That commander wandered over, her brow arched. "You've gained more friends." She looked down at the children. "Why are they all kids?"

"I guess the front isn't much safer for them." Daisy folded her arms across her chest. "They didn't fight, just clung to me like frightened children." She let out a slow breath. "They were partially responsible for that first volley, but what do you do when you're just a kid and the adults tell you to do something? Say no and die?"

The woman shook her head. "No. I wouldn't listen to them, but most would, because they had to if they want to grow up. As it is, they're going to be under your care." She spread one hand over them. "I have enough grown people I'm responsible for. What do you plan on doing with them?"

"Keeping them safe until I can return them home. And yes, they are my responsibility. I won't leave them alone, and I won't let others harm them." She felt one get in close and wrapped an arm around the small boy to keep them close. "I won't let that get in the way of what you need me to do. Just give me a few more minutes before we move out."

"You've got until tomorrow." The commander gave Daisy a serious look. "We're going to have a meeting to see if we're still going to fight or go home."

Daisy started at that. "We haven't gotten there yet, we're thinking about going home?"

The commander leaned in with a laugh. "We've routed their forces, twice. As gestures go, we've made it. They'll concede to our demands, likely. And our brass doesn't want to finance a full siege if it can be avoided. We may not even need to fight any more battles. We'll see."

Daisy blinked, relaxing a little. "That's a bit of good news." She leaned in. "Why didn't we talk this over first?"

She turned away. "I'm sure some of them tried." She was off towards other soldiers, the conversation completed by her view.

Daisy rubbed between her ears. She had a number of children to care for. They were all looking at her with adoring gazes. "Let's see, what do you need?" She could see they had already gathered around Cedric and Selena, eating quietly. That boy remained close to her. "You alright? Most of the others are either eating or resting."

He sniffled and wiped his eyes. "My sister is missing." He looked up at Daisy. "Can you help find her?"

She sighed softly. "I wish I could." She lifted a hand to ruffle his hair gently. "Where did you last see her?"

He gestured into the darkness. "We ran from the same direction, but we got separated."

Daisy frowned as he pointed towards where the enemy army had set up. "Oh dear." She moved to rise, only to feel his grip on her arm. "I won't fight them, promise." She leaned in to kiss the boy between the eyes. "Just talk to them. Tell me what she looks like."

His voice quavered, but he did manage a full description of what she looked like.

Daisy smiled at him. "Thank you, my brave little warrior." She picked up her shield and hammer. She holstered the hammer and shook herself out. "Selena, Cedric, making a run to ask them a question. Hopefully they'll abide that. If not, I'll be running right back here, really either way. Keep the kids safe while I'm gone."

Selena nodded at this. The boy was crying. Daisy set her teeth. "Hopefully I'll be back with news of your sister." She ruffled his head, quieting him. "Be brave for us a little longer." He fell in with the other children.

Daisy walked towards where the Lioral army had made camp. She wasn't hiding her approach, but she also wasn't threatening. She had her hammer slung on her back, and kept her hands in easy view. At a soft jog, she came straight towards them. She could see them reacting to her presence. A perimeter was formed and weapons were drawn.

"I'm not here for a fight," she called out. "I just want to ask you all a question. Please." She held her hands up. "Not even about this little spat we have going on. It's about a lost kid." She kept coming closer until she realized that some archers might take a shot. "Please, I am not here for trouble."

Several of those on the front line lowered their weapons, but only slightly. She forced the best smile she could, the one she saved for when a camera was pointed at her. "Have you seen this girl?" She gave the description as best she could remember it. "Her brother is with us, looking for her. I want to bring him and her back together."

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One of those standing in the front lowered his weapon. "Yeah, yeah." He waved towards someone behind them, then walked out to meet Daisy. She dared to relax a little as he came up. "Thank you. Seriously, not here to fight anyone tonight. It's late, we're all tired. I'm just trying to find a scared child that doesn't know how she got in all this mess."

