With the handcart loaded with extra foodtuffs, and the sun rising to its apex overhead, the six youths and the widow (with Raisa on her hip once more) gathered at the western gate of the farmstead. The widow looked on them with a hopeful light in her eyes.

"The High Pastures are only about an hour and a half walk to the west, at the feet of the mountains, where the Old Pine stands." She said. "I know Risos liked to be near the stream that comes from the draw when he took the flock up there. He says the stream's water tastes like sugared water, and pure honey. That may be a good place to start looking for him."

Ash vaulted over the gate, seemingly unaware that it might be a good idea to save her energy. When she reached the other side she bent low to examine the ground, getting an idea of what left the pasture and trying to locate any indication of Risos passing. She would have been surprised if she could have found his tread mark, but she had to look.

Heavy traffic coming and going through the gate recently made any information impossible to find. The tracks and marks that were there, were obscured by heavy usage.

Garrick smiled back at her reassuringly. "Don't worry Mrs. Danellon. We'll find him and bring him back." He continued the sentence in his head, "...even if we have to carry him back on the cart." With that, he gripped the handcart's handle firmly and started off down the path.

"What's the name of Risos' dog? Dogs got mighty good hearin', they do. ...and does he gots one of them recall words?" Ash addressed the Widow, her eyes and tone serious for a change. It was rare in her day to day affairs for her to be serious about much.

"Thoar, is his name, and he understands speech better than we speak it, if you ask me." The widow replied with an odd look in her eye. "It's almost uncanny."

"Thank ya." Ash gave her a smile and slipped away with a wave.

"I've known a couple of animals like that," Marissa nodded thoughtfully. "But Thoar doesn't know us, either. Not really. I only know him from the festivals. If there is a word we could use to tell him we're friends, it would be good."

"Of course, what I should say, is that the dog responded to normal speech." It was plain that the widow was trying to explain herself in a better way. "If Risos wanted him to follow, he'd say, 'c'mon Thoar or lets go, boy and if he wanted the dog to come to him he'd just say it like he was talking to a buddy.... 'c'mere' or 'hey thoar!'. If he wanted the dog to round up the sheep he'd tell them to bring em in, or putt em through the gate... the dog just, understood.

Oran nodded at the widow's assesment of the dog, and leaned against the fence near the gate. "I remember watching the two of them at the harvest festival, and wondering how Thoar knew what to do, as it seemed Risos never used the same command twice."

With a shrug he bounced off the fence, and gave Rayna a little tickle under the chin before he headed off to follow the others. Looking over his shoulder, he added. "Nature's Will be with you, Madame Denellon."

Harrod remained at the gate a moment after the rest began to move away from the farm. He turned and looked at the widow.

"May the blessings of the Creator protect and comfort you until we return with Risos and his dog, ma'am. And we will return with them."

The boy then turned and jogged to catch up with the group.

******

It took a little effort to make the uphill walk, but fresh feet and youthful energy can conquer such things. Stands of mixed deciduous and evergreen trees stood here and there, breaking up the landscape as Ramhorn Ridge rose to the knees of the Kal'Loryn. It may have taken an hour and a half for someone carrying the burden of age, or guiding a flock of sheep, but for the six travellers, it didn't even seem an hour.

The High Pastures were a few square miles of relatively flat plateau, before the slopes of the mountainsides, The grasses grew early and thick here, and topped themselves with bright purple and white flowers, or tufted tassels. It wasn't hard to follow the path that the Denellon herd had left behind, trampled grasses and droppings way as well have been a highway marker, that even the most closeted of city dwellers could have followed.

Ash was quiet for a change as she led the way, the path would have been impossible to lose, so she allowed herself to day dream a bit. Imagining a great adventure and a monster around every corner. At some point during their walk she had picked up a long stick and was using it as her imaginary sword, to fend off her invisible attackers. She knew that she was too old for such games, but she never cared much about what other people thought.

Garrick trudged along, pulling the handcart, grateful for the helpful pushing hands from the others at particularly steep parts. As he walked, he looked over at Marissa with serious eyes and voiced what they were all thinking. "I hope he's okay, but he should have made it back by now. Just in case, we should probably all stick together. If you or Ash need to water the bushes, it might be best to take the other until we know what is holding Risos up."

