Entry 4

A few days ago we had two tigers enter our camp having been drawn by the smell of our fresh kills. Gunthar, Rowan and, Isaac were able to easily take care of both animals before Slinger and I had a chance to react. The next night during third watch with only Gunthar and I awake, I glanced around and notice that Slinger is missing. As I look around camp for him I alert Gunthar and proceeds to look for any sign of where he might be. I'm able to find some tracks leading away from camp towards the River, I tell Gunthar to stay at camp and guard the others well I go check down by the River for Slinger. At first he is reluctant to let me go but I am able to reassure him that if I need help I will call out.
 
 
 
As I get to the River I lose the tracks and am unable to find any sign of where he went, since I am out of sight of camp I decide to take a different approach and change into a giant hyena an animal native to this area in hopes that I may find him. Alas I am unsuccessful and find no trace of him, I search for an hour as a hyena with no success and another 3 hours on top of that in my normal form. As I hear the others at camp begin to call out for us, I am down at the river and feel like tug on my cloak. When I turn to see I find Slinger rubbing the sleep from his eyes and the first thing I do is drop to my knees and hug him. As I pull away I ask him firmly why he was left camp. It turns out he had moved away from camp and slept beneath a fallen log, because of a loud incident involving Isaac, Rockwell, and Mawinai he felt safer a little further away. And while I am relieved to find him safe and unharmed, I was hurt at the fact that he did not feel safe with me. Maybe I should tell him, tell them all really what I am able to do. I know I should have done so already but there's been too many times when someone has found out, and thought me either nothing more than a mindless beast or something to be feared and I dread to see my companions look up on me in such a way.
 
 
 
I do scold him a bit and I make him promise me that if nothing else he will tell me where he's going, so that if something were to happen I would be able to find him. Thankfully he readily agrees and as I rise back to my feet the others find us, Rowan and Isaac are relieved to find us safe and give us a warning about the large tracks that they found. I am able to tell them what made the tracks and to not worry about it as it is obviously left the area. As Gunthar approaches Slinger sees him and he does not look happy. Slinger quickly ducks behind me as Gunthar tells me to move so he can get to Slinger and more than likely tell him exactly what I already have. I refuse to move and explain to Gunthar that I have already talked with Slinger and he has promised that should he need to leave camp again he will tell me where he's going. I think Gunthar was just as worried as the rest of us.
 
 
 
On our third day in the grasslands, as we are headed over a small hill Isaac catches the smell of cooking fires on the wind. As we cautiously approach the hill crest trying to keep low to try not to be spotted we see what looks to be an outpost of some kind. Before we can discern anything about the outpost the gates open and five worg riders burst from the gate at full speed headed right for us. Within moments two more groups are spotted coming from either side, totaling fifteen riders in all. Gunthar is quick to react and gets us into a formation with him facing forward Isaack facing the group coming from our left, Rowan facing the group coming from the right, and Slinger and I in the middle. As the riders bear down on us I turn and take a knee in front of Slinger grasping both of his shoulders, I tell him that no matter what happens to stay with me to trust me and I will protect him, he is hesitant but agrees. When I get back to my feet singer moves up behind me and I drap my cloak around him to help further shield him.
 
 
 
As the riders get closer and change their formation, Rowan is able to spot the symbol upon their shields and armor. What he relays to us gives me hope that we may survive. For what he describes is the green Oakleaf of Silvaus, The Forest Father who names among his followers Rangers and Druids although it is strange to find them this far from the woods. Armed with this information I go step around Gunthar to try and stop the charge, Gunthar siming to sense the movement more than see put his arm out to keep me behind him. I quickly explain what the symbol means and ask him to trust me, to my relief he allows me forward as I call out in a language known only to the druids friends. The riders in front change formation once more into a spearhead, I try once more to call out but this time using both druidic and common. For a moment I feel that I am wrong and that maybe the armor had been stolen by followers of Cyric or even bandits, and that in trusting me my companions may be hurt or even killed. Too my utter relief the rider of the lead group pulls up rains and gives a signal to stop the charge.
 
 
 
The leader of this group is named Captain Conri, he demands to know what we are doing here. As I explain to him that we are here looking for 50 missing people from the village of Drafalls. Gunthar stays very close to my back ready at a moments notice should these men become hostile to us. He tells us that they have seen many warbands but none who had prisoners with them. As I begin to believe that we will be allowed to continue on our way when Captain Conri tells us he will take us to the leader of the outpost, who will decide whether were telling the truth or not and to surrender our weapons. Seeing as we are still outnumbered we reluctantly agree and it takes a little bit of coaxing on my part do you have Gunthar hand over his weapons as well. As Conri looks around and asks where our fifth member was, for their reports noted that there were supposed to be five. It is at this moment that I realize they have not spotted Slinger and I do my best not to look to the place I saw him last. Not knowing what lies ahead of us and in an attempt to protect him, I look right at Conri and tell him that his report was wrong that they have only ever been four of us.
 
