Storm and his army spent the remainder of the day in Twin Rivers.
Overseeing the exodus of the human survivors as well as tending to their wounded.
Fortunately for Storm's forces, casualties on their side was light.
A few of Wolf's gnolls, a handful of elves and dwarves.
And a single one of Razor's griffins, a young member of the flock that had yet to even start a family and had just barely reached adulthood.
Storm attended the ceremony and praised every fallen warrior's bravery and selflessness.
Afterwards, the Griffins buried them all in several pits they had dug beforehand before building burial molds over their bodies.
A druid placed a seed inside a small pit dug into every burial mold and used their magic to speed the growth of the tree.
By the end of the spell, several fresh 50 foot tall apple trees had grown over every mould.
Storm watched as the villagers gathered what few belongings they could carry with sad faces.
His forces managed to salvage two wagons from the village and passed them over into their care in order to transport the old, the wounded and the children.
The druids compelled wild horses to pull the wagons, before giving their handlers careful instructions.
The horses were aiding them of their own will, and would help them until they reached the closest city.
At which point the horses would return to the wild.
They were told to never mistreat the animals with blows or harsh words or they will be abandoned by the horses in the wilds.
By midday, the evacuation was completed and the humans were underway.
Leaving Storm to decide what to do with their latest acquisition.
He was currently gathered around a large table with a map staked to it with a dagger in his draconic humanoid form.
Grombrim, Augustus, Kalipso, and one of the Druidic leaders by the name of Ursun, who was leading the druids in the Gran's stead was gathered around the table.
The Kitsune Ciela was standing a short distance away with her bodyguard Igor standing at attention close behind her.
Wolf and the Rakasha twins were leaning up against the wall in opposite corners of the room with their arms crossed.
Even little Fulgur was present in his true form and were floating through the air.
Razor and Dust'an were unable to fit inside the small building, but had forced their heads though open windows in order to take part.
"We should put this place to the torch.
Let nature reclaim this land." Suggested Kalipso.
"That would be a waste!
This place occupies an important choke point into our territory
Occupying it would give us warning if the Hunters attacked us!" Said Augustus.
"We've tried this once before!
And look what happened!
The hunters claimed it and used it against us!" Retorted Kalipso.
"I'm in agreement with Augustus on this one!!
We worked hard to take this place!
It would be a waste to destroy it now!" Said Grombrim.
"The dwarf speaks sense!" Said Wolf.
"Do I need to remind you that 'you're' the reason the hunters claimed this place!!" Said Raja.
Wolf growled in response and bared his teeth.
"That's harsh, Raja!
We were the ones who ordered him to pull back!!
The fault wasn't his!" Said Razor.
"Pehaps if he'd spent more time training his warriors to fight like true men!
Instead of skulking in the shadows like a frightened mongrel pup!!
They wouldn't have needed to retreat in the first place!!" Exclaimed Raja.
"ENOUGH!!!" Yelled Storm as he slammed his palms down on the table.
Stopping the argument, before his two beast-kin commanders could come to blows.
"What we do with this place can be decided later!!
Right now we should be focusing on continuing our march!
What is the condition of our forces?!" Asked Storm.
"We are mostly done tending to the wounded and should be ready to continue by first light tomorrow. " said Razor.
"Morale is high among our forces!" Explained Paja.
"Our warriors have tasted blood!
And are eager to feast on more!" Exclaimed Wolf.
"Good, Kalipso! I want you to send out a few of your fay ahead and scout out the path as well as any potential obstacles. " said Storm.
He looked up at the druid Ursun.
He was a brute of a man with a sun tanned, muscular body, with long black hair and a thick beard.
He wore no clothing at all except for a simple leather loincloth.
Draped over his head, shoulders and back, was the pelt of a large black bear that was almost as big as he was.
Storm had seen the man fight in battle.
He took the form of a huge black bear that was almost as large as his Beastkin commander, Wolf.
That was already at an impressive 7 feet in height.
"Will you send some of your brethren with her scouts in animal form to scout out the Stronghold for us?"
Ursun grunted and nodded his head.
"Razor! Please send out 2 messengers.
One to the Kitsune that are marching on the Stronghold.
And another back to the hideout... for Aurora. "
Razor nodded her head.
"Will she be joining us for the final battle?" Asked Grombrim.
"I'm not happy about it...
...But yes, she will." Replied Storm.
He and Aurora had argued heavily about it the night before he marched out.
She wanted to join the battle from the very beginning.
He wanted her to stay at the hideout and care for their unhatched egg.
They finally settled on a compromise.
Storm would lead the initial attack, and Aurora would join him for the final one.
Leaving the egg in the Gran's care while she was gone.
"You know you don't 'have' to inform her, you know?
You could just march on without telling her?" Suggested Grombrim.
The Kitsune, Ciela burst out laughing.
"I take it that you are not married, dwarf?"
"The prospect hasn't interested me, no?" Said Grombrim.
"That much is clear.
Because if you were, then you would know that keeping secrets from your partner isn't the best way to maintain a healthy relationship.
He might keep her safe, sure.
But he will return home to a cold nest, and an even colder mistress!" Chuckled Ciela.
The Rakasha twins nodded their heads in agreement.
"I believe we've said all that needed to be said!
We should prepare to move out tomorrow.
Dismissed!" Said Storm.
As the others prepared to leave, Dust'an pulled back his neck but suddenly received a pained expression.
Causing everyone to halt what they were doing.
"What's wrong, dear?" Asked Razor with concern.
"I'm....
.... Stuck" said Dust'an hesitantly.
Everyone stared at the embarrassed dragon before they burst out laughing.
Causing him to snarl and heave his body in an attempt to break loose.
Unfortunately all his efforts managed to do was to break the window frame free of the wall.
Leaving a large hole in it's place, With Dust'an's head still framed.
Augustus just sighed, and pulled out a parchment and added another item on the list that needed repairs.