It took the caravan around twenty more minutes before it got going. Saga spent most of that time chatting with Sasha, who was excited to leave Mittegård for Aleport and other places at last. Saga was mostly marveling at the fact it had been but a week, and so much had changed for them.

As the large oxen creatures that pulled the wagons began to move, they slowly moved out of the southern gate. Evira was among the guards up on the wall, giving Saga a wave. "Don't get too cocky now Berserker!" She shouted as she waved her spear and hollered. Saga simply waved back with a stupid grin on their face. As they left through the south gate, they passed Olga's house. The woman stood leaning against her fence as Sasha hopped off to give her a quick hug. Saga watched as they two embraced, the older woman was very stern looking as always. But Saga could see clear cracks in that facade as her niece hugged her.

“I will be back,” Sasha promised but Olga just scoffed. Instead, she gave the younger woman a warm smile, those glowing eyes holding nothing but unconditional love for this woman she helped raise into a warrior.

“If you think I am staying here forever you are mistaken, girl. We’ll see each other sooner or later, but more likely out in the world. With your training complete, I can finally stretch my legs and start wandering again.” The woman said as she held Sasha's shoulder, getting a good look. “You go now. Don’t make your Auntie get all sentimental.” They hugged again and then Sasha was jogging back to the caravan. Saga looked at Olga, smiling to herself as they saw Olga wipe a tear when she thought nobody was looking.

Sagas seat was rather uncomfortable, as the cold wooden roof was made with sitting in mind. They sat cross-legged, running a whetstone along the edges of their new sword. It had come with the wrappings of the blade and Saga was determined to make sure the sword was treated with the care it deserved. Their thoughts wandered, as their little entourage moved out of sight of the Outpost town. They were truly out on the road now and this road was a whole lot wider than the one on the north side of the town. IT was clear that this was the main route as it had the occasional milestone along the road, showing the current distance to either Alebridge or Mittegård.

Saga took it all in, watching how large fields of frozen and dormant soil spread out across the landscape spread out only to terminate in walls of thick fern forest. They were once again reminded of home, with its many deep forests yet to be cut down, its overgrown fields, partially reclaimed by nature, and its wide, swaying fields of farmland further south. All hills and winding country roads where there wasn’t any interest or money for highways or even just paved roads. This road was relatively well maintained, and while the carriage may sway as it hit bumps in the road but it had been outfitted with better suspension than the more simple wagons of the merchant's caravan.

“Berserker” Came the voice of the half-giant suddenly. Saga shifted as the mercenary caught them off guard. They had been. This was the mercenary that had quite possibly been hired to kill them.

“I have a name,” Saga said, turning to watch him. "Its Saga." They said, pointing to the half-giant mercenary who stared at them for a solid five seconds before shrugging and turning back towards the road.

“I like Berseker better.” He said and saga felt a slight tinge of irritation build. They affixed the back of his skull with a glare.

“Why is that?” They asked. The man didn't turn to look at them. Instead, they spoke in a level and calm voice.

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“Because it tells me all I need to know.” He said and Saga once more felt that little tick of irritation. There was something exceedingly annoying and frustrating about people like the mercenary. People who would talk as if they knew you, even though you just met.

“And what is that,” Saga asked, unable to keep the irritation out of their voice.

“That you walk a path most would turn and run from.” The man said, which caught Saga a little by surprise. It was without judgment, if anything it sounded as if Saga's path had lent them some bit of respect from the mercenary. Saga supposed they could see why. A mercenary thought for money and some took pride in it. Someone whose path is to be knee-deep might just feel like a kindred spirit to him. Saga was not sure they liked that.

“Not you though.” Saga said, prodding this mysterious stranger who spoke wholly different from what Saga had expected. For some reason, they assumed a mercenary hired by a morally bankrupt and skeezy rich kid would be more rough and off-putting.

“Not me. But my Path is different.” He agreed as they began to move through a little bit more hilly a landscape. The forest slowly crept slower as they approached it. Birds of crows and ravens seemed to be following the caravan, no doubt wanting to see where it stopped so they could try to snag some of the food in one of the carts.

“Oh yeah? What is your path?” Saga asked eyes narrowed.

“You’ll see. If someone comes looking for trouble.” The man said and Saga didn’t answer back. Instead, they turned back to their sword, clearly picking up on the veiled threat.

The further south they got, the more Saga began to notice the thick trees. Soon, the fields were replaced with the thick walls of trees on either side. The road through the woods was slightly more narrow but impressively maintained for such a remote region. The trees themselves were a mix of some of the thickest pine trees they had ever seen and smaller, thick ferns that would make peering deeper into the forest difficult. The canopy was thick enough that even in broad daylight, the light was motley and diffused and with more shadows than light.

Saga could tell there had been a shift within the caravan drivers and the two guards as soon as they entered the forest. Suddenly everyone was that much more alert, peering into the woods on either side. The darkness of the thick forest and the many rocks and hilly terrain made it prime ambush material.

“Berserker” The half-giant spoke again.

“What is it,” Saga asked, glancing at the forest. They felt as if they had seen something move in the corner of their eye. The mercenary had distracted them at just the wrong moment. Then again, they were not sure if it wasn't just their imagination? But then they saw it again, a bit clearer. The mercenary had clearly been about to answer when he saw the way Saga's eyes darted around.

"You saw something." He surmised.

Without another word between the two, Saga sheathed their sword and instead grabbed their spear. They breathed in slowly, trying to clear their heads as they watched the shadows of the deep forest around them. Then they saw it again. It began as a flicker within the shadows of a tree, and suddenly it just jumped to another shadow at another tree. It allowed them to seemingly keep pace with the caravan at a safe distance.

“Something in the trees” Saga said, loud enough for Sasha to hear.

“Can you see what it is?” Sasha asked, looking into the darkness, trying to see what Saga saw.

“It moves fast. Darts between trees whenever the tail of the caravan is about to pass it.” The half-giant said, confirming Saga's own observations. The three of them shared a glance before they saw someone dart into the woods from their Caravan. Saga could barely manage to catch a glimpse of Lenara as she literally run up a tree, the soles of her feet glowing faintly. As she moved deeper into the forest, towards where that shadow had first been seen, the shadow dislodged itself from its hiding spot and began to flee deeper into the forest. Lenara seemed to give chase, as her rapidly vanishing form darted just as quick from tree to tree.

“Your friend is fast.” The half-giant noted, stroking his chin. “Think she can catch whatever that was?”

“Without a doubt.” Saga said, eyeing him. “Why?”

“Would be nice to know what is stalking us.”