"I don't know-" Bab started, but as a piercing rumble shook the ground she stopped and turned to the left.
"Hey, what's that?" Bab asked.
A purple monster walked out of one of the caves. An ogre. Not a Ogre-type elf like Trivbes were, but a real one. Bab had never seen them before, but she'd heard stories of the Trivbe's very distant relative.
"That-that's not you, is it?" Bab asked the pixie floating near the door. "How-how could that get here otherwise?"
Medieval/Fantasy Roleplay
Wren shook her head, then shifted into a rock nymph.
"Get out to the others, they're waiting for you," she said, turning to face the ogre and getting into a fighting stance, "I'll deal with this." then she launched herself at the ogre.
The Ogre snarled at the newly formed rock nymph as Bab sprinted away, her heart drumming in her chest, running double digits in miles per hour.
She knew that Wren still shouldn't be trusted. There was no evidence. But she couldn't bring herself to run away from the shortest way to the exit - because of a deep but slight hopeless feeling she had felt every time Wren changed her shape and form to fit the situation as perfectly as she could.
She could see the odds. Bab was willing to swing her ax as many times as it took- but would it really help?
So Bab ran, taking the fastest twists and turns and climbs towards the meadow where she had suffered so much last time, her ax forgotten in her clenched fist until she had to squirm through the opening.
She had one last thought as she popped up from the trapdoor, breathless. Would Krystal even agree to help Wren?
Krystal was pacing in the meadow where Bab had left them.
"Where is she?" Krystal wondered aloud, "Henry, where's the armory in there? Should she be taking this long?"
Bab popped out the trapdoor, a word in her mouth.
"Krystal, do we trust some shifter called Wren?" she asked Krystal after locating her waiting in the meadow.
"Did you just say Wren?" Krystal asked, eyes widening, not sure if she had heard right, "How do you know who she is?"
"AH no reason!" Bab said quickly. "But I want to know. Is that someone we trust to help you?" she asked, making sure not to take any looks back and betray herself. She smiled - a thin, encouraging smile that she didn't even believe in. She needed a yes or no answer - and fast.
"Yes or no?" she asked.
Krystal knew Bab was hiding something, but she was also very panicked.
Krystal sighed deeply.
"Yes, I would trust Wren Grey with my life."
Bab's shoulders dropped and she turned her head to the sky with a long sigh of relief.
She wondered if she should go back and help Wren, or whether she should take the others and set off.
"Urgh. Fine. She's battling an ogre in the hallway opposite this one." Bab explained. "She came here insisting for you, Krystal, but she says you're not friends anymore so I had to hear it from you. She seems all-powerful, honestly, but she would probably like help."
Bab twirled her ax around in her hands. "Do you want to help her before we head out?" she asked.
Of course Wren had been following them. Making sure they went where she intended.
Then got into trouble, as per usual.
"Twi'li loka," Krystal grumbled, then said louder, "Yes, let's help her."
"Great!" Bab said - but unenthusiastically. Bab was not looking forward to helping the shapeshifter who had beat her home's safety measures. Someone like that could be very dangerous, she thought. But one thing that she couldn't hate the shifter for was the non-human's sticking dedication. She remembered how many times Wren had insisted to see her (comrade?), Krystal. And the times Bab had refused or lied, she stuck to it. Bab would give her a thumbs up for that.
Bab slipped down the trapdoor, an echoing "follow me!" vibrating throughout the cavern walls. She caught her fingers in the familiar fingerhold, placing herself into a sprint-ready position.