There, lying in the gra.s.s, was the scalped and mangled head of the scout.The energy within the party shifted immediately as hands went to weapons and eye began to dart around, scouring the horizon for any signs of the cause of this. Jack did so as well, but he saw nothing but tall, swaying gra.s.s and the glimmer of the riverbank in the distance.
Whatever was out there, it was either invisible, or obscured by the gra.s.s. Considering in some places it came up to the tops of his shoulders, the gra.s.s seemed like it"d be a relatively easy place to hide even a decent-sized force. Did the gnolls know they were coming and set an ambush?
Some of the adventurers in the group clamored to rush ahead and confront whatever was lying in wait for them at the riverbank. Others, older than the rest, urged caution. After deliberation, it was decided they would proceed in formation to prevent being caught entirely off-guard, with the keenest among the group serving as the eyes and ears on the flanks and rear of the company. Whatever was waiting for them, they would be best served to face it together.
Jack took point near the front, alongside Urien, Farlo, Rose, and Abigail. It was strange. As they advanced and kept their attention focused around them for any signs of hostility, he felt a strange sense of tension and excitement alongside the typical fear. There was some part of him that was beginning to adapt to the threats in the world around him, making it easier for him to focus on what needed doing, rather than being crippled by terror. He almost hesitated to think it, but he almost looked forward to there being a fight. He was eager to try out his new gear. And he felt more proficient than ever.
He still felt a far cry from a real hero. He doubted he"d ever actually feel like one, no matter how competent he became. But he was starting to feel like he had a bit of a handle on being an adventurer at least, and considering the person he was two weeks ago, that was ma.s.sive progress.
Despite everyone remaining on high alert, no signs of enemy activity were detected as they approached the riverbank. There, perhaps twenty paces from the water line, sat the headless body of the scout. His leather armor was torn and punctured in a dozen different places, and all of his other equipment, including his weapons and supplies, were gone. Leading away from the body back to the river edge, easily a dozen pairs of large prints pressed into the soft earth, alongside scattered flecks and splashes of blood.
Farlo appraised the prints, and grunted.
"Scouting party. Left in a hurry, from the looks of it. Likely they saw us in the distance after they ambushed him and fled back to their encampment." He said.
"So they likely know we"re coming, then." Urien said grimly.
"Likely. I would plan for it." Farlo replied.
"Well that complicates things." Jack said.
Urien shook his head.
"The odds of us making it there completely undetected, especially with a group this size, were very small to begin with. Then again, I was hoping we"d at least be well past the river before we ran into some of them. Now they have more time to prepare." He said, frowning.
"Well, not much we can do about that now, right? You think we can still take them if they"re ready for us?" Jack asked.
Urien smiled.
"If I thought we wouldn"t still, I"d have already started walking back home."
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