Nerd In the North: Season 3, Ch 8 Outline (Patreon)

(I'm just posting outlines, not finished chapters for a while. I'm still gonna be writing but since Season 3 is already up, I'm going ahead.)Episode 8: "A Lot of"the sun hung low in the sky as greg sat cross-legged in the snow outside frostfall’s gates, his back against the rough wooden posts. He had gotten back a few minutes ago, rushing back to Frostfall and leaving Guts behind as he told the man to catch up, Ash having flown far ahead and gotten there first.his breath puffed in visible clouds, but the cold didn’t bother him. the blood that spattered his clothes and skin was starting to dry, stiffening the fabric, but he didn’t care about that either.

his mind was elsewhere.

he stared at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly as if trying to feel the weight of everything they’d done. every punch, every cast of fire or force, or blinding holy magic — every life he’d ended—it all lingered in the back of his mind like smoke after a fire. the boltons weren’t done, not by a long shot, and he knew what was coming.

"you’re gonna have to do worse," he muttered under his breath. "a lot worse."

a rustle in the distance broke his thoughts, and greg looked up just as ash bounded toward him, his paws crunching through the snow. something small and white waddled behind the bear, and greg blinked, his thoughts briefly derailed.

"what the hell is that?" he muttered, leaning forward as ash came to a stop in front of him.

the tiny creature following ash looked like a chick, but not like any chick greg had ever seen. it was fluffy, impossibly round, and gleamed like fresh snow under the light. its big black eyes stared up at greg as it cooed softly, tilting its head.

"you bring me a giant baby bird?" greg asked, glancing at ash.

ash huffed, clearly unimpressed, and sat down next to him. the chick hopped closer, pressing its soft body against greg’s leg.

"you’re too cute to be real," greg muttered, reaching down to run a finger along its downy feathers. it cooed again, the sound somehow calming.

greg tilted his head, staring at the creature as he felt something strange—a connection, similar to what he felt with ash, but lighter.

"imma call you shiro," he said finally, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

shiro chirped happily, hopping closer until it was practically in his lap.greg leaned back against the gate, letting himself relax for the first time since the fight. ash lay sprawled out beside him, his red eyes half-closed, while shiro nestled comfortably against greg’s leg.

Guts finally catches up to Greg.ash growled low, watching guts with a wary gaze, but greg waved him off. "he’s with us," he said, glancing down at shiro, who chirped happily in response.

"welcome to the team," greg muttered, half to himself, as the three of them—four, counting the impossibly fluffy chick—headed toward frostfall.