While the walk through the woods had been long and tiresome, it wasn't actually the physical activity that had Meg a little down, rather the idea that at the end of the journey they could very well end up back where they started. If it had simply been her, it was likely she would have despaired and run off... somewhere. Thankfully the company of the others helped more than a little, and she found herself smiling when she thought she wouldn't. So it was with better spirits that she reached Skingrad with her companions, only to have said spirits dampened when she saw all the refugees outside the gates of the city. Meg had never seen so many people gathered in one place, yet it wasn't the sheer amount of folks that made her heart sink. Children, adults and elderly all had the same expressions of fear darkening their faces. 

As Rhea, Brynja and Daro'Vasora headed through the crowd to hopefully figure out what in Talos' name was happening, Meg decided to do a little wandering of her own, though she tried not to stray too far from the group. Whether the others liked it or not, she felt a sort of kinship with them now. They had been through much together, events that would take more than a lifetime to forget. Meg felt more comfortable around even the snippier members of the group than she would with her own stepmother and brother. 

Meg blinked. Her stepmother was someone who often poked about in her memories, but her little brother was hardly someone who made an occurrence. Looking away from the ground she had been concentrating on as she walked, she caught sight of a rather large family with many children. She paused in her steps before moving to the side, not wishing to be in anyone's path or being jostled by someone who didn't care. Still, her eyes remained on the family, spotting a young lad who looked no more than three or four years. [i]I wonder how old [/i]he[i] is now?[/i] It seemed like forever ago when she had met her little brother. Did he even remember her? "Huh." Meg scoffed at her own foolish thoughts. She could hardly expect the child to think of her when she hardly did of him, and while that did sadden her, it was a small relief as well. One less person to miss her if she didn't make it out of whatever this was alive.

Her father though... Scuffing the ground with her boot, she tried to ignore thoughts of him, but with everyone so preoccupied with their own worries, there was no one to steer her away from her grim thoughts. [i]I wonder if they know what happened to Jerall Mountain back in Whiterun. Or what happened in Imperial city...[/i] For all her father knew though, she could very well have been treasure hunting in some snow-covered caverns under Winterhold. At least, that's what she hoped... there was no sense in him worrying about her.

[i]I really should go writin' him a letter soon-[/i] Meg's thoughts were interrupted, her eyes shifting away from the boy to two newcomers who were addressing the parents of the many children. "Hm..." Even from her distance she could see the barely hidden disdain in their words and expressions. Unknowingly her hands curled into fists, her irritation barely contained  when they passed by her, especially when she heard the spiteful words they had to say about the family. It took every fiber of her being not to say something scathing to them; perhaps it was actually the sight of Rhea that caused her to change her mind.

To say she was shocked by what Rhea had to say would be a lie, even if it was a rather unpleasant bit of news. The choice to follow after Brynja and Daro'Vasora was very tempting as well, but Judena's words also meant something important to her, something she had just been thinking about. Once more the idea of having more bonds with this group than her own family pulled at her heartstrings. 

It took quite a lot of chewing on her lip before she finally spoke aloud.

"I wanna help people too, but..." She let out a breath. "I havta agree with Judena. I don' quite feel ready t'leave this group yet... So I'mma stay. I'll help you, Jude, if you're fine with that."

Meg turned to smile at the older Argonian, but she too ended up distracted with the sight of the three familiar Altmer. "Well... huh." Now [i]that[/i] was a surprise.