Cillian led The Wolves down a narrow winding path into the forest. A wall of trees drew in all around them. The shadows of the woods were such the forest-roof let in little light, as if night had come before the day had come to an end. Only the slightest slivers of light pushing their way through the thick canopy of leaves above gave any semblance of daylight around the path.
Jeanne summoned a small fireball to light the way, making it easier to see before her. She noted Cillian rubbing his arm with one hand as he would stop and examine the area before continuing down. She also noted Maeryn had an arrow notched on her bowstring as they moved down the road. Leonidas was gripping the shaft of his staff and the hilt of his blade, occasionally flexing his fingers and she could hear him breathing heavy.
Jeanne noticed she was looking back and forth through the denseness of the tree line. Trying to see if something or someone was lurking in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. She wished she had the ability to see in the dark with greater clarity. Thinking Guthrem would stick to the shadows and not plot his vengeance was foolish hopes. She kept her hand on the head of her war-hammer, her fingers tapping on the night black metal.
Reaching a small clearing, Cillian pointed to a cave, “There, that’s where I saw them go in,” he said to them. The cave opening was wider than Jeanne had seen before, stalactites jutted from the cave’s ceiling with long and jagged stalagmites pushing up from the floor. Forming a visage of a monstrous maw opening up to engulf any who entered.
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“He went in there?” Cid asked.
Cillian shook his head. “Yes, saw him walk in and everything.”
Jeanne noticed his breathing had begun to quicken as sweat now poured from his brow. “Everything well?” Silvius asked, “you seem to be perspiring rather heavy.”
“I think it’s just the wind,” Cillian said.
“There’s no wind blowing,” Maeryn said, beginning to raise her bow and arrow towards Cillian.
“I swear, I’m telling the truth. This isn’t a trap,” Cillian insisted.
“No one said it was,” said Benkin, unsheathing his blade.
“This … this isn’t what it looks like,” Cillian insisted.
“Then what is it,” demanded Kveldulf.
“Please,” said Jeanne, lightly smacking the head of her hammer into the palm of her free hand, “do enlighten us.”
Cillian looked back and forth, breathing heavy and slowly stepping away from them. “You have to believe me, I didn’t want to do this!”
“Do what!” Cid ordered.
A high screech came from the cave, the echo reverberating from the walls inside, causing everyone to turn towards the noise. “The fuck was that?” Jeanne asked.
“I think we need to leave,” Benkin said to the others, training the tip of his blade towards the cave.
“Agreed,” Cid replied, “we’re leaving, now.”
“You can’t!” Cillian said, grabbing Cid.
Cid, tried wresting the elf from him but before he could, the terrible cry came from the cave once more, and a lone figure crawled out of the mouth of the opening. The creature was thin, with long arms and legs for limbs, covered in dirtied grey feathers over the exposed skin. The feet were blackened with soot and grime, while the fingers were caked with hues of red and brown. On its back were wings with feathers in the colors of coals, ash, earth. A crown of plumages dressed its head which carried the form of a bird more than a person.
“Well, that’s a hard no for me, thank you very much!” said Hypatia as the creature let out a blood chilling scream and lunged at them.