-----Now Whisper headed south across a great plain heading ever steadily toward the trail road that must lead on to the Town of Black Bog. Here, the ground was soft but strong enough to not impede the wood elf’s progress. Carrying his makeshift weapons, Whisper trotted easily through the grassy field. Oddly enough, a dim lighting was seen in the eastern sky and although sunrise was still a few hours away, the dawn would be early on this summer morn.
-----Within moments, Whisper gained the road and just a few more moments later came across where the two roads joined to head even further to the southeast. In the darkness, Whisper could see that the lands further south were broken by dark hills and occasional clumps of woods. From the joining trails, the main road first led east just to the north of a barren plain. After a mile the road then turned more southeasterly across another grassy plain.
-----After nearly an hour of moving alongside the trail road in the darkness, the road led into a marshland. Whisper found he had to stay more on the road as pools of water and low full ditches surrounded the roadway. Still, the road remained on flat ground as he transversed the marsh.
-----After traveling nearly a half mile into the swamp, Whisper paused. Here, the road split with a smaller path leading off to his right. Looking up, Whisper could see the buildings of a small settlement among the marshland. The buildings were dark but it looked to be a small human thorp.
-----Whisper cocked his head to the side as he considered this thorp.
-----He had some time to spare, so he ghosted forward to investigate this desolate seeming place. And there was always the chance that some of those who had fled, had fled here.
-----Whisper took the smaller path and edged closer to the buildings. The air here felt humid and balmy. Soon he came close to the first of the human houses. They resembled small cabins on the ‘outskirts’ of this small thorp. The cabins seemed to be built up on their foundations, perhaps to escape rising water in this small marsh.
-----Whisper then began to circle around these outer homes. Of the cabins, there were ten although two of them had been burned down. These cabins formed an uneven circle around the small business/shop buildings of which there were five. The whole small settlement probably took up no more space than one hundred yards across.
-----All of the buildings, of course, appeared to be empty from Whisper’s vantage point. Of the small business shops, Whisper could just make out the signs that hung above their doors. A larger coop house and fenced-in area would have belonged to a poulterer. Another shop had a picture of rolled bundles of cloth. Above another door hung a weathered section of fur. One sign that caught Whisper’s eye was one that featured arrows. A final small shop, which seemed to be one of stone and finely built, featured three golden rings on its door sign.
-----Whisper moved towards the stone-wrought shop. He doubted that something like a goldsmith would set up shop in so remote a location, so he assumed that it was either an inn, or perhaps a small temple.
-----He would check the remainder of the buildings after this one.
-----Whisper moved forward and it became apparent to him that there was hardly any noise; none of insect or night creature. Here it seemed like the vacant and neglected community was holding its breath as if anticipating some interruption. If there were many trees here, Whisper wondered what they might reveal, if anything.
-----Just as Whisper approaches just a few feet away from the door, he hears from within a slight shuffling sound, only lasting a mere moment. Glancing at the closed shutters over the windows, it looks dark inside.
-----Whisper ceased moving in mid step.
-----All of a sudden the situation screamed ambush to him. Or trap.
-----He let his right hand move slowly and deliberately for his scabbarded shortsword, even as his left came up to the makeshift carrying strap for the spears - making ready to dump the extra burden and draw his blade as soon as a threat revealed itself.
-----Aside from that, he moved not another muscle then was necessary, even lowering his breathing, so that he could strain his hearing to catch any further sound.
-----A slight creaking is heard from within the darkened interior as if something leathery is being strained. Again the sound only lasts for a moment and then stillness once more. A feeling of unease seems to hold to the humid warm air as if Whisper and something unseen hold each other in some kind of check. For a few moments, the wood elf waits, but no other sign of motion inside is detected.
-----Whisper slowly bent his knees, gradually shifting into a half-crouch, his hands remaining poised. To his ears, the rustle of his leathers seemed too loud in the oppressive silence of this village.
-----He also firmly suppressed his imagination, which was trying to run rampant in the tension. Whisper almost smiled then. Though he could still be startled, fear no longer really held a place in his heart and mind.