Titus, a young wolfhound arrives, following Gaston.

Sir Pupsalot, a polite tri-color corgi puppy arrives, following Tessa.

Runtystiltskin, the runted war elk arrives, delivering a message to Kael before departing.

Mal, a devious raccoon, Magnolia, a precocious pygmy goat, Daegmund, an Oakhaven Shepherd puppy arrive, following Shae.

Runtystiltskin, the runted war elk arrives, delivering a message to Kael before departing.

The decision had been made -- Reybar would guide Lorien along the road to Blancbier, while Jukes would take the remainder of the party to the camp where the dogs were lost. It is a little more than a day's journey back in the direction of Arx. Just a few hundred yards off the road, near a bend in the river, hidden by a large, fallen tree that creates a natural blind. Jukes gets off his horse and holds up a hand to indicate the general area of the camp. He frowns a little, looking at the ground, though he doesn't offer whatever it is that is concerning him.

Tessa falls quiet, lookig at the ground and then up to Jukes expectantly. "And?" She breaths.

Runtystiltskin, the runted war elk arrives, delivering a message to Kael before departing.

Shae's war elk was not runted, though she would probably been thrilled either way to just have one. But hers was still rather young. Sitting atop her, she glances around the area slowly as Jukes indicates it with his hand. Keen eyes narrowing slightly as she does so, though at the little frown from Jukes she stares at him expectantly, as well. "What is wrong?"

Gaston's eyes watch the boy, head tilting to the right, staring. They flick then to the scene before him, to see if he can spot what might be amiss.

"It's just... I think I'm sober for the first time since this happened. My face hurts and I don't know if Reybar is ever going to talk to me again for falling asleep on the job. And I guess I'm realizing how dumb it was to not just admit what happened instead of beating the spit out of each other." He lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, expression reflecting that pained sheepishness. Please roll Perception + Survival at 15

Tessa checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Shae checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 54 higher.

Tessa smiles to Jankes brightly. "He will. He adores you." She informs him, both cheerful and knowing before she looks down at the ground. "Looks like someone had a party..."

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

"Someone's been through here more than once..." Gaston remarks, looking closer. "Abandoned, likely, I think..." He points out a few tracks. "You can tell none of the horses are shod. Thoughts?" looking to the others, but mostly Shae. He's pretty sure this isn't Tessa's primary wheelhouse.

Awwww. A soft sigh, as Shae watches the young man. Reaching over to give his arm a light squeeze and a soft warm smile to match it. Not needing say anything, since Tessa already did. But her eyes soon enough catch sight of something, and Shae is slidding down off her elk as she seems to be tracing over and over various tracks. And finally stops as she crouches low to the ground. "Found 'em. Damn, they really tried to cover them up too." Leaning low as she points out the two sets of juvenile dog prints in the ground. A glance up at Gaston as she nods to him. "Mmm, yeah Abandon, horses are unshod."

Jukes looks down at the ground and scratches along the side of his jaw that isn't bruised, dirty nails ruffling the stubble there. "The ground weren't this chewed up before." He sends a look of gratitude at Shae for the kindness and then puts his own study to the ground. He crosses the clearing behind the tree, heading towards the river. Once he gets there, he flaps an arm, pointing to the opposite side of the bank, "Hey look -- at the fording spot -- hoofprints heading towards the Shadowood." Just a few hundred yards past the river the Shadowood begins. In the winter it has a more sinister look, bare scrabling branches stabbing into the winter gray sky like dying claws. Thin sheets of snow litter the ground in between clusters of brown bushes and evergreen trees.

Tessa checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Tessa looks down over the ground, noting the prints, filing that away for next time. It's not her thing, tracking but she's observant for certian. She points to the path where she sees it and looks over to the other two to see what they think. "Do either of you have a bow you're not using?"

Shae checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

The Blackram starts to follow the trail, rather easily at first, but pauses after a moment. "There's something..." His voice trails off, and then "Take cover!" he barks, as he motions Titus to give chase!

