[IC] The Dwarven Ruins

[DM Surranó]

Just as they realize the nature of the creature something covers the light source attached to its side. Torin can still see the mammal at the edge of his darkvision but Portho can barely make out the outlines in the shadowy illumination, even with his gnomish sight.

Finally a small humanoid a bit shorter than Portho himself steps beside the bear, something (probably a shield) in one hand and something (maybe a crossbow) in the other.
"Who goes there? If you come any closer you'll get a crossbow bolt up yer arse!" the creature inquires in high-pitched Common.

As much as Portho can tell in the poor illumination the creature may as well be a teenage gnome but given the body proportions more likely that of the rock and not the forest family.

Private to Torin

with his darkvision Torin can see that it's a rock gnome child wielding a child-sized light crossbow and shield.

At the same time more masculine yells can be heard from behind the half-open gate at the end of this underground road but the words are distorted and muffled by the rock and who knows how many twists and turns beyond the gate.
Before Portho or Torin could react, the young Gnome moves away from the opening towards the two and says,
"Whatever you are, show yourself. Don't force me to call my friends to come kick your ass. If you listen you can hear them coming already! One of them is a mean old Grey Dwarf too! I'm sure you've heard all the bad stuff they like doing to their enemies!"