Three days later, the group rose before dawn and packed the wagons to prepare for their continued trek to Crider's Blight.

Looking around, Marren began to address the women, "it's nice to be back on my feet again, though I felt we could have left yesterday... "  "We could have Marren, but we all decided that you could use the extra day of rest," Lyranda said over her shoulder, "your health and welfare are vital to us, it was a small price to pay." 

"Even as much as I want to see my aunt, I could not have agreed more.  Your knowledge, skills, courage and most importantly, friendship, are invaluable assets to us all," Lilith added, "to do less would have been unforgivable after what you went through."

"Aye, lad," Petra chimed in, "ye are often a royal pain in the backside, but ye be our royal pain in the backside.  Besides, ye be the only other one that likes beer around here, be a shame to lose a drinkin' buddy."  With a wink and a smile, Marren responded to the woman, "ah c'mon Petra, just admit you're madly in love with me and you can't live without me."  "Only in yer wildest dreams, lad," The dwarf retorted as both began to break out into light laughter.

"I'm glad you're doing well also, Marren," Cailin softly spoke to the man, "the extra day of rest seems to have done you good and has made us all a bit less weary."  Not wanting to push the young woman about the past events, Marren replied, "thank you Cailin, I really do appreciate all the kindness and concern you've all shown me in the past few days.  You are all very special people and it is my honor to be with you."

"Well now that with all that said, ladies, I shall once again take up my duties and begin scouting ahead," Marren continued.  "You will not be going alone from now on Marren," Lyranda interrupted, "I will be coming with you."  "And why is that?" ,Marren retorted with obvious irritation, "do you all think I need babysitting now?  You all know I've been through worse scrapes than this in the past." 

"Calm down , Marren," Petra interjected, "this not be babysitting as you call it, it be common sense.  Two sets of eyes be better than one and besides, Lyranda's talents may prove very useful.  The happenings of the last few days have proven the threat ain't as light as we had hoped.  We all know it'll probably get worse."

"As always Petra, you're right... which, by the way is starting to become annoying," Marren replied to the woman with a sigh of resignation and a slight chuckle, then turning toward Lyranda, "well, let's go partner, perhaps I can teach you how to be a scout."  Responding to the man's words, Lyranda spoke, "and perhaps I may be able to instill some druidic skills upon you."  "Sounds like a fair proposition.  Alright, everybody saddle up and let's get out of here... off we go, partner", Marren called out. 

Later that day as Marren and Lyranda were scouting the woods ahead of the caravan, Marren began to talk.  "You know Lyranda, I was opposed at first you you coming along, I've always worked better alone.  But just observing you the last few hours... your affinity with nature and the ability to sense the 'spirit' of the area is amazing... gods how I wish we had had someone like you in the scouts." 

"Marren, your skills as a scout and tracker are bar none, while my abilities may seen amazing to you, yours are also such to me,"  Lyranda replied, "you see things I do not, you look at a broken grass blade and can tell if it was man or beast that caused the damage.  You hear the sounds around us and can tell what made them.  You may not call them such, but these skills are your spirits.  You are more familiar with the aspects of the druid than you realize."

Stopping for a moment along the trail, both knelt and began staring down the trail before them.  Turning toward the druid, Marren whispered, "you feel that, don't you?"  Lyranda whispered back to her companion, "yes, I do.  But I sense whatever or whoever it is, is of no threat, but..."  "But what, Lyranda?", Marren queried further.  "I cannot say," Lyranda whispered once again, "the spirits of this place are confused, it's as if they too have no idea what is happening, but they sense no malice."

"Hmmm, interesting.", Marren said as he stood once again.  "There's only one thing we can do... c'mon partner, let's go see what adventure lies before us."

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Cailin's Journey - - An Adventure In The Making
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