The Blackram starts to follow the trail, rather easily at first, but pauses after a moment. "There's something..." His voice trails off, and then "Stop! They're trying to lead us into a trap... Literally. You can see the snares there, and the signs of a pitfall there, and there..." Gaston remarks, pointing the traps out.

Shae's gaze moves towards Jukes, following him as he points out the hoofprints to them, starting to nod as she sees the path they took, though she gives pause at the path and how easy it was to find it, compared to how much effort they had take to cover up the dogs tracks over here. Eyes shifting back and forth between the two spots and then she nods as Gaston points out what she was thinking. Though she does glance to Tessa and gives a small shake of her head. "I do not, I just have Wyndsong."

Gaston, for the record, since he missed Tessa's post earlier, does not seem to have a bow upon his person.

As they are pointed out, the traps can be spotted by the others. The trail winds deeper into the woods. If there are traps here, there's a good chance there may be more along the way. The journey continues for several long miles ahead through the woods, the trees gradual in their change from winter bare deciduous to evergreen profusion. 3 more checks of Perception + Survial, one at 15, at 25 and 30 please.

Shae checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Shae checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 47 higher.

Shae checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 1 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 22 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Tessa checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 28 higher.

Tessa checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Tessa checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 19 lower.

Tessa checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 1 lower.

Tessa watches carefully what Gaston points out, paying attention, careful careful attention and she's good at it, deft at avoiding a few things, pointing them out even. Until she is't.

It takes hours to pick their way through the trees, the sun traveling over the pearl-gray sky. The tricky thing about the traps are they aren't constant. Long minutes pass and there is no sign of anything, and then three will be found within five minutes. It's as the sun is kissing the horizon, casting long shadows over the crusty snow, as exhaustion is starting to set in, that the trap is missed. Tessa puts her foot into a weighted snare, the movement enough to tighten the noose around her ankle and tug her high into the air, head dangling six feet above the earth. Birds scatter, their wings cutting through the air with a hissing snap.

"Lady Tessa, mind that snare th--" And too late. "Well. Yes. That." A frown, and Gaston searches about to make sure there isn't a secondary hazard, and then would head towards her to try and free from the ensnarement.

Tessa yelps and dangles, hair and cloak hanging down. "Fuck!" At least Tarrant isn't here to see this, how mortifying! She stops squirming and hangs down, closing her eyes, taking a breath. "Okay...." She exhales. "Can one of you hand me a knife...?"

As the snare entraps Tessa's ankle and the loud snap of it sends the brids flying, Shae's eyes dart about that area. A faint down turn to her lips. If that was not telling of someone in the woods, well... ah well. "Hold still we'll get you down Lady Tessa." Shae says limping over to the young woman, as she pulls her hunting knife out to help with getting the Moore down.

Tessa is little and light, and ridiculously flexable. She breaths and pushes up her free foot, grimicing while she tries to wrap that ankle in the rope to take the weight off her captured ankle. "Don't drop me on my head, I can't have bruises on my face when I meet the King."

Gaston works to catch the Moore as she's cut down, lest she sustain a rather unpleasant head injury, then sets her down. "With as many traps as there are, it might be good to make camp here... Following the trail would be difficult enough, but if we're risking malice along side that... Well."

Once Tessa has been cut down, the rest of the journey is both brief and uneventful. The trail ends at a large clearing, at the center of which is a camp. There are, perhaps ten Abandoned, a mix of genders, most well into their adult years, one or two edging into elderhood. At the center of the camp, parked in front of the fire is one of those older sorts. He's in his late thirties, possibly early forties. But it's a good aging. Sandy hair is silvered at the hairline and just over either ear, falling in messy waves, just to his shoulders. His jaw is dusted in the same silver/gold, cropped close enough to be more thick stubble than actual beard. He's dressed in good leather and thick fur, a sword sheathed at his back. There beside him are the two Keaton hounds, finishing up a meal of bloody chunks of meat, bones there to be gnawed on.

