Valiant Warriors crafted their devastating blows. Only four of these fiends remain and she intended to make quick work of them. The arrow nestled by quiver daftly notched by Trear's trained finger as it notched between the singing sinew. The furthest of the group was beneath her scope-- Arms raking the string with tremendous grace allowed the arrow to fly freely towards the furthest Kobold.

(Attack - Longbow - 8)

Trear missed her mark. The arrow offshoot behind the furthest Kobold with the fury of a charging tiger into the empty street. She reared herself back away from the Kobolds to her maximum effective range of 60 ft before surveying her surroundings.

(Ability Check - Perception - 8 - Surveying the surrounding battleground)

The arrow did indeed fly past the intended target, flying past the recently agitated kobold whose lizardly mouth crept into something that could only be seen as a grin of sorts. It kept on preparing the sling for another strike, intent on hitting this time.

The surroundings had not changed much, some of the fires seemed to be getting more ground while some began dying down. She could not see anything out of ordinary around them.

A blade sunk into his leg and a stone cut across his face, but Orchid did not falter. If anything, he felt more alive as he felt his life blood seep from his wounds. The kobold who dared engage him in melee would soon see Orchid’s blade plunge into it’s face. With both hands to grant extra power, he felt his machete sink into the kobold's body before pulling the blade out. Blood soaked both Orchid and his blade, but that only served to make his purely white smile even more noticeable. Although he is a barbarian, he kept his oral hygiene well maintained.

He briefly looked down at the wound on his shoulder. Though the kobold was small and weak, the wound he inflicted wasn't something that Orchid could simply ignore. It did hurt. But once more, it won't stop him. He looked at the Kobold who had struck him with a stone. It looked like the creature was going to get ready to fling another one at him, but he wasn't going to give it that chance. In a single move Orchid dashed to the kobold, moving around the slinger to get behind it. This way the Kobold had only two options: Face Orchid, or run towards the others. Orchid himself didn't bother to see if the kobold he had just stabbed was truly dead or not; he was certain it was slain so he largely ignored it.

"I will eat you!"

In Orchid's wake, disregarded by its assailant, a kobold was struggling for dear life. Despite it's best attempts, slowly it's vision began to blur and the cold seeped into all of it's body, seemingly escaping out of its side. It tried to stay awake, but eventually drifted unconscious.

One of the luckier ones of the little lizards weighed the massive human and his blade with his eyes. Their earlier strike had had little effect... perhaps it would be for the best to try striking at a weaker target first? That blade of the warrior was carrying wasn't something he'd really like to fight with. The kobold broke into a run, heading for the commoner the gang had been after earlier. That was a mistake that Ashkar did not leave unpunished. The blade the kobold had wanted to avoid collided with its back, sending the creature swiftly into the ground. They didn't seem to move after that.

The two remaining kobolds continued the fight, even with the half-orc now in their face, yelling about eating them. The one in front of him dropped their sling and scooped up the dagger they had dropped onto the ground earlier. Screaming, it held the dagger in both hands as it swung the little blade overhead, bringing it down onto the opponents abdomen. Such a clearly telegraphed strike was all too easy to avoid for the warrior, but that left them open for another rock in the face, this one delivered by the previously less accurate kobold.

And as surprising as that was, that rock sent Orchid counting stars and made the half-orc fall down. The two remaining kobolds barely believed their eyes, but the one who made the shot celebrated by pumping their fist in the air. Seeing this, the armed commoner and her family backed off a bit more, the woman still seemingly ready to strike at approaching threats.

The fierce weapon, with its strange edges and stranger engravings, moved fast - deathly fast at that. For as swift as the small lizardfolk was, it was all for not as the ferine champion brought his sword about once more in a mortal stroke even more swiftly; there existed a brief clatter to the dusted gravel and the spattering of blood then nothing more. The run ended before it truly had begun and Brannor clasped a gauntleted hand about the weathered leather bound ricasso of the weapon, collapsing the greatsword to a position of rest for a moment to survey his surroundings.

Peering and scowling as he was with brow narrowed, not fully spent of his wrath, he shifted his body weight to an advance toward what remained of the combat and maneuvered like a man with great purpose across the dirt and between the burning hovels. Drawing up to a scene he just bore witness to in which, by some chance, the orc warrior had narrowly evaded one threat only to have fate strike him down with another. Fallen as the green figure was, clearly drifting between the waking world and those of darker dreams, there was hope in the aspiring paladin's heart that his new companion would hold out.

