Summary: A few days after Tam heals you, you meet them once again at a lake in the forest. You have a special gift for them, as a thank-you for healing you…and you finally confide in them the truth about your past, and how you came to be indentured to the Guild in the first place. However, right at the last minute, some uninvited guests show up, forcing you to make a choice yet again—save yourself, or save Tam once again.

PART 1 PART 2 PART 3

CW: descriptions of indentured servitude and exploitation/manipulation; references to past physical abuse and injuries caused by it; drugging via use of tranquilizers/tranquilizer darts

Usage:

• OK to record & monetize, as long as you give me credit in the video/audio description as the scriptwriter! I would also love to listen to the recording when it’s done–please send me the link on Reddit! Paywalling is okay; however, if you paywall, you must make it possible for me to listen to the finished product.
• Gender-flipping and small tweaks are okay, but no large edits are permitted.
• Feel free to use music or insert sound effects if you’d like. Any sound effects given are suggestions–use at your discretion. *Sound effects in bold, set apart by asterisks\*
• Any dialogue or reactions given by the Listener are purely for the benefit of the VA, to help them feel like they have something to respond to while they’re acting. Listener reactions in italics.
• Please let me know if you have any questions!

—————————————————————

SETTING: A lake in the forest.

\Optional sound effects—ambient lake noises (soft water sounds, hum of insects, croaking frogs, etc.)\**

\Sound effects—flapping of wings, as Tam touches down\**

Lucky! It’s so good to see you!

“We just saw each other a couple days ago, you know. It’s not like we’ve been apart for years.”

Yeah, yeah; I know, it’s only been a couple days, but—I don’t know, I can’t help it. Seeing you just makes me happy. How’s it going? \serious** How are you feeling, after…you know, everything that happened?

The Listener says they’re doing better.

You’re doing better? Well, that’s good. What about the…you know, the Guildmaster? They haven’t hurt you anymore, have they?

The Listener shakes their head.

Oh, thank Bahamut! Can I—can I take a look at your wounds? I just want to make sure they’re healing properly. I brought some more salve with me, just in case.

The Listener nods.

Yeah? Thanks, Lucky. Okay—let’s see.

Tam examines the Listener’s face.

Oh wow—the swelling is gone! Even the bruises have almost fully faded. Do they still hurt? …No? That’s good. You haven’t been shivering, have you?

“No...why?”

Okay; just checking. Sometimes King’s Peppermint can give you random cold spells for a couple days afterwards—you’ll be going about your business, and suddenly, out of the blue, you’ll feel like you’ve just jumped in a snowbank. Thank the Horned One, though, it's pretty rare, and all you’ve got to do to cure it is to drink an extra cup of hot tea for a few days straight.

The Listener hands Tam a package.

Huh? What’s this? A package?

“It’s for you.”

Huh? A present? Wait, it’s for me? Really!? Lucky, are—are you sure?

“Well, don’t just stand there—open it!”

Well, uh, okay, if you say so. Here goes!

\Sound effect—unwrapping\**

\gasp** Wait—this is it! Your favorite book! It is, right? Yeah, I thought so! You got me a copy!?

The Listener explains that it’s their own copy.

It’s your copy? Oh, but—Lucky, I wouldn’t want to take it from you. I mean, it’s your favorite. I don't want to leave you without it.

“No—keep it, please. It’s safer with you.”

Huh? You…you really want me to have it? It’s safer with me?

The Listener explains that they’ve been hiding it, but if they were discovered to have it, the Guildmaster might not look kindly on it.

Oh, I see. They’ve been watching you more closely, ever since you started falling behind. If it were discovered, the Guildmaster might not look too kindly on you having anything that “distracts from your duties”.

They’ve had it ever since they were a kid.

You’ve had it ever since you were a kid? Wow…that’s amazing. It definitely looks well-loved. I just love it when you can tell that books have been read a lot, you know? When the pages grow soft from being turned again and again, almost like fabric, and there are little stains here and there, and the pages get that old, crackly, barley smell. I…wow. Thank you, Lucky. No one’s ever given me anything so precious in ages. I promise, I’ll take good care of it. I’ll treasure it—at least until it’s safe to give it back to you someday.

The Listener says they don’t know when that day will be.

You…you don’t know when that day will be?

Pause.

