Lost Scout

[ChickieBooBoo]

Despite his impulsive intentions to leave right away, Ezra found that Aelfric's words were sensible and decided that the other man was right. He ran his hand back through his hair, partly to help himself completely wake up, and partly as a stress reliever. The thought of losing his family made him sick and dizzy.

When Jasper offered his suggestion, Ezra almost didn't hear what the boy was saying. After a couple seconds of delay, he looked up and pondered how Duke could have gotten ahead of them. "It is strange.." He frowned at Jasper. "Even if he had been following Panago, how did he somehow get ahead of us? Unless he snuck by when we were in the bush... it still seems fishy though. Maybe he was stolen?"

--

Danielle reluctantly followed Gytha to the back of the cage, seeing no other alternative other than to sit outside in the dark by herself. She felt uncomfortable to be so close with so many strange people, but she was grateful for the small amount of body heat that the small group generated. The only jacket which she had brought along had been left in a bag attached to Duke, and obviously she hadn't had time to recover it when the orcs kidnapped her.

 

[Frundette]

Jasper looked over the fine animal, impressed by the black colt "Doesn't look like he's hurt at all that I can tell," the surgeon's apprentice said, running a hand down Duke's shoulder and over his back. "A bit sweaty where his saddle was though," he observed.


Aelfric's brow furrowed at Ezra's suggestion that the horse had been stolen. "If someone did steal the horse and then managed to lose him, it's possible they could be tracking him," Aelfric said, thinking out loud. "Anything in his bags that might belong to the thief?"

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Ezra gave his head a small shake. "Of course, why didn't I think of that!" In the heat of the moment, and the confusion that followed, he had forgotten that whoever had been riding Duke had most likely left something behind in one of the saddle bags. He hurried over to where he had placed the saddle bag and opened the one that was nearest him. From inside he drew out a worn green travelling cloak with gold stitching and the embroidered initials 'MC' on the sleeve. "Danielle..." He uttered, clutching the cloak tightly. "Oh my gosh... I knew it..."

 

[StarrNico]

Reba raised her head as Danielle and Gytha joined the group at the back of the orc's cage. She turned to face them, wondering about the new girl. It was obvious she had been there for a few days at least, with bruises and cuts visible on her arms and face. The young woman rose up on her arm slightly "Hi" She said quietly


~~~
Strider looked up from his cold camp at the sound of voices and horses. "Easy, Stone" He said softly and stood, walking to his horse, calming it before he could call out to the other horses. He looked to the sounds again curiously, then started to make his way closer. He stopped when he could see the group of men and smiled recognizing another scout. "Hello in the camp." He called to them, waiting for an answer before revealing himself.

 

[Frundette]

"Knew what?" Aelfric asked, peeking over Ezra's shoulder at the 'MC' initials and not understanding the significance. But before any answer could be given, another voice rang out from the darkness.

His sword still in hand, Aelfric turned toward the voice and automatically stepped slightly to the side, putting his back to a tree. "Who goes there?" he called to the voice in the dark.

 

[StarrNico]

Strider stepped forward, into the light. "Would think you would recognize my voice, Aelfric. Your the one who sent for me after all." He said, keeping his hands visible and away from his weapons until Aelfric relaxed. He looked around at the other men in the camp, watching their reaction to his appearance.

 

[Frundette]

"Strider! You're a welcome site tonight!" Aelfric said as the man stepped into the glow of their fire. He relaxed his stance and lowered his sword as he stepped forward to greet the newcomer. "What's it been, friend? 3 years?

"Seems you got the message I sent about Ragnar needing more men. Let me tell you, your timing couldn't be better..."

 

[StarrNico]

"Strider! You're a welcome site tonight!" Aelfric said as the man stepped into the glow of their fire. He relaxed his stance and lowered his sword as he stepped forward to greet the newcomer. "What's it been, friend? 3 years?

"Seems you got the message I sent about Ragnar needing more men. Let me tell you, your timing couldn't be better..."

Strider grinned, greeting his friend and nodded. "Yes, almost exactly 3 years." The smiled soon faded though "We had some trouble on the way, orcs captured Reba. I have been following their trail." He said, gesturing back to his camp. He looked around the men in this camp again curiously.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Ezra looked up when Strider entered their camp, initially a little bit suspicious of the stranger. When Aelfric seemed to recognize him, however, Ezra relaxed slightly and folded the green coat back into the saddle bag. "Sorry, I don't think we've met." He extended his hand to the other man. "My name is Ezra, I am a farmer from the settlement. Tell me more about the orcs, where did you encounter them? How many?" The stranger's tale made him worry that perhaps Danielle had befallen the same fate with Duke, if of course she had been the one riding him.

 

[StarrNico]

"I am Kane, Strider to my friends." Strider said, shaking Ezra's hand. "We encountered the orcs at nightfall five days ago. I had gone to get water while Reba started the campfire. Fifteen of them came out of the woods between us, five went to grab her while the others came after me. She managed to kill two of them and wound another before she was overpowered and taken away. I killed five before I was knocked out and left for dead." He shook his head slightly. "The weird part was, they seemed more interested in capturing than killing. They want living humans for something"