-----With a snarl Raven draws back another arrow, takes careful aim at the wounded monster. Raven lets loose the arrow. The projectile quickly finds its place quivering from the undead creature's forehead. In the next instant, the monster collapses on the trail road; its dead state finally overcoming it.
-----Sol's blade quickly takes the head of one of the creatures. The head sails into the murky water off to one side of the road while the body falls before him.
-----Suddenly the last creature is before him tearing at his surcoat, but failing to connect with the young warrior's flesh. Sol reverses the direction of his sword also taking this one's head.
-----With the creatures defeated, the night falls silent. As Garrison and Lovan hold their torches aloft, the woods seem as deathly quiet as a tomb.
-----"They seemed overly spry fer zombies." Sol mutters as he surveys the corpses in disgust. His head raises and he briefly surveys the party, making sure everyone is all right before turning to look in the direction the creatures came from. "Let's see what they were feeding on." The warrior grimaces at the idea but starts forward.
-----Raven nods, "I don't think those were zombies either. I'm glad they were already partly cooked before we took them on." Raven follows Sol to see what the monsters were eating.
-----The entire party starts forward avoiding the slain bodies of the undead. Romney and Garrison place Mirian up on Romney's horse while the two men walk on each side of the steed. "Hold on to the saddle," Romney tells her, "and look straight ahead. Don't look at what we pass."
-----In a few paces, everyone arrives at the area devastated by Sarah's fireball spell. As the flickering torchlight illuminates the site, they behold a gruesome scene. The charred bodies scattered on the trail still smolder; their features now burned beyond recognition. A gut-wrenching heavy stench fills the air. As they pass, the companions can make out to one side of the trail road, the large form of a dead horse; its belly and intestines exposed to the night air and the knats that fester on it.
-----Up ahead, the trail road continues into the now still night.
-----Sarah weaves a bit as she walks forward. Clutching her mouth, she quickly darts for the left side of the road. She kneels and tries to conceal the retching that is due to the stench in the air.
-----Chessie lands nearby her on the ground; the petite owl making its way close to her. After a few moments, Sarah pushes him back saying, "No, no, baby, Mama is much better now." Letting Chessie perch on the guard on her arm, Sarah slowly rises.
-----The mage shakes her head as if to clear it before staring off into the dark down the road. Somewhat in an agitated tone, she says to the torchbearers, "Dammit, can you two hold those torches so they aren't blinding me."
-----Garrison tries to position himself so he is in front of his torch cutting off a bit of its glare.
-----Sarah continues to hold her hand in front of her nose, but now it is evident that the young mage is focused on something she spies.
-----"Hey," she says, a bit of the tenseness gone from her voice, "I think I can see the village from here, but . . . wow, is it ever dark there."
-----Sol moves up to Sarah and briefly places a comforting hand on her shoulder. After giving it a gentle squeeze, he moves forward again, this time heading in the direction the mage said the village lay.
-----"Let's see what has happened here." He suggests.
-----Raven frowns as he looks towards the town, "If these undead creatures were this close to the town, it does look good for the local folk." Raven starts to head towards the town also.