"Garricks's right," Harrod replied. "We are going to have to be a bit more careful since we are farther from the farms and in the wild lands. We need everyone to stay alert and be mindful of each other."

"Which means you guys need to double up, too," Marissa snorted softly.

Garrick nodded and continued in his quiet tone. He hadn't meant for the others to overhear. "There's four of us. No need for us to double up, but yes, I had planned on keeping an eye on the others. I was just trying to ask you to keep an eye on Ash where I can't. You know she tends to get into trouble."

Ash made a flourish with her stick sword and pointed it at Harrod, her face a comical shade of seriousness. "I will do as I please, thank ya very much. I didn't go ta leavin' the Warden, jist ta turn round and have y'all tellin' me what ta do." Before Garrick could retort, she shifted her threatening stick to point at him. "And. That goes fer ya too."

Garrick looked at her innocently with a smile and shook his head, "I haven't said a word to you. I know better than to try to tell you what to do. You're as stubborn as a mule. If I told you to go, you'd stop. Stop and you'd go."

At this Lucas turned a peculiar look to Marissa which swept to Ash, then back again before he snorted in barely contained amusement. His humor ended abruptly, however, replaced by a soft squishy sound.

"Oh, crap!" the young mage swore crossly. He lifted his foot to inspect his boot. "Well..." he sighed, "At least we know we're headed in the right direction."

"Serves you right, Lucas, for laughing at me," Marissa laughed good-naturedly. Anyone else had laughed at her and she would have smacked them playfully in the back of the head or on the arm. With the frailer boy, she was more careful. She didn't take pains to treat him any differently really, it's just that when she did playfully cuff him on the back of the head, it was a lot more gentle than when she did it to Garrick, though Garrick was hard to hit and usually gave as good as he got.

Garrick laughed good naturedly at the Lucas' predicament. For those that knew him, he was being uncharacteristically jolly. He had always been a quiet young man, something of a wallflower. The freedom and fresh air had improved his spirits considerably.

As he walked, be broke out into a song popular in the region. Though not a particularly skilled singer, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Marissa noted the change in her friend and sparring partner. She decided she liked the way he sounded when he was out from under his father's watchful and often stern eye. The young woman admitted to herself that she liked the way she felt away from the farm and it's responsibilities, too. Then a wave of guilt hit her for that thought and took some of the joy out of her. To cover the loss, she launched into the song with Garrick, blending her voice with his easily.

The draw, and the stream therein, was plain to see in the distance. The rain water and snow melt gathering into the cut in the mountains base, and coursing across the high pastures before trailing down the side of Ramhorn Ridge to join the Iveri river. The Old Pine groves stood silent watch, over the grasses and the stream, growing more dense as they climbed the slope of the mountain to the west.

Garrick stopped and dropped the legs for the handcart. "This looks like the spot the widow said Risos likes." He went over to the stream and drank water from a cupped hand.

The rogue followed close behind and drank of the sweet water. A sweet smile played at her face as she enjoyed the taste of it, remembering how the Widow had described it. Ash remained thoughtfully by the water as Garrick stepped away and began speaking.

"We could drop our loads here and split up into two groups to search; one on one side of the river and one on the other. Ash and I with one group, and Oran and Marissa with the other. One tracker, and one good with blades in case we get into trouble. Meet back here in an hour? Compare notes? If we find trouble, we wait until we're all together again to figure out how we proceed? Does that sound good to everyone? We've only got a few hours of light left and we'll need to set up camp."

"Garrick," Marissa said pragmatically. "It's likely that if we run into trouble, I don't think there will be time to meet back up again. We'll be in the thick of it. But splitting up seems the most efficient use of the time we have," she added. "Oran, what do you think?"

Garrick replied in the same pragmatic tone, "I would have thought that went without saying. The implied was that if you found something involving Risos or something unknown, to come back here rather than run headlong into it. I hope you can avoid the kind of trouble you're talking about. If you find yourself in the thick of it on a scouting mission, then you probably did something wrong; and you'll have to deal with it on the spot and come back here as soon as possible." He was careful not to give away his surprise that he had to spell it all out for her.

Oran furrowed his brow, as he considered the problem. As he thought, the wind shifted from the southwest, to the southeast. Warmer, and carrying moisture from the sea far away. "Rain's a comin." He said.... Maybe an hour, maybe two.... but its comin. I think spreading out makes a bit of sense, but getting out of sight of one another don't. At least, not ta me."

