-----From his seated position, the Dread Pirate gapes at the bizarre monster looming over him, he then scrambles to his feet and says, "I'll be damned, it's a mutant gopher." He then whips his cutlass about in an intricate maneuver, hoping to impress the gopher and instill Dread with confidence. He then attacks the creature.
-----Gimplefwick races directly toward the creature and, in a move that seems quicker than it should be, darts his cutlass around making it sing through the air. The creature momentarily seems surprised as it tries to follow the sound making its head bob this way and that. Suddenly the Dread Pirate plants his sword up to the hilt in the monster's shoulder.
-----The creature screams and its teeth snap on the empty air. Just as quickly the Dread Pirate pulls his sword out and backs away from the creature.
-----A swoop from the left comes from Runik's warhammer as the dwarf misses the monster but serves to distract it.
-----Seeing another opening, Gimplefwick charges back in ripping his weapon across one of the flapping claws. By now, the monster appears to be oozing blackish blood from its shoulder wound.
-----Suddenly a gray beam shines across from Seth. It strikes the mutated animal causing it to whimper in confusion and pain. In the next moment, the monster appears to be greatly weakened and begins to back and submerge into its hole in the ground.
-----The Dread Pirate, in a maniacal fit, attempts to solidly plant his cutlass in the creature's back.
-----Seth breathes a sigh of relief and again grips the reigns of his horse and begins to make his way towards safety.
-----The Dread Pirate raises his blade but before he can plant the blade in the monster, the creature vanishes inside its hole.
-----"What ye say, Cap'n, we be headin' outta 'ere while that thing's feelin' a bit punch drunk?" Runik chimes in as he moves back toward Joren.
-----Seth, by this time, continues moving down the row toward the open plains beyond.
-----The Dread Pirate looks moodily at the hole, then shrugs and begins running after Seth, saying, "I'm not likin leavin an enemy behind us, but maybe yer right in this instance. I won't miss that thing much."
-----Between the two steeds and the magically enhanced halfling pirate racing through the cornrow, a steady cloud of dust is kicked up. The dust hangs in the air momentarily and then is carried by the wind back toward the farmhouse.
-----As everyone emerges from the sheltering and somewhat ominous corn plants, the sun sends a refreshing embrace of warmth about them. Looking at each other, they can see that a lot of dust has accumulated on them. The coat of Seth's horse is most dust-covered around the hindquarters, while the Dread Pirate has a thin layer of dust coating his vest, belly, face and pants. Runik and Joren prove to have gotten the worst of the deal, as they both appear as if they had been hit indirectly by a bag of flour.
-----Behind them there comes no sound and as they turn to look toward the farmhouse, they are shocked by what they see. The surrounding cornfield has vanished! There a few yards back lies the cozy-looking farmhouse while inside the fenced in yard lie the sleeping and innocent-looking forms of the children.
-----Seth looks back at the children and the barren field and says, "Well whatever it was, and whatever treasure it has can stay there. Let's go see how Kazel is doing."
-----The Dread Pirate looks back at the bizarre scenario, then says, "Well, I feel somewhat badly about leaven all those kids there by themselves with that corn-demon. But then, on the other hand, they didn't really seem like they were all that upset about bein there. I don't want to save anybody that doesn't actually want savin." Thus said, the Dread Pirate turns to follow Seth and Runik.
-----The trio then sets off for their campsite of the night before. The strangeness of the day is eased somewhat by the pleasant weather and the blue sky. Runik still casts an uneasy eye back toward the farmhouse.
-----"Blasted monsters," the dwarf quips to the Dread Pirate, "I be wonderin' if'n yer corn demon be chokin' on me pony?"
-----Runik then falls silent watching his surroundings as he follows his employers in whatever direction they head.