself slowly drifting into sleep.
Mug felt the slimy tongue of Professor Putrid wrap around him and lift him off the ground. The undead monster smiled as best as he could without his lower jaw. Spittle and drool dripped onto the floor as his eyes narrowed at the small cat creature now in his clutches.
"Haha! Now you can't escape from my power!" Professor yelled in triumph. He reached his hand over to touch Mug.
Mug tried to lean away but found himself being brought closer to the hand. His wounds burned as infected spit and whatever else this monster kept on his tongue seeped into Mug.
"Fuck you Splitjaw! Lick my furry ba-" but before Mug could end his insult a finger touched his forehead. Black lightning arced over his body, crackling and burning fur and skin alike. Mug yelled in pain as the Professor cackled in victory. Mug's scream caught in his throat and after a few errant twitches Mug went limp. The Professor tossed his body aside, laughing in triumph as the rest of the party looked for any sign of their friend getting back up. Saladin charged an eldritch blast as Draagore roared in defiance to their fallen friend.
Mug felt the floor underneath his head with his paw. His eyes slowly opened as he found himself inside a completely dark room. Try as he might he couldn't see anything; he realized he no longer had his goggles on either. He glanced down at himself and found him wearing his old uniform for the Iron Kings.
"What the fuck? Where am I?" He yelled, whirling around the room trying to get a bead on a wall, objects, anything that he could use to determine what happened to him. He racked his mind to try and figure out what happened. That damned Professor had wrapped him up in his gross tongue. The Professor touched him and then there was pain. Like a lot of pain. Was he dead?
"Shit no...I can't be dead...They need me! I have to go back!" Mug screamed, tears streaming down his face. "I can't leave them! We were so close, I can't die now!"
Mug heard a cackle echo around him; it was that damned monster professor. "Where are you! Show yourself, Monster!" The darkness began to fade from his view as everything was enveloped in a blinding light. Mug covered his eyes as the cackle quieted down to a raspy chuckle. He spun around to face the source of the laugh.
"Silly kitty, so easy to trick even with all that perceptiveness." Peck said, through her chuckles. She strode up to Mug through this bright room, her talons clicking softly against the ground. "Seems like you got a little overzealous love. I will have to help you. Though I cannot say I am not slightly happy about this."
Mug stared at her, it was Peck but she seemed different. The way he remembered her and the Kenku standing in front of him now were like imperfect reflections. She sported a full black cloak now instead of the simple cowl she once wore and dark grey leather armor with a multi use belt tied at the waist. Cinched into different spots were a collection of potions and weapons brimming her belt. In her sheath was a rapier with a cat's paw embedded into the cup hilt. "Peck? How? Where- am I dead?"
She chuckled softly once more. "Yes and no, I will explain. For now, let me take a look at you." Mug felt air pass over him and his goggles settled onto his forehead. He felt the weight of his gear return to him. She stepped forward and pulled his arms up and took a look at his cloak. "Ah, Arachnida. A fine choice my love. I am sure you have used this to your advantage many many times." she held out her clawed hand and nodded at him. "May I see your sword Simon?" Mug saw her wink as she chirped softly. He brandished his Rapier and handed it to her. She looked over it and nodded quietly. She saw the feather embedded into the cupped hilt and clacked her beak together softly as her eyes squinted in inspection.
Mug got a good look at her face from the side as she turned the weapon over in her clawed hand. The edges of her mouth curved ever so slightly upward as she attempted a smile. His gaze continued down to the soft downy feathers of her neck, black as night on the top with a layer of a darker grey underneath. His paws shook as he reached forward and touched the feathers. Peck chirped in surprise and leaned into his touch, eyes closing softly for a moment as he ran his paw through her down and scratched lightly as he reached her clavicle.
"I have missed your touch Simon, truly." She cooed blissfully through slightly lidded eyes. Mug felt tears begin to flow once more. His other paw reached up and ruffled the other side of her neck as he began to openly weep.
