While we wait for the filly to wake I remember that we needed to clean off the, grime; from the 'town'. So I ask my guardians, "considering me and Alberich need to clean up after that enjoyable encounter. Is there a stream nearby for us to wash this muck off us?" Alberich then recalls running through the town and looks down at his legs then his flank, and shudders over the crud caked onto him. Cheshire responds, "yes a short ways away from here there is one. I suggest cleaning off Alberich first or you will need to wash yourself twice, seeing as you'll have to help him get clean." I nod and we head towards the stream.

The stream was thankfully deep enough to allow the water up to Alberich's knees, after setting my pack on the edge of the water I dig out a bar of soap. While some of the women in the group preferred the perfumed soaps of the old world I use a simple lye soap. It gets me clean and if I need to sneak up on something it doesn't add any extra smells that might tell my target I am approaching.

Alberich looks sheepish, "sorry you have to wash me Gwen. It's not like I have hands to do it myself, when we need something like a bath we generally have to ask someone with hands." I nod my head, "of course you do. I am not complaining about it, sometimes you'll need to be cleaned up and with this kind of muck just swimming isn't good enough. Gods know what was in that mud." Alberich shudders at the thought, as I start wetting his back down.  Checking the wounds from the arrows a the same time.

Thirty minutes later we were both clean and back in the clearing waiting on the filly to wake up still.  I had bandaged the worst of Alberich's wounds.  I try to grasp the mindset of the idiot 'Father' in an attempt at understanding, but I draw a blank. "I don't understand how those people simply let her get tortured, hells I don't get how people get caught up in these cults." Cheshire looks at me, "well I imagine they were afraid to speak out. As people join groups like this in times like these to have some kind of safety even if they do not agree with the principles of the society. These are the weakest willed of human kind, most species have people who fall into such 'traps'. To no fault of their own really, though it does not excuse them from guilt. It would be best if none of them join our group as it may cause issues later." I nod while thinking that over. It might cause problems if someone weak willed enough to be swayed into letting their leader torture someone without at least attempting to say something about it joined us. As what if someone down the line joined the city and created an underground cult that we couldn't pin down. Something we'll have to remember for later.

"Alberich, why was a two year old by herself?" Before he could answer me the filly did, "because.  I am on my journeyman trip, I exceeded the teachings my parents could give me so I did as any of my kind would do and left home to learn in the world. Yes I am a tad bit young, but I had to keep learning somehow." The filly slowly stands and shakes herself, then looks at Alberich and makes an equine bow. "Thank you Elder for coming to my rescue, I owe you a debt." She says, and Alberich shakes his head. "First, I am no Elder. I am only a mere century old, and the Hunter is who cut you free. I only delivered justice to the one who wronged you." Alberich stated stamping one of his forelegs.

The filly turns to me then, "sorry Hunter my apologies. I owe you both then, though I do not know how I would repay you as without my horn I am useless as a healer." I tilt my head in thought a moment, "everyone can be of 'use' child. As to your abilities, are healing magics the only magics that unicorns learn?" Alberich gives me a quick questioning look but doesn't ask me the question. The filly responds, "oh no! We learn fighting magic, but unicorns generally only use their healing skills. I can detect illnesses and ailments even without my horn."

Alberich figures out where I am going with my statements then, "well you can practice your fighting magics then and I am sure the Hunter will have other things for you to aid in the city we are going to be founding. What is your name by the way so we can stop calling you child."

The filly's head turned slightly pink as if she got embarrassed for forgetting manners. "Sorry, my name is Cassie. I guess I could work on the fighting magics, I would probably be the only magic unicorn who uses them as it's not common." I smile at Cassie knowing that any upset she may feel for losing her horn will be helped by feeling useful. "Cassie should we attempt to contact your parents so they know what has happened to you?" The filly looks sad and lowers her head and Alberich shuffles his hooves, she speaks quietly. "No, they will declare me dead now that I am hornless." My jaw drops in shock at the idea that parents would do that to their child and look to Alberich who then speaks. "Yeah, this is one of the reasons I do not like the magical unicorns. If one of my kind looses their horn it's no big deal as we are still US, but because they prefer healing to fighting. Any who lose healing powers are considering no longer 'one of them', however." He steps closer to Cassie and lifts her head with his then looks her in the eye. "I claim responsibility for you, until I decide you can defend yourself properly; you will remain with us.You are useful, and you will learn some regular fighting skills to help you. Everyone can benefit from some fighting training." Cassie nods with a sigh, and I add to Alberich's statements. "Also if we get any magic born humans you could help to train them, see you are valuable. Now we probably should return to the 'town', are alright going back there?"

