Tell Mira to buck up, then depart - you have a wolf to hunt!

You reach across the table and clasp Mira's shoulder firmly. "I know it's hard, but don't fret, Mira. You've suffered a terrible shock - but you've still got your whole life ahead of you." You stand, brushing yourself off. "And it won't be cut short by any damn wolf, either. I'm going to find this thing and kill it. When that's done, I'll be sure to bring you its head as proof that you're safe. But there's no time like the present, so if you'll excuse me..."

Mira stands as well. "Oh, do you have to g-go so soon? I thought..."

You shake your head. "Thank you for the water. But I really should be going. Listen, if you're scared? Stay inside. No wolf is going to bother trying to get through a closed door to go after you, even if it were to return - which I doubt." You offer your hand, and clasp hers firmly when she offers hers. "Be well, Mira. With any luck, I'll return soon with the beast's head!"

"All the luck in the world go with you, Gavilard," she says softly. With a final nod, you depart.

You stride briskly down the edge of the field where Mira said that the attack took place. It's right up against the Shadewood itself, and the massive, gnarled oaks form an intermittent wall to your left that gives way, in the spaces between, to surprisingly dark passages into the woods. Clearly this wood has been little touched by logging...at least in this area. You shiver. Creepy place, it looks like.

You know immediately when you come to the spot where the attack occurred - as Mira said, the earth there is still torn up and disturbed, with several of the young plants trampled. There's blood on the ground as well, though not much; most has soaked into the dark, loamy soil. Squatting at the edge of the disturbance, you look over it critically{if Cunning < 14} and scratch your head{endif}. {if Cunning < 14}The truth of the matter is that you don't really know what you're doing when it comes to tracking a beast through the woods, and though you can tell that there was a struggle here and some sort of large animal...you're not entirely sure what to make of it.{else}Yes, you can make out the tracks of what you'd guess is the wolf - and it's a large one indeed. Finding one almost fully intact pawprint in the wet earth, you spread your hand out and place it over the print - they're nearly the same size, and if anything your hand might be a little smaller! You frown and try to map out the sequence of events. The wolf came charging out of the forest at the boy...the boy tried to fight back...but the wolf won, or at least was stronger...and then, yes! It dragged him away. That's why those plants are flattened, and there's a long scrape in the ground here. Your pulse quickens. The wolf's trail isn't quite clear, but it's visible...and it leads into the woods!{endif}

{if Cunning < 14}Straightening up, you stare into the darkening woods. There's nothing for it...you'll just have to head into the woods and see what you can find!{endif}