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-----Raven spends time with the wolf training it to stay and come to him on his command. Rinda sits nearby the campfire speaking with Kazel. Soon it is apparent, that as Rinda speaks, her attention is distracted toward the distant trees. She stares idly at the dark outline of the forest and begins to draw her bow near her.
-----With a look of frustration, she finally speaks of it. "Strange, but I feel as if I am the prey being stalked by some unseen predator." Her eyes continue to scan the woods. Finally she shakes her head, "No, I see nothing. Perhaps it has been the long day."
-----Raven stops and looks over to Rinda. Raven says in a low tone, "I wonder if those five dead kobolds thought the same thing before their throats were cut." Raven begins to scan the shadows for any sign of life.
-----"Act on instinct," Kazel whispers. She gives Raven and Rinda a nod, then quietly slinks a way off from the camp into the dark, listening, watching and becoming the shadows.
-----Rinda carefully grabs an arrow and fits it to her bowstring. She looks uneasy as she watches Kazel fade into the darkness. She immediately looks at Raven and whispers, "My Hunter?"
-----The breeze seems to whisper all around her as Kazel makes her way through the trees. The half moon hangs in the western sky throwing shadows in the thick of the forest. The tall trees stand silent like ancient pillars in an old ruin.
-----Kazel seems to drift swiftly but silently as she moves. She freezes as she listens and the world around her appears to stop. An occasional twinkling star winks down at her through breaks in the overhead canopy of leaves. No sound, no movement breaks the whisper of the night air.
-----Suddenly, a whirling is heard in the branches overhead, causing Kazel to crouch low and extend her eyes aloft. A strong frantic flapping is heard and she catches sight of small wings flapping. Only a bird, perhaps an owl, maybe even a bat. Just as quickly as it occurs, the sound fades off in the distance and everything falls deathly still once more.
-----Though relief sets in, Kazel can’t help but feel totally alone among the trees.
-----Kazel goes back and stays close to the camp in the darkness, no more than a short sprint away. She hunches down and takes cover behind some bushes and still keeps in sight and range of Raven and Rinda. She only keeps away far enough so that anyone attacking the camp will not notice her.
-----Kazel then sees Raven and Rinda and the wolf creeping toward the trees of the forest. They carefully move among the tall dark trees and every now and then a broken twig gives their position away. A lot of time seems to pass by and still there seems to be no other sound or sign of anyone in the surrounding area.
-----After what seems like a couple of hours have passed, Kazel sees the three in the forest making their way slowly back to camp. She follows and they catch sight of her just before they enter the circle of firelight. The moon hangs over the western horizon looking like a red angry eye.
-----Rinda says, "If there was something there, it no longer stalks us." She stares back at the dark line of forest.
-----Sounding frustrated Raven says, "Let’s get some sleep. I'll take first watch then Kazel then Rinda. Sound okay?" Raven throws another log on the fire and then sits down with his back to a tree.
-----Kazel stretches and yawns. "Fine by me. By the way, what have you learned from the blacksmith, Raven?"
-----Raven shrugs his shoulders, "Nothing really. Just that the elves are attacking people in the forest. He did say that it was the elves that shy away from humans that were attacking people." Raven pauses, "He did say that the town would be ready to kill any elves that came into town, but I guess you already knew that from the bar customers." Raven throws a rock into the fire, "I'll be honest, I'm not looking forward to facing one of those dark crystals again. The last one we met could raise the dead and would make you weak as a kitten if you got close to it. It just was just so...evil." Raven looks up and gives Kaz a slight smile, "Well, no one said it would be easy right?"
-----"I've never seen these crystals you're talking about," Kazel stares into the fire as she rests her chin on her knees. "But, it can be as strong as the followers who put them there. I think we know how to deal with that part of the problem, at least."
-----She looks on with some interest as the wolf prowls about the camp.
-----"If it was the same evil that brought the curse upon the animals," Rinda says with a tinge of hesitation in her voice, "I only hope they have not found a new way to use their magic. I almost died from it. I have Raven to thank for finding the way to stop it." She slaps Raven on the shoulder and smiles.
-----Raven smiles back at Rinda, "Aye, the Hunter had other plans for you. It took the whole group to stop those dark bastards and to heal you Rinda. I'm glad I was there to stop the dark ones and help you." Raven pauses, "You all better get some sleep. It will be long day tomorrow and we'll all need to be sharp."
-----Rinda and Kazel then prepare to settle in to sleep until it is time for their watch. Just as Raven begins his watch with the wolf by his side, there seems to be some kind of commotion coming from the sleeping village. Voices are raised in excited tones.
-----Kazel bolts up and is immediately on her feet. She gives Raven and Rinda a look that says "Are we going yet, already?" looking more like an excited child than a concerned citizen, hunter on the prowl or guard responding to trouble...
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