A/N -
Requested by @bea_phoenix
This is based on the Spirit Animals game. I made this a "x Reader" story because I didn't know how to make the Keeper a separate character.
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Worthy's PoV -

Swarms of creature flood the caverns of Sadre. My Redcloak partner, Talon, and I do our best to face the creatures but they just keep coming. We're blocked in, creatures all around with no where to escape. I knew we had to do something and fast. We proceed forward, hacking at the swarm of creatures, gaining a little ground. According to my map we're only a fourth a mile away from the exit. Maybe we can do this after all. I slash at the oncoming enemies while Talon beats away the ones tailing us.

We were almost there. This particular section of the cave is exceedingly dark with next to no glowing mushrooms to light our way. Suddenly, I felt very alone. I can't hear Talon from behind me. "Talon!" I call out into the darkness.

No reply.

Then the enemies part. The cave is utterly silent. "Talon!" I cry out again.

Nothing but silence.

I feel tears come to my eyes. I scurry back into the now empty darkness. I search for hours but there are no signs of Talon.

Finally, with a heavy heart I leave the cavern. Feeling very alone. I lost my Redcloack ally!

Hours behind schedule I exit the cave. I need to tell Stead that Talon's missing.

     I arrive at the Torch well after night fall. Stead is probably asleep by now but he needs to know of Talon's disappearance. The Torch is empty, everyone is sleeping. Silently I make my way to the middle of our camp, to Stead's hut. Knock, knock. I wait patiently... "Stead! It's important!" I knock again.

     The door opens and there stands a very tired looking Stead. "Oh, you're back," Stead rubs the sleep from his eyes.

     "Talon's missing!" I waste no time.

     Stead is fully awake now. "I'll gather some troops to search for her but for now you must head to Greenhaven," Stead continues, "There you need to find one called 'The Keeper' they can free the corrupted creatures you saw in the caverns, good luck."

     "Thank you, Stead."

     With that I run off and gather a few supplies for my trip. Minutes later and I leave the Torch and head for Greenhaven to find the Keeper.

By dawn I can see the towers of Greenhaven castle. I trudge on. Once I arrive I know I need to find my friends. I spot Conor first, out on a morning run with Briggan. "Conor!" I wave, "I need your help finding someone."

     Conor and Briggan trot over, "Hey, Devin, what's up?"

     "Do you know someone called the Keeper?" I ask, "I lost my Redcloak friend in the caverns of Sadre and I need the Keeper's help in finding her."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I don't personally know the Keeper but I think Meilin does, you should talk to her," Conor continues, "I think Meilin is in the training grounds helping some new recruits."

"Thank you!"

I run off towards Greenhaven castle. Luckily I know my way around and I find the training grounds in no time. The grounds are surrounded by four tall stone walls with swords, axes, crossbows, shields, and much more scattering the farthest wall. Meilin and another lady stand in front of younger looking trainees teaching them different weaponry techniques. I watch for a minute until Meilin sees me and tells the trainees to take a break. "Meilin, Conor sent me your way. Do you know someone known as the Keeper?" I question.

"Indeed," she motions to the other lady and waves her over, "this is (Y/N) better known as the Keeper."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I greet.

"And who are you?" the Keeper asks.

"I'm Worthy, a Redcloak, I'm here to ask a favor of you," I continue, "My Redcloak friend, Talon, and I were mapping Sadre's caves and Talon went missing. I hear that you can free corrupted animals and I need that kind of power if I'm able to save Talon."

(Y/N) seems intriguing by my story. "Alright, I'll help you," she turns to Meilin, "Do you think you can handle everything here?"

"Of course," Meilin smiles.

"I'll meet you here in a hour, I need to pack," with that (Y/N) hurries away.

(Y/N)/Keeper's PoV -

     I rummage through my room gathering supplies for my new journey. Worthy seems interesting to say the least. I've never seen a Redcloak in person before. I wonder what type of animal he's part of. His mask looked like some type of cat. I finish packing and head downstairs.

     I find Worthy waiting nervously outside of the training room. I speak first, "I'm ready, lead the way."

