valeribbit

[valeribbit]

25th of Qor Year 358

I intended to have Karreim and Orsaa give their report over breakfast. It had to be delayed, as apparently the reason they returned late was because Orsaa injured her ankle. Instead we had to argue with her for some time before she agreed to have someone look it over. I am regretting placing Kuuna on lookout duty. She is the only one her sister would not have argued with.

It seems to have only been a mild sprain luckily. She will still have to stay off of it for the next few days.

Once we knew Orsaa was fine, I gathered everyone together to hear what they found. Their report was both encouraging and concerning. They found that despite the rumors surrounding the place; the forest was actually rather safe. They saw plenty of signs of animals and plants to hunt and harvest, but little of monsters. Only the tracks of a scorch weasel family and a stunted witchvine. Neither of which is very dangerous, especially in a group. It makes me wonder why we've heard so many warnings about the place.

It was odd enough even if the report had ended there. They both described the feeling of being watch while in the forest. It was Karreim who spotted the child first. They seemed to be following them, and it was while attempting to get closer to the child that Orsaa was injured. She stepped into a burrow that she hadn't spotted before, and so she only got close enough to roughly guess the age. Maybe a decade old.

That caused some whispers. What was a child that young doing out in the woods so far from any town alone? Karreim and Orsaa never saw any other sign of people. Some of the others started teasing Orsaa about being blind, which derailed the conversation for a while. Mostly because she got angry and insisted the hole hadn't been there before. I would have wrote it off as bruised pride had Karreim not been strangely silent on the matter. It seemed to me that there was more he wanted to say on the matter.

I ended the meeting there. Telling everyone to take the day to think over what we'd heard, and we'd speak of what our next move will be tomorrow over lunch.

As I expected, Karreim came to speak to me later. He told me he hadn't been able to shake a feeling of unease while in the forest, but hadn't wanted to speak of it in front of the whole tribe. He couldn't find anything specific that supported it, but they had been through the spot where they encountered the child before. He was adamant that the burrow hadn't been there the first time.

I said I would think on it.

Tsana Rezsun Fritvem

[valeribbit]

24th of Qor Year 358

Karreim and Orsaa have yet to return. We expected them back either last night or early this morning. It is past midday now, and the others are starting to worry. I am trying to reassure them that scouting often takes longer than expected, though I find it hard to hide my own concern.

I will consider sending out a rescue party if they are not back tomorrow morn. I am loathe to do so. Those two are the best we have, and if they couldn't handle whatever is in the forest, their aren't many left I could send. Please just let them return safely.

At least there has been no sign of Mylunn. I have sent Kuuna to keep an eye out on one of our few horses. She is the best rider we have, and I hope the task will distract her from worrying over sister.

Leen has insisted on taking a watch. I know better than to try and argue with her.

 

It is nearly midnight as I write this. Leen woke me up a short time ago to inform me that Karreim and Orsaa have returned safely. She sent them off to get food and rest as they didn't have any urgent danger to report.

I will have to speak to them in the morning, and then offer my thanks to anverunt for seeing them back to us.

Tsana Rezsun Fritvem

[valeribbit]

21st of Qor Year 358

We arrived at the edge of the forest we've been hearing about. Though that's mostly been to warn us away. The nearest hint of civilization is the small fishing village about a half day's ride back. It's small enough that as long as we are careful we should be able to trade with them on occasion.

I am hopeful about this place, though I am careful to temper it around the others. They've been burned enough times, and I don't want to see them hurt again. I have sent Karreim and Orsaa to look around the forest proper, Until they have returned, I will not risk taking us all into the forest. We will wait along the edge. I hope they return to say the rumors are just that rumors. We have too many sick and injured to keep pushing along.

I have already pushed them too far. I don't want to lose any more

Hopefully those same rumors will keep Mylunn's soldiers away at least for a while. We will have to stay here for a few days at least in order to rest. Regardless of whatever danger may reach us.

Something about this place is feels off to me, but I have faith we will survive the trials ahead.

May Her Light Reach Us