George
Tanyth Carven,
Forest of gorangrad

Tanyth smirked, listening to the chuld. She did so remind the mercenary of herself, but then Tanyth had been a very different girl at her age. She felt a nagging suspicion, was that look in the girl's eyes the same? Children were innocent creatures, even if... She had to have a reason. 

Deciding not to pry Tanyth instead focused her attention on Stern, "Well that's hardly fair my large friend. You're almost four times her size, even I would have trouble over powering you and I'm not that much smaller." She chuckled, standing up, she looked down at Mirian and smiled, "Don't worry little one... He won't hurt you, and if he did I'd stomp his handsome green face in." 

Love was a fickle thing, and while she found Stern an attractive mate she had no interest in such things. She had a job to do, people to kill, she couldn't do that with some male following her around like a lost puppy. Especially not stern, he wouldn't be able to handle what she was going to do. Maybe one day she'd go looking for love, but no number of little girls in the snow could convince her to do it now.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Forest of Gorangrad.
She looked over to Tanyth as she spoke, holding her axe at the ready.

**"Can I-? Can I fight him?"**

She says with a rascally smirk as she bobs up and down. She looked to Stern and narrowed her eyes. It might be just a little intimidating, if she wasn't so gosh darn cute. She stuck her tongue out as she waited for Tanyth to give her the go.
*Release the hounnnNND*
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Forest of Gorangrad

As the child prepared herself, Stern entered a simple stance, breathing calmly as he prepared to verify his doubts or to simply discard them.
He was surprised by the strength of the girl. The axe she was wielding wasn't certainly light...

Stern looked at Tanyth, nodding at her to inform her that he would have acted carefully.
As he did so, he realized how familiar that situation felt...
George
Tanyth Carven,
Forest of gorangrad

Tanyth looked between the two, smiling broadly for no conceivable reason. "Try not to hurt him, Mirian." She said with a wink as she sat down by the fire and watched the pair. The Mercenary didn't expect anything out of the ordinary, the two would wrestle around and it'd be understandably adorable.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Forest of Gorangrad.

She stands up and runs towards Stern, holding the axe high above her head as she screams an adorable battle cry. She went to swing the axe, but simply fell sideways as she did.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Forest of Gorangrad

Stern shook his head befor kneeling to see if the child had injured herself. As he assured himself of her well being, he sighed "Truly a great display of valor in combat, little one."
The hunter picked Mirian up by her waist before making her sit onto his shoulder. He held onto her axe as long as she was up there. 
He was about to say something when his eyes suddenly widened. 
A faint smell of blood...
Coming from the axe...
The wooden handle had been washed and yet some dried blood had remained in the small crevice between blade and handle.

The hunter's eyes moved in the little one's direction as he put her down once again. 

"Who died struck by this blade, child."

Stern's voice was now very growly, with the depth of the ocean in it, a primal tone that portrayed the emotions of the hunter.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Forest of gorangrad 

Tanyth laughed happily, watching the girl tumble over into the snow. She'd stood and headed out to congratulate her on her valor. 

Only for Stern to speak lowly, his question hanging on her ears. She strode forward, now tensed and ready as she stepped between the orc and the child. "Children do not kill without at very good reason, violence does not come naturally to a child." She scolded him, holding the child's shoulder while keeping herself between Mirian and Stern.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Forest of Gorangrad.

She pouted as she lied on the ground, her axe gripped tight. She giggled softly as she was picked up and sat on his shoulder, but grasped the air for her axe as he held it. She tensed up as she questioned her and put her down. 

**"N-No-one..."**
She squeaked out as Tanyth stepped forward. She cowered behind her, clearly frightened by Stern's tone.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, Forest of Gorangrad

The hunter eyed Tanyth with a musing look. He groaned, finding himself once again to witness the cruelty of those dark times. He sighed, growling softly.

The child was a murderer... 

"I need you to promise us that you will not try to harm us. I don't want to defend myself from a child.*

Stern looked at Mirian as he gripped tightly onto the weapon. " I cannot protect you if you will try to harm us." The paladin kneeled and held the axe forward. "If you accept to give me your word, I will give you the axe, but if you will lie to me, you will be on your own."

The cold heart of the greenskin was being moved by logic, as he was trying to keep his anger at bay. An anger derived by the way the world he lived in tortured its inhabitants... Even children.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Forest of Gorangrad

Tanyth frowned at Stern, "I will watch her. I do not think she will hurt us." Perhaps the mercenary was too trusting... Perhaps she was being too lenient. 

But she'd wait, wait for Mirian to give the answer. Then she and the child would go back into the cave and have a quiet talk amongst the two of them, finding out the reason she'd killed was important.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Forest of Gorangrad.

She held out her hand towards the axe, then pulled it back. She knew she didn't want to hurt either of them, as they seemed very nice, and could take care of her much better than her parents did.

**"I won't... I won't hurt either of you..."**
She put her hand in the axe.
Joyce
Stern Logarsh, forest of Gorangrad

Tension left the eyes of the hunter, who let the little girl take the axe before patting her head with his gargantuan hand. He had no reason to hold a grudge, as he understood that even if the child would have attacked him, he would have been able to defend himself.
He nodded at her and sighed.
"I want to trust you. Thank you for giving me your word."
The greenskin got back up and stretched, waiting for the child to reunite with Tanyth. 
He caressed his beard as he let logic go silent for some time.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Forest of gorangrad

Tanyth led the girl back into the cave and sat her down by the fire. She didn't blame stern, not in the least, he was doing what he thought would keep them safe. 

After a quiet moment she placed a hand on the child's shoulder, "Do not worry... We all have reasons for killing. Tell me yours child, so that I might understand you better. I've killed more than my share of people, so do not fear judgment or ridicule." Her tone was soft, kind, understanding. It sounded, in simpler terms, motherly. Though pointing such out to her would likely just make the mercenary angry.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Forest of Gorangrad.

She held the axe tight, as she did when she first met the hunters. She rubbed her nose and huffed.

"I- It was self defense."
She murmured as she gazed into the fire.

"These... Nasty highwaymen started to push me around and said awful, awful things about me... And-"
She stopped, shaking her head.

"Anyways, they weren't aware of the axe, and as they turned to grab rope from their saddlebags, I attacked."
She explained as her gaze stayed locked on the fire. Of course we ooc know this is a lie, but she told it so well and with such conviction that it would be hard to tell.