The clash between the Level 29 Shadow Leopard and the herd of Level 20-25 buffalos was awe-inspiring and Ryan was glad that the pitch-black cat swiftly striking at the humongous armoured Level 25 Guardian Buffalo hadn’t stumbled over the two of them while unaware. It looked like an ambush predator and he had to wonder if his Graviton Sphere would have picked up on it if it had lain in wait. The dead heifer at its feet clearly hadn’t and the Leopard was fending off the herd to drag its kill to safety, stymied by the furious Guardian Buffalo shrugging off the vicious clawed swipes of the predator. The herd had gathered in a protective circle, calves protected on the inside with a thicket of imposing horns ready to head of an attack from any direction. Only the Guardian was facing the cat but the two were locked in a stalemate.
Ryan had no intention of involving himself in the fight and just continued watching the spectacle. The stalemate broke when the Leopard charged at the herd, swiftly darting past the massive buffalo which ponderously turned around and charged after the cat. It was a feint as the leopard came to an abrupt halt and dodged the charging buffalo only to dart back to its kill and start dragging it away until forced to re-engage the buffalo charging at it. Only for the same sequence of events to happen again, and again, each repeat allowing the predator to carry away the kill a bit further until it managed to heave the heifer up a rocky tower until it was safely out of reach of the buffalo.
The herd lingered for a while after conclusion of the conflict before it headed off prompting Ryan to remember his goals and do likewise. The two of them made a wide detour around the leopards retreat and quietly stalked through the thick bush in direction of their target. The site of the epic conflict was not far behind when they crested a ridge and had an unobstructed view into the valley that was their target. He realised that he had overshot the target and was on the northern side of the valley. It wasn’t an issue and once Ryan scrutinised the vista he decided that it was actually a good thing as it would allow him to case all sites of interest save one from a fixed position on the ridge. So he decided to move along the ridge, keeping crouched and in cover, to find a suitably comfortable spot to observe the valley for a bit. Settled between the roots and in the shade of another massive ficus tree Ryan retrieved his binoculars as Fury lay down next to him for a nap.
Ryan panned over the valley in patient repeated sweeps but failed to spot any hint of movement around the signs of civilisation he could spot from his vantage. The campsite close to them was vacant of any human presence and the lodge on the opposite slope of the valley seemed similarly deserted. Which made sense as Ryan wouldn’t have remained at either the camp or amid the canvas chalets after initiation rather preferring the security of sturdy buildings. Which made the absence of movements at the lodge situated in the bowl of the valley worrisome. Nestled far up in the valley surrounded by verdant trees it was the ideal location to remain hidden from a world caught in conflict, provided one could deal with the surrounding fauna. Which, judging from the lack of industrious activity Ryan would have expected were the lodge occupied, hadn’t been the case when the System disrupted the life of staff and guests.
Ryan considered the situation and considered the path forward. He’d have to scout the locations in person in any event, but would it be better to work around the valley and first observe the lodge hidden behind the opposite ridge or could he assume that descending into the valley would be safe, by varying definitions of safe at least. Ryan wasn’t particularly worried about encountering natural threats in the valley which he assumed were present in any event but rather the possibility of a sharp eyed watch equipped with a hunting rifle taking a pot-shot at him from the opposing ridge. He was strapped for time however and working along the ridge would take hours he didn’t have if he didn’t want to spend his night in the thick bush on the plateau. Once more scanning the layout of the natural features of the valley reassured him to some extent. If he descended into the valley from the south-western extreme and moved along the southern slope he’d be hidden from the most likely location of a possible watch, the sundowner lapa on the opposing ridge due to the shape of the valley. The lodge in the valley was also hidden from that location behind a spur of rock and he could safely approach it, scout it and hopefully stay the night.
He remembered to send off a report to Michelle before he started on his approach and realised with some chagrin that he had ignored several of her reminders to report in regularly. Oops. Working through the thick bush and traversing the rugged terrain took another significant chunk of time, compounded by their need to move as stealthily as possible. Ryan had no wish to engage in any sort of combat in this terrain and both Fury and he strained their senses to the utmost to detect any possible threat lurking in the thick bush. It was exhausting and before long Ryan realised that he wouldn’t reach his target before nightfall. He sent another report to Michelle, updating the Guild on the situation and asking that the team stand by until he could scout the lodge, asking that they prepare for overnighting in a not fully scouted location.