"It is you. You're here. H-how is this possible? I must be dead right? This has to be some fucked up dream, like last time. I can't be distracted right now I have to get back to the League" Mug pulled his paws away from her slowly, tears continuing to make streaks through his fur. "I have to help them. I'm sorry Peck." He shut his eyes and turned from her. As he began to run he was surprised as he ran directly into her lithe form and collapsed backwards onto the ground.
Her throaty chuckle hung above his head as she looked down at him. "You have grown so much my love, at least in maturity. You are still the small adorable fuzzball I fell in love with. Now stand back up, I want to keep looking at you." Mug clambered back to his feet as he reached for his rapier, and finding no purchase he looked down. As his gaze fell to his lack of a weapon in his sheath he heard a soft click and stared back at Peck as she began to flick his weapon around, letting the whip function loosen the blade and fling to and fro. "Versatile! Is this because Julie used to use a whip? Very creative." Peck depressed the hidden button and the whip retracted into itself and clunked back into place. She held the hilt out to him as Mug reached over and grabbed it.
As Mug slid the rapier back into his sheath he felt Peck's presence get closer. With a small 'Eep' Mug was lifted into the air and held close to Peck. He felt her heartbeat against the side of his face, the warmth of her feathers buffeting his face, the feeling of her beak and face settling on top of his head. His paws wrapped around her and interlocked behind her back. He felt her breath hitch in her throat for just a moment before she softly cooed above him.
"Was that so hard?" she preened softly into his ear. Mug felt his face break into a smile. She was here. This was Peck, his long lost love. The person he failed many years ago. She held him closer as his own words caught in his mouth.
"Yes...I'm so sorry." Mug said, his eyes watering as she gently scratched the back of his head.
"None of that, you didn't know. You lived, for me, for Steel, for Julie, for Grug. You lived and thrived and were able to come back from such a horrible loss. You fought tooth and nail for this life you have lived and I could not be prouder of you for it Simon. Now, dry your tears my love. We have more pressing matters to attend to." She pulled her hand away and Mug opened his eyes and watched the stark white room transfer into a stone room with a single raised platform settled into the middle of the room. Against the back wall there sat two chairs set around 5 feet in the air. The room gave him a feeling as if; he was going to get court martialed; sweat formed on his brow.
Peck went to set him down onto the platform and it rose to meet his paws. Peck stepped on as well and they stood next to each other, their heads facing towards the chairs. A beam of light burned into the left chair as the flowing violet robes of the angel Barachiel materialized and he sat lazily in the large chair.
"Yes please, let's get this over with." He said, yawning slightly. "You Jesters are almost not worth the trouble you know. This is a tall order." His gaze fell on Peck. "And while I am alright with this plan it may be harder to convince her." Peck nodded slightly as the other chair swirled with a wisp of smoke. It concentrated on a point and exploded outward curving into the flowing hair of the Raven Queen. Her wings flexed outwards as her legs turned from smoke to flesh. She stepped onto the ground and her body formed from the rest of the smoke. She looked over to Peck for a second before her gaze settled on Mug.
"What the fuck is going on?" Mug said as he turned to look at Peck. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the Raven Queen. The Queen met Peck's gaze and Mug shrank slightly. They were exchanging some sort of look, one that immediately told him he did not want to be here anymore.
A few terse moments of silence ticked by and the Raven Queen exploded with anger and pointed at Mug. Feathers fell from her wings and back and quickly turned to wisps of smoke that gathered around her feet and traced behind her.
"Absolutely not! He died, I don't care how many damned favors I owe anyone. You cann-'' Peck opened and shut her beak loudly, the clack echoing all around them. The Raven Queen crossed her arms over her chest and turned into a fast moving wisp that circled up the chair and sat in the seat. "Proceed." She said angrily, her teeth gritted slightly.
