The family asks Wraithvine to be the god-parental to the quadruplets, and they visit from time to time to help teach magic, and just to enjoy the company of family.
@internutter/challenge-04340-k322-a-pound-of-protection -- Anon Guest
[AN: Had to make a correction in the prompt over a minor detail]
"A goodparent," Wraithvine repeated. "I am a wandering thorn in various evils' sides. We've done what we can to protect them while they're vulnerable, but... there's reasons why I wander. I mean, besides looking for trouble before it troubles anyone else." Ze couldn't help but to rock the cradle a little.
It was tempting, sorely tempting, to remain and settle down. Just for a little while.
To hold children in hir arms again. To be involved in raising them. To watch them grow and teach them everything ze could. Ah, but there were always forces looking to defeat a chronic do-gooder like Wraithvine, and their efforts always... splashed. Ze couldn't bear to have these innocent people harmed just because ze wanted to hang around.
"I can send helpers," Wraithvine decided. "People who know some things I know. People who can teach in my spirit. I will stop by from time to time, to be sure they will be well. When I'm certain Fate won't be following me."
There were people like that all over. People who followed Wraithvine's ways, followed hir philosophy, and otherwise chose kindness in the face of a cruel world. Some did this so aggressively that they were almost forces of nature. Weaponising kindness against those who would oppose it.
Just because you decided to be nice didn't mean you were weak.
These people didn't need the extreme followers of Wraithvine's ways, though having one around might prove handy. Just in case.
It was, as a great ruler once said, better to be prepared than be embarrassed.
Wraithvine at least saw to it that each babe had a cradle of their own. Each carved with protective runes in the same vein as all the protections on their clothing and blankets. There were still skeins upon skeins of hair, either for the babies' safety or to fund their upbringing.
And finally, when one of the local healers bustled in, Wraithvine faded out of notice and sneaked away.
Ze always hated goodbyes.
[Photo by Nathan Bang on Unsplash]
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