Sanderson was by the base of the vine, and he instantly determined that his flames would take too long to affect the monstrous plant. Herding what civilians he could, he began moving towards the docks, but in doing so he was separated, as a large piece of pavement dropped from the sky, having been launched into the air with the sudden growth. It crushed a vegetable wagon, but not the child beside it.
The child, alone now, it caregiver not to be seen, was unmoving, looking up. It only began screaming when Sanderson picked it up and began carrying it. Sanderson was going to save this small one, at least. Working his way through the rubble, he stayed off of the main road. Would this alley lead to the docks? he was heading in the right direction. The child was screaming, but it was not clear if it was at Sanderson or the cataclysm about it.
If only he could get to the water: Sanderson thought he might need to swim, to avoid some of the chaos on the streets. He'd keep the child in any case until he found someone to care for it.
[suggested checks? survival? acrobatics? swimming/con with disadvantage?]