2. Reconnecting paths

No I'm not afraid. she make sure to spell each word slowly: I-can-sneak! And get away if anything.
she cross her arms on her chest and in relaxed tongue continue
I run away from the rust brother, didn't I?
And no I don't want to lead. Never did.
And yes I am afraid!Afraid some of you will be tricked.
The she look at Brenda Do you mind get left alone? If this is a trick, they may be trying to split us and to loners.

Nindia seems

"I don't mind either way."

"You have a point... the Rust Brothers were after you and you are now with us. That's fair proof to me. Go. I will probably only slow you down. We will hide behind this big tree and wait for your return here. Make on sparrow if you will want us to join you immediately."

I don't know if it's a good idea, but probably - if I keep silent for too long start talking aloud and be ready for anything. See you soon
and off she goes

Nindia
Nindia silently sneaks toward the source of the cries. The path grows even more treacherous, the roots twisting like serpents ready to trip you. The air feels cold here, and the whispering of the trees grows louder, almost as if they were trying to drown out the cries.

After what felt like an eternity, you emerged into a small clearing, bathed in the dim, ghostly light of the luminescent mushrooms that clung to the bases of the ancient trees. In the center of the clearing, huddled against a moss-covered rock, was a young elven girl.

She couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old, her slight frame trembling as she sobbed quietly, her eyes wide with fear. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent, giving her an otherworldly appearance in the dim light. Her hair, a cascade of silvery-white, fell around her like a shroud, and her wide, tear-filled eyes shone with fear. She wore a simple dress that had once been fine but was now torn and stained, her small frame trembling as she clutched a tattered doll to her chest.

Nindia watch. She still think it's a trickery. Try to remember what she know about elves. Elf - child ?! It can't be real!
Nindia makes a round around the clearing looking for creatures that would ambush those who approach the child.

Nindia
The Elven kin were immortal beings, their flesh and lifeblood restored by the rubies said to reside in their hearts. But what about their children? Nindia had always wondered. How were they born? Surely even the immortal must have been young once.

Nindia had never encountered an elven child before, and she wasn’t sure how their immortality worked at such a tender age. Could this be a simple girl lost in the woods? The thought of it tugged at her heart. She knew that no one was nearby - she had been meticulous in her scouting - so this couldn't be a trap, right?

Nindia returs to the party to share her strange findings. Cipd indeed. But not just a cild. Elf girl. It can still be a trick.
Nindia is not sure she want responsibility over elf child even if it is not a trick. She will let companions decide if they want to influence elf's destiny.

"A child? In those woods? I know well enough what it may mean for her... Still it could be a trick... as you said Nindia. But I must go and try to help her... maybe I will save her a year of life and her parents from enormous grief. Show me the exact direction!"

If Nindia explained the direction to Faramos he departs immediately not turning back if anyone is fallowing him. He walks carefully, but is more focused on noticing any signs of strangeness or danger than stealth. [rolling for that]

If he manage to get to the clearing he says with calm voice towards the child, still standing at clearing border line, without any indication that he wants to make another step - to not scare the child:
"Hey... I'm Faramos... what happened to you?"

Yes Nindia explain that you are to find a "small clearing, bathed in the dim, ghostly light of the luminescent mushrooms that clung to the bases of the ancient trees". And provide direction as required while following him and suggesting Brenda follow to.

Nindia even whisper to Brenda :
The child (especially elf) might actually provide an insight on this environment. I know nothing of their culture, for example we may be interrupting some ritual/test or educational process of the new elf. But if she is simply lost (like a human could be) - we might earn elf favor by helping her.

Faramos was the first to approach, his heart heavy with the sight of the frightened child. Brenda and Nindia just a little behind him.

The forest seemed to breathe around them, the whispers growing louder, almost frantic, as if the trees themselves sensed something was wrong. But it wasn’t the trees or lurking creatures that betrayed them —it was the girl.

As they stepped closer, the air seemed to thicken, growing colder with each passing moment. Faramos paused, a chill running down his spine as he looked down at the girl. Without warning, her once delicate face began to twist, the soft, innocent features warping into something grotesque and nightmarish. Her bright blue eyes darkened, the light in them fading until they became hollow, black voids that stared back at him with malevolent hunger.



"By the gods…" Brenda gasped, stepping back in horror as the transformation completed.

Before Faramos could react, the girl let out a scream - a sound unlike anything they had ever heard. It was a wail of pure anguish and rage, a cry that pierced the very fabric of reality. Her mouth stretched into a wide, gaping maw, revealing rows of sharp, needle-like teeth. The air around them grew icy cold, as if all warmth had been sucked from the world. The scream burrowed into their minds, freezing their souls, filling them with a primal terror that clawed at their hearts.

Faramos stumbled back, his heart racing as he realized the truth. The girl was not alive—she was a ghost, a restless spirit bound to the cursed woods. The ghost’s twisted grin widened, her ethereal form flickering in and out of existence as she stared at them with hollow eyes.

Terrified by fear attack Nindia turn around and run.

Faramos somehow felt that he know this presence and feeling of enormous dread from somewhere... somewhere in the past. He realized that his semiconscious comparing the 'girl's' situation to what happened to him earlier caused his entire party to be in mortal danger. He felt fear... but also anger, on himself.

Seeing that Nindia managed to already get some distance from the ghost Faramos shouted:
"Brenda, run! I'm right behind you!" - and almost pushed the terrified girl before him.

"She won't be paying for my mistake!" - the strong resolution burned through core of his being.

Brenda staggered back and, with Faramos help, fled the clearing.

Nindia’s eyes widened in horror and, terrified, she left as well.

Faramos tries to get some distance away from the ghost, but stumbles and falls down.

Either way, the girl—no, the ghost—stops wailing after that, her form shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Then, without warning, she turned and bolted, her ethereal form gliding unnaturally fast towards the northeast, deeper into the heart of the dark forest.

Seeing ghost gone Nindia runs back to Faramos and try to shake it up Faramos. Wake up you obstinate dwarf! You won't die! she cries with tears in her ayes.

Brenda, we will need fire and something hot to drink.