     With that Worthy nods and leads us out of Greenhaven and to a small fishing boat. Worthy kindly helps me store my things before we set sail off the island of Greenhaven and to the caverns of Sadre. Worthy works the sails and I decide to make small talk. "So, what was your friend like?"

     Worthy seems surprised by my sudden questioning, "Oh, Talon, she's a good friend of mine, she's part bird and we were assigned the task of mapping Sadre. This was our tenth journey into the caves, we only had two more trips left."

     "I'm sorry to hear that she's missing, what type of animals kidnapped her?" I ask.

     "Well, it was dark but we had been fighting spiders, snakes, a few bears, and maybe a badger or two," Worthy responded.

     I'm curious about Worthy and I need to ask something, I hope I don't sound rude, "Hmm, you said Talon was part bird, right?"

     Worthy makes a, "Mhm," in response.

     "What type of animal are you?" I question.

     Worthy seems a little taken aback by my question but responds nonetheless, "I merged with my black wild cat spirit animal, her name was Elda."

     "Oh, cool, you know I've never meet a Redcloak before you."

     Suddenly Worthy seems sad, "We're just like the Greencloaks you know, we fight for Erdas too."

     I'm silent for a moment, "I didn't mean anything by asking you that, I'm sorry."

     "It's okay," Worthy hesitates, "You can call me Devin, that's who the four know me as."

     I try his name out, "Devin, is that your real name?"

     He simply nods. Land is in sight so we paddle the rest of the way to shore and hide the boat and unload our supplies.

     It's a short trek upland to the opening of the caverns. We light our lanterns and make our way into the winding darkness. Worthy speaks, "Talon and I were several miles down when she went missing if we don't meet any obstacles we can make it there by dawn."

I follow Devin down into the darkness, much of the floor is smooth and straight light the floors of Greenhaven castle. However, we come to parts of the cave where we need ropes to descend several stories before continuing. Devin checks his maps often but we make good time. I can tell Devin is familiar with these caves. We come to a stream, the water glows with a dull mysterious green light that illuminates the room, here we decide to rest and eat. Devin sits on the ground and I do the same. He unpacks a lunch of dried meats and fruits. We share but I notice Devin has a hard time getting food under his mask without revealing his face. "You can take your mask off you know, I won't judge you," I state reassuringly.

"Are you sure, I don't look very normal anymore," Devin speaks in that sad voice once more.

"I'm sure."

Devin sighs and unties the string at the back of his mask before slowly revealing his face. He looks up at me nervously with slitted yellow-green cat eyes. His skin is paler than average. His teeth seem unnaturally sharp but most prominent are the black fur covered cat ears that sit atop his head. I notice that I'm staring and I quickly look away. "It's okay, the four also stared when they first saw my face," Devin speaks in that sad voice.

"I think you're handsome..." I awkwardly reply.

Devin rolls his eyes sarcastically before putting his mask back on, "Thanks for trying to make me feel better."

"No, I'm being serious," I scoot closer to the cat boy and gently tug the mask back off, "I like your face."

Devin actually smiles at these words, "For real?"

"For real." I reply.

We eat in silence after that but it's a comfortable silence and I can tell that I helped Devin's confidence. Even after we finish Devin leaves his mask off as we continue down the dark trails.

     Oddly no creatures block our way. There are no signs of life down here but us and the glowing mushrooms that seem to litter the caverns. Finally, Devin stops. It's exceedingly dark here in this part of the cave and I wish Devin would continue instead of just standing there. "Here... this is where Talon went missing," Devin's voice is deathly serious as if he's reliving the painful event.

     "Are you sure?" I ask.

     "Yes, we were battling creatures and suddenly the battle stopped and Talon was no where to be seen, this is as far as the map goes," Devin replies.

     Suddenly, a hand covers my face so I can't scream. A gag covers my mouth not letting me make a noise. I try to fight back but I'm helplessly pulled into the uncharted darkness. "(Y/N)," I hear Devin worriedly state. He takes a few steps into the darkness, "Keeper?!".

