"We need to get you back to the guild, and fast." Iria mumbled to herself as she looked at their surroundings, making sure they weren't followed. Iria saw a wild boar at the edge of the forest scuffling in the grass. She quietly summoned a shadow to retrieve it. She watched as a ghostly Vulnyx drifted over to the boar and possessed it. The boar then blindly stumbled over to Iria where she stood waiting.

"You might have killed some of them but your mission still wasn't exactly successful." Iria countered haughtily. "Anyways, I'll send a shadow to inform the guild of our current position. Until then, we need to patch you guys up." She said as she drained the boar of it's life and watched it slump over and fall. The Vulnyx emerged out of it's host and disappeared. Iria didn't exactly like doing this to innocent beings, but it was a ruthless world and it had to be done.

"Come closer." Iria instructed as she directed a bit of the boars spirit into the little vixen, replenishing her of her health and energy.

Iria knelt down beside the little Ferrikki and used the rest of the boars health to completely regenerate her. "Do you feel better?" Iria asked as she helped her up.

"Gavin du Loch de Hallenbreich"

Gavin responded with a snort at Iria's less than appropriate assessment of the situation. He had never been on an adventure with the ryori mage so had little respect for her normally less than satisfactory view of most returning adventures; though he kept that opinion to himself. Still he agreed with her that returning to the guild quickly was the best course of action. The catacombs that riddled the city's foundations like Swiss cheese were vast, so even if the whole of the merchant's guard were searching they would still be down there now, and likely wouldn't be patrolling the streets until tomorrow at the earliest. It was extremely unlikely that the guard could to muster enough smarts to consider escape through the sewers; a fifteen minute breath hold exercise for land dwellers. So, getting back inside Horologium as quickly as possible reduced their likelihood of getting caught with a saddlebag full of purloined goods. He turned his muzzle to face Vitani when she asked him about which of them should break the news. The vixen had earned a little more of his respect. Her little trick with the counterweight was above and beyond what was expected of her on this trip, and it saved their bacon; no intended pun at the boar's expense. Besides, she was more familiar with Walter and Scheherazade and he didn't want to add the weight of responsibility upon her shoulders to go along with any emotional baggage that sort of personal closeness includes. Vitani was close tomany other members than he, Midnight included. "Nay, lass," he replied to her as they both heard Brute's familiar wings bearing on their position, "Yew'er hare fer sewpport dis time. Ah'll taeke the sackin', ye ken." When he finished,he turned to face there superior, preparing for the inevitable addressing of their contract.

Iria glanced at the Vulnyx, with her head bowed in silent shame. She was supposed to keep an eye on them under his orders. They both agreed that the contractors were suspicious so he told her to watch over them. She sensed the awkwardness in the air as she exchanged a sad glance with Brute. Iria sighed and stationed a couple of shadow beasts around them to watch out for any unwanted visitors.

"Gavin du Loch de Hallenbreich"

As 'Brute' landed and sighed, Gavin made his way out of the water and firmly placed his enormous frame between the party and Fir. He let the big vulnyx have his say in silence. Gavin was next in line of command and the only remaining member of the party who was actually involved as a signatory on the guild contract. In truth he really should be the only one that would be getting the chewing out. So he was thankful that the big cat left it alone for now. The fresh rain was a welcome gift for Gavin, it would soak away much of the filth and contaminants on his body creating all of the stench. He was fair certain that thanks to the wind, Iria and Vitani got a nose full; though by now Vitani had become accustom to the stench. so only the mage would have to endure it for a bit. "Gewd." Gavin finally announced to Brute. "Ah ahppreciate ye lettin' me hast a wee respite afore we hawve ta tear inta each udder a' de briefin'." His tone was equally as subdued as Fir's, now was a good time to rest and mourn a little. Still they needed to get back to the guild barracks. He turned his muscular neck toward the others, then back to Fir. "Ken ye he'p tha lasses boostin' Midna en me back. Ah'll take'er wit' me oop de seafolkway wi' yon booty." He asked.

It was far less likely the other guilds or merchant guard were expecting the goods to return by water into the city, so Gavin hoped to exploit that. After all, the other guilds wouldn't be hearing tales from their dead members on the scene, and if they had been briefed of the kelparie's presence on the team, they were likely planning to sell Gavin into slavery as a bonus sack of gold, not expecting him to come via the free waterways. At the same time, they would have to split away from the team for a fair while and meet back up at the Junction Crossing before going back into the guild.