He nodded. "Yeah, she's scared. I'll bring her out." He gestured to one of his fellows.

Daisy reached to take his hand in a little shake. "It's nice we can get a little niceness done in this mess." She could see the girl in question, being led by another soldier, walking with her.

"Jessup!" she cried out.

Was that his name? She waved for the girl to come closer. "Is that your brother? He's over there." She pointed back at the camp she came from. "We have a few kids like you. Not sure how those grown-ups got you all involved." She was relieved that the reunion had happened as simply as it had.

The girl ran past Daisy into the encampment, looking for her sibling. Daisy laughed awkwardly. "I better catch up with her. You all sleep well tonight. I'm sure we'll have enough chaos tomorrow. I just wanted to help those kids."

He nodded. "You're the mouse."

She turned around, blinking at him. She couldn't tell who he was behind that helmet. "I'm 'the' mouse now?"

He chuckled and shrugged. "We heard of you. You're the one who crushed our commander, then spared his life. It was an interesting way to say hello. The mouse."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "An awkward title, but I haven't seen many other mice here in the battle, so I guess it makes sense enough." She waved a hand towards him. "We're good? I'll be going."

"Good night, Daisy," he responded.

"I never said that was my name." She turned and started running back. She rejoined her ranks and sank down at her fire, the children all the happier with the two having been reunited. They seemed to have many questions for the new girl. Daisy smiled at the sight of them all together.

Selena had made sure to move over and hug Daisy. "You know," she whispered, "they still want something from you."

"What?" Daisy looked back towards the enemy lines, then to where the children were eating. "They seem a lot happier now that everyone has been reunited."

"They do," Cedric agreed. "But we don't know how long this is going to last. And we need to keep our strength up." He smiled warmly as he leaned back against Selena.

Selena hugged Cedric with one arm, then pointed to one of them, an otter boy. "He said he wanted to talk to you specific, but he's too afraid you'll be busy."

Daisy looked at him, then back at Selena. "Well, I'm not some unapproachable god, sheesh." She pat her thighs. "Come here, um." She focused on the boy, his stats popping open. "Daniel. That's a nice name."

He approached with hesitant steps, looking up at Daisy. He was still holding a bit of bread, but he seemed unsure what to do with it. "They said you're a mom."

Daisy blinked. "I am. Why?"

He rubbed behind his head softly. "My mom used to feed me."

She frowned, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You mean she would feed you, or she—oh, right." She looked over at Cedric and Selena. Both waved her down, assuring her they were alright. She coughed gently. "You are not a baby." She focused, but their age wasn't listed with all the other stats.

They had a surprising number of skills. "Aren't you a clever one." She drew the otter boy up into her lap. "But if this is what you want, well, um." She looked around, as if someone could rescue her from the situation. No such rescue came. "Oh, alright."

Daisy pulled her top off and hugged the otter boy to her chest. She brought down her clothes just enough to provide some cover, not that anyone seemed to care, but it made her feel more comfortable with the whole affair. She wasn't sure where to begin, but he seemed happy enough to figure it out. She let out a soft breath as he began. A mild thing, but acting as a mother was a little delight. "Drink up."

Selena walked forward. "Ma'am, several of them want the same."

Daisy groaned softly. "Give in with one, and the rest don't want to be left out. I bet most of them already finished their dinners, too." She smiled gently. "I'm a big girl. Bring them all in." She took a deep breath as they were all brought in around her, each hugging and cuddling to her as she held them all in turn.

One by one, she mothered them and promised it'd be alright. Perhaps it was that, just a moment of closeness and genuine care. Perhaps the children were trying to manipulate her to get food, which was a good idea in a war zone, if that was the case. But she did not mind so much. It felt good to feel like she was being useful to people who really needed it, even for a little while.

When it was all done, she helped tuck them into bed and sank down to get some sleep herself. She curled her tail around her waist and grabbed Cedric in as her hugging target of the evening. "Let's get some sleep."