The group found themselves passing a veritable wall of brush and into a forest pathway proper. Alice,, Argon, Ann-Hasst, and Nicademus strode in their manner. Calanon had answered Nicademus' question with a smile. "I'll scout out ahead. Stay together and move cautiously. I'll come back and give reports." And he did exactly that. The group moved with a will, alert and crisp. Luckily Alice's song did not seem to penetrate the treeline, though it was an unlucky implication. The forest grew so thick that it was hard to see past the next few trees, or see the sun in its entirety. 

Calanon atop Brogach came by to report the fore terrain for the next half mile thrice during the day. He spoke of a few strange beasts that roamed through the brush, but none that seemed dangerous and all as skittish as a stray dog. However, he nor they saw any sign of Dark Elves or the like, nor did Alice feel the aura of any dread Dorcha magics in the vicinity. Argon as well only stopped to smell at animals that had gone by. Nothing human or human-like had been in the area for a week, if not longer. And they were more likely villagers from the town Nicademus had been at that had gone patrolling or hunting.

As they continued to walk, it would seem that up ahead, Calanon and Brogach were coming back sooner than usual. The knickering of Brogach was audible, as was the stamping of hooves. The heavily leafed branches opened up to reveal something the group did not expect however. A huge creature, hoofed like Brogach but twice his size. A bull-like creature with three horns, the center one upon its snout. The tail was reptilian in nature, and spiked like a flail. It reared upon its hind legs, and then stampeded into the center of the group. 

[hr] 

Meanwhile, Beren and Geradin had noticed the man rushing past Aeryn and making it to Settione and harshly whispering to priest. The two stood up to their full heights (Geradin doing his best) to listen, and they caught enough of the request to give each other looks. Geradin groaned for a moment, then sighed and crawled out of the ditch. "Think ye can handle the rest of the work, lad?" Geradin asked. Beren laughed and waved him off. "Easy, I'll get it done. You go on." 

Settionne was led down two dirt streets, past a few curious onlookers. Men fixing houses and women carrying baskets of food and supplies, etc. By the time he made it to the cottage near the center of the village, he found Ursaren inside and the woman already propped up on the mattress, ready to deliver. Of course she still had a ways to go by the looks of it. Ursaren had been with her and her husband for awhile at this point, and behind Settione Geradin walked into the hut as well. 

"Who are you?" The husband asked. 

"A priest ye dolt." 

"So...so is he?" The Husband said, pointing to Settione. The wife suddenly cried. "The more the MERRIER!" as Ursaren told her to push. That was all the group needed to get to work. Within the hour, as Ursaren delivered the baby and Geradin intoned his Gods to ease the woman's pain and bless the child, it was Settionne's turn to perform a blessing upon the newborn. 

"After this, let's get drinks." Geradin said. 

Outside, Beren had began to work again. Beads of sweat dripped down his sculpted back as he moved pounds and pounds of earth to give the town a better barrier beside the palisade. As he worked, he glanced at Aeryn who looked at his muscled form between her fingers. But then she poised herself, and asked how she could help. He stopped for a moment and wiped his brow. He noticed her crossbow, but decided to be coy for a second. He crossed his muscled arms across his chest as he thought. 

"Wait, I got it." he replied with a grin. He tucked a hand of his behind his back and produced a hunting knife, its hilt made of horn. He tossed it to Aeryn casually, and nodded over to a pile of thinned logs. "Could you wittle the ends of those down to make points? We need to add some more spikes to the palisade." 

She'd be able to work next to Beren and speak with him if she wished. 
[@Mortarion][@The Fated Fallen][@Stormflyx][@Gardevoiran][@BCTheEntity][@Fetzen]