Zorg's Lost Souls III

In the time that it takes for Rowan to turn around and check if Barria is coming, the children have darted up the ropes holding the swings, and into the boughs of the tree. The treant itself stops moving and stands as still as any normal tree, its boughs held in the air, like a child playing at statues... however, one of its eyes keeps peeking open to watch.

Three of the four children glare down at Rowan as he speaks, and it's apparent from this proximity that one is a ginger-haired she-elf, one a young male dwarf growing his first whiskers, and one a young female orc. All three appear to be about eight years old.

The fourth child, a human boy of about 11 years with chocolate skin and frizzy black hair, watches Rowan with a completely different attitude... a smirk and a swagger... as he hangs sideways out from one branch. The cat seen earlier remains skulking behind the base of the tree, and Rowan can see that it is not actually a cat... with the black fur, the six legs, and the two tentacles issuing from its back, it is clearly a very young displacer beast.

Rowan finishes speaking, and the four children remain for a few moments, glaring or in the case of the older boy, smirking down at Rowan. Finally the human boy leaps off the branch into the air, grabs the rope of a swing, and slides down it to land with two feet on the ground. He saunters over to Rowan, coming right up within a hands-breadth, and looks up at him... shorter by a foot or so, but still acting like the one in control. The other children move around a little... two produce slings and stones, and the third crouches beside what appears to be a small cannon and a basket of fruit.

So, says the boy to Rowan, loud enough for his 'crewmates' and therefore for everyone else to hear. You're lookin' fer Will are ya? Wanna talk to 'im do ya? Well ya found 'im. So talk!

Barria turns red as what the mushrooms are saying is translated for her and she is happy to move on from them.  If there are tiny ones near where they scuffle on by, she might  try to step on them to see if that will teach the rotten mushrooms a lesson!

She also stares at the enormous track on their way into the decaying forest.  Nature: 17 as she tries to figure out what it is.

Barria is happy to partner with Rowan as they approach the children.  Children always liked Barria back home, she always had something sweet for them to eat.  First... she is surprised by all that spews from Rowan, she knows she shouldn't be, but she is.  And as Rowan tells the others the identity of the two creatures may very well be one and the same, she retorts, "What proof do you have?  How can you be so certain?"  When she sees G'Reg take it for gospel, she calls back to him, "Don't believe everything you hear, gnome!" but... is it true?  

She watches the children, their countenaces confusing her, but then again - so much has confused her ever since she stepped through those looking glasses.  She attempts a smile at the dwarf child and a little wave, but then the human child takes her attention as he struts over.

"Why hello there.  We have seen so many reward posters for you, what have you done to warrant such ire from Granny?  Not that we have any love for her, quite the opposite in fact.  I'm just curious as to what happened?"

Rowan is a little taken aback by the boy claiming to be Will demanding that he start talking.

"Did something happen to your hearing?" Rowan asks. "I've been talking. Do you understand what I'm saying right now?"

Rowan is about to say more when Barria begins talking and he decides to see how Will responds to her before pursuing the matter further. Maybe Mulligan will have to think speak to him.

Ah! This guy! Will exclaims even more loudly as he claps Rowan on both shoulders. Done lots of talkin' about Will, and talkin' to everyone but Will... sayin' he wants to talk to Will... now he's got nothing' to say to Will.

The children in the tree giggle at this, and it's clear to Rowan and Barria that this precocious child is performing for his gang. The boy turns away from Rowan and faces Barria, though with a little more of a respectful attitude.

What've I done ya say? He runs his fingers through his frizzy black hair. Well I escaped from 'er slavery fer starters, didn't I? And then I was quick enough and smart enough to go back and free these four fine upstanding warriors from under her long crooked nose, wasn't I? Oh, and you too, Midnight (he adds as the displacer beast kitten approaches and rubs up to his leg). A right thorn in her heel, innit? So yeah, I reckon she's got it out for me. She can't catch us though, right lads?

There is a cheer from the treehouse, and Will beams a huge smile at them before turning back to the newcomers.

So if you're int'rested in givin' merry hell to the old granny, savin' the unicorns, and maybe even the Queen... then you've come to the right place... 'cos there's no army like the Getaway Gang fer causin' mischief. Why don't ya bring whoever else ya got with ya and come 'ave some grub. We ain't got much, but what we got, we share.

And with that, he turns and sprints back to the base of the treant (who has dropped all pretense of pretending to be only a tree) and scampers up a rope ladder that the children drop down to him.

Tidy up, lads! he calls on his way up. We got visitors!

G'Reg sets aside his worries for the time being, his expression changing completely as he turns away from Mul and addresses the invitation. Exiting the long grass he had been hiding within he shouts over "Food is certainly something we'd be grateful for! And I speak for all of us when I say congratulations on escaping the hag not once but twice, an impressive feat no doubt!" The gnome grins wide, and acts odd, an air of warmth to him instead of his usual gruff outlook, though he could just be playing up to the children's bravado and need to perform, what do children seek out and latch onto if not validation eh? He approaches, not just humouring their ego but encouraging it.