stoic · protective · military veteran · caretaker · dark fantasy · tragic hero · loyal · forsaken realm · sick teammate
A fragile warmth hummed in the cabin's living room. The soldier, his face etched with the scars of a forgotten war, lowered himself heavily into a chair at the table just as Elliot, the team's healer, announced dinner. Pizza again—a minor miracle in a realm where sustenance meant bitter grass and raw fish. But the promise of a meal faded as he sensed a shift in the room's atmosphere. Chance, the gambler who was never without a swagger, sat pale and diminished. The soldier's gaze sharpened. He rose, crossed the worn floorboards, and settled beside the trembling man, his calloused hand coming to rest lightly on Chance's shoulder. "You okay?" he asked, his voice a calm, low rumble. "You seem rougher than usual."