Rowan shifted her weight as the pair waited patiently for Strix to return. Hiding and standing in one place were things that made her uncomfortable. You'd think that after a year of being a mercenary she would have grown accustomed to such things. A lot of the jobs required of her had been to watch and wait. Her muscles felt coiled so tightly in the suspenseful atmosphere she couldn't help but roll her shoulders and suppress a sigh. The crumbling ruins cast menacing shadows that could hide anything, even something as large as Mo'o. His green scales blended into the various lichen that was the only living thing clinging to the shattered buildings. It was a difficult terrain to navigate as small pieces of rubble would crunch under a boot.

After a short time, Rowan and Lyra advanced despite the lack of Strix. From what she could see of the tightness in Lyra's shoulders Rowan was certain she was displeased with his continued absence. Trying to move as quietly as possible the two of them reached a small meadow surrounding a house. She pressed her back against a large half toppled pillar and peered out at the scene before them. There were the children and Alex! He seemed to be talking to an oddly dressed elderly woman who clearly lived here amongst the ruins. Their discussion seemed heated, though she still couldn't make out what it was they were saying. Alex gestured to the children that lay still on the moss covered floor and Rowan felt her heart drop. If that many of them were dead, there would be little good news to bring back to the village. 

Suddenly a child cried out in fear and Lyra was moving around her pillar across from Rowans. There was no point in cowering in the shadows anymore so Rowan unsheathed her longsword and charged forward. Mo'o spread his wings, beating them against the air to distract the grandmotherly figure. Two well-armored adults and two dragons should be able to take out one old woman easily, although Alex should have been able to incapacitate her himself.

"Let these children go!" shouted Rowan. She easily slid into the half moon stance and started running to the old woman when she realized that the noise of Mo'o's wings had faded. A large green claw came up and swiped her sword right out from her hands. It took a second for her to realize what had happened and in that time the large dragon separated her and the old woman.

"What in Angela's tits is going on here?!" Rowan demanded. This time more to Mo'o than to anyone else. The large dragon chuffed and looked her in the eye before she sighed and reached into his mind.

She isn't the one we are looking for Rowan, I think what is happening here is a misunderstanding. Listen, the children in the corner still draw breath. 
Rowan looked at the children on the floor closely before watching their chests rise and fall. 

"Lyra! Hold!" was all she got out. She knew that the other woman was less likely to stop after she was on the hunt. Not to mention they would be paid after solving the disappearances.