 
 
I gave thanks to The Supreme Ranger what it became apparent that he believed me. It was then that he ordered our hands be bound that things went from bad to worse very quickly. Where Rowan and Isaac agreed, Isaac to be bound by not only his hands but by his feet too as well as being gagged. Gunthar did not agree and to see him bound as he put it "like a criminal" was too much. So I offered myself to Conri as hostage to make sure that he would not be bound, Conri was hesitant to agree but did only after telling Gunthar that if he did not cooperate it would be my head that was taken instead of his.I look back only once to see him watching me like an owl watch is a field mouse. I hope that he is not upset with me for putting myself in this position but it was the only option I saw the time. The trip to the village was uneventful and as we approached we see two figures standing there as if to welcome us.
 
 
 
As we get closer to the town there are two figures waiting is if to greet us. The first is an orc female wearing a green robe, the second was a human male in simple pants and shirt and a cloak with a bow slung over his back and a wolf lounging between them. Once more we are asked why we are here and believing one or both of them to be the leaders of the village, I explain once more about the missing people you're trying to find. They tell us the same thing that Captain Conri told us, and as it turns out they are advisers to the leader of the town. As we walk I realize that the female is familiar to me, but I can not recall a name but I will have to ponder that later as we approach their meeting hall. As we are lead in we are met with the opposing sight of a large half orc standing almost as tall as Gunthar. I have him confirm that he is leader of this village stating that I have told the reason we are here twice before and I do not wish to repeat it a fourth time should he not be. He confirms that he is the leader and tells us that his name is Goshak. He asked me what brought us here and the only reason I can see for the response that I gave for it was not diplomatic in the slightest was my worry over Slinger, for I told him that it was his guard captain that brought us here. As I tell them yet again why we are here it becomes clear but he does not believe us. It is here that I can take it no longer and I ask the orc female if we have met before because she seems familiar to me, at this she and Gashak share a look but no answer is given.
 
 
 
Gashak seems to think for a moment and tells us that we are to bring back proof of our mission, if we do not the next we are seen in the area we will be considered an enemy as he says this he signals for someone to cut the ropes binding us. Before I can ask what he requires as proof he dismisses us saying that we are free to move about the town and that the inn should have beds available for us. When we are lead back outside and pointed towards the direction of the inn. As I start to look around to see if I can spot Captain Conri, Gunthar comes up beside me and ask me quietly what we should do about Slinger just as I spot the Captain he sees me as well. As I look up at him I tell him I am working on that right now, and ask him to take the others to the inn while I speak with the Captain. Conri watches me as I approach once I am close enough I tell him that I need go back to where they found us, to this he tells me he could have someone take me but he would need a good reason as to why. Even though I am hesitant I know he would be safer with us here then out on the plains alone at night so I tell Conri about Slinger. He agrees that he should not be out there alone at night and he calls over one of the other guards and telling him to take me. As the other male mounts up on a worg I have just enough time to think the captain before the guard offers me a hand up and we bound out the gate.
 
 
 
Thankfully it does not take too long to find Slinger but had I not been actively looking for him, I might have missed him entirely. The only thing that I saw was a slight movement in the grass and hoping that it was him I called out, watching him pop up out of the grass was such a relief. I quickly dropped from the worg and rush to him dropping to my knees, and looking him over to make sure that he is alright once satisfied I pulled him into a hug. I fill him in on what happened and that the others are waiting for us at the inn in town. I rise to my feet and motion for him to come with me towards the guard who is still mounted. He shakes his head no as he looks to the guard and his mount cautiously and says that he would prefer to walk. Knowing that it would take some time walk and not wanting to be away longer than necessary I come to a decision. I ask him how much he trusts me, and I am happy with his answer I just hope after this that he still does. I take several steps back away from him so that there is a good distance between us and I change shape, into something large enough for him to ride and fast enough to keep up with the worg. I become a dire wolf. I try and keep eye contact with him through the change and hope that he realizes that it is still me and that I have not frightened him.
 
 
 
My fears are unfounded though for looking at him all I see is wonder and he slowly reaches a hand forward as I draw closer. I place my muzzle in his hand and slowly turn to keep contact so that his hand stays on my side as I turn and lay down offering my back for him to climb on, to my joy he does not hesitate. We make it back to town fairly quickly as soon as we are safely within the gates I lay down and let Slinger off my back and take my normal form, it's here that I ask him to keep secret what I can do. I tell him that I will tell the others I just have not found the right moment yet, and explain that more often than not people react badly when they find out what I can do. When we get to the inn everyone is relieved to see Slinger is alright. As we proceed to order food and drink it is here I find out that Isaac will only drink water so i give him my skin. Then when Slinger orders a drink the bar keep ask if he's even old enough to drink, he says yes telling her he is 19 and as been drinking for ages now. But the look she gave him said that she didn't believe him but then she said coin is coin and served him his drink. As we wait for our food Rowan attempts to serenade in elven female. Long story short it did not workout so well for she is mated it to another. As we finish our food and sip on our drinks enjoying each other company. We begin to discuss that we don't know what will be accepted as proof that we were truthful of mission, I resolve to ask for a meeting in the morning with Gashakto find out what he will accept as proof.
 