I, um…I know you said before that you didn’t want to talk about the reason why you can’t leave. But if—

The Listener heaves a sigh. “No…it’s fine. You might as well know.”

Huh? I might as well know?

The Listener explains.

You have a sister?...Oh. Your parents died years before, so you had raised her since you both were young. That’s so kind of you, Lucky. I don’t know if any of my hatchmates would have done that, even if I were less annoying. We dragons tend to be pretty solitary, once we fledge the nest. I mean, Nyldru and I still visit each other, but anyway. So it was you and your sister, and then...?

The Listener continues.

…Then, one day, your sister fell ill? Oh, no. Couldn't the healers help her??? Is she okay!?

The Listener continues.

She is now, but only because of this rare magical medicine? \realizes** Oh…I see. You couldn’t afford it, so you had no choice but to go to the Guild. The Guildmaster got you the medicine, but…in return, you had to work for them, until you could pay off the cost.

The Listener continues.

…Huh? Wait—you later discovered that they’d charged you double what it was actually worth!? Bahamut’s blessed horns…that’s awful! How could they take advantage of someone like that!? They knew you were desperate, and that your sister’s life was on the line, but all they could think of was lining their own pockets!?

The Listener continues.

\horrified** And you can’t leave before your debt is paid, or else they might find you, and hurt both you and your sister? \growls** That…that monster! That son of a basilisk!

\Sound effect—puff of poison breath\**

Oh—sorry! \fans it away, coughing** I just—that’s horrible. I don’t even know what to say. Is there anything that I can do???

“No…I don’t think so. Talking about it kinda helps, though. Thanks.”

No, but…it’s kind of a relief just to be able to tell someone about it? Well, that’s good, at least. Thank you for trusting me, Lucky. That means a lot.

Pause.

Um…this is kind of sudden, but—what if you came to live with me?

“What!? Live with you? Like, in your cave?

Yeah, in my cave. You could bring your sister, too. I doubt the Guild would be able to find you, and even if they did, I could set up some alarm spells and wards around the entrance. And if they managed to get through those, well…they wouldn’t like what’s waiting for them on the other side. I’d make them sorry they ever met me.

“No—that’s so kind of you to offer, but I wouldn’t want to put you in danger.”

You wouldn’t want to put me in danger? But you shouldn’t have to be in danger either, Lucky. You shouldn’t have to live in fear every day. I know it would be risky, but if it means you’ll be safe, it’s worth it. You deserve to be happy.

The Listener says they’ll think about it.

You’ll think about it? Okay; yeah, that’s fine. Take all the time you need. Just let me know if you—

Tam breaks off suddenly, hearing a noise.

Wait—did you hear that?

“Hear what?”

I thought I heard something. Maybe I'm just imagining things.

The Listener rises quickly to their feet, drawing their daggers. “What kind of something!?”

I don’t know—a rustling. It might've just been the wind in the reeds. But I thought it might've—

\Sound effects—soft rustling of bushes**

Wait, there it is again! And over there, too, and across the pond, and…\realizes it's the Guild** Oh no.

“Run!” says the Listener, their face white. “NOW!”

Run!? But—no! I can’t leave you! Come on—climb on my back! We can both—

The Listener suddenly leaps in front of Tam, throwing their arms wide. A tranquilizer dart sails out of the forest, striking them in the shoulder. They land heavily in a heap.

\Sound effect—a blowgun the impact of a dart, followed by a thud as the Listener’s body hits the ground\**

\yelps* LUCKY!* Oh, gods! Lucky, are you okay!? Why’d you jump in front of me like that!? \sees the dart in their shoulder; gasps** A dart? Oh, no…no, no, no! Come on, Lucky; stay with me! Come on; please! You’ve got to stay awake!

“They’re coming! You have to go!”

They’re coming!? Oh, gods. Here—I’ll carry you!

“No…leave…” the Listener whispers, as their consciousness ebbs.

Leave you!? \almost crying** But, no!...Lucky, I, I can’t…what about you!? If, if I leave you, they’ll…!

\Sound effects—faint yells from the edge of the clearing; running footsteps, as the Guild members close in\**

“Please…for me…go.”

\Sound effect—a blowgun, followed by a whoosh as the dart just misses Tam. They yelp as the second dart whizzes past\**

I’ll—I’ll come back! Do you hear me!? I promise, I’ll save you! I promise! I swear on the Horned One!

\Sound effect—wings frantically flapping away\**