wandered that far north in the near-trackless forest to hunt game.
Dartein was awfully surprised then, to stumble upon a small clearing that was quite obviously cleared out intentionally. The fire pit in the center was a very telltale sign of life. Signaling to Anton to stay back and stay quiet Dartein searched around the camp for any signs of recent use. Finding no tracks around the outskirts, he slowly snuck in closer to inspect the area around the fire pit.
It became obvious to him that no one was around the area at that moment. But he also knew that this clearing had been recently occupied. Breathing in and sampling the scents around him he checked for any lingering odor of humans. He smelled nothing human, not even closer to the log that had been laid by the fire for a seat.
What he did smell there though, almost scared him.
Musty, mildewy, rotting leaves and earth.
He smelled the barest trace of goblin.
Looking closer around the log he found two footprints that he had missed before. He had been looking for obvious signs of humans. He had not yet thought to look closer for goblin tracks. But there was no mistaking the footprints he found. The small flatfooted prints were just like the ones around the clearing he and Josaleene had come upon before.
He slowly back away from the log and the fire pit, towards Anton and the horses. He took it as a good sign that the horses were calm, as he had seen before that the animals were easily spooked by the small fiends.
Dartein grabbed up the lead of his horses halter and led their small procession through the clearing and back into the forest on the other side where the trail continued. Anton knew something was up but was smart enough not to speak out loud at that time. Dartein had told him of his and Josaleene's encounter with the goblins outside of the village before they had left on this journey. Well, he had kept the part about his Josee setting the nasty creatures on fire to himself, but had shared enough that Anton knew what to look and smell for.
They moved up the trail another mile and a half or so before Dartein stopped them to rest.
"I believe I caught a bit of their scent. It seemed to be as you described before, the very pungent odor of rotting earth, but a bit more sour I think. Are these the same type of creature you came upon before?" Anton did not seem nervous at all about coming across another living being out here in the forest. He clearly did not know what the goblins were capable of.
"Yes, they most definitely are. Foul little leeches they are, fierce too. Be warned Anton, we do not want to cross paths with goblins for our journey may end quite prematurely." Dartein gave a very serious look to his companion.
"We can handle a few small critters. I've come prepared for just that!" Pulling two polished and gleaming fighting axes from his packs, he gave his Prince a grin.
Dartein reached out and lowered Anton's weapons. "Put those aside, but close at hand. I pray we do not need them and would rather continue this journey as quickly and quietly as possible. I do not wish to look for a fight, but we will try to be prepared if comes to one."
"Try, my Prince? I should think we would be able to cull quite a few of the critters between the two of us. They must not be too awful tough, I mean you and the Princess were able to down a dozen of them yourselves." Anton looked plainly confused. Almost as if he were wondering why his ever adventurous friend was avoiding a good sport. As far as Anton ever knew, his friend and Prince was always looking for some action or a hunt.
"Anton, you do not know the full circumstances to that story. We were almost overwhelmed by them. They are vicious little humanoids who think almost as we do and take down prey in packs." Dartein struggled internally. How much did he want to tell his friend of that night? "I believe we got very lucky."
"No
Dartein was awfully surprised then, to stumble upon a small clearing that was quite obviously cleared out intentionally. The fire pit in the center was a very telltale sign of life. Signaling to Anton to stay back and stay quiet Dartein searched around the camp for any signs of recent use. Finding no tracks around the outskirts, he slowly snuck in closer to inspect the area around the fire pit.
It became obvious to him that no one was around the area at that moment. But he also knew that this clearing had been recently occupied. Breathing in and sampling the scents around him he checked for any lingering odor of humans. He smelled nothing human, not even closer to the log that had been laid by the fire for a seat.
What he did smell there though, almost scared him.
Musty, mildewy, rotting leaves and earth.
He smelled the barest trace of goblin.
Looking closer around the log he found two footprints that he had missed before. He had been looking for obvious signs of humans. He had not yet thought to look closer for goblin tracks. But there was no mistaking the footprints he found. The small flatfooted prints were just like the ones around the clearing he and Josaleene had come upon before.
He slowly back away from the log and the fire pit, towards Anton and the horses. He took it as a good sign that the horses were calm, as he had seen before that the animals were easily spooked by the small fiends.
Dartein grabbed up the lead of his horses halter and led their small procession through the clearing and back into the forest on the other side where the trail continued. Anton knew something was up but was smart enough not to speak out loud at that time. Dartein had told him of his and Josaleene's encounter with the goblins outside of the village before they had left on this journey. Well, he had kept the part about his Josee setting the nasty creatures on fire to himself, but had shared enough that Anton knew what to look and smell for.
They moved up the trail another mile and a half or so before Dartein stopped them to rest.
"I believe I caught a bit of their scent. It seemed to be as you described before, the very pungent odor of rotting earth, but a bit more sour I think. Are these the same type of creature you came upon before?" Anton did not seem nervous at all about coming across another living being out here in the forest. He clearly did not know what the goblins were capable of.
"Yes, they most definitely are. Foul little leeches they are, fierce too. Be warned Anton, we do not want to cross paths with goblins for our journey may end quite prematurely." Dartein gave a very serious look to his companion.
"We can handle a few small critters. I've come prepared for just that!" Pulling two polished and gleaming fighting axes from his packs, he gave his Prince a grin.
Dartein reached out and lowered Anton's weapons. "Put those aside, but close at hand. I pray we do not need them and would rather continue this journey as quickly and quietly as possible. I do not wish to look for a fight, but we will try to be prepared if comes to one."
"Try, my Prince? I should think we would be able to cull quite a few of the critters between the two of us. They must not be too awful tough, I mean you and the Princess were able to down a dozen of them yourselves." Anton looked plainly confused. Almost as if he were wondering why his ever adventurous friend was avoiding a good sport. As far as Anton ever knew, his friend and Prince was always looking for some action or a hunt.
"Anton, you do not know the full circumstances to that story. We were almost overwhelmed by them. They are vicious little humanoids who think almost as we do and take down prey in packs." Dartein struggled internally. How much did he want to tell his friend of that night? "I believe we got very lucky."
"No
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