Horrors of the depth below

As a middle-aged halfling named Simolo, my life has been filled with joy and purpose thanks to my wife, Ruby. Ruby is a skilled healer who serves the Venom guard, and she's not just my partner but also my confidence. We crossed paths when we were both new in town; it was love at first sight. Her unwavering support and understanding helped me grow over the year. In return, I do my best to support Ruby in her healing work. In the last two decades, we primarily dedicated ourselves to helping the Venom guard as healers. And everything was perfect. However, our more or less peaceful lives suddenly turned when Ruby and I went on a field trip to a nearby town known for its rare healing materials. One of our fellow members was affected by a strange disease after visiting an ancient ruin site, and we were trying to find a cure. But my memories of that evening fade to black after a short time in the city, and where I finally regained memory, the town was in chaos. Dead bodies littered the streets, flames consumed buildings, and strange alien-like creatures roamed about. Ruby stood frozen in horror, her once bright eyes clouded with fear. Seeing all this, instinct took over, and I grabbed Ruby's hand, urgently urging her to run. She stumbled behind me, her eyes shifting between me and the horrifying scenes unfolding around us. Together, we escaped the city and found refuge with other survivors. We returned to Edgegather, watching the distant city crumble to pieces in the distance. But something had changed in Ruby after that day. She became more distant and withdrawn, not just from me but from others as well. The eyes that used to spark joy and hope had vanished and instead had a feeling of loss in them. I hoped it was a temporary reaction to the overwhelming stress and shock, but it only worsened with time. She often mutters strange things to herself, lost in her own world. Weeks passed, and despite my tireless efforts to support and help her find her way back, she seemed to slip further and further away. One night, Ruby told me she needed to go somewhere, urging me not to follow. Her distant and closed-off demeanor pierced my heart. It felt like I meant nothing to her after all. I tried to discourage her, to make her see reason, but her mind was made up. The following day, she was gone. I bagged the clan leaders to launch a search, but with no clue where she might have gone, they couldn't help me. I was left with a deep sense of loss, torn between my unwavering love for Ruby and my responsibility to continue my healing duties in Edgegather. Weeks dragged on, each day more lost and sad than the last. Ruby's absence weighed heavily on me, and I often questioned my purpose without her by my side. As I contemplated giving up on everything, something strange happened. A wolf appeared, emerging from my shadow as if sent by someone. Being in its presence brought me a sense of security and renewed hope. It was as if someone urged me to keep going and not lose faith. With renewed hope, my new friend, Volo and I focused on helping the wounded in the Venom guard and then finding Ruby. I was training another medic who could eventually take over my responsibilities when I ventured out searching for Ruby.