Trying to be grateful that these characters the party and I care about are Not in the Forest because horrible things Would happen to them:
Gilear- Thank god they left him. He would already be permadead.
The Cubbys- they are too good for this. Glad Bud Cubby had the good sense to not sign up for this Actual Literal Nightmare.
Cathilda- I was pretty sad when she left, but she is the only functional person in that household. And more importantly: do Not let another one of Fabian's parents die in his arms
Zelda- I desperately want to see her in combat. So bad. (please Brennan). HOWEVER putting her in the forest Right After she and Gorgug said I love you for the first time and after they acknowledged and apologized for their own mistakes to start laying the foundation for a more mature relationship? One of them would die. And knowing how much Gorgug loves to stand between his allies and their enemies, it would probably be him.
Lydia Barkrock- Ragh has been through too much. Riz already chose to sacrifice her once. If someone were to make that choice for her again, which would make sense for the Bad Kids to do to save to save another party member, I don't know if Ragh would be able to, or even Should get past that.
Jawbone- Would turn full werewolf and Would bite Adaine or Sandralynn or hurt Tracker.
Kristen's brothers- literal children who would without a doubt last longer than Gilear. But Kristen deserves the kind of sibling redemption we wanted Aelwen to have for Adaine's sake. And it would hurt really bad for to see the Applebees kids fractured even more before we even get to know them.
Digby and Wilma- they are so constant, so loving, so supportive. You know the sentiment that little kids think their parents are invincible? I genuinely cannot imagine or start to process the implications of Digby or Wilma dying.
But these people aren't in the equation right now! Hallelujah!