To Hugz earlier in response

Noticing Hugz’ misery, Nova would feel some guilt. “I’m sorry if it seemed as though I questioned my trust to you.” She was truthful in her apology. “I welcome genuine companions who continue to make efforts to contribute.” The halfelf would smile to hugz before glancing to Yeemik, figuring she gave in to the uneasiness he gave her. “Borris just isn’t a huge fan of the heel digging.” She’d admit. Though, that was easily forgiven with the acknowledgement and pets. If Borris could go any more crosseye’d, he would as he’d watch Hugz boop his nose. And that uneasiness for Yeemik faded away as quickly as Velda’s blade dispatched him.

Finally, after what felt like DAYS, Nova would pick her butt up off the ground her ears perking up at the words, run and food. Immediately she’d be at Fionn’s side. “Run and food? I’m in!” Nova would burst in excitement before leaning to sniff at the shiny swishy container he was shaking.

*Nova detects a faint smell of whiskey

“What kind of nose burning juice is this?” Nova’s nose would twitch, trying to stifle a sneeze. “Bravery beverage?” She’d think about his recent intimidations. Sensing other’s could be waiting, the half-elf would playfully snatch Fion’s shiny bottle from him and dart away with it to run to catch up with Velda waiting for them to help with the haul. 

"Hey i need that" Fionn will follow to Velda, then assist with the crates

“You need it eh?” Nova would pop a brow, giving it another whiff wondering why. Just as she was about to shrug and Fion his flask back, this time, she’d sneeze.

Clink.

The flask would have fell to the ground and in place of Nova, there was a wolf. The eyes were mismatched, indicating it was not Borris. Making it more clear, Borris would start bounding, leaping and howling in glee, bouncing around this very stunned new b... beast. 

"well theres a neat trick i may say"  Fionn picks up the flask and puts it with the others on his belt.  "is it only when you sneeze?"

(This is a first for Nova, hitting lvl 2 lol Borris always told her she could change  into a wolf, but she never could. Until just now.)

Wolf Nova would look over herself with surprise, not fully absorbing the fact that she was actually looking at a physical change of herself. She’d look to Borris who’d be skipping about excitedly as if shouting ‘I told you so! I told you so! I told you so!’. Her eyes would dart worried to Fionn as if considering that his fancy flask caused this.

After the initial panic, shock and pacing, Nova would be willing to embrace it if the others in the group did. She’d be more excited than emberassed if so. Then she’d bounce around to try to find a way her new form could be of assistance in carrying or dragging supplies to the entrance to finally catch up with Cadence. 

Cadence is standing near the entrance looking back into the cave when Nova wolf comes bounding towards her. She looks...completely unsurprised or concerned, and addresses Nova as she approaches. "Glad to see you've found yourself!"  She smiles.  "What's taking so long did the group find a bookshelf?"

"Better - weapons," Gert emerged with a crate full of weapons (most likely he was not carrying it alone). "Well, better in our circumstances. We bring it back to Phandalin and hand to whoever expected the delivery." He carefully navigated his way around the new-born-wolf (to his taste Nova was quite playful as she was, having now two jumping joyful full grown wolfs around was really excessive!) Seen Cadence alone and putting two and two together he asked: "Any news about the Castle?"

"None yet, it's very far. Pine should return by this evenings first star."

"Hope he can find us in the town. Let's go now, crated are loaded, nothing is keeping us here anymore." He would help to load the crates on the wagon and ready to move away from dead horses, the cave and general site of ambush.

There was something made precisely for Nova-wolf. Gertenor looked into the mismatched wolfs eyes: "Could you run to Peter while we are lugging crated to the entrance? If he brings wagon here we would not need to carry all those crates. Just don't forget to change back to human - something tells me Peter might not be a wolf fan".

Velda is visibly disturbed by Nova's transformation. "Nova, can you get back?", she asks, afraid for her mongrel friend.

Cadence taps her fingers on her lips.  If she thinks Pine has had enough time to travel to the castle, and is likely on his way back, she returns him to his pocket dimension, and then summons him on her arm. "Sorry friend. These folk are impatient as river water, ever wishing to move. Did you find the castle?"

Nova's excitable eyes would dart between the unphased Cadence, the not so sure Velda and the not so impressed Gert? She'd plop her butt down on the ground while the people were talking, panting a little from her jovial bouncing. Her head would then snap too when Gert would give her an assignment. Wolf Nova would adjust her posture and as soon as he finished his last sentence, she'd take off, kicking dirt up as she'd go.

