Donovan stumbled. The Wizened kept trying to run. Not entirely successfully. They’d been fleeing for… a day? Four days? He couldn’t be sure. All he knew was they had to keep going. He had a promise to keep.


“Come on,” he gasped, as much to himself as to his companion who had collapsed beside him. “We’re nearly there,” he lied.


The man on fire only whimpered in response as Donovan yanked his arm to him back on his feet. While part of it was likely that he didn’t believe the Woodwalker anymore (this had been the last of several times saying they were nearly there) more likely the Elemental’s limb had become dislocated. Donovan could feel the pain when he pulled. Recognized it from years dealing with animals. There was no time to set it though. The howls came through the Thorns to remind him of that.


Briar wolves. How’d they gotten through the flames he couldn’t guess? Hell, they might even wild. Whatever the case, they couldn’t be allowed to catch up.


“Hearthfire,” he didn’t know any other name to call him “We ARE almost there!” He tried to sound as convincing as possible.


They fell again in the middle of circle of mushrooms.


“We’re going to get back.” He tried to stand but his legs gave out.


“Remember.” He tried again but failed again to lift up Hearthfire and collapsed back to the Thorn riddled ground. Turning back he saw the Flameheart had fallen unconscious. Donovan didn’t have the strength to carry all that weight.


I promised,” he breathed. Howls came closer but the Wizened crawled back rather than run forward and held the man of flame.


“I would take you.” Briar wolf howls came from all side now. They were surrounded. He held Hearthfire. Stroked the flames that were his hair but by this time, he no longer feared the fires touch. Not Hearthfire’s.


“To your family.” The people you loved. The people you’d sacrifice everything to be with. To get back to. Alistair. Benjamin. Mama. He wanted so much to see them again. And Papa. Family was who you remembered. And Donovan remembered what his dad had once said. Family… was who you stood beside when things are at their worst.


Donovan stood.


The mushrooms blazed with yellow light. The Briar wolves yowled in anger. Donovan and Hearthfire fell down through the circle into the mortal world.