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Soon enough, Arlen has packed everything Nior deems necessary, and Harin has secured his adventure kit/combat bindle. They are ready for adventure.
first-and-final
"I don't know. It would take so much time to get enough adults," he says. "Ari, why did the goat-man intend to betray you to the evil witch? What's her interest in you?"
sonofsnow
"No fucking idea. I mean, he said that it was any human child he was to bring to her. No specification of tall and adorable ten-year-olds. So maybe we're her... weakness, or something? Human children? If we touch her she will turn to ash and the winter will end? The problem of course being getting close enough to touch a woman who can turn us to stone. And that we don't actually know if that's how it works."
unmarred
"Between 'human children are her only weakness' and 'human children are a source of incredible power', circumstances suggest the first thing," he says. "Can't tell you why. Just a hunch."
sonofsnow
"Absolutely. Kill the witch, turn the seasons, bring back Christmas. Whatever the hell that is. It sounds fun. I want to see a Christmas."
doing-the-right-thing
"I'm in," says Harin, somewhat muffled by the continued Arlenhug. "This lady needs taken down."
first-and-final
"Good. I suggest we gather up all our cave-exploring gear, all hold hands to avoid being separated, and try to walk through Ari's wall. If we can't make it through after an hour or so trying, we go home and tell Mother and then the adults can get involved."
doing-the-right-thing
Harin lets up and holds the requisite hands, bindle strapped to his back. "I was going to let go at some point."
first-and-final
"Check inventory, Nior," says Mir. "You come last, Arlen goes first." He therefore holds hands with Nior and Harin.
first-and-final
"We can start with Ari's goat friend, yeah."
Miraen looks back at their tracks in the snow and decides they've come in far enough to let go of each other without risking anyone wandering back into the cave. He does that.
"Can you find the way to his house, Ari?"
Miraen looks back at their tracks in the snow and decides they've come in far enough to let go of each other without risking anyone wandering back into the cave. He does that.
"Can you find the way to his house, Ari?"
sonofsnow
"He's a faun. And... if his tracks haven't been buried, I can track him, but my sense of direction is shit."
sonofsnow
Arlen starts tracking industriously!
It's snowed over most of the actual tracks themselves, but there's still signs that an experienced hunter can find. Arlen isn't an experienced hunter, but he's well trained. He picks up enough of a trail to work with, for the most part.
It's snowed over most of the actual tracks themselves, but there's still signs that an experienced hunter can find. Arlen isn't an experienced hunter, but he's well trained. He picks up enough of a trail to work with, for the most part.
unmarred
Nior has less direct experience with hunting and tracking, but an exceptionally sharp eye. He helps.
And thus do they eventually find their way to Tumnus's cozy little cave.
It has become markedly less cozy.
The door lies in the snow some distance from the cave entrance, torn from its hinges and then casually flung aside. Signs indicate that a boots-wearing person of about Harin's height strode up to the door, accomplished this feat, dragged the house's struggling occupant bodily away through the snow, and then returned to carve a large stylized snowflake into the door where it lay. It is unclear how the gouges that make up the snowflake came to be filled with glittering ice.
Next to the snowflake, there is a note pinned to the door.
It has become markedly less cozy.
The door lies in the snow some distance from the cave entrance, torn from its hinges and then casually flung aside. Signs indicate that a boots-wearing person of about Harin's height strode up to the door, accomplished this feat, dragged the house's struggling occupant bodily away through the snow, and then returned to carve a large stylized snowflake into the door where it lay. It is unclear how the gouges that make up the snowflake came to be filled with glittering ice.
Next to the snowflake, there is a note pinned to the door.
The former occupant of these premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting trial on a charge of High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands. Appeals and inquiries will be denied.
By the hand of her Majesty's most loyal servant – Eternal Winter