How strange it was.

That the party of three did find a soul like them.

Aehwyn watched as the other three laughed up ahead. They didn't know what they were laughing about, but something about this group intrigued them. Watching Solace, Euele and Leiken interact caused a hitch in Aehwyn's chest, long tail slowly swaying, pale eyes gleaming at the mere thought of eating up their interactions and picking their personalities apart. There was always something, something so interesting about the way groups interacted. And these three were no exception, they were the rule. And now that Aehwyn was among them, they could watch as they reacted and acted. 

Euele and Leiken were chattering away, not a clue between them of what lay ahead at their camp. "How's Que been holding up?" She asked, glancing over at Leiken's golden hound. The beast had liked the pale and opal courser, and that usually earned them trust, it had this time.

"Surprisingly, she's doing rather well. I think she's actually doing better down here than on the surface." Leiken's voice was like honeyed birch, soft and sweet and crisp with wind rustling through its leaves. The pale pink courser tipped his head to one side, watching as Que trotted forwards, chasing Euele's pygmy drake in a playful game of tag.

A smile touched Euele's face, brightening it to a silvery glow. "You too. Aside from the last few... incidents, you have more colour to your skin. You're brighter, more talkative. I remember first meeting you." She shook her head. "You were quiet, only really speaking up to help navigate or talk to Que. Now you actually start conversations." She beamed proudly. "I'm proud of you. And I'm sorry your family kept you from coming down here sooner." 

Aehwyn's attention shifted to Leiken. The Azimuth's failed heir. It wasn't uncommon for larger families to have multiple heirs, and for more than one to fail. It seemed that Leiken was one of them. With no interest in maps, it was a wonder that the Azimuth head let the name stay pinned to the youth. If not for the fact they knew better, Aehwyn may have already attempted to ask about that whole situation, especially early on in the groups journey. Alas, it had been far better to wait, Aehwyn already having discovered that it was the Azimuth name paying them to stay down here.

How curious.

It wouldn't take long now for Aehwyn's little scheme to come into play, their ears pricking towards sounds coming from the camp up ahead. "Do any of you hear that?" Their voice was like warm silver, pooling and pouring over the ground to envelope anyone nearby in a deliciously comforting shell of soothing words. Solace's eyes shot towards them, the warm brown unnaturally sharp against their hide as they felt the doubt pointed their way. 

Ah yes. The one problem in this group.

Solace.

Xey were far, far too suspicious. Which was why Aehwyn had hired the small group of bandits in the first place. Earning Solace's trust would be important if they were to be able to linger awhile in this group's strange presence.

"Bandits? Again!?" Leiken heaved a sigh and shook himself, before calling Que to his side. Evidently he didn't want her running ahead and causing trouble. It was a wise choice, Aehwyn had not picked those bandits because they were kind.

Solace scowled. "Sounds like it. It's hard to find a place the bandits can't get to these days." Xey let out a snort, xir smoky voice wafting through the caverns even as xey fell quiet. "Come along then, we have some bandits to go kick out of camp." Xey withdrew xir poleaxe from its leathers and burst into a fast trot.

Euele quickly followed suite, letting out an angry huff as she readied her staff and quickly caught up to her companion, even outpacing him with her far lengthier strides. "This is obscene. I swear if it's Jonas again, I'll- HEY! Get out of our stuff!" She cut herself off as she rounded the bend, her voice like an icy winter wind, a far different sound than when she was just speaking to her friends. "Drop whatever you're currently holding, and maybe we won't beat your asses quite as badly." Her tone was terse as she addressed the thugs rifling through her things.

Aehwyn glided swiftly after them, turning the bend and staring at the thugs with a thoroughly convincing look of disgust. "I cannot believe you would stoop so low. The dungeon offers plenty to any who ask, and yet you choose to pilfer from those who have already made the effort?" They shook their head, curled forelock tumbling into their eyes as they moved. Euele grunted in agreement, already prepping a spell, seeing as the bandits simply hadn't stopped stealing since the party's appearance. 

"Look, you seem like a rather successful bunch, so you'll be able to make up for your... losses." One of the bandits finally spoke, glowering at the group with a sort of high and mighty expression that nearly broke Leiken's patience.

"I'm assuming then that talk will not make you leave?" Euele asked, she sounded so disappointed, almost knocking the bandit speaker off balance. She raised her staff. "I suppose we shall be driving you away with your tails between your legs." Her ears flicked, pinning back as she lifted her head and looked the bandit straight in the eye. As far as coursers went, she was highly intimidating, taller than most and capable of raining down hell with her motherly wrath.

One bandit laughed, dropping and then purposefully stepping on the book he'd been holding. "Fine then, try us." He snarled, jerking a long knife free of its sheath.

Leiken's eyes glinted with a haunting light, the tip of his wand sparking with magic. "So be it." A ball of fire exploded from the wand, hitting one of the bandits hard.
When the smoke cleared, all hell broke loose.