"Between myself and Gaston, we will not drop you." Shae states, though perhaps just maybe there had been a moment where she thought about it. Now, after that statement from Tessa. Once Shae cut her free, she slipped her knife away, glancing up towards the sky, a nod of her head at Gaston's comment about even as her eyes squint a little. "We have some more time. Perhaps a couple more hours of good light." The Keaton more familiar with the area. Though as they reach the camp, Shae rests her bow across her lap as she sits on her war elk. "Good Evening." Even though she is smiling, at it is friendly enough, there is just enough firmness to her voice that she means business. There is a click her of tongue and a low whistle, as she signals for the dogs to come to her.

Tessa has a twisted ankle, and as such is not particularly happy with the continued travel but she does not complain about it. She studies those at the camp and then the dogs, and her fingers twitch a bit. Really should have brought a bow.

As the group approaches the Abandon go on alert. Heads all turn to the leonine man sitting at the fire, next to the hounds. Their hands hover, but do not touch their personal weapons. There is discipline and order here, and an obvious respect and deference payed the man at the fire. He looks over to see Shae astride her elk and his sigh is audible, his breath fogged in front of him. As for the dogs, they both sit up at attention, ears cocked forward. They rise up, and it is then that the harnesses are visible in the firelight. Cords are made taught when both animals move forward, and soon enough they are seated back down, though the male begins barking. The female tugs on the lead, turns and starts digging at the spike that is driven into the ground, anchoring them there.

The leonine man gets to his feet, hand clapping his knees and pushing himself up. He's a big man. Well. For normal men. He's no Gaston. But he is tall and thick in the shoulders and chest as he looks across the distance, staring at Shae. He says only a single word, though it is clearly a question. "Keaton?"

Gaston would move forward a bit, as well, no point in watching from the shadows now. So he instead places his large frame slightly between the two ladies, and the Abandoned, hand idly grasping his glaive to lean upon, watching the Abandoned.

Shae's posture is usually not so rigid, but again this was business and not playtime. Chin up, jaw set, she gives a single nod to the leonine man. "Yes, Lady Shae Keaton. I will ask once, and only once, that you kindly return the two young pups you have taken. They are not yours to take. If they were yours you would not need to tie them in place." She states as the female works to digg herself free, a simple hand movemtn at the male to quiet him. Her bow still resting easily across her lap.

Tessa shifts her weight onto her good foot and looks to Shae, a brow lifting. She starts then to walk closer to the group, well the dogs, limp noticible, as well as the fact that she's unarmed. She turns her cheery smile on the leader. "You know what, there's no need for everyone to be so tense. I am Lady Tessa Moore of Highfield the Splendiferous One, I don't imagine you get a chance to read my journals all the way out here but I should send you a copy. It's the only book you ever need to have." She keeps on her path to the bloodhounds as she announces all of this chipperly. "Or maybe I should just tell you all of it after I untie these poor things, my companion, Sir Pupsalot hates being on a lead so much, I can't bare to see a dog tied. I might have to cry if they stay this way. Do you want to see me cry? I'm not a pretty crier.. it's my worst face..."

"I figured you for a Keaton. You got that look that says the wild ain't fully left you yet." He stands there, unmoved, the rest of his people equally still. The hands have been lowered from the hovering, their positions ready, but not threatening immediate violence. When Tessa advances towards the dogs however, the ranks close and three broad young men form a barrier between her and the dogs. They are not touching their weapons, but they aren't letting her continue to approach either.

Tessa gets a look from the blonde man and he actually frowns as if mometarily confused by this tactic. When he sees his men cutting her off, he looks back to Shae and says, "Keatons are good neighbors. It wasn't my first choice to steal the dogs. But I need them. I need them more than you do."

"If you need them so badly, then I imagine you would be perhaps willing to put in the effort to make payment in goods or service for them," Gaston notes. "That would be the honorable thing, no? If it wasn't your first choice, and the Keatons are good neighbors, let us not make thieves of you, then."

