Subject: Heading back to camp

Kubalc and the shaman wear smiles of relief on their faces, and the warriors shoulders hang low with the rush of fear and anxiety having left their bodies. Kubalc walks with arm over Buchek's shoulder, a smile playing easily across his face as though the preceding ten minutes had not even happened.

It makes Buchek uncomfortable, as his people did not let such strong emotions fade so quickly, but he goes along with the chieftain, if only to be sure tempers don't flare once again. As much as they may look and act like the Cushat, he sees now that they are most certainly foreigners. This is clearly not his home.

Holn is equally unsettled, not trusting the sudden change in demeanor. He watches Kubalc's closeness to Buchek with suspicion, but can't quite make out what the chieftain's intentions are. Is he honestly an ally? Or is he holding something back? Frustrated, Holn can't get a read on the man. [Sense Motive 9 v. DC 20]

"Have your people been much harried by the Noyakin? Among the Cushat there were many who believed that the Noyakin were nothing more than stories told to scare children into staying close to camp."

Buchek's question triggers a a sharp laugh from Kubalc. "Much harried? Before today, we were not harried by gods either, friend, and stories of great beasts were only told around fires. Such creatures exist, and we both worship and fear them, but none have been known to come out of the grass in three generations. Until today..."

Behind the group, Telwyn and Elotai drift toward one another, watching the barbarians speak ahead of them, and the dwarf and halfling behind. Both noticed the way the warriors looked at Kayla, and at their own pointed ears. Two had moved off with the wagons, leaving three behind. Two walked alongside the elf and half-elf, while one hung back behind the group entirely.

While the immediate tension may have lifted, there was suspicion and fear still behind their eyes, hidden from view. It made both Telwyn and Elotai uneasy, and they exchanged a look of concern as they proceeded after Kubalc toward the camp. Hidden suspicions could sometimes be more dangerous than those shown openly.

Kayla stayed close to Erk, already trying to put the events of the day into song. She had hammered out the beginnings of a refrain when Erk whispered so the warriors couldn't hear.

"Now who are these grassland cousins of yours that everyone is so afraid of, hmmm? Let's keep our ears wide open tonight, and see what hints we might glean."

She had been struggling with that question already, but wasn't any closer to an answer. [Arcane Knowledge check 5 v. DC 20] There was simply nothing she could ever recall hearing that bore even the slightest resemblance to these halfling sized fair folk. Surely she would keep her ears open for any clues, especially since knowledge of this race might be the only thing that could keep her alive in another such misunderstanding.

As if on cue, the shaman approaches her and bows his head slightly.

"I am sorry, small one. I know there is no evil in your heart. It is just that you are like a grass serpent that has wandered into a child's tent - no one is willing to ask the beast if it is friend or foe, lest the child die."

He pauses, then looks to Erk.

"I see now that you have some responsibility over this group, priest of the mountain. There is wisdom in your bones - perhaps the wisdom of the mountain itself, which has seen all things. I must warn you of a danger you no doubt already foresee.

"I know the small one is not a threat to our people, and Kubalc believes me in all magical counsel. But there are others who will not accept this. They will fear I was bewitched by the magicks of the Noyakin, or that Khoftak punished me with false vision for the sins of he who held this staff before me. They will not understand.

"Knowing this, I fear you cannot stay with us long. If it were not nearing sunset already, I would tell you go move on with your wagons tonight. As it is, you would do well to be on your way as quickly after daybreak as possible, to wherever you may be heading."

Both Telwyn [Listen 19] and Elotai [Listen 20] hear the shaman's words, which give even more weight to their fears.