Chapter 6: The Old Ruins
-----Raven, Rand, and Thalog quietly mount up sometime after Arliss leaves for the town of Hearthorn. They guide their horses from out between the buildings that the evil humanoids had claimed for a hideout. They pass the place in the surrounding field where they had had an earlier encounter with three of the orcs. Carrion birds were now claiming their foul bodies.
-----The riders turn their horses westward and gallop off as if to meet the westward sun. They ride closely but little is said. In the distance to the south, they see a line of trees surrounding both banks of the Altor River.
-----After a mile, they move around the northern edge of a small wetland. They also skirt a hill the white dog had led them down earlier in the day. Beyond, the plains open up before them for at least a mile. With the sun almost in their eyes, they see the bright light reflecting off a small lake ahead.
-----In the distance, they also see what seem to be irregular stone shapes rising from the ground. As they charge across the last mile of plains, they can see that the structures are the weed-entangled stones of an ancient village ruins.
-----Suddenly from the south, they become aware of a single rider also rapidly approaching the site.
-----As they enter the ruins, they see that even though the buildings of this village ruin are little more than foundations, the stone blocks are quite large. There are also columns or stones with old carvings.
-----Finally, as the men round some tall, limestone blocks, something unbelievable comes into sight. There, before them, is a large raised foundation; its ancient stone floor still intact. Broken columns outline where walls once stood. Across the way, they see the other rider. He appears to be a tall brown-haired man wearing a green surcoat over some kind of mail. It's evident he also see them, however, his attention is drawn to the raised stone foundation.
-----There in the middle of the exposed stone floor, stands a young girl, with long black hair and wearing purplish robes. She is completely surrounded by at least a score of rabbits, although the most shocking thing is the animals' behavior. Some of the rabbits run around the perimeter wildly leaping. Some of the animals attack each other, viciously drawing blood. Most of the rabbits, however, seem to stalk the girl growling and squalling in an unsettling way. Their actions remind Raven, Rand, and Thalog of a pack of wolves.
-----Suddenly, the other rider charges toward the girl calling, "Hang on!"
-----Raven also urges his horse forward yelling to the girl, "Hang on, we're here to help!" He stops his horse, readies his bow and starts to shoot at the rabbits. An arrow kills a rabbit, while another arrow misses its target.
-----The stranger reaches the girl, mowing down a few rabbits in the process. Other rabbits scurry to get out of the way, hissing and squealing. He quickly offers her his arm and as he helps her into the saddle behind him, the men can see she is an elf.
-----Thalog begins to move his horse forward. He mutters, "I guess we had better watch out of the 'horrible white rabbits' around here." Suddenly Rand, Thalog and Raven find themselves trying to steady their horses frightened by the scampering rabbits. Thalog's horse rears and the mage finds himself slipping. He lands on his back with soft grass breaking his fall. As he turns to get up, he faces a brownish rabbit with deep black eyes. Its fur is matted with a sticky redness. It opens its mouth hissing and drooling.
-----"Stupid horse," Thalog swears while grabbing his staff. He then snarls at the rabbit he faces with burning anger just before he tries to bash it with his staff. As he turns, the rabbit surprisingly jumps at his face. Thalog quickly moves as the rabbit sails past his hood and crashes into some tall weeds. Thalog jabs the end of his staff at the animal's head and feels the small skull give. It then lies motionless among the tall grass.
-----Rand reigns in his horse, leaning down whispering calmly into its ear trying to calm it down. He trots slowly toward Thalog, keeping a tight grip on his horse.
-----By this time, the brown-haired man wearing the green surcoat rushes up with his sword drawn. The elf he assisted still sits atop his horse. He looks around obviously looking for any rabbits. Among the weeds in different spots, the men can see other rabbits, although they don't appear to threaten them.
-----Raven speaks in a calming voice to his horse. He then says, "Hope these rabbits aren't rabid. Very nasty sickness."
-----After giving a quick glance around, the man wearing the green surcoat turns to the three men. With a nod to Thalog and Raven, and a deep bow to Rand, he speaks up, " If you three are Raven, Thalog and Rand 'al Thor, then well met. I was asked by Arliss Vanderbrook to aid your 'work' in this area."