All Brannor needed was time and that? That he could buy the half-orc.

First, the obvious threat needed to fall, and with the fur and chain dressed man approaching as he was with greatsword at the ready before him, that was of great likelihood. The second of the two kobolds, celebrating as it was, wasn't long for this world as Trear was likely to wedge an arrow's point firm between its eyes if Parum didn't outright shatter its mind first. But the dagger-bearer? That was fair quarry, but a kill truthfully belonging to the orc-blood.

Stepping with his swing, but feet away from Orchid who was still reeling, the sizable man hewed a cleaving strike from the side of his body near across the other in a manner one could almost describe as reaping. His exhale that accompanied it was a loud, pained snarl as the injuries of earlier stung and now stained his green and brown garb further with his blood, but these things only drove his attack to greater ends.



@Hekazu@Lucius Cypher@VKAllen@Ryonara

The dagger wielding kobold had neglected to keep it's rear guard up after having to turn against the big green threat and it didn't even notice the attack that ended it's life. It was all over in a grunt and the sound the blade sang as it cut the air prior to the strike. Only one kobold was left standing with a sling in their hand and while they were scared to be facing this group, it wouldn't do much good for it to try turning and running. If their arrows wouldn't get it, the dragon lady sure would. The kobold dug it's heels into the ground and breathed deeply. This would be it's last stand.

One by one the kobolds were getting taken down, making Parum feel excited by the second. She's seen fights before, but this would be the first time she ever got into a real life-or-death situation! Granted, she once killed a man, somewhat accidentally, but this time she was on the offensive. She felt like she was invincible. But then she saw the orc get hit square in the face with a stone, and seeing him fall quickly reminded Parum that they could still be defeated. Even if not by these kobolds, there could be more, or maybe that dragon from before would make her appearance now and attack them while they're weakened. Parum had to act decisively.

“Dout darastrix usjalil tepohaic wer trekis di vi jimva skav."

Throwing another Vicious Mockery at the Kobold, somewhat weaker because she wasn't trying to kill the Kobold. If possible she wanted him to fall unconscious so she could question him. Afterwards, Parum also ran as close as her legs could carry her to Orchid. Specifically, she shielded his prone body from further attacks. She knew that she was far too small and weak to actually protect him, but that didn't mean she was going to allow these vermin to finish him off. After casting her spell and playing a sharp tune from her viol, Parum aimed her rapier at the kobold, daring him to come closer.

The bard called for the kobold's attention again. It wanted to ignore the words of the only adversary to be close to it's own size, but it was unable to do so as the insult towards their revered leader pierced it's mind. This was too much for the already strained mind of the creature and it fell down onto the ground. The difference to the rest of the fallen was that the creature's chest kept rising and lowering steadily, so apparently it was still alive. You could never be too sure with these things though.

Now that with the imminent danger was dealt with, our heroes were left with a family of frightened, but immensely grateful commoners and the two figures that were having a forced nap. The armed woman now turned to face the remaining participants of the battle, but placed the bottom end of the weapon against the ground and straightened her back to make for a less threatening appearance. "Thank you", she mouthed, barely containing tears in her eyes.

The threat was neutralised, with the fellow berserking hulk losing grasp of his now frail consciousness. Fingers twirling as it nested the arrow's eye into its dark quiver, she slung her bow by her chest. Quick little steps approached the half-orc with her fingers running through his wound that continued to bled. The satchel by her side slung itself to her hands and lips playing a somber melody as the elf fell into a state of trance within seconds. What seemed like a strange solo brought stabilising vibes to the green orc as the flute began to shine with bright light and grew faint as the song came to an end (Consider Orchid to be stabilised).

(Performace - Flute - 15)

Her eyes darted open, flute quickly hidden beneath the satchel as she twirled her slender hips before the villagers they've saved. The frivolous hair by her face swept by her finger as she regained her vision. "Thank you," the frail woman grievously whispered to them. Trear's complexity could be seen to be sympathetic, crystallised eyes and the mouth of an unstrung bow painting her copper features.

