"I'm sure, I can do this," Winter insisted, nodding. In a show of maturity, the pixie looked thoughtful for a long moment before saying something somewhat sensible.

"I will leave a note for Phouka, so he knows where we have gone, then I'll get changed into something more suited to traveling in the forest. ... We should see if Philip will come. He can scout ahead for us. He's small but brave, the best sort of scout."