Foeldar attempted to stand several times only to fall back to his knees again and again, the pain in his head and shoulder screaming as his body struggled to mend. He felt something hit lightly against his shin one of the times he tried to stand up, but upon opening his eyes to look for the origin he saw only a watery blur of color and motion. Foeldar pressed two of his fingers softly against the side of his head and felt the surface give way ever so slightly. That side of his face felt... [i]mushy[/i]. [i]That's not right.[/i] Crashing into that wall must've done more damage than he first thought. This kind of injury would still heal, undoubtedly, but it would take much longer than a wound caused by an arrow or a sword.

The noises around him grew louder for a moment, and then quieter. The faintest vibrations quivered the soil beneath him, fading in intensity and suggesting that the people that had been gathered here were leaving. Foeldar didn't much care, however, as he hadn't much reason to follow. The pain continued to fade away very slowly, and his vision began to noticeably clear up. A child's silhouette stood before him, prompting the forest golem to blink hard several times in a futile attempt to restore his vision - even if only for a single moment. [color=a187be]"Hurry, Foeldar, you should follow them. They'll need your protection."[/color] Her voice suggested, punctuated by Foeldar forcefully punching the earth and pushing himself to his feet.

[color=00746b]"Foeldar can't... no good at protecting."[/color] The colossus replied, taking a wide stance and extending his arms to help maintain his balance. [color=a187be]"Maybe you're right..."[/color] She began as the silhouette started moving closer, becoming clearer with each step. [color=a187be]"Maybe you aren't any good at it... but I know [i]we[/i] are. [i]Together[/i]."[/color] Lily continued, looking up at the forest golem with a glint of frustration in her eyes. [color=00746b]"Very well... if that's what Lily wants Foeldar to do, then Foeldar will try. For Lily..."[/color] Foeldar spoke, letting loose a subtle sigh. The giant turned to look back towards the city, the outline of the gate now clearly visible. The pain was bearable, though still bothersome. [i]It could've been worse.[/i]

[hr]
A breeze pushed itself against fluttering white canvas, backing off only to return moments later in a cycle of futile attempts to rip the sails from the wooden masts to which they were secured. Like the ebb and flow of the water that lapped at the boat's wooden hull, the wind returned again and again to push the little ship further up the river in which it traveled. Scattered pillars of black smoke stood out against the early morning sky like gangrenous wounds, rising up from within the not-too-distant walls of Nadska. The crew aboard the vessel exchanged glances of uncertainty, but performed their duties as they had been hired to. Only one among them stood with confidence, though they were also clad from head to toe in a suit of well-kept metal armor. This particular individual stood apart from the others, both in a literal and a figurative way. They leaned against the bulwark as if ready to leap over the side at a moment's notice, and scanned the nearby tree-line in an almost mechanically intent nature.

[color=fdc68a]"Raise th' canvas n' prepare t' bring th' ship 'round, nice n' slow-like! 'Member t' keep a keen eye on th' shores, boys, don't let th' shallows sneak up on us!"[/color] The gruff voice tore out through the relatively quiet air, stirring the crew with a renewed purpose. The owner of that commanding voice was a rather well-dressed sailor - or, perhaps, as well dressed of a sailor as one could expect - who quickly asserted themselves as the captain of this humble crew. The armor-clad warrior hardly paused to listen, though, as a slight bit of movement off in the forest drew their attention closer. The commanding figure approached from behind the one wearing the armor, the former clearing their throat to make themselves known and prompting the latter to turn around. [color=fdc68a]"We'll not be pullin' int' port, mister... Darren, was it? With th' city bein' 'tacked, I'll not dare t' get any closer. I won't risk th' safety of m' crew fer one man, so this's far as we go."[/color] The captain said, pointing to the ruined Nadska with one hand and sliding the other to rest on the hilt of their sheathed scimitar.

[color=0072bc]"Very well, I understand your concerns are for your ship and the lives of your crew - and I thank you for your help in getting me this far, miss. All I ask is that you uphold your end of the bargain - I've got a job that needs to be done, and now I've seen what being only a day late will cost me."[/color] Darren responded, gesturing weakly behind him.

[color=fdc68a]"A'course, I ain't one t' go against m' word - I'll 'ave a man take ye ther soon as we're facin' downstream. It'll be jus' a mome-"[/color] The captain started, pausing as the sight of something beyond Darren quickly grabbed hold of her attention. Darren quickly turned back around to look, finding a sight he had not expected - a large tree-man standing at one of Nadska's gates. [color=0072bc]"What the bloody-fucking-hell is that?!"[/color] Darren spat, instinctively reaching to grab his longsword.

[color=f7976a]"Ah, thatsa... well, ehh... some would say, [i]'Hechin'[/i]... I think. Err... but others, I think... a Forest Golem."[/color] One of the sailors chimed in, receiving a side glare from Darren though his mask concealed it. [color=0072bc]"Is it [i]dangerous[/i]? Could that have been the culprit of the attack on Nadska?"[/color] The armed and armored mercenary interrogated, his tone becoming more threatening with each word. [color=f7976a]"No no, eh, no! That'd be highly unusual, though... I've never heard of one being sighted on that side of the river before. They're not very aggressive, but they are... ah, [i]extremely[/i] defensive and territorial. They don't much like to fight. Prefer to scare trespassers away 'stead of killing them. But... I mean, eh... they'll still fight if they need to... I guess..."[/color] The sailor continued, glancing nervously to their captain. 

[color=fdc68a]"Thank-ye, Gresh, now get back t' work."[/color] The captain ordered, giving a subtle nod punctuated by a dismissive gesture before looking back to Darren. [color=fdc68a]"If ye want t' find survivers ye'd best go lookin' 'round ther. Those golems don't much like witnessin' death, almos' 's much 's they don't like dealin' it. Big guy mighta hadta save somebody, yeah?"[/color] She continued, taking a few steps before gesturing to a rowboat waiting to be lowered into the water. [color=fdc68a]"Now, c'mon, let's talk 'bout th' last bit o' our payment n' work on gettin' ye ashore, alrigh'?"[/color]