Jalt is extremely quiet during this time. In his mind, he can't fathom the thought of only being able to bring back one of their comrades. But as much as this has been a defeat, they do have the information about Chuth and Neronvain that they can take back to the council.

Soar sits down next to Jalt. She waits for quite some time, just trying to feel a bit normal. That being impossible, she turns to him. "So you got some diamonds? Can we bring anyone back today?" she says quietly. "Could you bring back two? If not, can we try to get some of our diamonds back, if the dragon is leaving? You said Chuth was leaving for the Well. So, if we can watch him and... Neronvain leave, I'm assuming they're flying. The hoard has to be either left behind or brought with by the cultists. Do you think we could chance getting it back? It's the last strand of hope I can think of, if we can get one of them back. We could get both. And maybe salvage some kind of not-defeat from this mess. Or is it time to give up?"

Jalt doesn't turn to Soar when he goes to answer I was able to grab enough to bring back one person. Given time I can make sure to keep someone on ice if you will. Jalt now turns to Soar We have to decide who to bring back..... and I can do it now. 

The elves are giving you some space, not eavesdropping or interfering, just keeping watch and talking quietly in groups. They leave you alone to make your decision.

Jalt motions for Soar to join him near the bodies of their comrades. Jalt takes out the remaining diamond he was able to secure from the dragon's hoard and holds it against his chest. Bahamut, forgive me if I choose wrong he says to himself as he starts to cast Raise Dead on Bazavur. The diamond is consumed and Jalt keeps his eyes closed, he slumps a bit to the ground as his tiredness starts to creep in. 

Bazavur's eyelids twitch, and then open.

Bazavur sits up slowly, listening intently, and scanning his immediate surroundings. Trying to make sense of what’s just transpired. 

Soar, eyes locked on the prone dragonborn, leans forward. She wipes a tear away absentmindedly. She says, “I’m here, Bazavur. So is Jalt. Tangle… I hope she joins us. We lost. But maybe not everything.”

Bazavur blinks rapidly, “And where is… here? And who are they?” Adding the last part as he notices the group of former prisoners. His hands reaching for weapons that are no longer there. 

“We are outside the dragon’s lair. We lost the fight. We all went down. You and Tangle… you didn’t make it. Jalt and I woke up in a chamber in the back with these people, slaves… FORMER slaves of Chult. The cultists brought Jalt back to talk to Chult, the dragon. He wanted the elf dragon rider I slew to be brought back. It’s Neronvain, the king’s son. The deal was if Jalt brought him back to life, we could flee with our lives. Jalt did that. He came back, we left with these people from Altand. He must have taken enough diamonds from a dragon’s hoard somehow that he was able to bring you back. Tangle… we have to find another way to try to bring her back. The cultists and the dragon still have all of our stuff. The dragon said he was going back to the Well of Dragons, probably with a bunch of our stuff and lots of his hoard. The cultists can’t fly on him too so they may stay here or may make their own way back. Ontharr did mention being unsure about how they were getting around so quickly so maybe they could find a teleportation circle somewhere. But maybe, if there is a chance to get some of our stuff back, and a diamond for Tangle, we chance staying here and waiting for the dragon to leave and then ambush the cultists. Minor chance of a minor victory. Do we need to sleep? Candelabra can stay within sight of the cave and tell me if anyone leaves. What do you think Jalt, Bazavur? And Grana, would you stay or do you need to return right away?”

Bazavur blinks slowly and looks completely worn out. “Whatever you think is best. Everything’s worked out so far… mostly anyways.”

Sleep is necessary before we regroup Jalt says. We can try to get some of our items back but I am not sure if they will still be there. Have Candelabra keep an eye to see if there's any movement while we rest. In our current condition, we won't be able to take on anyone, much less organized cultists. 

Soar looks at Jalt. “Yes we do need to rest. You are right. I will put our faithful elk to work. And we can see what we find in the morning.”

She calls Candelabra over and talks to him quietly, telepathically. She checks his coat and brushes it out as best she can, giving him scritches behind the ears. She tells him that they are in a tight spot and she needs him to find a good place, out of the way, with a good view of the air above the cave and also the space leading to it, and nestle down for a long stretch of watching. He is to tell her if he sees anyone come out of the cave, man or dragon. 