 
 
Our moment of relaxation is interrupted when several guard and the orc female enter the inn and head right for me. Before anyone else can react Gunthar on his feet between us and the guards. I quickly moved to his side to try to keep things calm and find out what it is that they want, orc female wants to speak with me privately. Gunthar tells her no and looking at the others I see that they are apprehensive as well. Despite my own nerves about the situation I calmly agree to go with her, and reassure them that it's alright. As I follow her the guards fall in around us almost as an honor guard. After a few moments of walking we come up to a building to which she opens the door and gestures for me to precede her inside. As I cautiously step into the room I am greeted with the modest common area of a home, with a fire going and a stow cooking in the fireplace with two chairs in front facing each other. Looking around the room as the female closes the door behind us, I notice the male adviser that we had met at the gate seated at the table. As we perceive further into the room the female offers me one of the seats by the fire the male stands and says that he will leave us to talk as he heads for the door.
 
 
 
Once he is left she turns to face me fully before saying in druidic that she has let my mother know that I'm here and safe, it is with those words and the language which they are spoken in that I relax completely and continue our conversation in the tongue we don't get to use often. It is after she tells me her name is Uhnf did I remember who she is and apologize to her for not remembering sooner. She accepts the apology but tells me that it is unnecessary and tells me that she was surprised to see me this far from home. I tell her that mother set me to Orthon with not much instruction as to what to do when I got there, to which she tells me that I am on my gauntlet, a test of leadership for druids. For a moment I'm left speechless, to know that my mother has that much faith in me to send me on a gauntlet I hope that I can make her proud. I tell her that she had me a little on edge with the guards at the inn to which she replies that her son wants to keep mother safe, to which I ask her if Gashak is her son. She confirms this and tells me that I am very observant and as I decide to ask her the questions that I would have asked her son. The door open suddenly and there stands Slinger ,Uhnf gives him a look and i just smile, he must have followed and gotten past the guards without anybody seeing him.
 
 
 
He strides confidently into the room and takes up a spot next to me much as a bodyguard would do. As we continue our conversation where we left off I ask her what proof her son would find acceptable. She tells me to look for any documentation of what could potentially be going on, scrolls , papers or if one of the villages we are looking may have heard something to bring them there first. She also shares with me that the outpost that we were looking for is not as it sounds but is in fact a cave system south-east of here. As our talk comes to a close I thank her for all the information she is provided. As we rise to leave she tells Slinger to keep me safe to which he replies that's why I'm here, halfway to the door the human male return and greets Uhnf with a kiss on the cheek as he heads for the stew over the fire while she sees Slinger and I the rest of the way to the door. As we walk back to the inn I wonder if that male is her mate and Gashak's father. Before I have anymore time to ponder this further we arrive back at the inn and as soon as we enter Gunthar comes up to show me that he is won some money in a new game, I ask him what the name of the game was and he told me gambling. I spend the next few minutes explaining to him what gambling is and then ask him who taught him how to gamble, it's in this moment that I realize Gunther is terrible at deception and eventually get him to tell me that it was Isaac.
 
 
 
The next morning after we woke up we come into the common room for breakfast only to see that there are about 50 copies of Rockwell in different shapes and sizes scattered throughout the room and Rowan has return from his night out. During breakfast none of us acknowledged or even looked at the rocks scattered around the room. After breakfast we head out to resupply and see what we can find anything else we might need. It is during this time that Isaac tells me that is putting together a disguise of a Cyric priest in case we need it, as we look around for anything else that he might need Gunthar comes around the corner very quickly. He tells me that the blacksmith is a dragonborn female and there's a weapon that he wants to show me, Isaac asked to come along because if he can get a hold of the weapon for a few minutes he might be able to see if it has any magical properties to it. When we reach the blacksmith I see that she is beautiful with bronze coloring and stunning blue eyes. Gunthar approaches and asks for the weapon so he can show it to Isaac and myself, as Isaac start examining the maul I watch Gunthar interact with the blacksmith. I get the feeling that he might like her and he does not know what to say, so to try to help him I wave him over and have him bend down so I can whisper to him quietly to compliment her eyes to tell her that her eyes rival that is most beautiful sapphires. I did not realize that a dragonborn could blush but she does. Their talk must have gone well for after we purchased the maul that Isaac said had something magical to it, they made plans for when we come back through here to have dinner together.