Duendewood: Children of Ruin, part nine

"Come out, children," Sarai called, and a moment there was more movement inside the house. 

The three children who emerged onto the porch, blinking in the sunlight, were half-elves. The older dwarven man was Markus, the woman was Sarai, the children were Tasha, Lithwel, and Sannasor. Jacques glanced curiously at Sarai, but got only a subtle shake of her head in reply. He responded with a faint shrug.

"These three are from the next farm over," Markus explained, after he'd made introductions. 

Of the True Elves, Tybalt and Ash -- the cleric and the paladin -- had come over to join the conversation, and Sun -- the golden-scaled cleric of Amun -- seemed to be herding the others to give them some distance. His own sister, Yvette, seemed to be helping. From what he could overhear, they seemed to be discussing how best to deal with the gnolls once they found them.

"First off," said Tybalt, "is anybody in need of healing?"

Tasha looked to be the oldest of the children; she was wearing a faded dress that was obviously a favorite. "No, they didn't... they didn't hurt anybody. They just took our parents and grandparents and the animals, and carried them away. They had a wagon with a cage on top of it."

"And they left you behind?" asked Ash, gently. 

Tasha nodded. "Lithwel tried to follow, but he didn't have any food or anything and..."

"What was I going to do anyway?" the boy asked bitterly. "Break the cage?"

"That was still very brave," said Ash. Like most of Ruin's children, she was sturdily built by elvish standards, with medium-brown hair and olive skin. 

"It was," Jacques confirmed immediately. "Can you show us where they went? As far as you were able to follow, I mean?"

Lithwel nodded, but said: "It isn't very far, though."

Tybalt smiled. "You see that girl over there? The one standing a little back from the others? That's Skyflower. If you can show us their trail, she can track them."

"Oh," said the boy. 

"How 'bout this?" Markus put in. "I come with ye, an' once Lithwel 'as shown ye the way I can walk 'im back here. Would ye feel safer that way, brave lad?"

Lithwel nodded, and Jacques, Tybalt, and Ash all nodded acceptance as well. "Then I believe," Jacques said quietly, "we have a plan."

Tybalt nodded. "I'll go bring the others up to speed."