#jon bole

As everyone had arrived, Avraeh cleared her throat. "I think it's time we all come to an understanding about our place here, and the future of this settlement." More confusion, shared glances met with shrugs.

Pointedly, Avraeh's eyes drift towards the soft blanket and carved toys set out on the ground - a spot little Kyrah can usually be seen playing, though she's currently tucked away in her cot, no doubt dreaming as only the innocent can. The others follow her gaze, clearly picking up the topic.

After all, Avraeh has become mother in all but blood to the tinker toddler she'd rescued and was very vocal about protecting her. Perhaps I shouldn't have chosen her naptime for this discussion, this meeting might do well to have a living example of my words. Still.

"Simply put, we need to treat this situation like it won't be changing. That it's only us and the other two groups here… we need to think about the future. Our future, but also that of the children."

Their arrival is a mixture of surprise and bitter joy.

First they see the simple village, with Aelyx stopping them while he took in every scrap of information that he could. Thoren was just grateful the knight didn't have his hand on the hilt of his sword. But then Alerie practically jumped out of her saddle, ran a few feet and threw herself into the arms of a man that turned out to be her brother.

Her relief and happy tears break the tension before it has time to settle, though it builds as Aelyx and Bennett Stark make eye contact - clearly there's a history there Thoren didn't know about, and isn't that shocking? - and only gets worse from there.

Jon quickly fills them in, confirming what Thoren had suspected - not everyone in this village came from the Seven Kingdoms. In fact, if they're to be believed the strangers came from a different world entirely, a place with magic of it's own… it sounds like a story his Nan would have told him.

Unfortunately, true or not, Thoren can only watch in horror as Aelyx gets into a yelling match with one of the women. Lady Vaella is not going to like this one bit. "Nobody asked you, you stubborn, shrewish-"

Bennett manages to sit up, back against a tree as he takes in their surroundings. There's lingering snow on the ground, melting quickly into their clothes and the grass beneath, but the world around them seems to be in the belly of spring. Whatever the cost, at least some were saved. Better some than none at all.

He's able to see Jon Bole staring blankly ahead at the space where the door had been, likely in shock. Heath is coughing badly but is the only one among them standing. Rit, Beryn… that might be Kier? They're all so covered in soot it's hard to say. Lyland made it. But who is the figure among the wolves, weeping to herself?

There had been no women among their group, fearing what they might find beyond the door. Bennett had hoped to have more time, that he could lead the group gathered in the other room of women, children, and elders to safety once they had scouted ahead but it was too late. It was just them.

It hadn't gone right. Something was wrong. Smoke heavy in his burning lungs Bennett dragged himself further and further from the inferno they left behind, not sure who made it out. He manages to turn his head to the side, watching in surprise as three massive direwolves back out of the doorway, someone clinging to their fur.

They're growling at something unknown.

Once the last wolf crosses the boundary, the door slams shut and disappears just as quickly as it had appeared in the crypt back home. Perhaps it hadn't gone wrong, perhaps magic like that fed on blood. On misery and pain.