Who else could they be? Why would birds bring shapeshifters, trying to trick them? So the child thinks, hopes, wants to believe in, as everything is a mess around them, and all they have is this hope.

(They have to be reasonable, think through fear and worry, after all. That's the sali way.)

Their expression shows confusion however, briefly, but it also shows the same apprehension and fear that's been on its hairless brow line since seeing the girl. But, if they heard about the trouble...

"Did the Forevers call you? Shala is stern, but they're very powerful. They'll get rid of the storm."

You should speak to them, the child is about to suggest, but then realises - are they young too? And if they're out here looking for people, people like them, then they're being stronger than they are.

The sali sniffles, then turns to the beam over its leg. Not a very big one, but there's more rubble on either side pressing it down out of the sali's reach.

"I want to help too," they say anyway, regardless of their position; a fervent whisper. "I can help get the livestock."