After a second day of walking the hermit guiding them, started looking more serious. Their steps became lighter, their eyes scanning further ahead. It seems they were getting close.

The snow was thinner on the ground. Most of it being held up in the tree branches. The air was dead still and the light of the afternoon sun was shining brightly enough to give everything a harsh edge.

“Not much further now.” Whispered the hermit. “This was where I’ve heard their cries at night. So be ready.”

Nelly, Gary, and Everett readied their weapons and dropped their packs.

“We’ll push on ahead and clear the ground entrance.” Everett said taking on the leadership role he was used to. “You guys take care of our packs and follow behind.”

“Shouldn’t we all attack at once?” Paul asked. “Safety in numbers and all that?”

“Show’s what you know.” Everett gave a quiet laugh. “We’ve got our role, you’ve got yours. We clear things up top and prevent anything that went wandering from coming back in. You guys save what little strength you have for the dungeon.”

“Dammit Everett, you don’t have to be so angry all the time.” Gary harshly whispered. “They only wanted to help.”

“Yeah, help me fail the quest.” Everett snapped back. “Just enough so that they can claim I never did anything.”

Gary threw up their hands in exasperation. “Delusional.”

“Just watch and see how a real adventuring group does it.” Everett stalked forward with shield at the ready and sword drawn.

Nelly and Gary shared a look but follow in similar fashion. Bow with arrow nocked, and Wooden staff gripped.

The other four picked up the dropped luggage and slowly advanced keeping a healthy distance between them.

A tense silence was the only thing of note anyone heard. But as they stalked forwards, an odd clicking noise stood out. Not the click of talon or clack of claw on stone, something different.

Cresting a snow dune, the group of adventurers finally spotted what could only be the dungeon entrance. Mostly because milling around it were skeletons clutching rusted weaponry and wearing rotting clothes.

Everett, Nelly, and Gary gave each other knowing nods and started moving forward. They crept as close as they could, moving swiftly tree to tree. Each step as silent as they could make it. Our four took this opportunity to get low and observe the fight.

Time did not freeze.

With a resounding yell Everett rushed forward and shoulder checked one of the skeletons, sending it careening into a second one. Nelly drew her bow fully, whispered a spell, [True Shot], which caused a glowing yellow rune circle to form around the arrowhead before shooting it directly into the skull of a skeleton wielding a short sword. Gary spoke, [Fire Ball], and conjured a small baseball sized ball of flame that he flung at another skeleton holding a wooden club.

The fight raged on in the distance, but Francis had to ask. “Why isn’t the thing happening?”

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Mark was frowning. “Yes, something feels different about this.”

“I knew the feeling that, what happens to us when fighting, isn’t normal.” Paul mused. “But I was never sure if anyone else noticed anything different.”

“Do you think it’ll happen if we join that fight over there?” Tim couldn’t take their eyes off the fight as Everett beheaded one of the skeletons.

“Maybe.” Was all Paul could speculate on.

Arrows shot forth, spells were cast, and blades clashed against bone and steel. It was almost a dance with how fluid the three of them dispatched the initial skeleton guards. Everett would call out for a spell and Gary would cast. Nelly would watch Everett’s back and shout when a skeleton was sneaking up. Gary sometimes charged up a bigger [Fire Ball] and the other two would find cover to let the heat wash over the enemy skeletons.

“I have to admit.” Mark had a thoughtful look on his face. “Now that I see them in action, I can somewhat understand why Everett thinks we cheated. I’m not sure we would have won the bar fight if they could work together like this.”

“Do any of you see the ‘red eyes’ the hermit was talking about?” Paul was squinting. “I think it might be too bright out to see it right now.”

“Nothing like that is standing out for me.” Tim noted. “They don’t have eyes, but perhaps the ‘red eyes’ thing is different somehow?”

The fight had turned one sided at this point. Only a few skeletons were remaining standing. Of those their bones were cracked and weapons broken. An unthinking rage moved the warriors of bone to throw their battered bodies into the fray. But with spell, sword, and arrow, they were finally put to rest.

Keeping their guard up, all three of Everett’s group scanned around for movement from the broken bones surrounding their feet. After the brief look, Everett raised their sword and called “Clear.” which was quickly echoed by Nelly and Gary.

“That’s how you do it.” Everett sheathed their sword and led the group of three back towards the rest. “This is how a proper adventuring group gets it done.”

“Yes yes, very pretty.” Francis said mockingly. “I can see that we all have much to learn from the great Everett.”

Mark ignored the frown from Everett and the jabs by Francis. “So Nelly, what are you three going to do while we’re down there?”

Mark pointed towards the now obvious dungeon entrance. A snowed over square depression in the forest floor. The fight had revealed stone steps leading downwards.

“We’ll be keeping the area clear of anything really.” Nelly fixed an errant strand of hair behind her ears that had come loose in the fight. “I suspect those skeletons will re-summon themselves fairly regularly so we’ll be busy mostly keeping them suppressed. Beyond that it’s just camping. Considering this is the first time anyone's probably been in this dungeon, I don’t think we’ll get anyone trying to sneak in.”

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about anyone coming near here.” The hermit spoke up suddenly.

Paul jumped and turned. “Oh jeez I figured you wouldn’t stick around for the fighting.”

“I made sure I wouldn’t get caught up in it.” the hermit gave a single laugh. “I’ll be happy to leave all the quick moving about to you young folks. What I plan on doin’ is just heading back to my home for now.”

“It’s nearby I take it?” Paul asked.

“You’ll take nothing, but it is close.” The hermit waggled their eyebrows. “I’ll check in every now and then as I’m out and about. Make sure you lot aren’t getting up to too much trouble. Other than that, I’ll see you all later.”

The hermit walked away with a wave. Trudging through the snow perpendicular to the direction they had come from the town.

“Alright.” Francis rubbed their hands together. “Dungeon time.” And started walking towards the steps but was stopped short by the black stone hand of Tim.

“No, it’s camp setup time.” Tim said.

“Right, but after that, Dungeon time!” Francis would not be dismayed.

“Sorry Francis.” This time it was Mark. “Then it’s snow shovelling time as we clear the entrance.”

Francis turned their soulful eyes towards their last ray of hope, Paul. “Dungeon time?”

“I hate to break your heart.” Paul at least attempted to look sad. “But we’ve been walking all day, and I’m feeling tired. Best to get to it when we’re well rested.”

A crestfallen Francis dragged their feet over to one of the skeleton skulls that littered the small clearing they were in. They kicked the bone with a perfect side on football shot that sent the piece clattering off a tree.

“I suppose I can wait one more day.” Francis sighed into the open air of the approaching evening.