----- In a calm voice Raven says to the dog, "That's a good dog. We won't hurt you." Raven throws some rabbit jerky near the dog. "You hungry? You sure are a brave one, you are?" Raven tries to get closer to the three forms to see if they are alive. Raven makes it a point not to anger the dog.
-----As Raven approaches, the three birds squawk and screech as their attempt to feed is disrupted. They take flight and land in one of the tallest trees in the clearing. They settle and roost on one of the branches looking very much like gargoyles surveying the scene below.
-----The dog, upon seeing Raven and hearing him talk, begins to whine and prance its forefeet on the ground. It sniffs the jerky Raven throws, but turns its attention back to him. The dog continues to whine mournfully and watch Raven as he looks at the three forms.
-----The first form he looks at appears to be a young human man, perhaps in his teens, face down on the ground. Large stains of blood lie under the body. There appears to be no evidence of breathing.
-----The second form, also a young human male, lies on his back; his lifeless eyes staring toward the clear sky. Various slashing marks cross his chest area, which is barely covered by the remains of his shirt he once wore. Through the mostly dried blood under the chin, Raven can tell the throat had been slit.
-----The third form, an older human male with gray hair, lies on his side with much the same injuries as the second body Raven examined. The old man died with a look of fright or horror on his face. It is possible this was the father or grandfather of the family.
-----As Raven looks around, he sees the dog watching him intently, all the while continuing its whining.
-----Arliss kneels down beside the form beneath the tree. It is an old woman with gray hair, perhaps in her fifties or sixties. Bruises and welts are seen here and there on her face and exposed body parts. The throat had been slit and partly dried blood strains the front of her apron and dress. A look of sorrow is upon the now still face. Perhaps she had witnessed her family dying from this spot. Surely not a fate that a good person and citizen of Hearthorn would deserve . . .
-----After spending a moment kneeling over the form of the figure slumped under the tree, Arliss turns back to his companions, a look of profound sorrow in his eyes. "It's an elderly woman...beaten...throat slit...we'll have to bury her..." Arliss looks to be somewhat choked up over the discovery. As if to distract himself, he asks, "What have you found, Raven?"
-----Rand walks slowly over to where Raven is inspecting the three forms on the ground. Rand appears to be concentrating deeply on something.
-----Raven looks up from his crouching position over one of the bodies. "Looks like the rest of the family. Two boys and a man. They're all dead." Raven passes his hand over the face of one of the boys and closes the child's lifeless eyes. Raven is silent for a moment and then he is on his feet. Raven's eyes then turns to the ground. Raven whispers, "The hunters become the hunted." as he tries to find the tracks of the attackers.
-----By each body, Raven can tell that the grass and moss has been flattened and disturbed by others than those present. Slowly at first, he begins to make out patterns he sees on the ground vegetation. He looks at each body from where he stands and looks along the ground. He turns and focuses on a point ten yards from the burnt dwelling.
-----Raven moves over to the area he sighted. The white dog follows behind him, looking more alert. Raven circles the area, kneeling down at different points. The dog begins sniffing the ground. Shortly it begins emitting a low growl. The white dog takes a few steps and raises its head toward the south. Its growl grows louder. After a few seconds, it turns and looks toward Raven. Barking twice, it then looks back to the south toward the tall skeletal trees of the central swamp.
-----As Raven and his newfound canine companion search for the attackers' trails, Arliss kneels slowly down by the side of the deceased woman, and gathers the still form in his strong arms. He carries the body over to where the other three lie, and gently lays her there. He can be heard to softly say the name, "Joren" as he stands for a moment, shaking his head at the senseless loss of human life. When a brief time has passed, Arliss raises his head and makes his way towards the burned out home. "Rand...Thalog...help me see if there are any clues left within as to the reason behind this terrible deed."
-----Rand follows after Arliss towards the burned home, walking directly past the four bodies on the ground. He pauses there and kneels down to offer a prayer before rising again to follow Arliss to the burned out home.
-----Raven looks down at the dog. "Good dog. You're right, they headed that way." Raven turns to face the group. "Looks like 10 or 12..." Raven looks back at some tracks, "orcs killed the family and then headed south." Raven walks over to the burned home and says to the group. "Find anything in there? If we want to catch-up with those sons-of-bitches we need to get going. Every minute counts." Raven starts to walk to his horse.