Cait's Story

A few minutes later, you and Garth are standing around the cat-girl, Cait, as she holds a snow-dampened cloth to the bloodied back of her head. She still seems half-dazed, but after a few repeated questions, she finally recovers enough to speak:

"They came out of nowhere. A bunch of men in hoods jumped our wagon, just outside the gates. I didn't even have time to grab my staff before they were on us, grabbing and hitting."

"Us? Who else was with you?" Garth asks, putting a reassuring paw on the girl's shoulder.

The cat-girl hugs her arms around herself and casts a glance out the tavern's door, towards the howling blizzard raging outside. "My sister. We were coming up north to meet our dad, and got caught in the blizzard. We thought we were finally safe when we saw the village on the horizon..." She shivers violently, tears streaking her dirty cheeks. "One of them hit me with his club. When I woke up, Calla — my sister — was gone. They took her."

A ragged sob escapes her lips, and you and Garth exchange a concerned look. Orcs and wolf-folk having it out in the hills you could understand; monster attacks, too. But this is the first you've heard of brigands attacking people on the road around here, especially in this weather.

"I have to go find her," Cait sniffles, looking up at you with wide eyes. "I have to... Calla's still out there. I've got to help her."

Garth sighs wearily, hand tightening on the head of his cane. "You can't go back out there all by yourself, lass. You're hurt enough already. I'd go with you, but my leg..."

"I have to," Cait echoes, forcing herself onto her feet and rubbing at her cheeks. "I can't leave her... but I need help. Please."

She's looking at you, ****, yet determined despite her injuries.