[Arestevana]

“Estella, Elsa, Sarah. Get the kids and get them to your wagons…now.” Marcho’s voice was closely echoed by Kalimac’s.
“Elsa, get Alora and Crispin and…”
Elsa did not wait for the rest of the command. The first sound of the wolves had shaken her badly. She glanced around, somewhat surprised when she did not immediately see the children. Surely they would have come running when they heard the wolves?
“Elsa….where are Alora and Crispin?” Kalimac asked quietly. Elsa’s heart leapt to her throat. “What?” she asked shakily. “They’re not… not here?” The wolves howled again, and Elsa’s hands started to tremble violently. Where are Alora and Crispin? She ran back to their wagon as quickly as she could, but the children were not anywhere nearby. As shouts echoed around the campsite, it became clear that neither the Whitfoot children nor their assigned supervisors were with the caravan.
Another howl emanated from the woods and Elsa gave a small, frightened sob. What if the wolves found Alora and Crispin before she could? She ran several hysterical circles of the campsite, calling for the children to no avail. Returning to the place where most of the others had gathered, she tried to get a grip on herself. Marcho was organizing a small group of armed adults to go into the forest. Resisting the urge to cry, Elsa hurried back over to the wagon and pulled a broom out from under the seat.
When she returned to the group, she firmly stood up to Kalimac’s protests, and ignored the hints of smiles on several faces. She was not going to allow the wolves to harm her children. I suppose I do look like an idiot; amongst all these folk with their knives and hatchets, what use is a broom? I just wish I weren’t so terrified.