"I am glad you are safe." She began, as visions of the past began to flood her mind. She steeled herself from her own emotions. "I understand how it feels to see this savagery." She stopped for a moment as she points towards a direction that indicated the circled carriages. "There you'll find safety of a circling carriage. Find a man named Addio and he will provide you with protection, away from the dragon. Tell'em we sent you."

Exhalation of dying breath reaching the warrior's sharp ears, he examined the small, scaled body he stood over for but a moment, living in the pause that came after the wake of the ferocious strike. The second of these last two, sling still in hand, had fallen but a moment after the first and collapsed without outside assistance it seemed; its mind taxed to the point of exhausting its body and it too laid still, albeit less so, than its butchered allies. It was now at the onset of feet hurrying close, the man with sword in hand turned to note the bronze skinned woman held low over the other man's body, looking back and down to her over his shoulder.

Battle-worn boots sticking lightly to the bloodied road, he stayed clear of the elf and allowed her to... for lack of better words, perform whatever art he just witnessed by invocation of her instrument. Content to let her work her magic, he placed a hand along the engraved fuller of the sword and slicked from its steel surface the blood of the kobolds, casting it aside and repeating this process once again on the other half. Still watching her, she appeared successful and rose to her feet after, moving on to the family and woman who seemed to have survived the ordeal, speaking to them in assuring tones.

Blinking a bit in disbelief, golden eyes perplexed, he looked to the family then the halfling with a slight expression of confusion upon his stubbled face in this fire and moonlit night; he knelt down all the same beside the orc on one knee after seating the greatsword against his back once again - its worthy work done. Observing now, the other man was distinctly breathing, this time no longer drifting between the place of twilight.

"Strange..." Brannor's voice remarked under his breath as he invoked some of the supernature that laid dormant within his form; outstretched palm taking on a ghostly ash white shroud of which bore motions of faint pale green in its dim light.


@Hekazu@Lucius Cypher@VKAllen@Ryonara

Dodging the blade of the kobold was the last thing that Orchid saw before he fell to the ground. From the feel of the pain, Orchid guessed he got hit in the head by a rock. Now that he thought of it, he should have taken his shield out, but alas. Orchid laid on the ground, his conscience ebbing and flowing, and the last thing he saw was a sword being run through one of the kobolds. "Ha!" Thought the half-orc. "I wasn't entirely useless!" Shortly after seeing the enemy go down, Orchid went unconscious.

In the dark abyss of Orchid's subconscious, his memory drifted to his youth. He was a flighty child, never one to sit down and just listen. His elven elders, while their patience is great, had no time to teach a child who would never learn his lessons. So a specialism was called in. A Witch Hunter. The elves were of Woodland origins, but this Witch Hunter was a Drow. And not just any drow, but a drow ghost. AN ancestor spirit of one of the founders of the elven clan, renown for his magical ability and insanity. While his mental faculties never harmed the clan directly, his instability made many ancestors forced to isolate him until eventually he died while riding a unicorn underneath a low bridge. The unicorn ducked. He didn't.

This ancestor ghost was brought to Orchid to teach him their ways. It wasn't often the ghost was brought out, despite it's insistence that the family should visit, because despite being a ghost his magical power was still great. He would be able to challenge even the Grand Druid in spell combat, if he had the mind to. "Vendui Vendui! Ol uriu tlus ichl verve! Lu'oh zhah lil' fuma?" The elders cleared their throat and spoke in elvish. "Iant fea, saesa quena e' tel'quessir lambe." The ancestor spirit smirked and chuckled to himself. En' rant, amin demada lle naa taure Tel'Quessir. Sii', mani naa ta tanya lle anta tuulo' amin?"

The elders explained to the ancestor ghost about Orchid, who he was, his origins, and what they would like for the ghost to do. THe old ghost's kindly smile soon faded, and instead a look of contemplation was put in it's place. "Ta naa il- vee' manka amin uma il- merna a'. nan' uma i' hin?" That's when everyone looked back at Orchid. This entire time Orchid had been forced to just sit there and wait, and he was slowly nodding off. If he wasn't going to do anything, he would just take a nap. But when everyone turned to him he came to attention, though it was obvious he wasn't paying attention. One of the elders walked up to Orchid. "eithel? uma lle merna a' yassen i' iant fea?"

Orchid looked between the elders and the ancestor ghost. He was weighing his options, thinking about what he should say or do. He did all of that for about two seconds before hopping to his feet and raising his arms into the air. "Uma! Amin uma sina!"