Doing as she was instructed, Nova would book it towards the wagon to meet up with Peter. Just barely remembering to attempt to shift out before reaching him, the newly discovered druid would try to put on her new wolf breaks as she'd panic force sneeze trying to revert back to herself. Catching a rock, Nova wolf would be sent into a tumble, eventually coming to a rolling stop, hopefully near Peter. She'd blink.

Nova was herself again! She'd lift her arms up in triumph.

Assuming he is there all fine and dandy, Nova would repeat Gert's ask, to bring the wagon closer to the entrance.

Hugz watches in horror as Velda executes Yeemik as he cowers behind Nova. Then whispers quietly to Nova, “She’s nots gonnas do that’s to mes right?” To which Nova replies “As long as you don’t give us any reason not to trust you … I’ll keep you safe.” Velda having overheard Nova’s reply adds “You were very helpful in getting me here unharmed. S’long as that continues you will be safe.” Giving Hugz an odd mysterious smile. Hugz visibly gulps and stays behind Nova for protection.

Sildar had no objection to Velda’s actions and lets her remove the ‘threat’. Once Yeemik is dealt with, everyone with the exception of Cadence begins the task of moving the crates, sacks and barrels of supplies from Klarg’s den to the clearing on the west side of the stream. Hugz even does his best to help. Though he makes a point to stay as far from Velda as he possibly can. With the first run of supplies brought out, Gert suggests that Nova go get Peter and have the two of them come back with the wagon. Which she happily agrees to and bounds off without a second thought. Cadence, seeing the groups haul from the cave, “If we are taking everything out of the cave, I suppose I’ll assist and not misbehave”

Nova’s trip back to the road is fairly uneventful. She takes the time to avoid the pit and snare trap along the path and makes notes where the wagon would need to travel to make it to the cave. As she gets closer to the wagon, she smells campfire and the scent of freshly killed deer and the smell of cooking venison. Peter looks a bit shocked by her less than graceful appearance standing up near the fire he’s made “Whot … ‘appened to … others” He manages to say between mouthfuls of venison.

Hearing the goblins were dealt with and everyone was alive and well (mostly) he agrees to bring the wagon to the cave. After a few minutes of breaking down his makeshift ‘camp’ sets off down the trail with Nova leading the way to the cave. It takes a bit longer than twenty minutes … Between Nova barely containing her energy and excitement and Peter losing sight of her and having to wait for her to bound back to lead the wagon further the journey to the cave with the wagon takes roughly thirty minutes.

In that amount of time, most of the pillaged goods from the goblin cave have been staged on the west side of the river. One last trip is being made by Hugz and Borris but nothing else remains in the cave … save for the weapons and armor of the goblins and their … remains.

Seeing the staged supplies, Peter maneuvers the wagon near them to facilitate easy loading. With the wagon in place he hops out and starts getting a fire going saying “Anyone ‘ere ‘ungry? I got me a deer whilst I was waiting.” Looking around at seven of you, “Might be enough ‘ere for all of us”

The rest of you begin arranging the goods already in the wagon towards the front and start putting the goods from the cave in the back of the wagon. Hugz and Borris emerge from the cave with the last of the supplies. Or rather … Hugz is carrying the last sack and is being escorted by Borris, over to the wagon. Seeing a goblin, a goblin that attacked them earlier that day no less, Peter lets out a brief scream and dives under the wagon.

After the wagon is loaded and Hugz appears Fionn peers under the wagon

"You said food?  Excellent. Dont trouble yourself" he says with a laugh "just tell me where"

Peter points up to the wagon, “Should be a deer up there somewhere.” Looking to Hugz, “Is that goblin not trying to kill everyone now?”

Gert bent and looked under the wagon: "No, he is not. You can come out now." Not seeing Peter hurrying up crawl from under the safety of the wagon he added "Seriously - no, he is with us now. Keep an eye on him if you wish, but stop shivering. Better help to load the crates - those dead goblins had quite a thing set up here."

He finished the loading with the help of the others and happily joined the meal. "Good thinking, Peter. And good cooking. What would you say to staying with us after we get to the town? Nothing makes travelling better than a good cook. Fion, did I hear some drinks mentioned earlier? Anything left of that nectar in your flask?"

After the meal Gert was the one to ask an obvious question: "Do we camp here or should we return to the road and try to get as far from that place as possible?"

For reference, you figured you were about 4-5 hours travel from Phandalin when you were ambushed around midday. So it’s pretty close to 3 in the afternoon ... give or take. And Pine still has about 1.5 -2 hours before reaching the castle.