"No, you are right. It would be wiser to remain together." Lioriley knew herself well enough to know she might start crying when telling those poor parents they had not found much at all - let alone their children.

She nodded in agreement. "Let us be off, then." Back down the way they came, although Lioriley kept veering off when she thought she spotted something, picking up a piece of clothing caught on a low hanging branch or another mismatched shoe. By the time they made it to the first home, she had most of the items cradled in her arms.