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Pulling a loaf of bread from the oven, thunder banged as lightening crashed, nearly drowning out the sound of a fist beating against the wooden door. With slight confusion, the man padded over to his door to open it. "Oh my-" He said as a small group of adventurers piled into his home, not only soaked, but some injured. "Forgive our intrusion, but we are in desprate need of shelter," The leader of the group said as he held up a pale looking man, red seeping through the bandages around his chest. "Of course, here," He helped hold the man up as he guided them deeper into his home, then they lied him down on the plush rug near the fireplace. Once everyone had settled, wet clothes hung above the kitchen water basen, he focused on the hurt individuals. "You are a magic user? and you make magical remidies?" The leader asked, the home owner hummed as he rubbed ointment over the burns a woman had on her arm before wrapping cloth around it. "Magical remidy? this is a topical medicen to aid in healing, it wont magically fix things, i only used magic on that man there," He gestured to the sleeping man who had the chest wound, a small smile on his face. "You ran into the fire salamander that lives in the caves, no dragon scale armor or stone salamnder hide garments, quite foolish," He shook his head as he stood, but then hummed. "You must be hungry, lucky the stew is done and the bread has cooled, just a moment," He dusted his hands off as he went back into his kitchen, then a bird-like whistle was heard by the adventurers. Two children made their way up from the basement, the girl had greenish stains on her hands, and the boy had redish purple stained feet. "Children, be polite, we have guests," The man said from his kitchen, soon returning with a stack of wooden bowls, each had a spoon and a slice of bread.

"Visitors? thats rare," The girl said as she eyed the group, arms crossed over her chest. "Pa, I help you?" The boy asked as he followed his father to the fireplace, not caring that he was now in the center of the strangers. "Astra, could you gather a winter blanket? this fellow has lost a bit of blood, and after being soaked i am afraid he may catch a chill," He asked as he spooned stew from the pot over the fire into the bowl, his son happily taking it and delivering it to the nearest guest. "Yes sir," She said before hurrying into a room, then returning with a blanket as dark as night. "Bear hide, and quite well cut," The woman commented, her hands leangering over the mans body after covering him. "Please, enjoy, i apologize that i dont hae more to offer," He said as he finished filling his own bowl, both children sat at the table while he stay seated by the fire. "Oh this is plenty, thank you for allowing us shelter," He hummed with a smile, his eyes flicking past him to check on the children. "So why were you in the caves? and deep enough to bump into a fire salamander?" he asked, the Dwarvish man huffed as he took a swig of his water skein, but water was not what filled it. "We took on a job, the shell of a fire salamandor egg for a nobal families medicine, the young lady of the family was born with fragile bones, like a small bird," He grunted as he took another swig of the skein, the man covered his mouth to muffle a chuckle, but his daughter giggled loudly. "And what about this is so funny?" The leader asked, his brow furrowed as he frowned. "Apologies for our laughter, it is not caused by the young misses condition," He cleared his throat, then motioned with his hand for his children to fetch something. "This is not the season that the salamandors breed or lay their eggs, you missed it by a full moon cycle, they are far more aggresive now because they are gaurding their spawn, ah, thank you dear," His daughter hander him a small leather pouch, she hummed before returning to her dinner. "This is about three shells worth of powder, a small portion of our stock," He handed it to the Dwarvish man who had his hand held out, and after a quick smell he gave an aproving nod. "We have no money, but once paid we will return to pay you in full, not only for this, and for the healing, but for your warm hospitality,"

The next morning the Adventurers were surprised to find breakfast was made for them, thick slices of bacon, warm porridge with honey, fried eggs, and roasted veggies. "I thought i had seen an Angel, thank you," He paused, unsure of what to call their host. "River Vida, but please, call me River, and my children, Astra, and Elios," Hearing their names being said they lifted their eyes, the boy had bacon hanging from his mouth as the girl seemed displeased. "forgive me if this crosses a line, but where is their Mother?" The woman asked, River paused, spoon hovering over his bowl. "Oh, i have no wife and they have no mother," He said after a moment, an unsure look in his eyes. The adventurers did not speak of it again, unsure of the situation this single father was in. "I wanted to ask, how did you come across the salamandor egg shells? and your knowlge on them is quite detailed," The leader asked as they stood just outside the home, River smiled as he watched his children run into the garden to collect the last of their harvest. "I have spent most of my life in this forest, it is only natural i learn about all that live inside it, including those that dwell in its caves, a moss i use for medicine grows in those caves as well," They accepted his aswer before bidding the family farewell, he waved to them until he could no longer see their backs.