     I try to make a sound but I can't make a noise as I'm silently dragged away from Devin.

     "(Y/N), where are you!?" Devin yells out and I can tell his voice is getting farther away.

     I violently kick and pound though my ankles and being held tight. My elbow painfully connects with something metal, maybe a tool of some type, that hits the floor echoing loudly throughout the chamber. "Keeper!" Devin finally heard me and races towards the direction of the sound. My captor speeds up and I'm being dragged through the darkness at an alarming rate. The sharp stones scrape my skin. I try to make more noise. "(Y/N)!" Devin yells out again but his voice is getting closer and I can hear the patter of his boots against the cavern floor, "Hang in there!"

     I bite at the gag and try to work it out so I can yell back but to no avail. I manage to yank an ankle away from the captor and I loudly kick the wall. "Keep making noise," Devin yells to me.

     I use my free leg to swing my body into a sitting position. My boot connects with the thug and it makes a inhuman sounding grunt. My other leg is free, I quickly stand and draw my weapon. Our battle is making sound and Devin is gaining ground I can see his lantern light rapidly drawing closer. I can't see the enemy but I manage to make my weapon connect. In the moment after before the creatures retaliation I untie the gag and yell to Devin. "(Y/N)!" Devin seems relieved to hear from me.

     Then I feel a sharp pain in my side as the creature makes an attack. I'm sent flying and suddenly I feel open ground underneath me, I grab at anything. My left hand barely grabs onto a stalagmite. The rest of my body is left dangling over a dark pit with no idea of how deep it goes. Devin's light is now above me and I can see the looming shape of a giant badger. It's dangerous eyes reflect in Devin's lantern light. It's eyes lock onto my catlike companion before clawing at him. Devin doges the attack with feline agility. I feel my hand start to slip, "Devin, help!"

     Devin rushes over to me, dodging attacks. "Give me your other hand!" Devin hurriedly states.

     I reach to him, my adrenaline pumping. His fingers grasp my wrist and with surprising strength he pulls me to safety. The badger strikes at me again but Devin blocks its attack. I remind myself that this animal is cursed, it's not really trying to harm us. "Devin, block me while I prepare my magic!" I shout but Devin's already covering for me.

     I concentrate and suddenly my fear melts away and my senses become more aware. I can sense the badgers every move. I can tell what Devin is going to do before he does it. Suddenly, the formerly barren caverns seems filled with life. I can hear the bats stories above in the cave's roof. I can feel the presence of countless bugs crawling on the cave floor. Miles below the cliff I almost fell over I can hear the translucent fish splashing in a narrow stream. I concentrate on the badger and I feel it's pain. Something commands it to do this harm and my eyes are closed but I know a purifying bright light forms in my hands. I open my eyes in time to see Devin defenselessly laying in front of the badger. Blood oozes from his many wounds. I cast the spell just in time to prevent the badger's killing blow. I rush over to Devin and drag him away from the creature. The badger shakes it's head, disorientated, and waddles away into the darkness. I use my cloak to bind Devin's wounds. He's passed out so I pick him up and carry him. The badger seemed to be guarding a door. Devin and I enter. Inside is a girl in a white bird mask and red cloak. She seems badly injured. "You must be Talon."

     "Yes, I a-am," Talon weakly answers and I offer her a hand.

     "Devin, asked me to help look for you," I motion to the cat boy in my arms, "He was badly hurt, we need to get him to safety."

     "Okay," Talon weakly stands and and I allow her to use my shoulder as support.

     With two badly injured Redcloaks, I lead the way in slowly ascending the caverns.

     Hours pass without a sound till Talon speaks, "You like him, don't you?"

     "What?" I blush.

     "You like, Devin," Talon smirks.

     "How do you know?" I ask.

     "You keep looking at him and your eyes tell the story," Talon smiles, "I think he must like you too."

     "Why do you think that?" I question.

     "Devin, took his mask off, he never shows anyone his face," Talon continues, "he must really like you."

     "Maybe... I hope so," I look down at the injured Redcloak in my arms.

     He'll be okay, I'll take care of him.