Shae's eyes flicker for a moment toward Tessa and the friendly smile she was wearing dips a little. A faint breath out through her nose. Though her gaze for the most part remains on the blonde man. "Indeed we strive to be so, and do not good neighbors help one another if assistance is needed?" She questions the man, even as she gives a nod to Gaston's words. "Stealing from us, as I am sure you aware is never a good thing to do. And I would rather we remain on good terms, as I am sure you would like as well. And there is more to benefit from, if we helped each other, instead of take from the other." Comes Shae's truthful and pragmatic words, echoing along side Gaston's own noted ones.

Tessa checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Shae checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Gaston checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Tessa looks up at the three who step infront of her, her lip wobbling a bit and then stops abruptly when they don't look moved. Her attention turns to the blond man, her expression softening, her shoulders relaxing to a more neutral and natural posture. "If you give the dogs back we'll help you," she tells the big blond man softly. "It will be alright... Why don't you tell us what, or whom is threatning you and yours while I untie these too babies? Alright?"

The man's weight shifts, a simple motion, one foot to the other, hip to opposite. Though his expression remains the same, there is something in his eyes that speaks volumes. He teeters on the edge, looking from Tessa to Gaston to Shae and holding there. So much is being said in his silence than words. It is when Tessa speaks that the biggest tell is offered. A wince at the mention of the threat to him and his. His jaw tightens and he makes a gesture and the three Abandoned standing in front of Tessa move away to the side, no longer blocking her path. When the man sees the limp there is another frown and he looks at Tessa and gestures to a log on its side, "Sit. Did you get caught in one of Taena's traps?" He can't seem to help the smile, "She'll be thrilled." With another heaving sigh he gestures to Shae and Gaston, "Come. Sit and I'll... I will tell you why I took them."

Tessa smiles warmly when the men move and she limps over by the dogs dropping down to sit. "Yes. Tell her that the pits were easy to see but the snare was very clever. If I had been a bobcat she'd be making herself a new cloak right now." She pulls off her boot to look at her ankle and props her foot up.

Shae's keen amber gaze narrows momentarily as she studies the leader, and then a soft nod of her head. Perhaps at what she notices herself, or at what Tessa has said. Likely both. Her friendly smile returns, though softer and warm. Reassuring and yet a somehow still bright and cheerful. Almost like it alone can help shore up their spirits, that even in the toughest times, there is always a chance, that they are never alone. Shae gives a nod to the man, putting her bow away and slids off her elk. Leaving it to graze, already well trained it would seem. Limping herself as she moves to take a seat.

Gaston, who is thankfully -not- limping, considers a moment, feral eyes watching the man intently, the expression by Titus as he tilts his head to either side and back. Eventually, he stalks over to take a seat himself, spear set down beside him.

Spying Shae's limp, the man frowns, "You -- no. That's not from a snare." He seems about to speak, looks to the others and shakes his head. "I am Chieftan Gryus Shadowood." The man returns to his previous spot and sits. He chins towards a young man stirring a stew pot and speaks a few words of Oathlands Shav. Soon enough bowls of stew are offered to the Keatons, a chunk of bread resting on top. "I heard that the two best hounds were headed out of Oakhaven, heading for Arx, and I thought -- truly the gods were watching out. My son, Eobed, he's been taking. I took the dogs to try to find where he's been stolen to."

Tessa rubs the bruise around her ankle and then takes the bowl with a frown. "Your son? Who would take your son? How old is he? Is someone trying to random him?" She pulls free her flask from her clock, twists off the lid and takes a drink before offering it to the cutest of the brawny men.

"No, it is not, an old injury." Shae offers with a faint soft smile, and then a quiet 'thank you' for the bowl of stew and bread. Starting in on it as Gryus speaks. A solemn nod of her head when it is his son that was taken. "You could have come to us, we would have helped you. There was no need to take our dogs." Comes Shae's simple but affirming words, with her kind, friendly smile accompanying them. Saying no more as she takes a few more bites to let him answer Tessa's questions.

The large Blackram man pulls a piece of jerky from his pouch, and chews on it as the others are given stew. A second is soon given to Titus, while Gaston listens to the man's plightl idly. "How long ago, and from where was he taken?"

