Well it seems like it didn't take Verin too long to run all the way from the forest back to Magnolia, so I don't see how we could drag it out too much. I agree that a sort of middle approach should be fine. A quick trip so they can talk a bit (let us get an idea about how our characters feel about each other) and then they find the wyvern before long and they fight it. So basically maybe anywhere from 2-3 posts from each person involved before we find the wyvern.

If we really get into with them talking, then we can drag it out more if we feel like it, but otherwise we can get to the wyvern fairly quickly. At least that's how I feel.