Chapter 4: Turncoat

[Breila]

On her round, every time she is in the middle between two torch-bearers, Hedra stands still for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dark to look out, so she will see the wolves' companion.

When she comes back to the camp, she tells Dorir: "There is a human with these wolves, looking at us from the hill over there. The animals keep their distance, though."

[Ismaels-Legacy]

As the caravan denizens hunker in their makeshift fortifications, spears bristling from the defenses, the lone human figure strides down the hill towards wolf. The man's lupine companion keeps pace beside him, matching him almost step for step. When he nears, he stays just out of reach of the prostrate mage and speaks in a quiet hiss. "Where is the girl!"

Wolf notices in the close quarters that the man's companion isn't necessarily a wolf, but seems to be part dog as well. It's intelligent features are tempered with patience and obedience. Glancing about at the other animals, he realizes that the reflection in their eyes isn't the pale yellow of feral wolves, but there is also a greenish tint of canines.

---------------------------------------------------------

"Something isn't right here." Carson mutters to himself within earshot of Carith. "Why don't they attack? Why aren't the wolves harrying the pack animals?" As his mulls over this dilemma, he hears Hedra say something about a man amongst the wolves. He quickly goes to her side just in time to see the man standing before Wolf, speaking to him quietly in the dark.

[Breila]

"There's Wolf!" Hedra exclaims. "Let's see who he is talking to." Quickly, she walks up to the two men, chanting an old song about the beauty and value of all things living, and how the protector is taking care of them.

Ohea, allslaybe isheah, ohea, idankdr dafeah!

[Kafen]

Having been pushed to the background, Dee remains quiet while Callan sorts it out. He takes both a torch in his left hand and draws his weapon with his right hand. Forming up a defensive position, he defends one of the flanks.

[Stik]

Seeing Hedra head out, Callan calls: "Go out there, Chanter, and you'll have wolves on four sides of you instead of one. Then, when things get ugly, we'll have to decide how many men to pull from defending the poor helpless children and old folk in the caravan to go out and rescue you.
"If the stranger wants to parley, let him come closer, so he'll be the one surrounded and beyond the reach of his allies."
"With all due respect," he adds, without any.

[Jenara]

Carith grabs Hedra quickly, pulling her back rather roughly. "Don't please? We need you right now and going out there will get you killed." She says matter of factly.

"Wait, then act." She says in a strange tone, axe in hand.

[Breila]

"And you're going to leave Wolf there alone, yes?" Hedra's voice is angrier than Carith has heard it, yes the dwarf does not struggle, knowing full well she has little chance against Carith's strength.

[Jenara]

"He has made his choice." she answers coldly.

[Ismaels-Legacy]

((Waiting on Talyn's response))

[Talyn]

Wolf lays prone and considers his options, he isn't sure which girl the man is hunting for but he is not liking what he is seeing.

For the moment, he looks up at the man and says nothing but tries to focus his magic start a small fire on his boot. It is all he can manage, if even that with the headache he still has.

[Ismaels-Legacy]

The man stares coldly at Wolf. Something catches his attention and he looks down at a small point on his mud soaked boot. A small trail of smoke has begun to waft from the saturated leather. The man's lip curls back in a sneer and slams the boot into Wolf's gut.

---------------------------------------------------------

As the group watches the violence that is played out before them, Dee notices something slightly beyond the light of the torches and the circling wolves. There seems to be more than just ONE man surrounding the camp. Slinking slowly between trees and undergrowth, there are ragged men, clad in cast off clothing camouflaged with sticks and leaves. Each carries a bow and a small quiver of arrows. The wolf-hounds seem to be ignoring their approach, belying a lengthy co-habitation.

----------------------------------------------------------

Grace, sufficiently cowed into submission, has begun to get a wry smile on her face. Should anyone notice it, her attention is fixed on the man brutalizing Wolf.

----------------------------------------------------------

Slade sneaks to Dee's side as the wolf-hounds circle closer. He says nothing but watches intently. As the canines grow more bold, he speaks slowly and deliberately as one who is under intense concentration, "It is considerably more secure to be with more people, but somehow I feel as if we are being corralled." As he speaks his last words, he raises an arm. With his final statement, he lashes forwards and lets a small iron dart fly. The projectile buries itself into the wolf-hounds flank, sending it tumbling to the ground before it resumes stride and limps out of torch light.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Dorir and Carson find their way to Callan and Carith. "The hunters have yet to return. They and all our archery equipment, scant as it may be, are gone. We need to hold the night. We have sentries and pikemen stationed, but there is no way to be sure of the enemies numbers. Adding in the wolf-hounds and the dark of night, we may be in a bit of a bind." Carson seems to be talking outloud, though it is clear that he is seeking council. "I believe that these are the bandits that have been raiding this roadway for some time."

[Jenara]

"The line will hold." Carith responds quickly, reaching for her bow on her back, feathering an arrow she lets it fly before moving quickly towards the front (ie where the man is attacking Wolf).

"Watch her!" She shouts looking back at Hedra then at Grace, "Callan, well you know what to do."

[Breila]

"Yes indeed, we should watch that little bitch" Hedra says as she turns to Grace. Seeing her look at the man, a thought dawns on her. "Do you know that man?" she asks Grace.

[Talyn]

Wolf doubles over on the ground and coughs. "Yes, in hindsight that was a dumb idea." he says as he gasps for breath. His headache was not helping matters, he felt himself dipping into unconscious for a brief moment as he fought to stay awake.

"I don't suppose you would wish to parley?" he asks, trying to look up at the man. He makes his words placating and respectful, he doesn't know what kind of person it is.

Racking his brain, Wolf tried to come up with an idea that would let him survive this situation. Most of his magic would take too long to manifest before he got beaten or killed for his efforts.

Still, the longer he kept him talking the more time he had to think.

[Ismaels-Legacy]

Grace sneers at the dwarf, "Aye, I know him. He is born of the same womb as I."

Carith's strides quickly take her to the man standing over Wolf. The canine at his side lowers it's head and emits a low growl. The man is cautious and makes sure to keep Wolf between him and the new arrival. "Is this one yours?" He asks simply.