Something about Garrick's tone or what he was saying caught Ash's attention and she turned to look at him. Her gaze then traveled to Marissa, she didn't know the girl very well, but she was a girl, so she could only suspect that she wouldn't be pleased by what the blacksmith's apprentice had to say.

None of them had ever seen Marissa truly angry before. Most of the time, she didn't evince any real passion, except perhaps in the sparring ring as she learned how to use the sword currently strapped to her back. But now, her cheeks flushed with color and her eyes flashed fire briefly before long years of habitual suppression came into play. She hid both by turning to the stream and taking a drink of water before she could give him a reply they'd both regret.

"Garrick," Harrod interjected calmly, "while the tricks of scouting and searching in the woodlands are probably second nature to you by now, it might not be so for everyone. Just as we learned back at the Widow's cellar, each of us brings a unique and individual perspective to every situation. That also means that there are things we might not want assume should go without saying. I would say that it is better to err on the side of caution and over communication. At least until we have a better understanding of each other and what is around us." There was no hint of admonition in the boy's voice.

Marissa wasn't sure if she was grateful for Harrod's peacemaking or not, right now. But it was probably better that he stepped in and thus saving her from ruining one of the few friendships she did have.

Lucas, who had been watching the conversation and elevating emotions quite anxiously, took a few steps towards Marissa at the stream. His worries about separating the group were plain on his face and he fretted with a corner of his cloak.

"We can go this way," he offered finally with a shrug after a fortuitous clearing of his throat. The suggestion was made against his better judgment, but he hoped it would deflate the discussion to a more manageable tone.

Garrick responded to Harrod with a smile. "Duly noted. Sorry, I thought I had explained it well enough. Garrick was clearly as calm and cheery as he'd been on the trip up the mountain. "But that being said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I'm no expert in the wild. I just like camping. I'm talking about scouting plans. We have limited daylight left and two groups can search twice as fast as one. If we find anything, report back at the rally point. If anything untoward did happen to Risos, we should investigate it together as there is strength in numbers." He smiled as he tried to interject some humor as he left nothing unsaid, "So, in other words, if you find orcs prowling the woods, don't charge into battle. Head back here and warn the others and we'll make the decision as a group how to proceed." His tone made it clear that he didn't think there were orcs in the woods, but he accepted the possibility that something might have happened to Risos.

At the mention of orcs, the young mage's face turned a paler shade.

With a glance at Lucas, he said, "Looks like Lucas is with Marissa and Oran, so Harrod, I guess that means you're with us." He picked up a waterskin. "We can take the other side of the stream if you guys take this side. Let's all be careful out there." Garrick's tone was like a suggestion that he thought the others would agree to. He clearly didn't want to stand around debating what to do when he could be searching for Risos.

"Garrick." Ash finally said, her tone a bit playful, and it was the first time she'd spoken since their arrival at the stream. "Ya talk ta much."

Garrick chuckled. "First I don't say enough, then I'm saying too much. I'm just trying to get it out of the way so we can get down to acting rather than talking about acting."

"Oran says we have maybe an hour or two until the rains arrive. May I offer an alternative plan? Garrick is more than right that we will cover more ground if we split. I am concerned, however, with our knowledge of the area and our safety if we are out in the rain." Harrod paused for a moment to glance at the group but didn't wait for anyone to respond.

"We stay together this evening as one group and begin the search", Harrod continued. "That will help us learn the area a little better and make sure we are are safe back at camp before nightfall. Tomorrow we can split into two groups and make a wider search of the area. What do you all think?"

Marissa listened to the other conversations as she looked around the area. Then an idea hit on her that was obvious, but no one had brought it up, yet. She was surprised she hadn't seen it herself, at first.
"Oran... Ash... did we mess up any tracks or prints you think when we came up here?" she asked. "If we haven't maybe you can at least tell which way Risos, Thoar and the flock went? It'll give us a starting direction, at least."

She seemed calmer, as if the flash of anger was like a candle's flame in the wind... there and gone again, quickly. She smiled at Lucas and winked, letting him know she was all right and things were back to normal.

Lucas, on the other hand, was looking more worried than usual and fretting the corner of his cloak to a frayed edge.

