-----With great relief they make it through the Gate with the guards wishing them well and a safe journey. Outside the town walls, Brandel smiles at the huge Krord riding beside him and turns toward Gimplefwick and his employer. With a hearty laugh, he tells them, "Normally I would not agree to . . . how shall I say this, borrowing a few horses? I believe we are all now considered wanted criminals. However, as strange as it may sound, I must extend my thanks to you." Brandel even looks over to Kazel and he continues, "My homeland has suffered greatly and I have felt a great bit of guilt at leaving Redmarsh behind. You are giving us a chance to return and perhaps make a few things better."
-----The young man then turns toward the haughty-looking elf and nods, "And now at this time, I must defer to Marast. Take us through the woods and lose us so none may follow us."
-----The elf raises an eyebrow at the human's words, but turns and begins to lead everyone through the trees away from the pathway about the town.
-----Runik, who is riding the coal-black pony, looks a bit uncomfortable and says after the raggedy elf, "Ye be takin' it easy through them trees, elf. Me horse ain't a fast as yers." The pony as if understanding the dwarf's protest shakes his mane and dashes after the bigger horses.
-----Clouds begin to slowly fill the sky blocking out the magnificent twinkling of the stars. Soon it becomes quite dark although most in the party can see enough to follow the steady pacing of Marast. Occasionally the elf instructs the others to pass him by as he falls behind to somehow obscure their passing. He then regains the lead and continues to lead them to the south.
-----As the hours pass by, the sky slowly begins to get lighter and more of the forest is seen beyond the nearest trunks.
-----Finally as the sun rises behind the clouds that completely cover the sky, Marast stops everyone and listens into the gentle breeze. He motions for complete silence. By this time, the excitement of the night has worn off and fatigue begins to settle on everyone.
-----Suddenly a sound is carried across to them from among the trees way up ahead. A savage and brutal yapping is heard. This in turn seems to be answered by more similar sounds.
-----Seth cautions everyone, "Let me ask Albert to scout ahead for us." He whispers in the crow's ear and launches the crow into the air.
-----Kazel takes out her bow anyway and waits for Albert's report.
-----The Dread Pirate nods at Seth's suggestion, "Aye, I'll wait fer Albert's say-so. But what if it be werewolves? I've never seen a werewolf before."
-----Gimplefwick's eyes gleam at the thought of meeting a werewolf and he shrugs off his weariness as he anticipates seeing one.
-----"What? I thought you've seen every monster that never existed," Kazel takes out her bow anyway and waits for Albert's report.
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs at Kazel's remark and replies, "Nope, never seen a werewolf. Wereseals, weresharks, weresnakes, and werealligators, but never a werewolf. I found the weresnakes to be especially useful fer plumbing chores. Aye, the pipes in yer house never get clogged when ye have a friend who's a weresnake."
-----Seth begins shaking at the mention of werebeasts. "I guess that means you know how to kill them then!"
-----While waiting for Albert, Seth turns to Brandel, "Sorry about involving you in our activities and becoming an Outlaw. But we needed those horses to carry out a contract we have with the Hearthorn Throne. Part of that contract is to free Redmarsh. You know we can wave warrants and seals in people's faces until they puke! But in the end of the day it is much easier to take what we need. Eventually everything will get sorted and we can get back to business again."
-----He watches after Albert for a short while. "Speaking of business, I collect and trade antiques, paintings and other special works of art. Do either of you four know where I may find some in this area?"
-----Kazel grins at Gimplefwick's special friends. "Well I don't think werewolves like to climb trees. Unless the other half is a monkey, Raven or some other sort of simian."
-----She then turns to Runik and says, "Ah well, I owe you that drink, but as you saw there was a change of plans. Maybe later at the next stop."
-----At Kazel's mention of a drink, Runik lets go with a smile; the first one he has given since the nightly flight from the town. "I be holdin' ye to yer promise. It might be makin' up fer me bruised behind."
-----At Seth's mention of art objects, the dwarf turns his nose up looking at the half-elven musician with a confused expression.
-----"No need to apologize," Brandel says to Seth smiling wearily, "This all make sense to me when my homeland is in urgent need."
-----Dread grins at the mention of Raven's simian ancestry, "Aye, I'm surprised he's even developed opposable thumbs. Course he's got that prognathous jaw, and the sloping forehead. I don't know what any of that means o' course, but his appearance is remarkably similar to an ape of some sort. And he has that one big eyebrow that goes all the way across his forehead, too. He's probably one of those eastern Sawoojian Bugtussle apes I once told ye about. They can handle simple tools, like knives and such. And they stalk about and grunt and look menacin' all the time. And I've never seen anyone glower, grunt, and stalk about like Raven. I'd bet if'n ye took his armor off, he'd have a thick, hairy ape-pelt on him. And he has that natural affinity with other lower animals. I'm really surprised this didn't occur to me before now. I wonder if poor Rinda will have a human baby or a litter of little apelets. Oh well, at least Raven will have somebody to pick the fleas off of him."