Peck nodded slightly and began to speak. "I asked you both here today to ask a favor. After many years of service in the afterlife to both of you and others I would ask to be heard out in earnest...My Queen." She gave permission to proceed with a dismissive flourish of her hand and a huff.
"Thank you." Peck bowed her head slightly. Her gaze quickly turned to the Angel. "Barachiel, you already know what I would like from you."
He held up a single hand and a small light shone from it, which covered Mug for a split second. "Consider it done, Inquisitor. Your help with various uprisings in the realm of Lunia has been invaluable and I grant you this favor with great aplomb." He looked to Mug and smirked. "It will be like you never died, little one. Something only deities can bestow. Feel blessed." Mug nodded at him, understanding partially what was going on. Peck had done what she was good at after dying: Currying favor with anyone she could.
"As for the Queen, my request is simple. I wish to be bound to Simon." The Raven Queen's eyes widened for a split second before the anger flushed over her face once again.
"Absolutely not! That's a loophole and you know it, Inquisitor! That's practically a step removed from being revived. Which need I remind you I very-" The words dripped from her mouth like venom. "heavily frown upon. I cannot grant th-"
"My Queen," Peck spoke in the middle of The Queen's retort "when a portion of the Shadar-kai attempted an uprising during one of your resting periods. Did I not infiltrate and take care of the problem before it had a chance to cause you serious harm? As a god you must understand the attempt they were planning almost came to fruition and as such could have very easily thrown the entire universe into disarray." Peck spoke with confidence, her voice definitely emulating Steel's vocal pattern. She had only grown in her mimicry ability since dying. Mug even noticed her usual manner of speaking with small stutters and pauses from having to mimic different beings to form words was practically gone at this point. She had spent time honing her words to be just as sharp of a weapon as her blade.
The Raven Queen placed her hands over each other in her lap and sighed, exasperated. "While this is true Inquisitor, what you are asking me is almost impossible anyways. He cannot hold the soul of another inside him. It would kill your beloved and scatter you both into the Ether." she chuckled after saying that, a satisfied smirk placed on her lips.
Peck nodded once more and clacked her beak ever so softly. "Simon's power has grown exponentially since the last time you two interacted, My Queen. After my own research I found out if done correctly he can grow the power he needs inside of himself and can manifest it of his own accord after proper training. While starting out I will not be anything but a specter of my current self. I am confident that Simon can one day properly carry me with him." He felt her clawed hand interlock with his paw, digits comfortably slipping between each other. She offered a small squeeze to which Mug reciprocated. She looked down to him as the grin on his face grew wider and wider.
"Peck, you would do this for me?" Mug spoke softly, trying to come to grips with the absolute kindness she was offering him. It was the only thing he had lost that he truly felt he could never get back. He had found a new family in the Jesters League, Come to terms with the deaths of his squad, redeemed himself in the eyes of many by adventuring and saving many across the land, he even rescued Richter from the clutches of the Family. Peck was the only thing that he had truly lost and here she was cashing in favors with deities to bring herself back to him.
She looked down at him and closed her eyes happily. Nodding, Mug looked from her to the Raven Queen. The Queen locked eyes with Mug and glared at him. He knew what he would have to do. He cleared his throat as Barachiel shifted slightly, his interest placed squarely on the Felis.
"Raven Queen, I understand that we haven't always seen eye to eye on things. But if Peck believes in me, then I am confident that I could do it as well. I have-" her body formed into a wisp of smoke as she angrily flew across the room and materialized in front of him.
"No, not after I have had to deal with your insufferable attitude up to this point. You blatantly deny mine and other gods' very existence in front of us as well as your friends who are in service to multiple different deities! Everyone takes this from you without challenge because of some misguided feeling of respect for such a petulant child!" She screamed at him, Mug felt Peck shift next to him but he lightly squeezed her hand. It was his turn.