Gaston also totally digs into the stew. But still, jerky for Titus.

"My boy, Eobed, he is thirteen years old." Gryus declines his own bowl of stew, looking back at the assembled Keatons (including Gaston). "My brother, Braeok --" There is a frown then, a look cast between the others and a shake of his shaggy head. "The details are unimportant. The fact is, Braeok took Eobed. He gave me a time period to submit to his demands, I will not. I sought a different way. I heard about the dogs -- but I cannot get them to obey." A look is cast to Shae, almost but not quite accusatory. The man is obviously frustrated. "If you will help me find my boy -- I was going to give the dogs back -- I had no intention to keep them."

Tessa looks to Shea and Gaston. Then back to the man. "Of course we will help you find your boy. We're Valardin after all we're supposed to save people. OHH! And then I can write about it in my journals. It will be so exciting!"

Shae meets the mans look, a faint lift of her eyebrow at the almost not quite accustory look from him. A momentary glance to Tessa as she responds. "As I said before, if you had just come to us we would have helped you. Just as we will help you now." A short pause as she smiles a bit brighter there to Gryus. Like everything would be alright in the end, just wait and see. "This Braeok, what should we know about him, besides the fact that he is they type to kidnap a child. Are there any other crimes he has commited I should be aware of, or what sort of situation will we possibly be walking into." Her desire is of course genuine, there is no doubt there, but still, this is business. This is her family's legacy, not just what they do, but /who/ they are. Who she is. Keaton was not just a name for Shae, but a state of being.

"I'm taking it that Braeok doesn't agree with your being Chieftan, then?" Gaston asks, looking to Shae and Tessa, and nodding agreement with Shae's own questions.

There is a heavy sigh and Gryus lifts his chin to Gaston's comment. "He hates that I'm the elder. That my son is my heir. Braeok has always wanted power. He means to have it, even if it means ransoming his own nephew to his brother." Gryus looks to Shae, nodding slow, "I couldn't risk the time it would take. The wager that the Keep wouldn't roll up its doors seeing a troop of Abandoned arrive on their doorstep. Diplomacy takes time and I don't -- Eobed doesn't have time!" Emotion seethes in his words and several of his people look away, as if not wanting to see their Chieftan in such a state.

Tessa smiles softly, "Eobed is going to be alright. We're going to find him." She pats the big man's knee lightly.

Though her thoughts seem to turn inward even at her questions. Eyes lowering even as a deep frown begins to dug down on the corners of her lips. Uh-oh. No more sunshine. And then her lips thin as a rather dark pained look takes over her face. Swallowing a little. A faint shake of her head as if trying to tell her own thoughts no, or to stop or... the point is sunshine looks very upset. A mix of emotions playing across her own face now. "Bayer of Pain." She murmurs almost too quiet to hear. And then her gaze raises at Gryus outburst, jaw shifting as it sets firmly. "And Braeok is going to be brought to justice. I know of him, I... I remember the stories. He has killed some of our own." She says resolutely, a determined look in her eyes now, like a hunter that had find it's prey and was not going to stop in it's pursuit of it now. "As the Lady Tessa has said we will find your son."

"Brayer of Pain?" Gaston clearly has no idea what Shae is going on about. A look between Shae, and Gyrus, then.

There is a thinning of Gryus' lips at the mention of the soubriquet. Clearly this was a connection he had been hoping wouldn't be made. "Yes. That is my brother. Another reason, you might imagine, I'd not coming knocking on your door." There is a growl and a sigh, a large scarred hand runs through those silver and gold locks. "My brother is trying to gain support to bring down Keaton. He believes the time is ripe to strike and take the lands to expand Shadowood. I have been telling him for years this is foolish. But with the change in leadership, with the Count going to Arx..." There is a sigh and a bowing of his head. He looks up at the Keatons (And Gaston!) and says, "We camp for the night. But tomorrow -- if you can get these dogs to show us where my son is? We can go our separate ways, still... if not allies, at least at peace?"