"Rain!" Garrick said, "Listen, I am fine with sticking together, but rain tonight will make it difficult to track to tomorrow. That seems even more reason to split up and cover more ground before the tracks get washed away. What do you guys think? Search for an hour and meet back here, or stick together? Or something else. I'm open to alternatives. If you feel uncomfortable in small groups, now is the time to say so." He looked at the others that hadn't spoken.

"Me, I do..." Lucas managed, barely above a whisper. He bit his lip.

"I think I'll call fer the dog." Ash said.

Garrick chuckled, "Oh good. Our problem is solved for us. Now if there are any orcs out there, they know right where we are. Problem solved." He found it amusing, obviously. It was light teasing, not a reproach.

"Yup!" She poked him with her stick. "Least we'll all be ta'gether when they find us. And we can do this. And this! ...and one of these!" She punctuated each of her phrases with a lively poke or swing of her stick, before finally doing a flip and walking off. She went several strides, so as to not interrupt the planning, and began whistling, a shrill call. "Hey'now Thoar. Hey'now Thoar." Then she strained her young ears as she listened for the sound of barking in the distance.

Garrick looked over at Lucas thoughtfully. He seemed paler than usual. Had the thought of orcs really rattled him, or was it something else? He didn't know Lucas very well, but he'd always seemed quiet. Finally, with a nod at Lucas, he said, "Okay. We stick together. The tracks'll be harder to follow tomorrow, but we'll deal with that tomorrow...if we don't find anything tonight." He looked around at the others for signs of agreement.

As Ash walked a short distance down the stream, still calling for the dog, she was also looking at the ground. The tracks were so thick from the herd that it was especially difficult to find those of Risos and his dog, but she didn't give up, as she tried to imagine which tree might be his favorite to lounge under and which place in the stream might offer the most comfortable perch. She mosied about while the conversation went on behind her, hoping to luck into some tracks.

Oran walked along with the slip of a girl, his eyes scanning the ground, and conferring quietly with her over the marks they found.

As the two walked their path here and there, the tale of the ground began to tell itself. The dog had sheperded the herd in front of the lad to a spot not far from where they started. The sheep had fanned out, in smaller groups of three or four, and the dog and boy had indeed went to "high ground" to watch the flock, ostensibly. Under the boughs of a Dogwood that was just beginning to flower it was plain that the dog had taken off at a sprint on several occaisions, one of which, he was trailed by the boy.

The boy had ran after the dog a few hundred yards, to a spot where the stream bank was high, but the stream itself was hidden beneath a low rise. It was there the ground's tale became obscured again. something had churned the ground up mightily here, and the boy and the dog had run right into it. There were sheep tracks, dog tracks, the prints of the boys soft leather shoes, and then the tracks of small boots. Upstream along the banks, marks of boots were visible heading in both directions.

Ash tried hard to discern how many sets of additional boots there were, but it was impossible to tell. She looked for drag marks or something that might indicate that Risos had been dragged from the area, but saw nothing that indicated that. Her gaze met Oran's and his expression was as grim as she felt.

"It looks like he might a been taken." She called out to the others, her tone a bit noncommittal. "...or maybe he jist went willingly, I don't know. But there was a group here and that's where our trackin' Risos ends." She laid down on her stomach to listen below, to see if she heard any signs of movement from the obscured area beneath her.

The word, Taken, made Lucas squirm, despite the uncertainty with which it was spoken. His arms crossed to his shoulders and his eyes darted from tree to tree. Whatever had taken the lad, his dog, or his sheep, may still be about. This was not a warming thought.

Holding his silence while Ash pressed her ear to the ground, Oran felt more than saw Lucas' involuntary shudder. Speaking to Ash but looking at Lucas, he said. "Well it looks like they must have come from, and returned , upstream. Those boots look sized for children though, I can't reconcile it."

"Maybe they were. I mean...maybe they were jist kids that needed ta git some help. ...and Risos, went ta help 'em. ...but I wouldn't put my coins on that pile."

When she didn't hear anything of concern, she lifted herself and without warning to the others, jumped to the bank below. It was about a four foot drop and when she landed, she stood perfectly still to take in the scene around her and to see if the tracks here would be any more telling than the ones that she'd been able to find above.

"Taken? By children?" Garrick asked doubtfully, echoing Ash's sentiment. He looked upstream. He looked down with a furrowed brow at the tracks that Oran and Ash had been studying. He began walking slowly along the stream, looking closely at the ground for tracks. "Well, let's follow them." As he moved, he drew his long sword. He didn't know what to expect, but Ash had said Risos was taken, and he figured better safe than sorry.

