WOT Adv 56

--- The Wheel Turns ---
The officer slowly backs away from you, a grim look on his face. Keeping you in his vision and his sword up and at the ready, he continues backing away until his is lost from view.

You curse your bad fortune and then you hear voices and shouts coming nearer. You decide it probably isn't best to remain in the open since you can see some figures in the distance with torches lit. But they pause and you can hear a gruff conversation.

"Captain, what happened?"

"Some enemy scouts are afoot, see that the sentries are doubled immediately for the remainder of the night!"

"Yes. Sir!"

Soon the voices and the figures move away until you can no longer make out what is being said.

There doesn't appear to be any sign of pursuit into your woods however. You breathe a sigh of relief and begin to silently make your way back to where you and Keb first overlooked the camp south of the woods.

You stop dead in your tracks. To the southwest, still in the woods, some 20 paces away near the edge of the road, you can make out five large bestial shapes, wet snouts blowing steam into the cold night air. They are crouched behind trees, bushes and boulders, wicked looking scythe-shaped swords are clasped in their mishappen hands. Trollocs.

Just then you hear what sounds like a wounded bird chirping. But after listening for a bit, it doesn't sound like a bird at all. It sounds an awful like Keb. You peer into the darkness. But can't see her.

"Keb?" you whisper, moving toward the sound.

"Over here," comes a whisper from behind a tree.

You motion her to silence and point out the hidden trollocs to her. Her eyes widen and then she nods, her hand on her rapier.

"What news?" you ask her.

"We weren't able to follow the officers." She fills you in. "We lost their tracks in the darkness and so came back to where you told us. But when you didn't show up, I came looking. Maeslyn and Therlin are still behind the hill."

You nod, aware that Maeslyn and Keb are both city folk and haven't spent time in the wild like you have and wouldn't know much about tracking. As far as Therlin goes, he doesn't look very observant either.

"Any luck with the officer?" Keb asks.

You shake your head. "No. In fact, things are now worse; they are alerted to our presence."

"Blazes!" Keb scowls. "Now what?"