#rivervale_lodge

Somewhere, Childlings are being kept 'safe'.

"This" Brogan glowers "Sucks."

"I know, right?" Jack says

"I was hoping for more play, less stay" Layne admits, saining seems to have made her more aware of her abilities but she's mostly a bundle of sunshine. Even she , however, is dimmed by this.

"Then we should escape? no?" Lily says from the shadows. They did not know she was there, in fact, neither did the adults. She must have snuck in.

They look to their leader, the mighty Squire Connor

Connor's nose twitches - he may have known Lily was there, perhaps. She is sneaky, but the Nose Knows!

The Shadowpaw Leader paces a bit, rubbing at a beardless chin.

"Clearly this was a mistake... or an oversight. We can't protect our people here."

"Darn straight we can't" Brogan nods

"Heck, we were the ones who helped save the Farm Mountain" Jack says "Lane and you specially, Connor"

"Yeah!" Hands on hips! "So we'd better get to work."

"I'll portal passage" Jack moves to the wall

"When did you learn that??" Connor blinks. "Golly. I still am working on my silverpaws."

Making a mental note to bother Gerd about this later...

Jack grins "Spring's my best, but wayfare will help me get outdoors faster"

Lily frowns "You had portal passage and didn't escape?"

"Shadowhooves are a TEAM" Jack says loftily

Connor pouts, just a bit.

Layne hugs Connor "Your silverpaws will be great."

"Also, I just recently learned it" the boy mutters

Connor brightens up. "That means you can teach the rest of us! No one can trap the Shadowpaw!

"SURE!" The satyr beams

"ahem.. we were trying to escape?" the sluagh reminds

"RIght" Jack gets back to work, pulling out some chalk and singing "You know my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true..."

It takes a bit...

"uhm... is your portal passage uhm.. fritzing?" Lane asks

"It takes time" The boy huffs

and yes, the passage opens

They can go outside

Only, Edwelwiess is there! Her white face giving a canine look one might give foolish sheep trying to get into a ravine

"Talk to her, Connor, you speak her language, yes?" Lily asks

Connor considers, then, gestures for Shadowpaw to huddle. "We need a Distraction. Any volunteers for a Suicide by Belly Floof mission?"

"She won't eat me" Lily whispers "I taste terrible"

Connor beams. "Such bravery! You are a Matyr! Make like you're a tree, and trying to leaf?"

Meanwhile, Connor points to another wall, and gestures to Jack, scribble scribble motion...

Finger to lips!

Jack moves that way, while Lily slips over to block Eddie "I smell like stale socks and melancholy"

Connor follows Jack, whispering, "Jailbreak! Sec-ret Tunnel! Sec-ret Tunnel!"

They all get out, save Lily, who will probably slip out the other way

Though for a moment it seems like Lane will panic in the small door

Connor pats her reassuringly and holds out his arms to pause anyone following too close behind her, he waits to go out last!

And out she goes with help

The kids find themselves on another wall side. They don't have long before the fuzz (Err fuzzy dog) realizes she's been had

Connor counts how many kids he has, then whispers to Jack, "Time to follow the Buddy System. What do you think - Shadowhoof together, or a hoof in every group?"

"Hoof in every group" he says "We need hooves. Besides, you might need a faster runner"

"Lane with me, then, and you and Brogie, and, um..." He looks around. "We're running low on kids. But Lily can find us when she sneaks free..."

More kids! He nods. So many wilders... it's a shame.

And off they go, two by two... like Noah's Bark

"Get on my back, Connor. I think Eddie smells us outside. we may have to run" Lane says

"You're sure? I'm an expert Cowpoke, but it's rude to poke people without asking."

"Sorry, Edie..." He says, as he digs into a pocket and breaks up a dog biscuit he has there, and tosses it out over the paths not being taken. "Muddle, muddle, puppy fuddle. Follow the snacks, and not the trouble!" Distracting scents in the wrong directions!

Eddie goes off, in the wrong direction sure she has their scent