Plot Armor

While Jonas hadn't expected it to work, after spending a brief moment in the shadows with the wolf, he moved maybe an inch or two before leaving the shadows. It was over in a link of an eye and Jonas hoped that the wolf didn't even realize what had happened.

Though, the wolf didn't waste time in realizing that its tail wasn't caught under the bear's head anymore. It stood up and seemed ecstatic that it wasn't trapped any more. Which Jonas couldn't be sure if that was a good thing or not. Since now if the wolf chose to attack, he'd have less ability to actually try to fight it.

However, a moment later, the wolf started to act strangely for a wolf. More than it had already, that is. It looked like it was going through some kind of convulsions, and even its limbs were starting to bend in ways that didn't look natural. Like it was going through a kind of change that Jonas hadn't thought could occur.

Then when it was almost over, Jonas realized how the wolf was changing; the wolf was Harold Carson. While Jonas couldn't remember exactly, he thought that Harold might have a system related to lycanthropy, so if he had been a werewolf, it would at least explain not only the transformation, but also why the wolf had been so large and friendly.

When the transformation was finished, Harold stood before him, without any sort of clothing whatsoever.

"Sorry about this, but do you think you know where my bag is?" Harold asked. "I put my clothing in that, but I seem to have lost it when the bear fell down."

Jonas looked around. He didn't see any kind of bag, or pack even, short of the one he knew he had on his back. "Sorry, if it is around here, I'd guess that it's under the bear."

Harold sighed. "I had a feeling it'd be there."

"Well, I'll be heading back to the others, then," he said, not sure if he should ask any questions.

While he'd like to know what exactly happened, he didn't care to deal with that right then. Not only was it not anything that he had the energy to deal with, but Harold struck him as the kind of person that sucked energy from others. Not in a vampiric sort of way, but rather like an old battery that uses runs out of juice faster because it just doesn't work as efficiently. That being around him, others became like the inefficient battery.

"Hey, hold on!" Harold protested as Jonas turned to walk away. "Where're you going!? You can't just leave me here like this!"

Jonas felt a headache coming on as Harold's words struck him. Already, he could feel his battery, which was already running low, start to use more power on its own. "I was going to go back to the others," he explained, though he wasn't sure why Harold felt the need to be around others. Not when he'd been by himself for a day or two already. Though, it was unclear as to what he had actually been doing during that time. Especially with how he'd ended up so far away.

"I'll go with you!" Harold exclaimed, almost like a puppy.

While Jonas hadn't thought about before, he couldn't help but feel like Harold's system suited him. Though, he was pretty sure there was more to his system than just turning into a werewolf, he couldn't disregard the fact that Harold could turn into a werewolf and he seemed to have the demeanor of a puppy from time to time.

It wasn't exactly the picture of maturity, but he'd known several people that certainly weren't that mature. That there were several people in life who were barely anything more than a grown child, and he was certain that there were a number of politicians who fit that bill as well.

While he really didn't want to get involved, he thought that he should at least offer some clothing to Harold. As he knew that he at least had a spare set in his own pack. Though, he'd only kept the barest of items in it, since he hadn't expected to have ended up so far away from their main campsite with no quick way back.

However, he had a feeling that he wouldn't need to worry about things getting awkward if he didn't arrive with a naked Harold with him. If nothing else, it would keep a few choice questions from being asked that he'd rather avoid at the moment.

"You know, I think I have some spare clothing in my pack," Jonas said, kneeling on the ground to rummage around in his pack. "I can't guarantee their size, but I'm sure they'll be better than nothing."

"Thanks," Harold said, suddenly crouched next to Jonas.

As Jonas pulls out the clothing, Harold takes it from him almost like he was ready to pounce on Jonas to get it. While he was friendly about it, his enthusiasm in regards to it made Jonas feel rather uneasy. Like he wasn't sure just how far Harold's friendliness extended.

Jonas shouldered his pack, not caring to wait around for Harold to get dressed. He had a feeling he'd already taken long enough on this little side trip, and was ready to get somewhere to sleep.

He'd have been tempted to find some shelter under a tree if he hadn't already asked Patrick to find a place. Though, he couldn't say how Patrick would react if he learned that Harold was nearby. Mostly with how energetic Harold was and how he knew that the others were happy that Harold was with Stanley's group.

Though, at the same time, Jonas wondered if Stanley actually deserved someone like Harold. As from what Jonas could tell, Harold was rather loyal and given the size of that tear in the bear's throat, he had some serious combat abilities. Yet, Staley had sent Harold on to 'collect firewood' and didn't seem very concerned about how long it had been taking.

"So, where're we going?" Harold asked, suddenly next to Jonas.

"I was heading back to the others I had been with to find a place to camp for the night," Jonas answered, not seeing any other real option.

"Stanley with you?"

"No, none of his group made it onto the bear when it started running. Or at least hung on when it did."

"I see."

Jonas glanced at Harold, not sure if he should try cheering him up with how dejected he sounded at that piece of news. Though, he had a feeling that Harold would be fine on his own. That he'd be able to bounce back anyway.

"So, how'd you come across the bear?" Jonas asked instead. While he wasn't sure if he should ask, he felt like it would at least be good to know. If only to gauge Harold's range.

"Oh, I saw it as I was looking for good firewood," Harold replied happily. "It was heading towards me and I thought I should take it down and let Stanley know. He'd be so proud of me, I'm sure."

Jonas sighed softly. Harold sounded almost like he imagined a dog would sound if they could talk. Just a little more eloquently. He had a feeling that Harold didn't even realize that this was the bear that had once ben the stellar bear.

"Weren't you concerned that you might not be able to take it down?" Jonas asked after digesting that for a minute. "I mean, it was pretty difficult to hurt, right?"

"Yes, it was!" Harold replied cheerfully. "I knew I'd be fine, regardless because I have plot armor."

"Plot armor?" Jonas echoed. He'd heard of that in the literary sense, but never in this context. He couldn't be sure if it was an ability in Harold's system or a magic item he might have found at some point.

"Yeah. I'm the main character in my own story, so of course I'd have plot armor," Harold answered as if that was the most logical thing out there.

While Harold seemed to think that it was rather logical, Jonas couldn't help but wonder just how much thought Harold had put into it. After all, 'plot armor' should only apply when used in a literary sense. Not when dealing with one's own life. After all, some stories for the main characters ended rather tragically. Like Romeo and Juliet.

As such, plot armor would only protect a character until it didn't. There wasn't any real way that he'd be able to figure out when that would stop working or any of that.

All he could think to do about it was just smile and nod. Jonas had a feeling that it would take more than a little amount of effort to disabuse Harold of that notion. Plus, he doubted that Harold would let go of that idea very easily, if it was possible to convince him of the folly of holding to that.

Which meant he'd just have to deal with a person who thought they were invincible and quite possibly would eventually get themselves killed. Or worse.