Mora the Paladin (bear story) (Patreon)

The world of Theia was always one filled with with adventure, excitement… and danger. The wild frontiers had countless beasts roaming the lands, and it took mighty heroes of all sizes to fend them off.

But sometimes… all one needed to do to be a hero, was to look after their little micro friends. Enter Mora; an eight-foot tall she-bear, and Paladin of the Sun-Mother.

Mora stretched her arms over her head, while her gear was off to the side. She’d just spent the better part of the day traveling across the frontier. She’d used her greatsword and shield quite liberally today; there were just too many horrid beasts coming for her flesh. They were stained with quite a lot of blood; she’d have to find some means to get them cleaned. Unfortunately, the sun was setting; she’d need to stop and make camp.

With a grimace, Mora did the first most important thing she could; she reached into her chestplate, opened the hidden pocket… and pulled out four little kobolds.

“Times to camp out for the night, guys.” She said tenderly as she carefully leaned down before a rock. The four kobolds stepped off her furry hand and looked around.

The kobolds were Mora’s adventuring party. They consisted of Charles, the mage; Cathie, the sneaky rogue; Susie, the devoted healer; and Ricky, the brave warrior.

About a year ago, Mora met these micros at a tavern in the city of Zothroth. She’d decided to join their group to help them with some pesky beetles. Some of the kobolds were nervous of her, at first… but that was ancient history, now.

“Man oh man….” Cathie stretched her arms over her head and sighed. “I thought we’d be stuck in that pocket all day.”

“You could always walk between my feet.” Mora chuckled. “You can even practice dodging beneath them.”

”Geez, I don’t need THAT much exercise.” The little rogue protested.

“Okay, okay, enough fooling around.” Ricky, the leader, put his hands at his sides. “We need to get our knapsacks ready.”

The four kobolds got to work preparing their little beds atop the rock. Meanwhile, Mora took off the heaviest parts of her armor. The bear then set up a little campfire, and then brought her hands together to chant.

“Oh, Great Sun-Mother…” She said with her eyes shut in concentration. “Grant my friends and I… Protection!”

The bear spread her hands out, which glowed bright blue. The blue light transferred onto the ground, and encircled the immediate area around the campfire. Soon, a big circle was formed, made of various intricate glyphs. Mora sighed in satisfaction; it was a Paling, designed to protect the party from attacks during their time asleep.

With that important step done, Mora reached into her pouch to retrieve some rations. She placed four blueberries onto the rock between the kobolds; one for each of them. They all said their thanks, and Mora smiled before eating some of the other berries herself. She then sat back and watched as her four friends slid down the side of the rock to get within safe distance of the campfire.

“So, where are we headed tomorrow?” Charles asked as he leaned on his staff.

“Well, we’ll need to get some new supplies from the nearest town.” Ricky said. “Berries are nice, but we’ll definitely need to get some MEAT in our bellies soon.”

“Hmm… yeah.” Mora said as she nodded her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a decent steak.

“But if we take too long in the town,” Susie said, “Then we might not make it in time to the Grand Cathedral.”

“The Grand Cathedral?” Cathie asked. “What’s this about a cathedral?”

“Weren’t you paying any attention to that cleric we met last week?” Susie crossed her arms. “There’s going to be this big religious ceremony taking place to honor the memory of Tiamat and her descendants. I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world!”

“Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to get us to the Cathedral on time.” Mora said calmly. “You can count on me.”

“Is it really that big of a deal?” Cathie asked. Susie looked at her with angry eyes, to which the rogue grimaced. “Whoa, whoa, don’t get upset. I just don’t understand why you need one specific building to give honor to Tiamat.”

“It’s a royal holiday.” The healer insisted. “Tiamat’s descendants arrange for the ceremony every year. It’s supposed to be the best time in a kobold’s life.”

“Alright, I get the point…” Cathie shrugged and rolled her eyes. “No need to bite my head off, Susie.”

The healer simply groaned, and sat down to focus on keeping warm. The other kobolds went about their business, while Mora slowly shifted to relax on her back. The bear sighed, and shut her eyes to get some rest…

~~…~~

It was hours later.

Mora felt a tiny poke on her cheek. She opened her eyes and glanced to the side. It was Susie, standing in her nightgown with her arms wrapped about herself. Right away the bear could tell that the kobold was shaking. Glancing over, Mora saw that the other three kobolds were bunched together in a group.

“Good evening, little one.” Mora smiled. “Having trouble keeping warm again?”

“Y-Yeah…” Susie frowned.

“Alright, I guess I know the standard Paladin Procedure, here…”

With a little chuckle, the bear carefully rolled over and reached out for the kobolds. She gently plucked them up, along with Susie, and brought them up to her belly. The bear placed them down gently, and covered them up with her hand to keep them warm.

“There you go little ones.” Mora smiled. “Sleep tight.”

“Wait…” Susie said as she poked her head between the bear’s fingers. “I… had something else in mind for myself.”

“Ohh?” Mora raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah… uhh…” Susie blushed a bit. “I was… wondering if you’d mind helping me with one of my… traditions.”

“At this time of night?” Mora asked. “Couldn’t it wait until the morning?”

“It wouldn’t take long…” Susie nodded. “I just… uhh… need you to eat me.”