Sir Pupsalot, a polite tri-color corgi puppy leaves, following Tessa.

At the mention of Gryus' brother planning to bring down Keaton, Shae elicits her own growl, eyes narrowing as her hands tighten around the bowl in them. "Not if I have anything to say about it." She breathes out lowly. Everyone is pretty sure what Shae plans to do. A breath released. And she is nodding to Gryus. "Peace at least, but I do not see why we can not discuss being allies. We are stronger together."

"Well. It seems tomorrow will be... Interesting," Gaston rumbles. "Do you know how many men he has with him?" he asks of Gyrus, then.

There is that uncertainty in Gryus' eyes. A lifetime of being Abandoned, of being Chieftan, leader, the edge of fear at having that stolen away. No words are said, but this is visible if one looks. To Gaston's question there is a pause, a thoughtful one. "He has some following. He tried to divide the clan and got only the troublemakers. No more than fifteen men follow him." He looks to the others and after another spate of Shav'Arvani he looks back to Gaston and Shae, a glance cast to Tessa as she flirts with the youngest of the men. A furrow of his brow and Gryus is looking back to Shae. "There will be a tent set up. You don't mind sharing?"

Shae watches the man closely for a long moment. "You don't have to join the compact if you don't wish to. But it does not mean that Shadowood and Keaton can not be allies and friends. I would never try to force that upon you or stole your way of life away from you." She replies respectfully. And then a light nod of her head at Gryus' question. "We can share a tent." Answering for them all.

Really, Gaston would have been fine sleeping under the stars, or constructing his own wind break for a shelter. A tent, even a shared one, is almost luxurious in comparison. "I've no issues with such. We'll need the rest anyhow, if we are to get an early start tomorrow morning, I suspect."

"You are correct, my Lord." Gryus makes an assumption looking at Gaston and points towards the rapidly assembled tent set aside for the Keaton contingeant. The night passes without incident, the Abandoned treating the two Ladies and Lord with a distant sort of respect. Those that Tessa flirts with have vaguely confused looks on their faces, but hey. Pretty girl and booze. They are distant, but at least friendly. Ish. The night passes and the morning is indeed an early one. Once Shae and Gaston are up, an Abandoned man approaches with steaming bowls of porridge and says in broken Arvani, "Other lady foot very big. She stay here for your return." Hostage situation or genuine medical need? Either way, they are soon flagged over to Gryus' side. The dogs are unhooked from their harnesses and Gryus looks to Shae, "The Keaton is ready?"

Shae is smiling brightly, even though it is early morning, apparently she is a morning person. Gross one of those people. Thanking the Abandon man for the porridge. And heads over to Gryus' side as she finishes her breakfast. A nod to him at his question. "You may call me Shae." She offers with a warm, cheerful smile to him even as she kneels to pet the two young hounds. "Do you have an item that belonged to your son. They will need it to get his scent." Still petting, patting and ruffling fur, as she looks up at Gryus.

Gaston was swiftly up and dressed, a natural early riser, of course. He heads to the hounds as he eats his porridge, letting them get used to the smell of him as he does. Going over his equipment as well, making sure everything is order for the journey today.

There is a curt nod and Gryus pulls a well loved tunic, a pale light blue that is stroked in his hand for a moment before it is handed over to Shae. The man simply watches, offering Gaston a nod. His eyes are purple and puffy. Clearly he's not sleeping well. The hounds are slender and still filled with a puppy's vigor. Tails wagging, eyes bright.

Shae checked command + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

Gaston checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 36 higher.

The hounds take to the trail, needing only an occasional refresh on the scent from the tunic, but they are off, showing off that Keaton training. The female seems to be the smarter of the two, tending to problem solver better than the larger, thicker male. Not to say he isn't bright, he is, and a good tracker. She's just smarter. The Abandoned are, unsurprisingly, excellent woodsmen, able to move through the winter woods silently. It is only two and a half hours later that they find the shelter. It's not large enough to be anything more than a shack, able to hold two or three people at most, around a central fireplace. Barely four walls and a roof. Outside there are three guards, though at the moment they look cold and bored. Smoke is coming from the chimney.

