Fennigan: Fox tooth

Artemidorous had always been quiet about her past, typically being the one asking people about their backstories.. The truth was she liked being seen as a hunter but could never lie about her closest friend and the real reason she wore a fox tooth around her neck.

She frequented a small inn, when she decided to stay in this town.. It had a lot of contracts so she temporarily settled down and opened up to making some friends with people who approached her out of curiosity, her flowers and scars typically attracted some curious people and she never minded it. 

 

Another Tuesday and she came back to the inn, greeting the bartender with a kind smile as she gently brushed her hair away from her eyes enough to see a bit more.. Not enough for anyone to see her eye though. "Hi Deno!"

The bartender lifted their head and with a crooked but kind smile they greeted the small goblin in front of them, no words in response. They knowingly started getting a plate of food ready as Artemidorous clumsily climbed into a stool at the bar, pulling out a bag of coins and slipping it over with a soft smile. "It's a small night huh? Not a lot of people coming in.." She remarks as she looks around, then glances back at the bartender who only nods with a sigh. Artemidorous just started eating, not paying much attention as an elf sat next to her. And not-so-subtly glanced at the goblin.. It wasn't exactly rude per-say, just uncommon. 

 

"What are those flowers in your scars?" She finally blurted out, as soon as she realized how sudden it was she looked down in embarrassment. Artemidorous jumped a bit and stared at the elf blankly and awkwardly as she chewed desperately so she could speak, putting a finger up as the elf waited in simmering embarrassment. 

Finally, she swallowed and giggled a bit. "I was born with it, whenever an open wound is recognized on my body it sprouts flowers as self defense mechanism. The elf smiled a bit, clearly happy that artemidorous isn't offended. "That's so cool! My names Abrillion but you can call me Abri.. Sorry it was so sudden you just looked so cool across the bar and my friends told me it was best for me to just ask instead of staring at you so I did.." She rambled a bit and Artemidorous just watched and smiled a bit, the curiosity and honesty was admirable and.. The embarrassment is very relatable.

"My names Artemidorous, nice to meet you Abri." She finally replied when the elf was finished speaking. The elf shyly smiled and asked another question before Artemidorous could speak again. "What's that?" She pointed to her choker and the tooth tied to it. 

Artemidorous was quiet for a second. "Oh.. That's a fox tooth." "A fox tooth? Was it a hunt you did once? Ooo like your first hunt.."

Artemidorous was taken aback at the excited and quick reply, contemplating if she should correct Abri. "No, it was a friend of mine.."

The elf paused and looked at her. "A friend?" 

"I once met a fox pup when I was younger, and he.. Well he was injured, had only three legs and I couldn't find his mother so I took him in.. We were both lost and I guess.." She cut off her own sentence, as if it didn't need to be finished "I decided to name him Fennigan, everyone needs a name" She paused and stared at the elf who was clearly very intrigued and wanted to hear more.. She continued. "Well we hunted together, fought together.. He helped me find things for contracts that I would never be able to find myself. He was extremely smart, adjusted to living without a front leg really well. He would find me food when I couldn't get to civilization in time, he took care of me and I took care of him but.. As he got older I realized his mortality. He ate less and came along on less adventures until eventually I just look up at the stars and I guess I realized it was his time.. I pulled him into my lap and.. As I pet him and kissed his head I told him just how beautiful his existence was.. Just how happy I was that I had met him in my life. He slowly slipped away, I think he was waiting to let himself die until I said goodbye.. Like he wanted me to be ready, as I buried him a tooth fell out, ironically the biggest tooth he had. I decided to coat it in gold to preserve it and keep going on adventures with him.. I really don't think I'd be here without him."

The goblin stopped rambling her story and looked at the elf and Deno, who both were staring at her. The elf looked like she was crying and Deno seemed less.. Monotone for once. She smiled gently and laughed.. "But it was a while ago-" she was cut off.. "That was so beautiful, it's more impressive to find true love and friendship than it is to kill something.."

It was.. A simple statment but it made Artemidorous smile. "Yea.. You're right."

Abrillion said her bittersweet goodbyes as she retreated back to her friends, Artemidorous went back to eating silently before she left for bed, and Deno continued doing their job.. It was just another day, but a day they would remember for at least the next few months..