Mora’s eyes widened. She carefully picked up the healer in her furry hand, and brought the kobold up to her bear snout. Susie went limp in anticipation… but Mora simply

Held the kobold up into view.

“Why do you need to be eaten?” Mora asked.

“I don’t mean digested. Definitely not.” Susie shook her head. “I just mean… well, I need to be transported in the belly of a predator I can trust.”

“Huh?”

“You see… normally I’d make the request of a dragon serving in the Order…” Susie continued. “But I don’t think I can find one on short notice.”

“Starting from the beginning, Susie.” Mora said calmly. “What’s all this about?”

“Okay: I’ll try to make the explanation quick…” The healer took a nervous breath. “In the beginning, kobolds were created from the body of Tiamat and her wyrms as mindless servants. For a time, that’s all kobolds were… but then, some of them started to feel a longing to be made a part of the wyrms again; they snuck into the wyrm’s mouths to crawl down to their bellies.”

“Oh my.” Mora grimaced.

“In response to this,” Susie continued, “Tiamat granted the kobolds more sentience. She wanted them to have self-control so they weren’t constantly trying to feed themselves to wyrms and dragons. But even with that self-control, a lot of kobolds still missed being a part of their masters, and a lot of them became sad. So… Tiamat decided to grant the kobolds their wish… under some conditions.”

“What do you mean?” Mora asked.

“Tiamat decreed that if a kobold stayed loyal and faithful to dragonkind, then on the day that kobold is eaten, their soul would be made a part of the dragon’s forever.”

“Uhh…” Mora grimaced. “I don’t mean to be rude… but I’m not sure if that’s the greatest reward for a lifetime of service.”

Susie sighed. “You’re not the first to think like that. As the centuries have gone by, not only have a lot of kobolds wanted to have their own independence… but even dragons have decided that it’s wrong for kobolds to like in servitude all their lives. The dragons… they call Tiamat a slave-master.”

Mora felt her heart enter her throat; Susie looked genuinely sad to say such things about this Tiamat. Eventually the little kobold picked her head up and looked Mora in the eyes.

“The descendant of Tiamat made some decrees, over a hundred years ago.” Susie said. “They announced that kobolds are a part of dragons. And since kobolds are to serve dragons… they must also serve kobolds. They basically expanded on the tasks that each kobold must devote themselves to; helping each other, showing empathy, tending to the wounded and needy.”

“Ah… so, basically to be a good person.” Mora replied.

“Yes. It’s why I became a healer in service to the Cathedral.” The kobold continued. “I devote myself to Tiamat by doing my part to make her beautiful world a better place.”

That gave Mora brief pause. It was just kinda funny hearing someone say that the world was created by one particular being… when Mora herself was taught, as a little girl, that it was the Sun-Mother who created the world. But Mora simply shook that thought away, and smiled at her little friend.

“Let’s swing this back around to that religious rite.” The bear said. “Why do you need to be eaten?”

“It’s a sign of a kobold’s devotion to dragons… or well, at least a macro.” Susie wagged her tail. “I know my place, and I welcome it. I was born to serve, and one day be consumed. That way, I can finally experience what it’s like to be a dragon… or whatever other big predator decided to claim me. And, Mora…” Susie looked the bear in her eyes. “I trust that you’ll protect me until we get to the Grand Cathedral.”

Mora grimaced again. She lightly patted the top of the kobold’s head and sighed.

“I’m more than willing to protect you.” She said. “But… I’d be really sad if you decided to let yourself get digested. I know you have your beliefs… but I have mine, too.”

Susie flinched a bit at that.

“To me… sentient life is sacred.” Mora said softly. “You’re a person. A tiny person I can hold in my hand, but a person nonetheless. And should I take you into my belly… then I will do everything I can to keep you safe and protected. It is my duty as a Daughter of the Sun-Mother.”

Susie’s eyes dazzled a bit. She put a hand on Mora’s snout and sniffled a little as she patted it.

“Th-Thank you, Mora.” The kobold said. “You’ve been so helpful and kind to me, and the rest of the group. I know we’ve only been part of the same group for only a year, but… I feel like I can really trust you.”

“I’ll do everything I can to earn that trust.” The bear said. “Do you… still want me to eat you?”

“You… You don’t have to, if you don’t want to.” Susie shook her head.

“No, it’s alright…” The bear put on a smile. “I’ll take you in and protect you… my little cub.”

Mora carefully brought Susie up to her snout. She delicately parted her jaws, and allowed the kobold to crawl in on her own. Once Susie was laying flat, the bear carefully closed her mouth again and tilted her head back. After a quick gulp, Mora felt Susie sliding down the throat and into her cavernous belly.

Mora could barely feel Susie inside her stomach. She used her free hand to rub her furry gut, while using her other hand to keep the other kobolds safe and secure.

“Are you feeling okay in there, Susie?” The bear whispered to her stomach. She got a response in the form of a few deliberate pokes against her finger. They followed a set pattern; almost like she was playing a drum. Mora sighed in relief. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The bear took a few sighs, and then glanced down at the other kobolds. They shifted around in their sleep, making her smile. She briefly considered taking them in to keep them warm in her belly… but then shook her head. It was better for them to ask for it of their own volition. So… maybe it would happen some other night.