She talks through the basic outlines of the plan and what they intend to do, with Grana and anyone else in the group who is interested. Her affect is pretty crushed but she really tries to rally a bit, to give them hope. They are free and will soon be home. They are of course free to walk to Altand but Soar and Jalt and Bazavur will accompany them soon if they wish to wait for an escort. In the meantime anyone who wishes should feel free to forage and rest.

Where are we situated? Out of sight of the cave? How hungry are we? Is there a tributary or outflow from the waterfall nearby that we could use to hydrate?

If we are looking to long rest, Soar will take first watch. She will spend her time intermittently telepathically chatting with Candelabra, thinking deeply about her drastically lowered situation, caring for Bazavur to whatever extent he needs and chatting if he wants to, sitting next to Tangle and grooming her and keeping her comfortable, and mostly praying to Kelemvor more than she ever has. She talks through what happened, asks for guidance. She reviews what happened with Bazavur, trying to confirm that what happened is not unorthodox. She also offers to talk with Jalt but knows he usually prefers silence. But she needs rest so this happens around that. 

Soar, Candelbra accepts the instruction as always, and trots away as stealthily as possible.

"I don't know if we can make it back to Altand unaided," Grana replies. "We have scouts, and these forests are our home, but that only means we know them well, and to travel through them unarmed is dangerous. Why do you think you can defeat the cultists unarmed and unarmoured? It seems reckless. And though it is selfish to ask, as you have already given so much and won our freedom, I must still ask it: Please help us to reach our home, and do not throw your lives away."

You are out of sight of the cave, but Candelabra can reach the cave and remain in communication distance, so you're not so far away. You are probably quite hungry by now. There is a small stream that the elves found, not too far away and in the direction away from the dragon's lair.

And so begins a difficult journey, back through the Misty Forest towards the remains of Altand, the small elf settlement you left such a short time ago. You have cleared the route of many dangers; the spiders and other creatures who attacked you are dead and gone; some of their bodies have clearly been dragged away by scavengers and insects are beginning their work on what remains. You pass between webs, and then leave the webs behind you. You trek on; the sky grows darker but in the mist it's hard to tell exactly the time of day, and everything is just a dim grey. It's hard to spot any potential threats, and the elves crowd around and behind you, nervously watching and listening for anything approaching. A few of the elves have picked up branches similar to those found earlier, aiming to use them as quarterstaffs and clubs though it's hard to say how well trained they are in combat.

You have spent many hours walking, and feel the need to rest. You can push on, but may take a point of exhaustion. Grana asks you to halt, and looks around: We can rest on the ground. There is little alternative. But we are not as strong as you, and I don't think we can make it much further without sleep, some of us at least. They didn't exactly feed us well, though we've managed to find enough to feed us all for the day.

(The elves have foraged as they travelled, getting enough food for themselves and for the three of you, so you can take a long rest having eaten sufficiently).

Will you stop to make camp? Or continue on?

Soar nods, coming to a halt. She'd say she was dead on her feet, but she's not. She's alive. She looks at Tangle, and rubs her eyes. "Yes, we should halt, either here or if there is a better spot to stay hidden up ahead, but not too far. We all need sleep. Bazavur, I don't know how you made it this far. We can take shifts to keep an eye out for anything. This really makes our losses real. It's been a while since I slept on the bare ground. Elspeth would laugh at me even thinking twice about it now." She defers to the elves' knowledge about the forest and their endurance to see if this spot is as good as any, or if there might be a decent chance of a hollow or something that would keep them out of sight. She's helpful in the tasks of finding and setting up a camp but it's rote, robotic. She's very disconnected from her emotions.

Soar volunteers for the first shift, sitting near Tangle. She insists on Bazavur and Jalt getting their rests first. It's been a very, very long day.

Perception: 5, 22 rolled in log

Jalt will take second shift on watch

Perception: 13 (rolled in log)

Perception: 11 (rolled in discord)

Soar, you hear it. Creatures approaching, several of them, you're not sure how many but two or more for certain. They're about sixty feet away and coming closer; perhaps you're just in their way by accident, perhaps they've picked up your scent. The elf who's standing watch with you hears it too, and glances at you nervously, mouthing silently in elvish "What do we do?" The others are all asleep.