Late in the evening, you head to the recently built home for Companion Name. It's nothing fancy - like most of the new constructions in Azamire - but all of the folks who've been contributing the most were given priority in separate lodgings, and they've done wonders for bringing back a bit of normalcy. What hasn't been normal is how little you've seen Companion Name lately. You've had plenty of times where you weren't attached at the hip over the years you've known one another, but you know they've been around. It almost feels as if they've been avoiding you. You knock several times to no avail. Just as you turn to go, you see a limping figure approach, notice you, and then turn away.

Companion Name turns towards you and wobbles on their feet. Even in the low light, you notice the dark red patch blood on the front of their cloak, and trailing down their arms. You rush towards them and manage to catch your best friend before they hit the ground. You quickly run through a list of places you could bring them before settling on their own place. You quickly fish their key out of their pocket and carry them inside. You'd complain about them being heavy if it weren't for the fact your heart was beating out of your chest, knowing how hurt they are and having no idea on why or how. Digging through both their supplies and yours, you find enough to get them patched up. Across their chest is a large gash with bits of... wood, sticking out of it? You extract it all, bit by bit, in the lantern light, and stitch them back up before wrapping them in gauze. The rest of their wounds are comparatively minor, and take much less time to deal with, but they are numerous, and in various states of healing, some old, some fresh. Once you're done, Companion Name looks more mummy than person, but they'll live. You cover them up to let them rest, and decide to help along their recovery with their favorite food.

Companion Name manages to quietly eat the cake you give them, and you decide to wait a while before beginning your round of questioning. Once they finish the first half, your questioning begins, and they fake passing out. You roll your eyes, and threaten to take the rest of the cake away and they spring back up, but quickly nurse their wounds after the sudden movement. You ask what happened, how they feel, and what they why they've been avoiding you, but Companion Name remains silent for all of it. When you finally ask why they didn't bring you, tears well up in their eyes.

They detail the events of the night. How they came across the creature, and the talismans in its branches flashed with a bright blue light as they tried to run away. How they floated up into the air and were sucked towards the ent while they flailed about in the air, and then how the ent sent them flying after the talismans in its branches flashed bright blue. Companion Name was sure they were going to die, until they saw that the talismans in the ent's branches matched the similar charms forming a line in the nearby treeline. The giant ent shuffled back and forth at that line, but wouldn't cross it. Then, they limped all the way back to Azamire. After a through amount of ridicule and chastisement, you hug them and tell them you're glad they're okay. In the morning you detail everything that happened to Jass, who gathers up the archers of her militia and send them out with you and a wounded Companion Name, who leads you to the grove with the giant ent. It seems that it has been joined by several of the smaller ones, but you aren't dissuaded.

The ents are all down, and the archers do their best to shoot the talismans out of the trees incase they do... anything bad. Companion Name holds their bow at their side, pleased to have gotten a little payback, then kicks at an ent's branch that seems to be trying to crawl away.

Everyone gathers up the ent parts. They don't seem dangerous anymore, but you do notice that - slowly but surely - they're starting to gain new growth. If you waited long enough, they'd likely become a threat again. The archers help by snapping off new branches and tossing them back into the pile, and occasionally making sure that none have managed to crawl away.

The last bit of smoke goes out as the final pile of burning ent runs out of fuel. You were almost tempted to start trying to grill something, but the idea of the smoke being evil and getting into the food dissuaded any attempts. Companion Name leans against you, both for comfort, and because they are far from recovered from their wounds. You tease them lightly about getting smacked around by kindling, to which they reply by driving the butt of their bow into your foot. You tussel their hair and give them a hug, and tell them that you're glad they're safe.