Just as he accepted the tutelage of the ancestor ghost, Orchid's eyes shot open. Kneeling above him was the warrior from before. Orchid figured him for a fighter, but not as a healer! But he wasn't going to complain. While Orchid was still bloodied and bruised, he immediately got back onto his feet, picking up his machete, and gave a hearty cheer. "WAAAAARGH! VICTORY!" It appeared that all the kobolds were dead or at least incapacitated, so Orchid turned to the others while pointing towards the corpses. He knew he should do this first, since the elders once told him that it would be "Impolite" to do so without asking. "Orchid skin small dragons? Make new things. Orchid do quick." And of course he wanted to loot them as well, though he didn't imagine they had much on them. They didn't look like they did anyways.

Trear's words were met with a nod which in turn was followed by the woman shaking her head. "As much as of a sanctuary that could be, we cannot leave without knowing whether the rest of our family got to safety... we were separated..." she swallowed in the middle of her sentence and continued: "besides, who knows if the attackers have people out there. I trust in the strongest walls of Greenest... the keep. We almost made it there too and I hope to find the rest there." At this point she turned around and spoke to the man with the children: "Cuth, are you and our children okay?"

Now that the woman had spoken of the keep, like someone had asked it to, the beating of the dragon's wings parted pillars of smoke in the east to reveal the keep of Greenest from among the destruction. As far as the heroes could see, the keep itself was still in good shape, and was that...? No, from this distance none of the party could tell if a fight was going on nearby. The dragon seemed to avoid assaulting the place, so there could well be resistance still in place.

The man, apparently called Cuth, turned to the woman and answered as soon as he got himself together: "I am the worst off in this Linan. The kids are okay", the man replied. As soon as he had answered, the man noticed something going on, that being the healing of Orchid. These people were something else... "Linan, do you think these people would help us get to the keep?" he asked his wife, who bit her lip in response.

"I sure hope so...", she answered, hoping the adventurers would volunteer. Even after... no, especially after them having already saved their lives, Linan was hesitant to ask for more.

Their determination sprouted curiosity within the mind of the elf. With her gaze in the distant hazy horizon saw the landmark Linan had appointed-- a structure akin to a stronghold untouched amidst the chaos. She could not set her eyes on the dragon. Trear gave her colleagues a questioning look and addressed Linan and Cuth again. Of course her emotions had enveloped her. The story this man and woman had told clearly reflected a past that Trear refused to remember. Her only way to forget was to not allow others feel the same way she had. "Our objective is to save whomever we can. If that means bringing you to the stronghold, it is our duty to ensure that your safety is assured." She turned to the others yet again. "Unless any of you object the carriage master's orders?" Her voice whistling taunt.

With the fall of the last Kobold, Parum fell to her knees. "That was exhilarating..." However looking towards everyone else, they seemed largely unaffected by the fight. Well, aside from Orchid, who looked worse for wear, but as soon as he stood up he looked like he was back in good health. He asked about skinning the kobolds, and for the sake of the children Parum spoke up. "Ah... No. Don't do that Orchid. We have to help the village first. Maybe after we're done you can... Do your thing. Oh! But tie up that one of there." Parum pointed towards the kobold she thinks she knocked out with her spell. With any luck that one was merely unconscious and not dead. "We'll need to question him."

The family from before spoke their their concerns about the rest of their family, which got Parum on her feet and smiled at them. "Don't worry! I can't speak for the others, but I'll help you find them." The family, the mother named Linan and the father Cuth, spoke about a keep. And sure enough the dragon flew through some obscuring smoke and revealed the keep in the distance. Considering that it wasn't on fire or smoking, Parum was almost certain that it was still holding even against the dragon's assault. This was good; a keep was a good place to stay safe for the night. With any luck it may even have it's own soldiers and guards to fight the dragon. Not that Parum didn't want to, but more help was better. Trear turned to Parum and the other adventurers and asked if they were going to go against the caravan master's orders to save the village. Parum just smiled at her, slightly unaware of her taunt, recognizing it more as a call to challenge.

"I'm more than glad to lend a hand! The keep sounds like the safest place to be at right now. Heck, once we finish guiding the survivors back to the keep, we should tell the Caravan Master too. While I don't doubt his strength, a circle of wagons is no bastion."

