-----So, a bit later, the wagons start moving again. The group was held up as there were a few older people needing to ride in one of the wagons and now a small group, numbering about twenty and mostly comprised of younger women, walk behind the caravan.
-----“Keep it at a walking pace,” Garrison says to Dilton as the warrior retakes the reins.
-----“Aye,” Dilton croaks back, but his voice sounds a bit downhearted from the turn of events.
-----The woodsman then rides off a ways to scout the best path for the wagons to cross the plains. All the while the moon slowly continues to climb the sky. It is well after the midnight hour when it reaches the top of the sky. The hill lies right ahead of the wagon and Garrison comes riding back to Sol.
-----“There is a road on the hill that we took when we came west before,” he says to the Gorian. “It might be best to lead the wagon on it as I can see exposed rocks on the incline.”
-----Just then a gasp of excitement comes from Lovan who sits on his horse staring into the sky behind them. There a dark line of clouds moves closer and looks to cover the sky.
-----“Fear not!” he suddenly exclaims, “the Great Rager will see us to victory!”
-----"Less o' course ye end up giving away our position, Lovan." Sol replies darkly, glaring at the Storm Priest before casting a similar glance at the moon's presence. Quickly enough, the warrior's attention returns to Garrison and he relies with little hesitation, "Lead us along th' road then. Stay a little further ahead though, t'keep an eye further along th' road."
-----Once the refugees are on the road, Sol goes back to keeping a more active patrol, constantly circuiting the group, but always staying in sight. Since they are staying on the path for a while, he pays extra attention to the road behind whilst Garrison does the same for the front.
-----Garrison likewise glances skyward at the moon and the approaching clouds. He then looks at Lovan and, in the shadows, it is difficult to tell if he frowns at the Storm Priest. The woodsman shakes his head and continues to lead the wagon toward the dirt road.
-----Very quickly they gain it and move up the incline. The horses pull the caravan strongly and firmly up the hill. By the time, they make the summit, the adventurers notice that the moonlight has darkened. Garrison looks up to see the clouds start to cover the moon. Shrugging, he begins down the other side of the hill muttering that it could be a blessing or a curse.
-----Luckily, all of the people they escort remain very calm. Those who are walking remain silent, though vigilant of their surroundings. A few smile as Sol continues to ride past. Many of the younger ones in the wagon seem to be sleeping.
-----By the time the caravan reaches the bottom of the hill, the moon is completely covered. Its light, however, continues to brighten the eastern sky as the slow advancing clouds move toward the horizon. Garrison seems pleased as their eyes seem to adjust to the continual dimness of light and nothing had been sighted moving in the country from the hillside.
-----It is over the next two or three hours that the wagons pass the large swampland to the south and fields of briars and bushes to the north. Just to the northeast less than another mile stands another hill.
-----Garrison rides back to the wagon and reports, “Our village lies atop that hill, though I see no signs of anyone.” Smiling in the dark, he says, “I would imagine there are guards there as Sol and Raven trained them. Should I ride on ahead and alert them?”
-----Sol frowns in consideration, though not for long. He gives the huntsman a short nod and replies, "Do so, but be careful. If there's any problem, give a yell or come riding back here." Now that the group had managed to make it this far, it was even more tense being this close to their destination.
-----Garrison returns the nod and says, “Do not worry, my friend. You have led us this far and we have lost none of those we have tried to help.” The woodsman then rides off toward the dark hill. Soon his shadowy form is lost in the dark of the night.
-----As the clouds continue to advance overhead, Lovan becomes more lighthearted. He dismounts from his horse and begins walking alongside the wagons. He catches the attention of those within the wagon and even though the wagons are not locked, many of the people press their faces against the bars to follow his movement.