Gaston checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher.

Shae checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Gaston checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 32 higher.

Large, certainly, but then, so is a jungle cat. Gaston keeps low, prowling towards the Abandoned guard, using the early morning shadows for cover, careful to mind the wind as well. This isn't combat, right now, so much as a hunt, and the guard is prey. And if there is one thing Gaston has long since mastered, it's the hunt. The spear bursts through the front of the Shav's chest as the Blackram strikes from behind, impaled there. One had reaching out to nab Shae's own target so he doesn't fall lifeless to the ground with a thud.

Shae had learned her lesson on the patrol in the Gray forest that being all stealthy and quiet like a mouse was just... she fucking sucked at it. She was more like an elephant charging through the forest. Sigh. Sometimes we don't get to be awesome all the time, next time hero! So. This time she hangs back, far enough out of sight or the need to worry about alerting the guards, and once the others are in position well. She easily pulls that string of her bow back. A soft breath in and out, just long enough to aim, and swoosh. Or more really no sound at all, cause arrows don't make noise, thanks hollywood for lying to me! The arrow striking true, it sinks right into her target, killing them before they even realize what has happened.

The third man, feels the hot spray of blood strike his face before the sound of that meaty puncture alerts him. He spins, fumbling for his sword, lips parting to give alarm when Gryus' sword emerges from his chest. What was born to be a shout comes out a wet gurgle as the man slumps sideways. No sound comes from inside, no alert. All is well. With the bodies of the slain laid carefully on the ground, Gryus approaches the ill-fitting door and lifts a hand to strike three times on the door. From inside a girl's voice sounds, "Heath? What is it?" The door opens, revealing a girl no more than sixteen. Light from the fire inside shows a cozy, primative set up, Eobed bound on his side, facing the fire. There is no one else inside.

Heath isn't going to be replying back, any time soon it seems. Gaston frowns slightly, seeing the young woman, shaking his head just a touch. Still, "I think perhaps it best you stay put while Gyrus sees to his boy, don't you?"

Shae remains outside with the dogs, watching the area as Gaston and Gryus deal with inside the hut.

Seeing the carnage that was her friends, the girl screams, even as Gryus is pulling her out of the way and moving into to free his son. The boy is stiff from his binding but it doesn't stop him from embracing his father. The reunion is obviously an emotional one. The Abandoned girl stares angrily at Shae and Gaston and she gets up to her feet, clearly ready to bolt. "There will be vengeance! This is not over!"

"Girl, unless you think you can outrun an arrow, I'd stay right where you are," Gaston rumbles, giving a short shake of his head.

And there is that warning arrow, thunking solidly into the side of the door or well whatever was close to her. Which only enchanced Gaston's words to her.

The look is both withering and hateful from the girl and she likes a hand in some crude and cursing hand gesture. Gryus and Eobed come out of the house and Gryus just stares at the young woman. "I'll deal with her. You two? I owe a debt to Keaton. Take the dogs and my word to your Count. If he needs help, he can call on Gryus Shadowood. But for now... now I am going home. And then I am going to hunt for my brother."

The Blackram is wholly unimpressed by the girl's posturing. "Good hunting, Goodman Gyrus. May Petrichor bless your trail," nodding to the Shav, even as he watches the girl.

"And may the gods and spirits watch your back." Gryus has an arm around Eobed, clearly unwilling to let the boy go just yet. As to the girl he grunts and shakes his head, "Your mother will be sad Marta. Lets not make this worse than it already is, yeah?" The girl seems to slump at the mention of her mother, and the trio are joined by the rest of Gryus' people, the girl taken into custody. Gryus looks back to the Shae and Gaston, "Your other lady is resting well at our camp. Your animals fed and ready for your journey home." With that, he turns, helps his son onto a horse, mounts his own, and the Shadowood tribe put heels to their mounts and disappear into the woods.

Fin.