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-----Gimplefwick huffily stalks about, examining the ground and trees with excruciating detail. Occasionally he stops and sniffs the ground, then tosses a handful of grass in the air and portentously watches the direction the wind blows it. He then glances at the others to make certain that they all notice his exemplary tracking abilities.
-----Raven stalks forth carefully measuring the ground around the tunnel. His blue eyes almost seem to blaze as his dark hair dangles in his face. Suddenly he stops and nods. The wolf watches Raven intently and when Raven looks at him, the wolf turns his head inquiringly.
-----The Dread Pirate stamps about, carefully examining the ground for the tiny demon tracks. He also shoots interrogative glances at Raven, as if waiting for him to tell the group where they are supposed to go to follow the foe.
-----The ranger points out five sets of tracks leading from the tunnel heading in an eastern direction through the woods. He then stares into the trees to the east of their position. His eyes scan slowly across their trunks and then into the branches over head. Even though no physical change seems to take place, the others can see the hunter in Raven come forth.
-----Satisfied that no ambush waits above, the hunter slowly and carefully moves, no, not so much moves, as stalks forward. The wolf keeps its head low to the ground and moves at its master’s heel. The others fall in behind the hunter and the wolf.
-----They slowly push farther in amongst the trees, the forest somehow devoid of sound. Tension seems to rest on the air and it grows heavier with each step taken forward. The wolf steadily moves its head from side to side as if expecting some prey or predator to suddenly emerge upon them. A momentary pause occurs whenever an unexpected sound comes from a snapped twig underbrush or a footfall from one of the adventurers sounds a bit too loud.
-----Suddenly, Raven’s hand shoots up signaling everyone to halt. Even the wolf haunches down on its front paws as if ready to spring. For what seems like an agonizing minute of frozen motion as nothing but listening and staring wide-eyed ahead happens, Raven relaxes. He moves quietly forward and then turns and motions to the others to look.
-----As they come up behind him, they see within a clump of high weeds shaded by the thick trees, the prone dead bodies of the five small creatures. Little blood is seen except around the throat area and down their small chests. It appears their necks have been neatly sliced.
-----Raven moves forward and looks over the area. The ranger shakes his head. "I see no other tracks other then those left by these dead demons." Raven seems puzzled by the lack of other tracks.
-----The Dread Pirate eyes the five corpses for a moment, glances about the surrounding forest and whispers to the others, "I don't be knowin what did this to the little demon critters, but we'd best consider that we left those most incapable of defendin themselves back at the ambush site. I'd be sorry if our bard and horses turned up dead. We'd best hurry." Gimplefwick turns and runs as fast as he can scamper back towards the tunnel and the others.
-----Raven nods and then scans the forest one more time. Then Raven turns to run back towards the others.
-----Sol jerks away from the dead little creatures, sprinting hard to speed him back to the group.
-----A few moments later, the Dread Pirate scrambles out of the tunnel and looks around with wide eyes. He seems to relax somewhat as he sees Sarah, Seth and Rinda waiting calmly with the horses. Kazel, Sol, Raven and the wolf quickly follow Gimplefwick, with Sol running through the woods instead of taking the tunnel.
-----Rinda immediately runs to Raven, asking, "Raven, are any of you hurt?"
-----The Dread Pirate leans over, hands on his knees, panting harshly as he tries to catch his breath, "Gotta start.....working out....more often..." The colorful parrot on his shoulder wobbles back and forth precariously as the Dread Pirate wheezes and gasps. Eventually he regains his composure and winks at Sarah, "Arrr, did ye miss me, ye lusty wench? I promise not to be leavin ye all alone again like that. I know ye can't hardly bear to be without me." Gimplefwick nods a greeting to Seth and relates, "Nothin really happened. We chased those demon critters through the tunnel, only to find 'em all dead in a little clearing. Their throats were cut as neatly as I've ever seen, but not by us. So we thought we'd best get back here and check on things with you folks. Now I think we'd best get to Olv afore whatever it was that did fer those little critters decides we might look good piled up next to 'em."
-----Seth nods at Rinda's response... as the Dread Pirate emerges, he smiles at his puffing friend.
-----Sarah stares at Gimplefwick trying not to burst out laughing. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She asks. "I mean really, I've met people with problems before but you've gotta be like the king of weirdoes."
-----She shakes her head and looks at Sol and Raven. "So what made you run? What did you really see?"
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