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?"