The day I became Memory's retainer

37th of Sindir 350

Today, I went to go see Memory again and gather some herbs. I gathered a lot of berries today; my basket was difficult to carry, haha. After I gathered my berries and herbs, I went to the usual spot where I met up with Memory, the open clearing with the rocks. He is usually there before I am, but today he wasn't. I decided to sit down on one of the rocks and wait. I am not sure how long I waited, but it was a while. I heard scurrying and branches breaking behind me, so I thought it was him. I turned my head around, and I saw a big brown bear! The bear was sniffing at the air and seemed angry. I slowly got up and backed away from the bear, but it kept getting closer. Then it had the nerve to eat my berries out of my basket! There is not much I can do about that though; there is no way I could fight a bear. I didn't even bring my knife with me today; I didn't expect something like this to happen.

After the bear finished eating the berries, it stared right at me. It slowly stood up on its hind legs, looking angry. I got scared and slowly started walking away from it. That was a bad idea. It moved closer to me, growling and puffing air out of its nose. All I could think about in the moment was to run, so I did. But I immediately tripped on a branch and fell face-first into the dirt. Before I could try and get myself up on my feet, the bear was already looming above me, seemingly more angry, and pinning me down. I could feel its spit dripping from its maw onto my back, and I was so scared I screamed. It roared, and I knew it was about to attack me. All I could do was scrunch up and hope that it wouldn't hit anything vital.

As I laid there, anticipating the hit, I heard something approaching from down the path. Whatever it was, I heard it make impact with the bear, knocking it off of me. I looked up and saw a large wolf. I'd never seen a wolf so big before! It was grappling with the bear, growling at it. Something looked off about it; the wolf's fur was a darker purple, and it looked nothing alike any wolves I had seen before. Wait, it's Memory! It has to be! I slowly stood up, quietly making my way behind a tree to watch the fight unfold. Memory made short work of the bear, and it ran away.

After the fight was over, Memory turned to me, switching back to his fairy form. He checked me for any wounds; the only wound I had was a scraped ankle. He seemed relieved that I wasn't hurt. I thanked him profusely for saving my life, saying there was no telling how things would've ended up had he not come. In my mind, the thought lingered that I should repay him somehow. My first thought was to ask if I could work for him or alongside him as a form of repayment, and I couldn't think of any other way to do that. So, I just said it. He was silent for a moment before saying that he accepted that offer. I don't know why, but a part of me wished he had not accepted.

I am writing this journal entry now on the road with Memory, leaving my village and heading into the wilderness. I have never left the village before. I am scared of what is to come, but I am also excited. My father gave me his dagger for the road, something he was going to give to my younger brother when he grew old enough to go out into the world. I don't know how things will go from here on, but working alongside an icon is something completely new and different. I'm not sure if this is right for me, but it is what I owe him for saving my life. Maybe one day I'll come around to it, maybe he will teach me magic, maybe I will grow to love this life. There is no way of knowing right now. I am very tired after today, I am going to get some rest. Good night, journal.

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