ELRETH
If Aaryn had been her advisor, she would have discussed it with him. Developed a plan, a strategy, then worked to enact it.
But as it was, she was certain of her course.
She needed to get Marryk and Hannah to the disformed. She needed to hear the entire story—learn everything they were doing and trying to achieve, and why these two thought they could come live here without repercussions. And she needed to do this without any from the Tree City being aware of Hannah's presence in Anima.
Quite apart from the fact that the Anima all knew each other and she was new and strange, her smell was far too strong and far too odd. She would be noticed the moment any Anima stood downwind.
That meant they needed to travel off the trails, and through water as much as possible to try to hide her scent until it faded. And that meant it was going to be a much longer trip back than it had been when she and Aaryn came.