Oran nodded to himself and stepped up as well, holding his quarterstaff in more of a ready position. "Seems they went upstream," He began as his eyes followed the stream bed up into higher ground, to the stand of pines settled in the deep draw between two mountains.

The rogue nodded her head in agreement and began walking up the stream, allowing her pace to match Garrick's long strides. She loosened the strap on her bow but didn't pull it from her back. "Hold up." She whispered to her friend as she turned to look behind her, making sure that Lucas, Harrod and Marissa were on their way to join them.

Lucas was still catching up when his eyes took in the drawn sword. He paused nervously. "So-so-so-so that's it?" he stammered. "We're going to go after... after him, then?"

The hesitant question caused Ash's brow to furrow in thought, and when she spoke her tone was apologetic and non accusing. "Risos is all alone. ...and we made us a promise ta the Widow. If'n ya don't wanna come, the way back might be safe...but it might not. I'm sorry, Lucas, really I am...but looks ta me like ya might be stuck with us, fer now."

Oran stopped cold as if he'd had a sudden realization. What are we doing here? The thought hit him like a hammer. maybe they should go get help. Too far into the high country, now. It's us or no one for Risos.

"Yeah but we don't know what...took him!" He shuddered visibly.

Marissa paused, placing a light hand on her friend's shoulders. "Lucas," she said and waited until he met her eyes. "The fact that we don't know what took Risos, or if anything did, is what we have to find out. We're too far from the farms now to go back for help," she continued, unknowingly echoing Oran's internal observation. Her warm brown eyes held his and she smiled confidently. "You can do this, you know. I know you can," she nodded firmly.

"Do what?" he replied anxiously, his hands knotted together. "We don't know what it is we're after!"

She drew her own sword and looked at it solemnly for a moment. "I do well enough against wolves and bullies, but I've never been in a place where I might have to really hurt or maybe kill another person," she said and met Lucas's eyes again. "But this might be the time to really find out if I can. If I have what it takes, or whether I should go back to the farm and stay there. If it is, it's time for you, too. Time to step out from the shadow of your family and shine on your own, like I know you can," she smiled widely. "C'mon! Let's get going."

His brow remained knitted up, his hands in a worried knot, his lip bitten, his head slowly shaking back and forth. But otherwise resigned, Lucas said nothing further on the matter.

Once everyone had joined them along the stream bed, Ash continued along with Garrick, allowing him a marginal lead. It was very hard for her to restrain her pace, but she knew that if there were any danger, he would be better equipped to deal with it.

Garrick moved ahead at a steady pace, his eyes searching back in forth for clues. He moved as fast as he could and not miss anything. He was no tracker, so he kept his eyes higher, even looking up into the trees suspiciously from time to time. He looked over at Ash and nodded, saying with a hushed voice, "Let me know if the tracks change direction. I'll take my cues from you and Oran."

The stream wound through the High Pastures, meandering its way across the flat ground. The first four feet of topsoil washed away, by the current that started in the mountains ahead, ever looming high above. In the distance, the loud cracking of mountain rams dueling for dominance broke over the pastures. Always to the south, the skies were darkening, and clouds pregnant with rain moved inexorably northwards.

For more than an hour, the youths made their way over the broken stream bed. Stumbling at times, and staying out of the water most of the time, made for slow going. A couple of times, the booted feet appeared here and there along the banks, but as before, details were hard to glean. Then, as the Old pines became visible above the raised banks, the sky let loose its rain.

A cold, steady down pour began, but even its heavy impacts couldn't conceal the cut in the bank, where a handful of sets of boots scrambled out of the stream bed and into the forest above.

Ash knelt down on the muddy bank and took inventory of the boot tracks. The rain pelted hard against her thin white shirt and she was eager to move into the forest. She considered taking a moment to pull out her cloak from her pack, but decided instead to leave it there, in hopes that it would be dry later. "I think there are five of 'em. ...but I kin't be sure."

"Looks like we're heading further up, then," Marissa stated with a slight frown.