Cassie nods her head again, "the people themselves are harmless. They are also very ill, most have dysentery." I was not surprised, Cassie probably went to the town due to the illness present. Then the people there harmed her, I can hardly wait to get past this group.

We walk back to the town and waited outside the sad gate. Jake walks over to us with Peter trailing behind him and Shadow behind the young man not looking happy. Which with Shadow is never a good thing. Jake reaches us and bows to Cassie, "greetings and I am glad you are better. I am sorry for what these fools did you." Cassie shakes her head, "no need to bow to me. I am still a child you know." Jake straightens up and reaches back to pull Peter forward and barks out. "Tell them, NOW." The unicorns, Cheshire and I turn to look at the young man who was trying to shrink into himself. He speaks in a halting fashion, "Sir. Um. Unicorn, I um. Have those. Numbers. You wanted. The Father, 'purified'". The young man seems to feel recharged after invoking Father Innocent's title. "six gryphons, two rather short people, and some strange horse with wings and the head of a bird."

Alberich takes a step forward trembling again with Cheshire right next to him and I step in front of both of them. Peter had shrunk back when they stepped forward putting his hands up, I grab one of his hands and almost shout at him. "You think that was a good thing? Every one of them was a life that, that fool extinguished. You know the problem the Old World had? Too many people thought they were better than others, that they could and should make the world right in their image. This world belongs to every creature, and to kill something intelligent. Just because it is different, is the actual aberration not the intelligence these species have." I shove his hand back at him and he stumbles into the mud.

I turn to Alberich and Cheshire, "what are the burial rites we need to observe. Provided there are remains?" I look over to Jake and Shadow who nod slowly in unison. Cheshire switches to his eagle's head and lets out a high pitched shriek, and Alberich answers my question. "The dwarves remains need to be left in the woods and Defeck will retrieve them tonight. As for the Gryphons, we bundle their remains up so when we reach their group they can spread them in the ocean. The hippogryph, we will bury. They, they're extremely rare. To find they had killed one.." He trains off and lowers his head as does Cassie.

I turn to Jake, "you heard. Also point out to those townspeople that we want the feathers as well, no trophies left behind. I want the hippogryph buried just inside the woods near where you leave the dwarves' remains. Clearly marked, I am sure the dwarves plan to put up a memorial to the poor being." Jake nods and goes back into the town and Shadow comes forward with something in his hands. Alberich sees it and nudges Cassie, "Gwen please place her horn in your bag. I am sure Gilorndir will appreciate it's usefulness." Cassie nods slowly in agreement, "if that is a healer's name then by all means. Especially if you trust them, it is true unicorn's horn; a magical one. Will cure poison, but making a cup out of it is silly as it's not the right size to. All that is needed is to grind a tiny amount into any liquid to make a cure all for poisons." I take the horn from Shadow and wrap it in a piece of leather and tuck it into my pack.

Peter who while rooted to the spot he has been standing in  was shaking in fear, I turn to him and say. "So what have you decided to do with yourself Peter? However I recommend Shadow and Cheshire take you to bathe before you answer me." Peter goes white at the thought of being alone with both Cheshire and Shadow. I reassure him, "they won't harm you. Though if you don't clean thoroughly I am sure Shadow will scrub you down himself." Shadow nods his head and crosses his arms waiting, as Cheshire was still shrieking. Alberich explains, "he is crying for their souls. Normally the whole group will do so when one dies, but as no one is here to do it. Cheshire is going to perform this for them."

Another ten minutes of shrieking, with Peter looking uncomfortable. Cheshire quiets down lowers his head and shakes his whole body. During this shaking his color changes to black and his head shifts back to a cat's head. "Until we return them to the sea I will keep this color." He then turns and leads Peter and Shadow into the woods.