Hushed Willows This is not the end

Easy came not far behind her nephew and was surprised to find Sunny and a stranger bristling at each other -- especially when she realized it was not, in fact, a stranger. "Dacio?" she said in surprise, hurrying over to hold her hulking form protectively over her nephew. "What's going on here?"

"He's angry with Dad," said Valiant, his voice much softer than she was accustomed to from him. A moment later, she caught a sour scent and realized that the poor boy had peed in fear. "And Minnow and Aery are still gone."

The news made her heart sink, but there seemed to be more present issues to worry about. She stood by, a flinty look in her eyes but a decidedly neutral cast to her stance and features. Whatever was happening, she hoped it could be resolved without bloodshed -- but if that was what it took to get things taken care of quickly, she had no qualms about using force. They had children to search for, after all.