Ash looked at Garrick and then back to Marissa and nodded her head. For the first time in a very long time she felt the tingling of fear, she'd only felt it twice in her life, both times when she was out tracking with the Warden, and she knew how to respect it. She wondered if any of the others, besides Marissa, had ever been in a situation where they'd had to hurt someone or watch someone get hurt. She spared a quick glance at Lucas and was really sorry for him.

The rain was relentless as Ash pushed forward up the incline, allowing Garrick a slight lead as she directed him quietly, by pointing with her fingers when she would see the tracks altering course. Her hair clung to her face and her thin white shirt clung to her body, and she was actually beginning to wear down. Her energy and enthusiasm never seemed to have an end, until she crashed, and between the chill from the rain and the stress of the hunt, she was quickly growing weary.

Harrod stood by and looked around. He was concerned for their safety in this deepening weather, and he wasn't sure how some of them were holding up. He looked over to Lucas and then looked at Marissa. He cast her a glance that expressed his concern over the young mage and the obviously tiring Ash.

"It is going to get more treacherous as we proceed. Especially in this weather. We must be extra careful."

Harrod then reached down inside to the place that always brought peace. He uttered a silent prayer to The Creator to guide and help protect them.

Maybe it was the dimming twilight or the chilling rain, but Lucas looked paler than ever. He considered reminding them about their promise to make camp, but was afraid of what conversation that might brew. As weary as he was of slogging through the muddied forest in the rain, he was more opposed to drawing any more undue attention to himself. He stared at his feet, now soaken and caked to the ankle in mud as he trudged forward behind his friends.

Despite the grim look on Marissa's face, her eyes also held concern for her friend. For his physical health as well as his emotional state. She reached into her pack and brought out her weather-proofed cloak. It wasn't much, but it had a hood and she used it often when she had to run between the house and the barn in the winter rains. The young woman paused long enough to place it around Lucas's shoulders and pulled the hood over his head.

"It's not much, I know but at least now you look more like a proper wizard, in the stories," she grinned at him. "All covered up and mysterious and everything."

The frailer youth tugged at the cloak and managed a smile. "Thanks," he said. He looked over at Marissa, unflinching and undeterred by the rain. Then he smiled again and even chuckled. "A proper wizard, huh?"

Garrick moved in the direction Ash directed, but his eyes weren't on the ground. They scoured the brush, trees, hills, and ridge line looking for enemies.

While Garrick scanned their surroundings, Marissa's gaze swept in front of them, more often than not. She sincerely hoped that, ultimately, they'd be fighting an animal or a small pack of them. She really didn't know how she'd fare against humans. Also not leaving her head was the thought that this was all some kind of test for them, no matter which religion any of them followed. It just felt like something big was on the wind and they needed to be prepared for it.

The rain fell harder, a cold, miserable early spring rain, the kind of rain that went straight to your bones and took up residence. The overhead branches of the Old Pine at least broke the rain's descent, so that it didn't sting as it landed on bare flesh, but the ground was soaked in no time. The sounds of the rainstorm were surprisingly loud, in every ear. The wind, the groaning of the trees, and the impacts of a million droplets hitting the canopy, and filtering down. Even the sounds of twigs snapping under your feet seemed soft whispers under the noise.

The trail of the boots appeared here and there, a boot print, a snapped twig, a stomped flat fern. It wasn't exactly hard to follow, but as it pushed higher along the side of the draw, it became apparent that whatever had made them was close at hand. A downdraft from the mountaintop brought the smell of a wood fire, the smoke heavy as if smothering in the rain, and the sounds of shouting clearly reached your ears over the din of the rainfall. Ahead, beneath the pine boughs, and a long a low ridge, there was definitely a camp of some kind.

Ash knew that the weather conditions were in their favor. There was little chance that whoever they were following knew that they were there yet. She turned towards her companions and beckoned for them to huddle around her, even though the rain would likely drown out their voices, there was no sense in taking any chances.

"I kin slip in closer and take a good look. I think we should know what we're gettin' into and I kin move quiet like." Her eyes sought out Garrick's, he was the oldest of them...and just then it seemed like somebody should agree with her plan before she moved forward.

Garrick looked at her speculatively for a moment as he pondered the plan.

"Yes," Lucas blurted out nervously, "Yes, g-g-good idea," he stammered, "You go first."

"Be careful Ash," Harrod told her. "Is there anyone here that is as quiet in the woods as you? The Creator protects, but we have a responsibility to our own survival as well. Someone should go with you."

