As the darkness of the cave surrounded them, the two fighters and their hurriedly following companions saw their goal clear enough…

Sitting in something of a throne, surrounded by four long-stemmed torches, a female form could be seen, seemingly undisturbed by the fact that the light where on her end, as she gazed calmly at them, from across a yawning pit…a pit that made a snarl erupt from Minsc, and momentarily transported Negrath a few months…months?…back in time, to the immense struggle with the ferocious beasts that had kidnapped the ranger's previous witch.

Glancing back towards Aerie, at the back of the line, he hoped they wouldn't have to deal with a berserk Minsc in here…the opposition didn't seem too threatening, but then they were also Druids, in a grove controlled by their leader…

Before he could speak, The Kensai were violently shoved aside as a furious Jaheira strode toward the woman on the throne-thing, only stopping, positively fuming, as two of the aids that flanked her opponent held up a hand to warn her off, the two remaining Druids behind them entering the motions of the Spiritual Shield.

-"Tell me that what I'm feeling is incorrect!" the Harper demanded, clenching her staff in her hand, almost squeezing it asunder.

-"If you are referring to the connection between me and the surrounding Grove, then no, it is not." the other Druid smiled calmly.

-"What gives you the right to steal energy from the very nature you are honor-bound to serve?!?" Jaheira spat, bringing her staff down in a violent arch on the hand an aid had reached out to guide her away with, following up with an upward swing that almost lifted the poor man off the ground, letting him fall down in a heap.

-"Stop, mudslingers!" she yelled at the spell-casters who now had begun another and faster casting;

-"Do not annoy me, and you won't have to die."

With a puzzled look at her, Negrath sheathed his blades, and stepped up to put a hand on her shoulder…instantly having solid wood rest against the side of his throat.

Staring levelly at him, the Harper hissed;

-"This is my home, not yours, Bhaalspawn…do not make me tell you to leave!"

Stepping back gently, hands lifted, Negrath retreated to the others at the side of the pit.

Turning back to the casting mages, and evidently recognizing the spell, she whirled on her heel, calling to Aerie;

-"Aerie! Interrupt them!"

Almost immediately came a small number of magic missiles flying in a wide arc around the group, homing in on one of the gesturing Druids, the other halted mid-sentence by an immaterial poison arrow from Viconia.

Stomping her staff into the stone floor, calling forth the sound of straining wood, Jaheira shouted angrily at the two now glaring magic- tossers;

-"Can we now have some consideration of cause and effect before reacting to situations we do not know a thing about!?!?!"

Letting their fisted hands fall to their sides, they simply glared…

-"Good! Now then, Life-stealer..." she continued, turning back to the leader of her opposition…who were just finishing her Lightning Bolt…

Spending a moment in puzzlement, the lone Druid spun around once more, yelling at her friends;

-"DOWN!"

Not the blink of an eye later, an impossibly level bolt flew in through the opening, flashed over the heads of the prone group by the pit,…and scorched an impeding quarterstaff to cinders before digging deeply into the previously raging Harper…