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Ryan absolutely hated that he’d be forced to scout the lodge in the dark and consequently decided to risk moving along the hiking trail that they stumbled on a bit later fearing that it would expose him to any observes from the lodge or the lapa. He considered the increased pace worth the risk and the uncertain light provided by the setting sun should make discovery less likely. The fact that he was moving in the shadow of the mountain further mitigated that risk.
The last rays of sunset painted the elevated sandstone towers of the south eastern ridge a hazy shade of pink as the pair headed off the hiking trail to cover the rest of their approach by the thick riverine bush. The sound of nocturnal fauna commencing their nightly activities remained uninterrupted as the two got closer, unnoticed by the denizens of the area. Fury was fully stealthed and ranged ahead, her keen senses unmatched but failing to pick up any indications that something didn’t belong. Ryan, fully focusing on the synergistic compilation of all his senses could likewise observe no sign of danger. The faint whiff of decaying meat and the mouldy smell of rotten vegetation were the only incongruent notes in the symphony of sensation.
Ryan suspected he knew what he’d find if he inspected the buildings of the lodge more closely but decided that quickly scouting for large threats and quickly moving to a securable location was the best option for the moment. Graviton Sphere told him that no large bodies were moving through the area he could perceive and, alert for any ambush, ready to Shift away from danger, Ryan speedily and noisily swept through the lodge’s grounds, apprehensively hoping to bait out any possible predator. The tension he held himself under only ebbed once he had swept the lodge in its entirety which to his shock had taken far less time than it had felt like. He’d also decided that the barnlike garage was the most defensible location for the night as it had no windows and was surrounded by an expansive paved area.
Fury, picking up on his decision, darted into the building through the open gate before Ryan could even consider checking for possible occupants and to his great relief reassured him a scant few moments later that it had been quite some time since the building was occupied by a living entity. Foregoing a source of light to avoid attracting unwanted attention Ryan closed the gate with some effort, the rails gummed up by unseen obstructions before he carefully moved through the abyssal darkness of the barn, guided only by the vague indications of large stationary objects that reflected the sounds his footsteps were making on bare concrete. His eyes, slightly accustomed to the absolute darkness spotted the increased luminosity that presaged an open door or possibly a window. Hesitantly shuffling his way towards the source of the scant light he found that it was indeed a door opening into a windowed workshop identified by the variety of tools Ryan could identify in the indistinct light streaming through the grimy window.
Ryan closed the door and called Michelle, spooling up a portal as the call went through. In wonder Ryan stared at the coruscating ethereal light the growing portal faintly cast into the absolute darkness, never having realised before that the construct shed illumination however faint it was. With the slightest flash the portal stabilised and the barn was cast in the warm light of several torches carried by the forewarned night-watch which quickly filed into the barn. The group came prepared for setting up a quick and dirty camp in the building thanks to his earlier report and even carried along dinner for both the lioness and the Wild Hunter. Probably wise as that avoided the need to start a fire.
He briefed Mike, who had approached him, in as much detail as he had discovered on the situation in the lodge, explaining that it would probably be safest if they stayed holed up in the barn and left before sun-up so Ryan could get an early start properly scouting the valley. Asked for a reason he explained that he hoped to make his approach to the southern ridge before it was fully light, relying on the uncertain light of the dawn to hide him from possible human observers.
“No problem man. I’ll wake you at around five and you can portal us out then.” Mike agreed and let Ryan settle onto the camp cot Gabriel had set up in the meantime. “Sleep tight.” Even as exhausted as he was Ryan had difficulty finding sleep, unhappily worrying about the risk he was exposing the group to because he couldn’t properly scout the location. Eventually Ryan drifted off, still thinking on what he could have done differently save taking more risks during the day, his last thought on what tomorrow might bring.