Ash's gaze swung to regard Oran and she cocked her brow in a daring manner. If he were up to it, he would be the best choice. They'd played many games in their day to see who could go the longest without breaking a twig or scaring a squirrel.

Marissa nodded. "Makes the most sense, really," she said, laying a calming hand on Lucas's shoulder. She'd never seen him so scared before, even when dealing with Amos and his gang. It concerned her almost more than Risos's fate. She determined to have a talk with him after this was over and they got back to town. It never crossed her mind that they wouldn't all make it back.

"Yeah, I reckon I'm th' one to go. I don't care for dice too much." Oran said, as a slow smile spread across his face. "Or rather, they don't seem to care much for me." He looked up into the cold rain and let the drops play across his face, bracing him. This was no walk through the forest trying just to not disturb it's denizens, but till they knew what was going on, it was better than asking Ash to go alone.

Garrick's eyebrow's rose as the thought. He nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. Two are better than one. Don't take any chances. Be safe, be quiet, and come back without being chased. We'll need to know who they are, how many of them there are, how their camp is arranged, if they are armed and with what, and where they might be keeping Risos, also, the placement of any perimeter guard you see.

The thought of how odd the words sounded coming from his mouth. It seemed like something Jordan would say.

Harrod breathed a quiet sigh of relief after Oran spoke up. He looked at Marissa and then to Lucas.

"Lucas," he began as the idea struck him to give the young mage time to occupy his time and mind. "Could you help me a moment. I want to set up a simple lean-to. That way we can at least get of the rain until Ash and Oran safely return to us."

Lucas gave him an incredulous, at a time like this? look. He then looked at Marissa as if for permission, or maybe just agreement. Finally he shrugged. "Yeah, sure."

The young priest began to remove his oiled canvas that he kept in his pack for just these occasions. His simple lean-to should accommodate all that remained once it was set up. It would take a little while to erect, but that might just be what the young mage needed.

"Be back in a bit." Ash said to the group. She gave Garrick a parting slug on his shoulder before slipping quietly up the side of the hill with Oran.

Garrick sidled up next to Oran while Ash was out of earshot. "I know I don't have to tell you this, but you know how impetuous Ash is. Keep an eye on her, okay? And good luck out there. I'll be right here in the brush by the edge of the clearing. If you get into trouble and need help, give us a shout and we'll come running." The concern was visible in his eyes. It was clear that he didn't like them going ahead alone and wanted to be with them, but he knew he would only endanger the mission.

Oran nodded heartily at Ash's energetic antics, then looked at the designated bush. "We won't be far, less than a hunnerd' yard I think."

Harrod had the pole sections in place and pulled the canvas taught while Lucas held the other end. "Looks good, Lucas. We can get the important things under here and still fit to keep dry. Marissa, Garrick," he said to the others. "If you've got something that you don't want wet, get it under here before the rain really starts to fall."

Lucas smiled thin and weak, glancing vacantly over their handiwork. Important things. He knelt under the canopy and cradled his knees to his chest. Water dripped from his hair, trickled down his face, his neck, into his clothes. He shivered and stared out into the dark.

The priest then began to collect some of the supplies. A good meal is blessing from the Creator, Harrod recalled Rector Schenwar telling him many times during a rainy-day outing. A dry place to eat it is something we need to find. He sorted out some of the food and set some aside for Ash and Oran's return. He knew they were going to be hungry when they got back. It never crossed his mind that they wouldn't. After he set the two aside for them, he handed small portions out to the other three.

"It's best to eat this now," he began, "while we're somewhat dry and have a moment. Our bodies will thanks us later."

Oran shrugged out of his pack, and sat it beside Lucas, giving him a look that showed some fear, before he winked a dark brown eye. "Nature's Gift, the rain." He said just loud enough to be heard.

Giving Ash a nod, he motioned uphill with a tilt of his head. He was more than happy to let her set the pace. He'd seen her woodcraft before, and knew she was probably better than him. He began picking his way up the slope.

The mountains loomed high above the rain soaked youths now, there was no more, "to the West", or "In the West". The mountains seemed to be all. Night time did not fall here so much as it slowly closed around them. The sun had long since set behind the high peaks, and the overcast skies had made things grayer. The ever green forest above them blocked still more light, and before any of the travellers even realized it, it had become very dark."