At the other man's hastened rise to his feet, the ghost white corona faded from Brannor's palm and so too did it withdraw from its point of contact upon the orc-blooded, dispelled into a mist. It certainly proved itself effective enough, for the man scooped up the bloodied machete from its resting place not even a foot away and thrust his arms triumphantly. The vigor Orchid had was fairly astounding and the divine warrior rose ever so slightly, listening to the man as he observed the kobolds with curiosity, distinctly contemplating something about the massacred lizard-like beasts.

"Orchid skin small dragons? Make new things. Orchid do quick."

"Ah... No. Don't do that Orchid. We have to help the village first. Maybe after we're done you can... Do your thing. Oh! But tie up that one of there."

Shaking his gauntleted fist off as he was, Brannor attempted to not crack a smile at the woman's reaction; it avoided an issue he would rather not contend with. As wicked as the kobolds were in service to this dragon that set itself on assaulting this city and its keep, he could not imagine skinning one for any purpose. Perhaps the half-orc knew more than he did about this sort of thing, but the halfling was right all the same anyway; now wasn't the time. Allowing the conversations to continue without interference, he placed his fingers to his fresh wounds, which were already stanched - their thin cuts, on the leg and against his abdomen, were already thick with coalescing blood.

He reserved the rest of his otherworldly pool of restoration, hoping that he would not need make use of it, but truth be told, he would not be surprised if another poor soul would need it. So to these ends, Brannor approached Trear and the commoner family, attempting to look less intimidating a man than he truly was; not an easy task for him or Orchid. In either sense he looked over the woman, the man, then the children, then to elven huntress.

"... object the carriage master's orders?"

He folded his solid arms across his chest, less than pleased to be told what he was doing as an "order". It was simply the thing that should be done - one didn't need instructions on that part. Brannor's brow perked at the elf who smirked, daring them all to decline the push toward the keep. Shifting slightly, his fingers absent mindedly stroked the fierce silver symbol around his neck; for a man capable of healing, he certainly fought with channeled fury.

"I will do what I can to keep you safe if you are accompanying us to the keep." His strong tone was sincere, but honest enough as fighting through the partially burning town to a keep a dragon drifted to and from was an inherently dangerous task.

"If any of your children, or even you," He said as he looked to Cuth and Linan, "Need healing, I can call upon enough to take worst of it from you."

The wilderness warrior's divine power was only recently manifest and its depth was still growing. The restorative pool that was a cooling, soothing touch, was not as deep as it would be with time to come; he needed at least save the tiniest fragment of it to save a dying companion. The rest? It was an offer he needed to extend, which he knew within him. He and his company were one of many small points of light in the darkness of this night.

@Hekazu@Lucius Cypher@VKAllen@Ryonara

"Nyoro~n." Orchid said dejectedly. Parum was right, but Orchid was still sadden that he couldn't skin the kobolds right now. Still, nothing to dwell over. She said he could do it later, so he'll be back later. For now there were other pressing issues to attend to. Parum asked Orchid to tie up one of the kobolds, so he went over to the kobold in question and did so. Putting away his machete, Orchid bound the unconscious creature the same way he would bound any other small animal on a hunt; limbs tied behind their back, their claws unable to cut the ropes that bound them. The more they struggled the more uncomfortable they'd be. And for good measure, Orchid used some rope to shut the kobold's maw. He also made sure to remove any weapons and other equipment from the kobold before slinging him over Orchid's shoulder. He didn't know what Parum wanted to do with the small creature, so for now Orchid would hold onto it.

He walked up to one of the dead kobolds and jerked his harpoon out of it's abdomen. Putting the harpoon away Orchid also decided to preemptively take his shield out. There could be more danger, and it'd be helpful if he had a bit of extra protection against flying rocks. When he returned to the group Trear said something about defying the caravan master's orders. Orchid came in a bit too late to hear the full thing, but from what Parum and the other warrior was saying, they were going to help the village out. Orchid agreed to this. "Orchid will fight for village. Kill for village! We go fast. Not safe to fight with village people here." Orchid motioned towards the children. While he was entirely willing, and indeed has recently proven, to be willing to fight and die for the village of Greenest, it'd be most helpful if they could get the noncombatants out. The last thing Orchid wants to deal with is a hostage situation.

