"You really should give him a pat or two,"Vesper said trotting her mare along side him. "They are much more amiable if you give them a little love, and respect,"she joked, chuckling to herself. She reached out and ran her hand along his mounts head, cooing a bit. She gave him a smile when the horse whinnied, before going on ahead. The group took off along the beaten, and familiar path. They knew the way well, and as the got closer to the city their dread grew. They all came to a stop right outside the city, and stared. Smoke bellowed out of ruined towers. Stone walls were destroyed. Whole portions of the once beautiful city were now in shambles. Fires still burned, but there was silence. Not a scream, or a cry could be heard, and maybe it was the distance, but the group had their doubts. Finny frowned, and dismounted his steed, tying it off a ways away. They couldn't bring them into that.<br/><br/>"Who's going with me, and whose going with Merlin,"he asked. Vesper hopped down, leading her mare to stand by Finny's and turned to him."I'll go with Merlin." Finny nodded to her. Merlin patted his mares hind quarters and turned to them.<br/><br/>"I'll get as much as I can, provided my home is still standing. Remember, the spell will last, but don't draw attention to yourselves. If the dragon is in the city still, it might not be able to see you, but hearing you is just as deadly."He cast a look towards the burning city. " Any survivors we see, where should I send them,"he asked. Finny thought it over, before coming to the conclusion that out in the forest was safest.<br/><br/>"Send them into the wood. Just a mile out or so. It's safer in the trees, and provides some cover. Tell them to wait for us to get to them. If we don't come with in a day they're to leave."