Any sensible peasant would be huddling in his hovel right now. Felix already knew the answer. These were refugees.

“Beasts came,” said the old woman eventually. “Out of the woods. They burned our houses, burned the inn, burned everything, killed most and carried others off.”
“Most likely wanted breakfast,” said Gotrek. The expressions on the faces of the refugees told Felix that they had not needed to know that.
“Beastmen?” Snorri had perked up, as he always did at the prospect of a fight.
“Aye, scores of them,” said the old woman. “Came out of nowhere in the middle of winter. Who would have thought it? Maybe the zealots are right. Maybe the end of the world is coming. They say the pale lords have returned and that Drakenhof Castle is inhabited once more.”
“That’s something you don’t need to worry about anymore,” said Felix, then wished he hadn’t. The hag was looking at him as if he were an idiot, which he supposed he was for saying such a thing. Of course, any Sylvanian peasant would worry about Drakenhof Castle and its inhabitants, no matter what some ragged stranger said.
“You say they burned down the inn?” said Max.
“Aye. Killed the innkeeper and most of the guests.”
“Snorri was looking forward to a bucket of vodka,” said Snorri. “Snorri thinks those beastmen need to be taught a lesson.”
Gotrek nodded agreement. Felix had been afraid of that. The fact that there were less than a dozen unwounded Kislevite horse archers, the two Slayers, and Felix and Max to face what sounded like a mass of beastmen did not daunt either dwarf in the least. The Kislevites, hardened warriors from the march lands where human territories bordered Chaos, had sense enough to be worried, Felix could tell from their expressions.
“Don’t go,” said the old woman. “Ye’ll just get yourselves killed. Best come with us. Stephansdorp is just a couple of days’ walk south of here. It’s less than a day without the snow.”
“If it has not been burned to the ground too,” said Gotrek, somewhat unhelpfully. A couple of the children whimpered. One or two of the men looked as if they were fighting back tears themselves. Felix could not blame them. Doubtless only the thought of sanctuary among their kin in the nearby village had kept them going. Even as Felix watched, one man collapsed onto his knees, letting his pitchfork fall from numbed fingers. He made the sign of Shallya on his breast and bowed his head. Two of the children went over to him and began to tug his sleeves, whispering, “Da-da.”
“Best get going if we’re going to overtake these beastmen,” said Gotrek. Snorri nodded agreement. Wulfgar shook his head.