As Cuth rose up rather unsteadily, a shade of a smile crept on the man's face. Now that he was standing up, the fact that he was hurt became clearer. His legs had a few gashes on them, but the worst had to be his left arm that was simply hanging limp on his side. "It is good to see that there are still people who seek to aid those in need instead of exploiting their situation", the man said as he waved for the children to follow his lead. "Come on, we need to get moving!"

As her husband was taking care of the children for now, Linan took the moment to instruct the party on how to get to the keep: "From here, the fastest way is undoubtedly crossing the first intersection and going right from the next. From that point on, you just cannot miss the keep. It's not far... But that raises the question on whether it is the safest one. One thing is for sure though, we'll need to get moving now!" Having said that, she crept a little closer to Ashkar who had promised to heal people if they were in need and whispered: "Cuth will never admit needing any help, but he is hurt. Perhaps..." but she was cut off by Cuth before he got any further.

"I'm fine! They are not going to get as good of a fighter outta me anyway, not with that broken spear being the only weapon. Save your strength warrior, we may yet need it in the future", and with that Cuth returned to helping the children stand up with his uninjured arm. Seemingly defeated, Linan rolled her eyes and pointed her spear at the keep.

The group has made up their mind. The keep was their objective-- and the most direct route was definitely not the safest. Trear went on ahead moving between obstacles-- accidentally knocking a barrel on the road over spilling fruits and supplies over the stone floor.

(Ability Check - Stealth - 1 (6) - Critical Fail)

Her approach was hasty but it didn't stop her from completing what wanted to do-- to seek out traps.

(Ability Check - Perception - 24 - CRITICAL!)

The siege-weary woman drew nearer after she conversed with her husband; the man seemed to ignore his wounds to the best of his ability, but based the lameness of his arm, there was no hiding it. He was as bloodied as one would've expected, but the woman's whispering confirmed what the aspirant of the natural realm already knew. She said, before interrupted, "Cuth will never admit needing any help, but he is hurt. Perhaps..."

The man, helping his children as he was while speaking, noted that he would not be of much use in battle and that others, the small gathering of armed travelers, could make more use of it. Brannor knew this as truth, but it would not have deterred his offer otherwise, but if the man refused healing, whatever his reasoning was, then that was the way it was to be. The paladin however, kept his thick arms crossed, content to reply with nothing more but a nod and a low, throaty answer.

"Very well."

Reaching back, Brannor's hand laid itself to the greatsword and the weapon was drawn free of the metal ring that secured it upon him; the thick leather belt that carried the weapon, of which was broad across his bloodied chest, moved slightly in response. Flexing each finger upon it, he shifted his attention from the clouds and ash above, to the moon, and at last to the people around him. It was now he breathed deep again and shook himself off slightly; chain beneath the hide clinking ever so slightly.

"If we meet conflict, we should attempt to defeat it - lest we have more enemies behind us." He said, looking over Orchid, Parum and Trear, knowing the city was likely still full of roving marauders. "Did you find anything from the kobolds?"

The elf however, was already on her way until she tripped herself up in the dim light, knocking over a barrel of fruit, of which went cascading across the path they were taking. At least it was early on in their advance, not deeper yet into the unknown when it happened, but it did not stop Brannor from using every ounce of his awareness at the surprise of the event; his alert, animal eyes cutting through the ambient firelight and smoky haze. More so than anything, he attempted to listen and strove to remain as conscious of foot as he could be while remaining vigilant and attuned.

He would rather surprise these monstrous dragon-creatures than they him.


@Hekazu@Lucius Cypher@VKAllen@Ryonara

While Parum and Orchid stayed behind to make sure that the family would not be attacked while the rest were surveying a potential path before them, they couldn't miss the sound that could only be described as clatter-bonk from the direction of their brave front-line. A worried expression flashed across the faces of Linan and Cuth, but thus far no shouting came following the noise. Unsure whether they should proceed, they began taking some unsure steps with the halfling and a half-orc closely behind them.

As this was going on, our not-quite-as-silent-as-preferable scouts miraculously saw trouble before they had seen them. On the main street a kobold and a lightly armoured woman stood next to a barely burning house, seemingly awaiting for something. A few moments later, a half-orc in leather armour similar to the human's and another kobold came out of the house, the man carrying something in his right hand. They exchanged a few words neither Trear or Ashkar could quite hear, but were now seemingly on alert and on a slow approach towards the scouting pair's position, if aiming a bit too far left.