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The Gila don't try to stop your progress, and you continue along the path through the swamp. The path is passable - although you are travelling more slowly than normal. The still waters seem to steam in some places, creating a light mist and strange smells come and go. Occasionally you can see eyes watching you from the water, now they look like crocodile eyes, other times like it could be the Gila, or perhaps ... who knows? It seems much longer than it actually is travelling through the swamps, and every one feels some relief as you enter the more solid lands afterwards. You push on an extra couple of miles and settle down to camp for the night. Fire wood is fairly abundant and Peter cooks a stew with some of the remaining pork , and a hot meal soon cheers everyone up. At dusk, just as you are about to set up watches and turn in for the evening, you notice that some of the bushes in the area have what appear to be small glowing balls scattered across them .... |
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Ready for a quiet night- maybe |
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Elsbeth follows the group as they travel, the dead thing on her horse making her slightly sick, but keeping an eye on the warrior woman. She pointedly ignores Callum. When they arrive in camp, she gathers her few vegetables and adds them to the stew, studiously avoiding the meat at the meal. She seems lost in her own thoughts. She goes and buries the creature as best she can after the meal. For a change, she is very quiet, asking for no help, offering no conversation. |
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Through out the march, Rolf finds himself increasingly tense. The swamp leeched at him, the eyes staring at them soon has his hands twitching for his bow, but he holds himself in control. Finally, the swamp gives over to more familiar and more comforting terrain. Rolf feels a weight lift from his shoulders and the march becomes easier. Wanting to put some distance between them and the swamp, he leads the party onwards for a couple of miles before calling for a rest. After dinner, the savory stew helping his knotted muscles unwind further, Rolf only wishes he could allow himself to complete the cure with a long nights sleep. But there were still watches to assign and the dead creature to deal with. "Watches for the night, Kerim and Mandrake are first watch, then Callum and Smilo, then Madelyn and Elsbeth and Peter and I will take dawn watch." Seeing Elsbeth start on grave, Rolf forces himself to his feet and moves to help her out. During their labors, having some little time away from the others, he questions her about Madelyn, "Do you know what is amiss with her? What can we do for her? Later on, Rolf spots the glowing points of light. If any are unaware of them, Rolf calls the others attention to them. "What are they?" he asks to no one in particular. |
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Gila |
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"Wonder if they ad any drink?" asked the hobbit of no one in particular. |
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Though lost in her own thoughts, Elsbeth accepts Rolf's help gratefully. "I don't be thinking there's anything wrong with Madelyn," she volunteers quickly. "Nothing. She just is a wee bit upset a little by... by what happened. Nothing more." Elsbeth looks up from her work and unexpectedly blushes as she meets Rolf's gaze. "I would be too, this awful beastie and those things and Callum's remarks and all." She shrugs. "Just let her be and she'll be right as rain. You'll see." |
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Madelyn withdraws into herself for the rest of the journey, trying to get things straight in her mind, paying very little attention to her surroundings or companions. She steals glances towards Rolf at a couple of opportunities, but otherwise rides in silence. As they arrive at camp she dismounts and ensures that the horses and mules are secured and fed, before finding somewhere slightly away from the party to settle herself. She removes her armour, but rather than polishing it, she sets it aside. She picks at the stew that Peter made eating very little, and her eyes follow Rolf as he assists Elsbeth in burying the Dog Head. She raises her head curiously as Rolf points out the lights in the bushes, but not knowing what they are she returns her gaze inwards to contemplate on the days exploits. |
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Callum gets up from where he has settled and moves over to examine the glowing balls, carefully and at a reasonable distance first. Then he will start looking around for a stick. |
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As they notice the glowing balls, Mandrake cannot control his curiosity and wanders over to take a closer look, muttering something about fireflies and paper lanterns. With a smile on his face at the beauty of the spectacle stands watching for a while before approaching for a closer look. |
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Seeing Mandrake & Callum investigate the glowing lights, Kerim will move up as backup in case of an attack |
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