"My Queen." He said, pouring on every bit of reverence he could muster. "I understand that I have been antagonistic in passing to most gods but from a 'humble mortals' perspective with the strife and issues I have had to overcome time and time again without the help of gods such as yourself I am sure in your infinite wisdom you can understand why someone would have trouble believing." Mug smiled warmly as the Raven Queen seemed caught off guard. Her form receded slightly as he continued.
"But you have a chance to make a believer out of me. Currently I could be dying and just having some sort of last moment explosion of conscious thought before I retreat into the afterlife." Once again he felt a shift from Peck but he proceeded. "But with this chance, it would easily show me up. Every crass word, challenge to your power, insult thrown your way. Well, I wouldn't ever be able to do it again. You would effectively shut me up for good." Mug's warm smile turned into a shit eating grin. "And the great Raven Queen wouldn't turn away a chance to really shove it in my face that I was wrong. Would you?" Barachiel stifled a laugh as the Raven Queen stared in confusion.
A few moments ticked by before the Raven Queen smiled wide and began to laugh. Her laugh pierced through Mug's entire being, his skull rattled and ears rang as it grew in volume. Mug winced slightly as her laugh began to settle ever so slightly. The Queen wiped a tear from her eye as she finally began to calm down.
"After everything you have said to me. I never expected that from you, rodent. You seem to have learned some humility for once in your life." Her form turned back to smoke to sit atop the chair once more. A smirk placed firmly on her features. She waved her hand in the air as both Peck and Mug were surrounded in a small wisp of smoke that left trails criss-crossing over both of them. Mug felt odd, something was different. He took a glance at Peck and felt happiness wash over him. It took him a second to realize it was her feelings. A swirling mix of love, happiness and anxiety.
"Wha-" Mug started but was interrupted by the Raven Queen.
"You two are now bonded, the Inquisitor will reside inside of you." The Raven Queen started and pointed her gaze squarely at Mug. "While you are no emissary of mine, I will be keeping an eye on you both. This is a great gift I have felt gracious enough to give you both. Due to her service and your..." she seemed at a loss for words before sighing. "Your help with keeping the balance of the world proper." Once again Barachiel stifled a laugh while mumbling under his breath.
"An understatement if anything." he chided as The Queen glared at him. "With that, both of you shall return. I believe he will need help getting up, Inquisitor." And with a wave of his hand the violet cloak spiraled into nothing, and Barachiel was gone. The Raven Queen sat for a moment and locked eyes with Peck.
After a few terse moments, a small sigh escaped the Queen's lips. "Fine, that is a small enough wish." And with that, her form faded into the single wisp that winked out of existence atop the chair. Peck laughed to herself as Mug found them suddenly standing back in the white void from before.
"Do I even want to know what that was?" He inquired. Peck shook her head side to side softly.
"Nothing important, just asking her to keep her temper at bay when we return together. The Tabaxi, Pip was their name? They will have a moment or two I am sure of mistrust. I may even have to reveal secrets the Queen would rather keep to herself." Peck mused as she continued to inspect Mug. When she saw his crossbow strapped onto his belt her beak clacked 3 times excitedly. "You still have it!?" she preened as she snatched it off his person. Mug felt a smile grow over his face once more. "You took a little bit from everyone, didn't you? The few times I have observed I saw you trying your hand at illusions, you practically stole my fighting style with rapiers, Julie's whip, Steel's aim." her voice dropped slightly. "I am sorry you have had to carry their deaths with you alone for so long." Mug felt her pain radiate through his being as she continued.
"You were the only thing I worked for. I knew that if I got better and harnessed every bit of power I could I would get to this point. I wish I could've given you a better clue. You have been hurting." Peck's voice choked slightly and her tone became more birdlike. She was holding a lot back. Mug stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. Tears fell on top of Mug's head as she leaned into him, crouching down slightly to be closer to him.
"It's okay. You are here now. That's what matters. Don't let yourself be blindsided by the bad." Mug said softly, the words echoing in his own mind as he heard Wilford telling him that exact thing just hours ago.
