Velda, unsure at first, slowly sheaths her sword and slings her shield back onto her back, seeing as the wolves didn't intend any harm. She'd give a quick look to Raithe, encouraging her to put her bow away as well.

Raithe does indeed stow her weapons and slowly climb down to approach the group. She's very unsure about the whole thing but slowly grows more comfortable as Nova finds herself at the bottom of a puppy pile.

The wolves are indeed Nova’s family. And they are quite happy to have found her. Each one gives a playful nip when Nova gives their name. The fifth one hangs back a bit. Quietly sitting and watching the goings on. Atlas inquires curiously of Nova why she ran off and what is she doing in this strange group. And also how is it that Borris is here too?

Nova would eventually be able to sit herself up, brushing most of the dirt off her face. "Peh. Pffbt." Spitting and wiping the dirt from her mouth, she'd submit to final kisses on her face. "Ya done?" She'd raise a playful brow at Borris who had snuck in the pile. Chuckling, the half-elf would give him scratches behind the ear. Borris would chuff at her and go prance off to plop himself down in front of Velda, Raithe and Cadence.

Picking herself up off the ground, Nova would brush herself off some more as she'd take a few steps over. "Can we line up so I can introduce yous to my friends now?" Mismatched eyes would to and fro over the wolves at either side of her. Some whines and groans could be heard, but when Atlas would slap his tail on the ground and let out a huff, they'd listen. One by one, they'd weave around to correct themselves, eventually all sitting in a line before the group.

Inhaling a breath, Nova would start. "Velda, Cadence, Raithe. These are my brothers and sisters. Borris, Celeste, Castor, Pollux and Atlas." She'd point to each one of them.

"I've lived with them in the woods for pretty much as long as I can remember." She'd give her best explanation. "They're all actual Direwolves." Nodding in confirmation even if the question wasn't asked. "I never changed before... Not until I met you guys." The druid would add with a small smile before Atlas would let out a noise.

Looking to Atlas Nova would continue, "I was getting there. Yes Borris was right." Borris would raise his chin all proud. "We found Borris stuck in a trap in a cave and we freed him. Then I got bit by a spider and got magical powers!" Borris' eyes would roll and he'd put his paw over his snout. "I spideyed about for a bit. And then another time, I was a wolf, like yous!" Nova would not affirmatively before moving on to answer the rest of Atlas' inquiries. 

"I guess I wanted to try running with people... See what the people life can be like..." Glancing down, the halfelf would toe the dirt. "I wasn't trying to run away..." She'd look back up. "Cause let me tell you, they complicated and poof without traces!" Nova would make exaggerated gestures. "But I like the ones who stick around... and I like exploring." She'd admit after calming her hands and her cheeks starting to redden. Right! Focus Nova! Focus. 

After a moment, she'd continue. "Brothers and sister, this is Velda, Cadence and Raithe." Nova would point them out. "They're my friends." She'd say firmly. "We keep them safe and we help them." She'd stare at the wolves one at a time. Then she'd turn to face the three of them, inviting them to come closer so they could all smell their hands to put their scents to memory.

"We are trying to find our way to a castle. Trotting our way there just now. And then we found you." She'd nod. "Do you guys know the best way to get there? Maybe even how to get in?"

Cadence smiles a pleased smile and comes forward to hold out her hand for the wolves to smell. She'd hum a little tune while she did so, wobbling ever so slightly back and forth. "This is a fascinating thread. I'm so glad this morning I got out of bed!" 

Atlas looks at ixi a bit puzzled not entirely sure what Nova was asking about. Though the entire pack seems eager to help you locate it. 

Cadence skips out ahead of everyone, continuing on their path to the castle, "Alright then friends, this way!"  

At the confused look, Nova would shrug then giggle. It was worth the ask.

Immediately Atlas would stride to pad along with Cadence. Where she'd zigzag, he'd keep a straight line. Should she cross his path, he'd simply weave through her legs like a practiced dance.

"Welp, if yas wanna tag along, pick a buddy an keep up!" The halfelf would chime, springing along behind Cadence. Celeste would elegantly trot next to Nova.

The twins, Castor and Pollux took wide strafes in either direction before converging on Raithe with excited pounces. They bounce interchangeably at her toes, prancing in place between each display.

Boris would stoically stalk at Velda's side, loyally keeping eye on her and providing her with familiar company.

The group continues in this manner until right around midday when Atlas lets out a rather loud howl and darts off. The rest of the pack following, except for Borris, who shoots a questioning look at Nova. 

Raithe slowly begins to delight at the twin wolves' antics, dancing in her own longer pace with them. She ranges ahead with them, scouting and trying to make less noise than they do.

When Atlas howls and the pack darts off, she looks back at the party, and then at the horizon to see if this means they've reached their destination.

Cadence shrugs and continues in the direction the wolves went. 

Nova too shrugs. She'd encourage Boris to go with them all to scout ahead. She'd wait for Velda to move along with her.

Velda shoots a questioning glance of her own at Nova: "Would it be alright if I... rode him?"

Animal handling check, just in case: 3

Borris’ eyes went wide from Velda’s question. He’d duck away from her reach before taking off to catch up with Atlas. Nova would stifle a giggling snort before looking to Velda. “He thinks you’re too ‘ruff’.” She’d lean in to whisper. “He’s just a baby and doesn’t like his hair pulled.” The Druid would chuckle, then offer a warm smile. “Here. I don’t mind.” She’d drop forward, shifting as she went down on all fours. Wolf-Nova would look back, jerking her head encouraging Velda to hop on for her ride. They had some catching up to do, and she was ready to run.

Nova’s wolf family and her recently adopted people family set off at a reinvigorated pace towards Neverwinter wood and Cragmaw castle. The group comes to the edge of the woods as the sun begins to set, you get the sense the castle must be close. 

Cadence sends her hawk familiar into the air. The hawk has seen the castle before and can give them a good idea of which direction, how far, the terrain between, and potentially any watchers who are on guard.

She smiles to the group, "Are we walking boldly up, or sneaking in after sup?" 

As Cadence asks this question, you see Velda riding atop of Nova's wolf form: "YeeeeeehaaW! Oooh, wow, this is so much fun! Weeeee!"

After 30 minutes or so, pine returns with a report on the castle for cadence (will pm you a little later. Also check the map on discord)

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5

Cadence, in an impressive display of rhyming that people will likely be talking about for years relays in detail all of the information in the maps, the castle, and the fact that there are no visible guards, which she thinks is mighty suspicious. 

The sun moves lower in the sky as Cadence shares with all of you that there are no visible guards near the entrance of the castle(west side of map). You also figure you are about 5 miles from it, based on how long it took pine to fly there and be resummoned by Candence.

Novas pack family begins playing rather boisterously amongst themselves as you all debate near the edge of the woods what your next course of action is...