Maybe it was just the concussion talking (if anyone was seeing strange colors and hearing strange sounds, it was Matteo) but Ash’s words made some amount of sense to him. Strategy. Balance. Even overlooking acronyms like DPS and MMO, which seemed to stir up some murkiness in the back of his head, the word [i]Healer[/i] on its own deserved merit. Healer. [i]Ah, I’d sure like a healer.[/i] He could have been a healer. 

The word bent around his brain, bitter and tantalizing. In the wounded youth’s delirium he fell upon the thought, chewing it over, drowning in hindsight. He should have taken more time to find out about the guilds, learn about the mechanics of these life-or-death parties, scouted out the playing field. If only he hadn’t bought that guide from the Silver Moon office, which he didn’t even read all the way through. [i]I would have had enough money then. I could have healed this arrowhead in my arm, and these scratches, and my head, and fixed my glasses…[/i]

When the howl resounded through the woods, a low, rattling moan left Matteo’s mouth as if in response. All his politeness, his conversation skills, his thoughtful approach to any given problem had been stripped from him like daylight from the dark woods. [b]“Let’s climb a tree,”[/b] he said sluggishly, then [b]“Never mind, that sounds too hard.”[/b] Then, rethinking what it  might be like to have his organs pulled out by wolves, the dark-haired Thief shuddered again and said [b]“Maybe we should.”[/b]

Maybe we should…

As if continuing that thought, slowly (head still spinning) Matteo said [b]“Maybe we should...do what we’re supposed to. As you suggested, Ash.”[/b] She needed distance to shoot her bow, right? Well, Matteo needed cover to attack without being seen first. He made up his mind, wrapping his stinging fingers in a piece of his old jacket to protect them. [b]“I’m going to climb. Muu, I would like a boost, please.”[/b] His crisp declaration was somewhat ruined by the fact that he mumbled and ran into the timid girl in the dark, inadvertently stepping on her feet, but his point still stood. They could follow him or not, but getting up high was the only advantage against a wild beast he could think of.