-----"Well, we have our proof that Lord Howrun's troops probably headed this way," Raven says lowly. Following his line of sight, Sol, Sarah and Rinda can see that about a half-dozen flatboats are grounded there.
-----"My guess would be to land us right up next to the rest of the boats," Raven says turning toward Sol. "That way I can check for tracks and see if they were ambushed or if they went on up into the woods on their own."
-----Looking at Sarah and Rinda, he adds, "You'll need to keep watching the trees while I check and get ready to fire on anything that looks humanoid."
-----He then gives Sarah a knowing smile. "Sound good?" he asks glancing back at Sol.
-----"Sounds good." Sol affirms crisply as the boats near the bank. Carefully, he angles the pole so that he's now pushing their boat towards the others, presumably beached by the troop.
-----Within a few moments, Sol's careful but precise use of the pole brings them to the bank where they hear the soft bottom catch and hold the craft.
-----Immediately Raven leaps out, inspecting the sandy shore while above them the treeline seems quiet and foreboding. Very quickly now, the hunter scans the ground around him before turning back to his companions. Nodding, Raven tells them in a low voice, "I'm seeing many tracks here and they all lead up to this tangled forest."
-----Just then, the other craft touches the shore and Romney steps out ready to help Mirian.
-----"Into the forest it is!" Sarah says whispering. "I guess the best thing to do is carefully follow the tracks and see what happened to these men. We'll have to deal with whoever is sending signals when we get back. And be alert, whatever's lurking in this forest could already know that we're here." Sarah takes her normal place, hiding behind Sol. She rubs his shoulders for a second to get him relaxed. "Ready?" She asks him.
-----Being close to Sol makes her feel a lot safer than anywhere else in world. The problem is he's always dashing off to fight something. Sarah tells herself she is going to stick as close to him as she can this time. If nothing else, he keeps her out of trouble.
-----"Indeed." Sol agrees affably, softening slightly at the quick massage. He smiles appreciatively before telling Raven, "Lead on, master hunter!" The warrior begins to continually keep watch as he prepares to follow his friend's tracking.
-----"Okay," Raven simply says while drawing his bow and notching an arrow. He keeps his eyes scanning the trees as if expecting to see something troublesome at any moment. Taking a deep breath, the hunter glances at the ground one last time before he begins climbing the sandy bank toward the beginning of the tangled greenery.
-----Lovan's expression seems very dark and the storm priest stalks after Sol and Sarah. "Let the Fury come," he is heard to lowly say.
-----Rinda, carrying her own drawn bow, strides after Raven quietly.
-----Meanwhile, Romney and Garrison walk behind the party with Mirian between them.
-----The short incline is fairly easy to navigate and, within a few moments, everyone reaches the shadowed places beneath the boughs of the trees. Raven, positioned in the lead, suddenly comes to a stop just as he sets foot upon the vine and leaf covered undergrowth. The ranger's bow drops a little indicating surprise or shock at what he observes.
-----As the others move close to him, they observe a gruesome site. Just ahead of them, a clearing of sorts has been made by a fierce battle. At least a score of human and elven warriors lie dead while occasionally a slain orcish soldier is also seen. The leaves of the plants and the floor of the forest are stained with blood.
-----Sarah stops in midstep as she sees the bodies before her, her jaw drops and she for once is speechless. "Oh Destine, no." She mutters, covering her mouth and turning away so she doesn't have to see the terrible sight. She puts one hand on Sol's shoulder to steady herself. "No, no, no." She mutters shaking her head, not wanting to believe what she sees. After a few seconds she turns around again and then looks away just as fast. "Destine...." She turns her eyes up, as if in both prayer and question. There are just hints of tears forming in her pretty eyes.
-----Sol's on the other hand, cannot turn away from the carnage. His face is grim and the shock that mirrored Raven's own now begins to give way to rising anger. One arm reaches out around Sarah's waist to hold her up, the remains by his side and clenches into a fist.
-----"I will check for survivors. Alone." The warrior's tone indicates that he expects to find none. At all. Quickly he continues, "Raven, perhaps ye could skirt th' clearing wi' Rinda, stick wi' stealth an' maybe spot th' keep. Watch fer any activity."