In the morning, Susan woke up tangled in Elunara's arms, Grogek's massive arms wrapped around the both of them. It took her a moment, to realize, that what was wrong, was how comfortable it felt.
"We have another loud thinker over here." Elunara grumbled.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to wake you."
"No, it's fine. We need to get going."
Grogek untangled from them and wandered off to relieve himself.
"Mommy?"
"I'm up here, baby."
Elunara adjusted the cart and got Lulu fed and tucked in her basket.
"Your child is always so quiet." Susan just watched the little girl play with her small toys.
"Yeah, it's weird. Darguni was quiet too. Every other kid I've had to deal with is a total pain. I think it has to do with the whole... "Goddess" thing. My children are endlessly soothed by my presence. When I'm away from them, whoever is trying to deal with them at the time, reports behavior I never get to see." She sighed and helped Susan get in the cart. "Which is bad and good, because I often miss big moments, like first steps."
"I'm sorry."
"Its fine, I've gotten used to it."
"It's still sad."
"DADDY!" Tina clung to Grogek's leg.
He scooped her up and sat her on his shoulder. "Hello, Tiny Tina. Are you ready to travel?"
"Yes!"
"If we get going, we can make it to the gate in half a day. Nothing to worry about on this leg." Elunara pulled out her board. "After we come out of this tunnel, we'll be in Loch Modan."
They came out of the tunnel and someone shot at them. Elunara stood up and anchored her feet. "We're ALLIES YOU MORON!" She yelled. She continued to stand, and baffled the dwarven mountaineers. "Looks like I'll have to stay up here, if we want them to not shoot at Grogek."
"Won't you get tired?"
"Not in the least."
"Elunara has an endless well of stamina. She'll be fine. Love, what are those?"
"Kobolds. Don't worry, they're cowards, and if they chase us... as that one is trying to do... it'll give up quickly." She watched as the Rylak's dropped down and snagged spiders. "Do you two ever get full?"
"We slept off yesterday's meal."
"Good thing spiders never end. You'll have to tell me if the spiders in the next zone are spicy."
"What?"
"You'll see." She grinned. "Don't fill your bellies just yet. By half day, we'll be at the gates, and just past that, the spiders are massive."
"Is she talking to us?" Susan blinked.
"She can talk to those flying beasts of hers. They understand her, and she understands them."
"Amazing."
"Hey, stop here." She patted Grogek's shoulder. "I need to get some supplies. Susan, stand up."
"What?"
"Stand up and lean against Grogek, you'll make him less threatening." She plucked Tina up and tucked her onto Grogek's other shoulder. "There, you help protect him too."
"No one will hurt my daddy!"
"Good girl." Elunara jogged into Thelsamar, and returned with several bags. "I got extra, just in case."
Susan sat down. "Come on Tina, sit back down."
"No!" She clung to Grogek's head. "I want to stay here!"
"I can't direct the cart with you up there, little one."
"But!"
"No. And that's final." He plucked her off and tucked her in Susan's lap. "Sit with your mother."
Tina sulked. "Not fair."
Elunara resumed her standing position. "I'll stay like this until the gate. Just follow the road, and we'll get there."
"What are THOSE deformed things?" Grogek blinked.
"Troggs. Nasty little bastards. I'm on it." She leapt down and took off. Once again, she snagged the cart as it passed. "We're coming up on the Valley of Kings. Cool monoliths. We can have a look at them before we hit the gate, you can actually see the gate just past it." Elunara pointed. "There's the gate. Stop the horses a minute."
Following her instructions, Grogek turned and looked back. "Those are interesting."
"Dwarven Kings. I don't remember my history on them." She shook her head. "This might be the only time the three of you get to see it."
"Amazing." Susan put a hand to her mouth.
"Alright, let's go, we have time to make. I want to hit Thorium Point by nightfall."
Grogek started the horses again.
"Alright, Stonewright Pass is... open?" Elunara blinked. "Oh. Good, I don't have to deal with Pebblebitty. Guarding the gate all these years has made her completely whacko." They sped past Pebblebitty who began to scream at them. Elunara flopped down. "We head into neutral territory. This is the longest tunnel to deal with, at least until we head into the mountain."
They broke free of the tunnel and the Rylaks dove on to the spiders on the road.
"Don't get too full, there's a LOT of spiders on our way. Just take out the ones that look to be a problem."
"Alright." Sasha sighed. "These are pathetic, all crunch, no meat." Tasha complained.
"Turn here." Elunara pointed.
"It's getting dark, fast." Grogek commented.
"It does here. It's even worse in Steppes, because it never gets very light in the first place."
"You've spent a lot of time out here, haven't you?" Susan looked around.
"I've done odd jobs."
One of the Rylaks dove on the giant orange spider. "Tasty!" Sasha cried. "Useful." Tasha remarked. "I think I can spit again." To demonstrate, she spat and a fireball singed the ground.
"Keep that one handy, we may need it later."
"I will get my spit back as well." Argy dove on a nearby spider.
"Heads up, we've got Dark Irons."
"I thought Dark Irons were allies." Grogek snorted.
"Only some of them. These think Searing Gorge belongs to them."
"Am I needed?"
"I'll clear the path." Elunara jumped down and disappeared.
SaTa and Argy spat at the Golems, shattering them.