"All right, my little ones, since Sir Emet-Selch is going to guard the rear, I shall go first, but I need my limbs free if I am to be an able protector!" Damned hard it was to actually punch and kick if the littles were going to cling to her as if they were some sort of monkey. They weren't Sidhelien, but it wasn't as if she didn't have a soft heart for the young...

At least the younglings seemed to grasp their courage in both hands, dropping off of Maebhrin and freeing hers for striking, if need be.

Trying to cooperate. For all his sour words and evident displeasure, Mae would give him credit where it was due. "I am grateful for that. You have my thanks." He might not care, but the swordsage's tenets of honor demanded the notice. Just another thing he had to endure.

Though her next trick might prove interesting, as Maebhrin paused, closing her eyes and focusing, executing the Island of Blades stance. As she did so, both she and the children became vague and blurry as shadows surrounded them, though the elf's form darkened the most as a nimbus of shadow energy obscured her form. That should protect the children, and obfuscate her, any opponent finding it far more difficult to strike her now.