-----Whisper directed the girl and the dwarf away from the road striding across the flat plains but keeping the road in sight. Shortly, they could see that the road lead through a large marsh area. This they followed and met no trouble although some of the insects buzzing close to the open pools of water were annoying.
-----Finally as the road lead out of the swamp, they could see the road ran across another flat plain and just beyond were the walls of a town!
-----"Black Bog," the dwarf confirmed with a hesitant tone to his voice.
-----Whisper nodded, his eyes roving over the walls.
-----What he needed now was a decent place to place a concealed camp.
-----The Wood Elf turned to his two new companions, and nodded back towards the North before moving past them to lead the way back to the woods.
-----"Where are . . ," Jules starts to ask quietly but Whisper is already striding back along the road through the swamp. Crane merely frowns and nods after the wood elf. They then begin to follow him back.
-----Quickly they pass through the swamp and veer off the road to follow it along the most unsecure part of their route. Once again they trekked across an open field where off to the west the buildings of a village were seen. Overhead the clouds seem to hang and the motionless air was slowly getting closer.
-----They mainly kept their eyes on the village as nothing else seemed to be threatening in the mostly featureless land to the north and east of their position. Even as they finally reached the trees of the forest, none of the trio had detected any movement or sign of life in the village.
-----Inside the woods, Whisper immediately leaves the road and moves deeper into the woods in a northern direction. Soon they come upon a small clearing where off to one side trees have fallen probably due to the storm that rage through the area two nights ago. Whisper nods at the fallen trees satisfied with the deadfall that he sees.
-----For the rest of the morning, he sets about, with the help of Crane and Jules, gathering deadfall and foliage to further disguise a makeshift 'shelter'. The dwarf merely grumbles with the work while at various times the girl sits down on a nearby stump and refuses to work. During these times she searches through her backpack as if looking for something.
-----After a couple of hours, Whisper commences work on a deep firepit and drags some logs around it for seating and again to further conceal the fire’s glow. He then ushers his two companions off to start gathering firewood. By this time Crane simply heads off while the girl begins to complain. Whisper quickly hushes her indicating he is still working.
-----As the two head off, it would now be close to the noon hour. Suddenly across the clearing, Whisper hears movement in the brush; something heavy! Freezing in position, he turns and sees three wild boars stroll into the clearing.
-----Instinctively, Whisper called on his heritage as a Wood Elf. His hands went out to the sides, fingers spread, and he lowered himself closer to the ground. He reached out with his feelings, hesitant and almost unsure about the little used empathy his people had with the creatures of the woods.
-----The wild boars take a few steps further and sniff the air. For a moment, they face the wood elf and it is obvious they are aware of his presence. Grunting, they then turn and leave the clearing heading back among the trees.
-----Whisper slowly straightened. Within him, the often suppressed voice of the youth he had once been was at once exultant and strangely serene.
-----He sighed, and then shook himself. The voice within faded, and he resumed his work.
-----Whisper finishes up just as Crane and Jules return. Crane grunts as he deposits his bundle of firewood on the ground.
-----"Surely we're not out here to gather firewood all day long," Jules says as she throws down the two slender branches she carries. She then commences to brush her cloak with her hands.
-----Quickly Whisper sets about building as close to a smokeless fire as he can. After he has it started, he bids them to sit, and indicates for them to ask their questions or talk as would be their wont.
-----Crane immediately perks up and with his face showing great interest, he sets himself down. Jules is a bit more standoffish as she sits on another log with her arms folded.
-----"What really brings you to Ravenhold?" Crane asks, his eyes intently focused on the wood elf. "I know you said you were hunting, but dammit, armies are going to war here!"
-----Whisper considered his answer. With a faint grimace, he reached for the herbal milk concoction that made speech somewhat easier. He took a swallow, swishing the by now half-bitter liquid around his mouth, while he hefted the skin to judge the remaining portions, before returning it to its place.
-----After he let the drink seep down his throat, the Wood Elf lowered the scarf and settled it about his neck and shoulders.
-----"Some years... ago... a warband... raided into... the woods of... my people." He paused, his cold blue eyes narrowing as he stared into the flames of the fire. "A whole... generation... of younglings... was slain... for sport." His eyes swept up to fix on the dwarf. "I hunt... to exact... punishment, dwarf."