At the mention of an approaching storm and needing to secure the horses, Morgan's head immediately snaps up from her reading.  She gently picks up the fox kit and returns it to Nine so that she can stand to start heading outside.

"I'll be right back, Nine.  Just need to go check up on Hrogar and make sure he's okay."

The cat meows in agreement.

Nine watches as Morgan exits, but before the door closes all the way, it opens wide again. Morgan has pushed it open with one arm, standing with her back against the door to allow someone else to enter. The new arrival is short. Very short. By estimation, it would probably be about four feet tall if it were standing erect, but it is not standing erect; it is hunched over almost ninety degrees. In each hand is a cane, which it uses with every step — for support, one would assume. The top of the creature's gleaming bald head, which proceeds the creature wherever it goes, is covered in dark age spots, as are its hands. Across its slumped shoulders hangs a long curtain of white hair which grows from the base of its round skull half way to the floor. Close up, one can see that this creature is a halfling. An ancient one. Its body is so ravaged by time that its sex is indeterminate. It wears a brown robe, further hiding its shape.

Walking about two feet into the tavern, the creature stops and turns its head to the side to look around. Anyone watching sees that the creature looks a little worried.

Thekla addressing Yerandell and Cloud. "It will be fine, I'm happy for your help tho. Upstairs there are some windows that need closing. I think Dusk will help the Lady..." she nods in Morgan's direction "...to secure the stables."

OOC: If you're not the player of a character, please don't narrate actions for others, unless you have their consent. It also complicates reading, and might make others think that you're the player of a character. Keep in mind to make your postings open enough, so that they can be reacted to. :) Thanks.

Morgan meets up with Dusk outside, pausing for only a moment to get a good look at the little Michtim and nodding in his direction.

*I'll help however you need me to, just show me what to do.*

With the direction of the mitchims, yerandell head up the stairs to close all the windows

"It's actually easy. We just have to pull these blinds down. The stable should be robust enough." Dusk points to a tied up contraption that keeps the blinds in place. "If you could undo this, I'll go to the other end and take care of those parts." with that he makes a gentle step forward and is whisked away almost 50 feet, using his paws and claws to climb up to reach the knot.

Cloud heads upstairs as well, and starts closing windows in room on the opposite end of the hallway as Yerandell, working her way towards the middle.

From the distance, Cloud can already tell that dark clouds are brewing together. It won't be long until it reaches the tavern. Arcs of lightning flash between the higher up clouds, and the brooding darkness is spreading an atmosphere of gloom, as it passes over the woods.

The ancient halfling is having trouble catching anyone's eye and begins mumbling to itself, still standing awkwardly only a few feet into the tavern.

Xazabrax tumbled out of the bag, slightly crazed out of jealousy because of all he saw in the bag. He sees that people are preparing the tavern for a storm and decides to help. 

Walking up to thekla he asks “Hey there, you seem in charge. How do you feel about me reinforcing the tree with some stone? I can use my Magic’s to conjure up several stone walls that I can shape freely. It would be very taxing and require much of my magical ability, and perhaps about an hour. What say you?” 

Xazabrax begins to focus, his wings sprouting, breathing heavily, eyes going black, and an acidic haze forming around him but more contained than the last. 

"Hello, old timer. Would you like some help finding a table?" The dwarf asks after coming back down the stairs. " There should be some open tables over there."

The halfling turns its head to look sideways up at Yerandell, who smiles pleasantly down at the gnarled face. The halfling's worry melts into a look of hope. "Fosco?"

The cat walked in, the owner and some other small furry creature futz with the door, a ragged halfing worked its way past Sura in and another person on their way out past Sura, all while she was standing right there. Yup, time to go sit back down. She promptly took her place at a table again, her ale in hand, to watch the flurry of activity as the patrons and staff alike readied for the incoming storm. 

Cloud comes down from closing the windows and spots Yerandell with the halfling. Hi, you got here just in time. It's about to pour out there, and the storm is looking like it's going to be pretty bad. I'm Cloud, what's your name?

The halfling shuffles, rotating its whole body in order to look up — its neck turned even more awkwardly — at the silver-furred tabaxi. Those watching almost cringe, imagining the struggle this poor creature must go through on a daily basis. The halfling's face remains hopeful, but the voice, cracked and fairly soft, asks with a little hesitation, "Fosco?"

"I'm sorry to say sir, but neither of us is Fosco. Let me get you a seat by the fire." The dwarf starts getting a table by the fire prepared for the halfling. "Would you like anything to drink or eat?"

The halfling allows itself to be guided to the table by the fire. Yerandell has to help the old thing into a chair. After sitting, the halfling is able to be more erect (though still bent considerably) and look around more easily. Its eyes are about level with the top of the table. It releases its canes and they remain at the sides of the chair as if suspended by wires. They are ornately carved pieces of craftsmanship, each made of a dark wood and containing an orb at the top — one a clear blue and the other a fiery red.  "Have you seen Fosco? I ... can't remember where he's gone." The halfling reaches up and rubs the underside of his large, drooping nose with a bent finger. The nail on the finger is long and yellow.

Morgan nods her understanding to Dusk, *Understood,* before moving to release the blinds as he directed.  Once that's been done, she makes her way over to the stall where Hrogar has been situated and spends a few minutes with him, calming him over the approaching storm.  After that, she'll return to Dusk.

*Anything else?*

Scarlet the cat gets up and stretches. She trots up stairs to the free sleeping quarters. Scarlet reverts to her normal form and tries to sneak back down stairs. 13 She seems to think that she is a ninja.