Back at where they had set up camp, Dawn surveyed just how well the group had learned to work together to quickly set up the tents, get some supper going, and get the animals fed.
Everyone was doing something, even Raven had somehow managed to get Miria to let him help her cook. She could not hear what they were talking about but they were laughing together. She was glad that Raven seemed to have such an easy time getting along with people and that he did not have the same difficulties she did when it came to being friendly and making friends.
It was amazing, really. While there were definitely cliques within the group, and she had noticed sometimes some people did not get along, everyone liked Raven. He was just that easy to get along with.
There were not many people who were so naturally likeable, and Dawn could count the people she either currently knew or had known that were like that on one hand. Arrion, of course, had an amazing track record for people liking him. And she was pretty sure, though she had not talked much to her, that Queen Fayre of Carendlus was one of these people as well.
She was pretty sure that some of it with Raven at least was simply that the fact that he was blind and had very little memory made people want to be nice to him. Coupled with his very helpful attitude and the fact that he absolutely refused to wallow in misery from his circumstances it made them grow only good feelings to him.
Even if at some point he acted up a little in a fit of pique, which he had yet to do, Dawn was pretty sure everyone would forgive him it and try their best to comfort him.
She shook her head and went back to getting Zyph settled. He seemed a bit antsy suddenly being in an enclosed space after being out in the open. The lion-bird though did finally settle down, as he tucked his tail around his now curled up body.
Just as she began wondering whether Lowks or Vixen had managed to find water she heard some hushed voices that did not sound familiar. She looked up and her eyebrow raised at the sight of five children with both Lowks and Vixen in tow.
Lowks was carrying a bucket of water and had a slight smile on his face as he looked at the children.
"What is this?" Dawn moved over. As she did so the children moved back, a bit of fear came into their eyes.
"Some children Vixen found." Lowks seemed to be on the verge of laughing, but was restraining himself, "They helped us find water so I promised that we would feed them."
She noticed that the children were all kinda in a daze staring at where Miria and Raven were finishing up the supper. Staring at them, she felt a sense of familiarity as she was reminded of her childhood, though she had not had anyone like these young ones did. "Do you have names? What do you call each other?"
The boy that looked the oldest looked up at her, and then pointed at himself, "I'm Rex," He jabbed his finger at the girl next to him, "This is my sister Lyta, the twins are named Sap and Thorn, lastly this fellow is Jem." He then tilted his head, "You are not going to hurt us, right?"
"Of course not. Why don't you all go wait on them to finish cooking?" Dawn really had no clue on how to treat kids. It might actually be a good thing that she was not a mother, though she was sure Arrion would have been able to help her learn if they had ever been so blessed.
The kids went over to the fire and waited patiently. She could see that they were famished and knew that they had likely not eaten in a while.
Miria served everyone after telling Raven to go sit down. Raven looked rather pleased with himself, despite the fact that he now had a burn on his finger.
As they ate, with a bunch of kids they had somehow picked up, Dawn wondered what they were going to do with these children. She would not feel entirely comfortable just leaving them to fend for themselves and taking them along could have disastrous consequences.
It occurred to Dawn that just the fact that she was concerned about these kids who she knew nothing about was something she would never have dreamed just five years ago. She had changed under Arrion's kindness and solicitude towards her. Just not as quickly as she should have.