Meanwhile, in the Westwoods...

Leave the horses, let's fly - we may need to scout an area. I'll get owls once we are ready Del moves the strap from his old fiddle to Ziia for now, and packs up gear for travel and a fight. ((btw, he already returned sword to the prince)) 

When all ready he'll cast Conjure Animals calling 8 Giant Owls

"I have a dagger I never use just in case if you need it." Quentin tells the Prince as he says, "We should go quickly. Let's take the horses. If he's in danger I think we've learned that time is of the essence more often than not." 

"I have a whip and some javelins you can borrow Your Highness," Mindartis offers.

The prince thanks Del for the return of his sword, promising to replace it one day with something  more suited to the bard's fighting style. He borrows a shield from Raven's father's stores. He still has his fine mithral chain shirt under his doublet, and needs no further armor. He also gladly accepts the javelins form Mindartis, in case of ranged fighting.

"Owls might be faster than horses," says Lintelér. "As long as Del is able to summon them again for our return. There is always the possibility your father is injured, and walking back might be slower than ideal, or we may have enemies to escape."

I can handle summons for a round trip Del confirms And healing for those who need

"Ready to go," said Elwin, donning his shield and summoning his spear.

"Then let's be off." raven urges, biting at the bit to get a move on.

When we fly Del will suggest we fan out, and have the 2 extra owls scouting, since 4-5 miles SE is a bit vague. All the owls are told to look for Raven's dad or signs trouble with plant monsters

Riding the owls, you fly over the fens. At the speed of the swift birds, the miles whiz by beneath you.  (Anyone looking for trouble should roll perception...and Del should roll for the two scout owls as well.)

Perception: 15

Perception: 24

Elwin's Perception: 20

Del reminds everyone We have to land within an hour - if you spot something not Master Blackthorn ((we know name or title of our absent host?)) note it and keep going. We can take care of other issues later

His Perception 14 and the two owls Perception 24 Perception 22
(passive if it applies to the six owls as mounts is 15, and they have advantage on sight and hearing)

You are all keen-eyed and alert, and when Owl Scout 1 squawks an alarm, you circle over to the spot and try to get a better look.

Elwin and Quentin notice the flash of armor from bodies lying on the ground, nearly covered by undergrowth.  Elwin estimates three people and four horses. Mindartis can't help noticing that the plants here seem to be moving strangely...even with no wind.  Del mainly notices how much more lush and overgrown this patch of the swamp is compared to the rest of the fens.

(I still want a roll from Raven, for another reason.)

Raven's active perception: 29  Her passive is 20 though.

Okay, so what do you guys do?  (BTW, Raven, your weapon of warning is giving you lots of trouble signals.)

"Del, can you ask the plants if they know where my father is from here?"  Raven calls over.

I have to get close, 30 feet

Have we traveled far enough to be the right area, and how much of the hour is left? Is there a tree here large enough to perch in?

(((AAAAA, you make me do math.  Owls fly 70 ft in 6 seconds, which totaled up means they can fly almost 8 miles in an hour.  Say you've gone about 5 miles, I calculate you have a little more than 20 minutes left to fly.  There are a few large trees nearby....roll me a d20 if you are going to land in one.)

Del is going to land in a tree, and ask Elwin to join since E can fly easily 6. He'll immediately thank the tree for the perch, and ask the tree (and/or any critters about) about the ruckus down below

(( didn't mean to math ya - DMG: mph = speed / 10 ; +/- 30% fast or careful ))