More than a little relieved to not be killing the dark-skinned creature, the ditzy rockshaper went to her task with a will. As the rock opened, the elves could hear whimpers echoing around inside.
"Imberglow, the torches," Duskwhisper said, striding over to the huddled, quivering mass of the female troll. "Now speak, green-skin," she demanded of Dubgunk.
Sniveling and wiping her nose, the troll tried to regain her composure. "It's in the storeholds of Ripplespit the Mighty. The whitecold is hard on us trolls too, ya know. When I came upon a cave filled with edibles, I did what came naturally."
"Gorged yourself first, then took the rest to your leader?" Echo spat.
"Survival of the fittest, elf. Survival of the fittest."
"Fine," the chieftess intereceded. "You will take us to this... Ripplespit after I've checked over my friend here."
Gingerly, she went to Imberglow and Jrean, who still held Darkskyfire's limp body. She placed one hand on his brow and one on his chest. 'Just a concussion,' she thought with relief, and quickly healed him.
"Wait a minute!" Skygem suddenly said to Dubgunk. "You said, 'us trolls'! You mean there are more of you?"
"Of course there are more," Starfall said quietly, fighting back memories. "They always travel and live in large groups."
"Not always," Echo retorted. "I've heard tales of lone trolls. Isn't that right, wart-nose?" She prodded Dubgunk with the butt of her spear. The troll grumbled in reply.
"What?!"
The unexpected cry ricocheted off the walls and caused everyone to look at the source--a fuming Darkskyfire.
"You heard what I said," Duskwhisper said cooly to the raging elf. "We're going into the troll tunnels to get our food back."
"And voluntarily walk into a hive of them?!" Darkskyfire growled. "Have you gone dead between the ears?!"
"'Sky," Crystal pleaded softly. She was completely ignored.
"Look, 'Skyfire," Echo growled. "If you want to go out there," she pointed toward the cave entrance with the stolen pickax, "and starve and freeze to death, then go ahead! We're taking our only route to survival!"
"You're as bad as that creature!" Darkskyfire snarled in return. "You're crazy! All of you!"
"That may be," Echo retorted, "but we'll be warm, fed and crazy! That's more than I can say for you!"
"I don't believe this! You're siding with the troll!" With that, the former Gemshaper whirled around and stormed out of the cave.
"'Sky!" Crystal ran after her Recognized a few steps.
"Let him go, kit." Summerstream said. "He's a suvivor. He'll be all right."
"Now that that's settled," Duskwhisper sighed, a not of sarcasm in her voice, "let's go down."
"I'd love to oblige you," Dubgunk smirked, "but I need my pickax to re-open the tunnel." The elves could just see the scheming in her eyes as she said this.
"No, you don't!" Tarn grinned. "We have a rockshaper with us, remeber?"
The troll's smile dropped off her face like so many worn leathers. "Right," she grumbled.
"Now then," Echo said. "Smokeweaver, let me use your hair tie."
"What for?" the storyteller asked, obediently loosened the long strip and handing it over to the Wolfrider.
"Simple. We can't let this one's hands be free." Echo bound Dubgunk's wrists behind her back.
Crystal, if you would," Duskwhisper said. The young elf turned away from the mouth of the cave and placed her hand on the ground. Letting her magic flow, she re-opened the hole leading to the troll tunnels.
"Make it big enough for Quicksnap," Echo said. "He's coming too."
Crystal did as she was bid, and the elves gathered behind the troll. Echo on her wolf-friend, her spearpoint just touching between the troll's shoulder blades, was first.
"Now, dubgunk," the chieftess of the Finders said with an amused smile, "take us to Ripplespit the Mighty. No tricks, now!"