-----The trail leads straight east into the woods. Shortly everyone's eyes adjust as much as they can to the almost overwhelming dark. They pass the black and gray trunks on each side of them while a slight rustling occurs overhead in the wind borne branches. In the distance, the night sound of crickets and frogs continue.
-----Sarah has little trouble navigating through the woods; the mage confidently making her way to the east.
-----After a mile's distance, the trees thin out giving way to a large field of shrub plants. Chessie comes down from the trees to nuzzle her mistress and everyone mounts up.
-----Here, they carefully follow Sarah and Sol as the trail leads east across the field before turning to the southeast. Passing the field, they ride between two stagnant pools of water before plunging back into another clump of woods.
-----Rinda speaks up, asking, "Would we be able to stay on our horses if Sarah can see the trail?"
-----"This ground is too uneven. Th' horses don't have Sarah's vision unfortunately. Let's keep like this..." Sol continues to trudge ahead, glad that someone can make out the surrounding area. It also proved to be a source of pride that the someone was Sarah.
-----With that, everyone dismounts once more and begins leading their horses. These woods prove to be much like the one before it except over the trail there is space between the upper boughs of the trees. Stars and clouds are spotted seeming to drift on high. The night noises are louder hinting at the closeness of the swamps now.
-----Within a few moments, Sarah calls a stop as the trail seems to fork, sending trails to the south and the northeast. Off to one side where the trail divides a dull white post has been driven into the ground. Small arrow-shaped signs have been attached to the post. The sign pointing back up the trail they arrived on indicated the direction to the town of Rushfen. The southward sign features larger letters that read "Gafa" while the third sign points up the northeastern route. This last sign has seen its share of abuse and the painted part is so dulled as to render it unreadable.
-----Chessie alights atop the post where the small animal appears to look with affection at Sarah.
-----Rinda nods and pats Raven's arm gently as she waits for the others. Garrison grimaces in the darkness shaking his head but otherwise remains silent. Romney starts to say something as if in protest, but feeling the nervousness of the dancer on his arm, his grumbling stops.
-----"How much longer is it to this village?" Mirian asks in a frightened low voice.
-----"That we're not for sure on," Garrison replies.
-----Lovan looks at the signs again with a fleeting hint of interest before turning back to his horse in order to carry on.
-----In a few more moments, the adventurers emerge from the trees and there before them lies another lake; its surface dark and quiet. To the east, the trees begin to climb a large dark hill, which draws nervous glances from many in the party. Off to the west the land seems to open up revealing misty pools and wetland.
-----Moving around the lake on its eastern edge, the party stops occasionally at the quick sudden sounds of hurryings in the tall weeds or plunks and splashes in the water.
-----Suddenly the trail road curves around to the southwest before leading back under the dark branches of trees. As they walk under the branches, a light chill seems to take to the air that slowly begins to grow. An uncomfortable silence takes hold of the countryside and those on the trail seem to walk and breath as quietly as they can.
-----Off to the sides of the trail now, dim starlight is reflected off of water lying among the trees and it is obvious that the land here is lightly flooded. The branches of the trees appear thicker here so that soon any light from the sky is cut off. It is as if the party is now walking in a dark dank tunnel with no sign of light or life.
-----Suddenly, Sarah draws everyone to a quick and sudden stop. The mage appears to stare down the trail into the unforbidding darkness. A panicked fluttering occurs and for a moment, hands quickly go to grab swords and weapons. Everyone relaxes at the realization that Chessie has returned to Sarah, but quickly the silence takes over again.
-----From somewhere up ahead the sounds of rendering are heard as if a great tearing and ripping is going on. Intermingled with this are grunting and low hideous noises.
-----Raven's wolf growls lowly but seems hesitant about going on. The wolf quickly glances at his master and whines.
-----At the head of the group, Sol turns his head to speak. He seems more worried than afraid, and his words are laden with concern, "Stay attentive. Romney, Garrison, make sure nothing happen t'..." The warrior pauses and decides there's no need to alarm Mirian further, "Make sure ye watch our backs. Th' rest o' us, let's see what we've got up ahead."