Peck sobbed softly above his head for another few moments and then she was quiet. No doubt cleaning herself up. She only showed emotion like this in front of him, everyone else got the same confident Inquisitor she carried herself as. "Come, you have a fight to get back too." Mug's head swirled as the darkness came back and his vision began to narrow. "And this time I will be right next to you." That was the last thing he heard before his consciousness left him.
Mug blinked twice as he felt himself lifted from the ground. He could smell burning flesh and he felt tingly. The smell quickly overwhelmed him as he realized it was coming from himself. An inky black hand rested on his shoulder and began to brush his cloak off. He grabbed at the clawed hand and tried to remember where he was. Looking to his left he saw the startled eyes of Professor Putrid, mumbling something about him being dead and that this was impossible. He turned to look behind him and saw the inky figure nodding at him.
"What happened?" Mug finally croaked out, his voice strained. The figure patted him twice and pointed at the professor. He locked eyes with Putrid once again and smirked as the memory of the pain he inflicted surged back to him. Mug laughed and looked to his feet, finding his fallen weapon. He grabbed the hilt and depressed the hidden button. The spiked whip retracted back into itself to be a rapier once more. From behind he saw the figure produce a rapier as well, blue energy arced over it and Mug felt a chill run up his spine. It all started to click in his head, he remembered his conversation with Peck. She was with him.
"Oh...you are so fucked." Mug mused as he lunged at Putrid. His strike went wide as Putrid hopped to one side, but Peck lashed out with her own stab and it connected with Putrid's shoulder. As it held him in place and he howled in pain she placed a hand over his head and lances of Ice exploded outward from her palm. Putrid's head was caught in the blast, slumping over onto the ground dead. A wispy soul left the Psuedo-Lich's body and his various body parts turned to dust on the ground.
Mug felt faint for a second, his body registering much of the previous damage he sustained from the attack that killed him. He took a knee to catch a breath and heard a flurry of movement as Pip rushed forward, hand shaking over the hilt of their Vorpal sword. Draagore immediately pushed himself between Mug and Pip. Saladin's hands lit up with Radiant energy from the other side of the room as the conflict rose to a head.
"What the fuck did I say about showing off!" Pip roared, holding back the power of the curse laid on their Vorpal Sword. As dear a friend as Mug was, their convictions were strong and they knew they would have to behead the revived Mug. Draagore stood silently between the two, glancing back at Mug in relief. He squared up with Pip, his towering presence dwarfing the Tabaxi. Draagores scaled hand rested on his own longsword before he felt a poke at his arm. Looking to his left he saw the inky black figure giving him a shooing motion. Draagore hesitated for just a moment before relenting and stepping to the side. Now squaring up to the Tabaxi Peck tried sign language.
"He did not die, I did not allow it." She spoke with her fingers. Her mouth was frustratingly closed for now. The spell used as a catalyst for this did not allow the familiar to speak. She worked with what she had though.
Pip let their hand drift from the sword as they signed back. "What are you?"
Peck could feel the urge to emote with her beak flood into herself but her mouth stayed closed. "Peck, it is very nice to meet you." She signed back, feeling a chuckle caught in her metaphorical throat. It would be confusing at first. She would need to explain a lot with not alot of time. A good first impression was important though.
Pip's hands fell as it sank in for a moment. Peck signed once more. "Do not worry, I asked The Queen and she allowed it." At that revelation Pip broke into deranged laughter, sadness and surprise echoing through the laboratory as they frantically searched around for Raum, their familiar. As the laughter died down from Pip they began a conversation with the Raven Queen herself. Peck felt happiness well up inside, she turned to look at Mug who sat on the ground now nursing wounds with the help of a potion from Saladin. He glanced back at her and smiled warmly. Peck couldn't cry in this form but she felt joy rise up in her chest as she looked over her love and knew they wouldn't be without each other anymore.