Nightfall

JP with Lorem, Strangetides, Red_Sword7 and Bandorchu

The small horse-drawn wagon was slowly moving. The day had been long for Blackwolf and the hard seat of the small wagon did not help or did not make it any better. Wolf looked ahead as Islana was seen approaching the other ahead of him. Islana pointed in a direction Wolf could hear something about a camp. Wolf smiled to himself happy to hear that news. Wolf looked up at the sky. and the weather was not bad and Wolf could use some warm food.

As Wolf got closer to the campsite Islana was off hunting for the evening meal. Wolf was told where it the camp was. Wolf came to the site and park the small wagon to one side. Wolf looked around Islana was getting better as a scout Islana seem to get better by the hour. This group seemed so far to be like gears working together. all of the gears moving in different directions but still working as a team. Wolf was impressed with everyone there and the skills they brought to the expedition.

Wolf recognized Alexis leadership ability She had been at this type of thing for some time. The others too everyone seem to have an expertise of some sort. Wolf thought about this as he was helping Alexis set up the camp for the night getting the fire going and other things needed as they all did their part.

Nicolaus watched as Blackwolf rolled the cart to a stop, they were home, at least for the night. He road in a slow circle around the new camp and selected a spot to prep for the night. Taking both feet out of the stirrups he slid off the left side of his mare and preceded to roll up the stirrups and loosen the girth by a notch or two. Leaving the animals ground tied, he fetched a little water from one of the barrels attached to the side of the wagon in a leather collapsing pail. Thankfully the weather was cool and the exertion limited as they seemed satisfied with a small amount, gods knew when they could get more.

Starting with the mare he approached it whispering gentle words and ran his hand down its nose. He took its halter in his left hand and put the reins over the horses head before undoing the nose band and throat latch and slipping the bridle off over its head, After slipping on the halter, he led it to the cart and secured it with a simple quick release knot.

Gonyaul continued helping make camp along with the others. He took in Nicolaus’s example, mimicking his process, when it came to getting Amu ready for the night. He did not know this gentleman well at all; however, from what he had experienced, he found him to be keen on excellence. He had always been told your net worth mirrors your network, so associations with excellent individuals was a wise pursuit.

Seeing that the fire and dinner preparations were already being handled, and not wanting to get in the way, he began helping set up the tents for everyone. When he had finished, Gonyaul stood at the edge of their camp and peered out into the plains.

The air itself seemed to be colored black. The night sky and the ground seemed to melt together. If not for the fire, he wasn’t sure how Islana would find her way back.

The plains were a new experience and he was concerned. While the light and warmth from their fire was keeping the dark and cold at bay, it was also signaling for who knows how far off into the distance their presence. He felt exposed, no hiding places as he was accustomed too. In hindsight he wished they had made a hidden fire pit to keep it much darker. The trade offs though for being able to cook and warmth were they going to be worth it? He had to turn away because his overactive imagination was getting the best of him.

Gonyaul undid his tent, inspired by his thoughts, and went over to the wagon. He began to secure the fabric to the underside, making a makeshift hammock tightly beneath. The wagon itself became the roof. He tied the knots on the inside of the sleeping area so if he needed to, he could quickly pull them free and release himself to the ground in an instant.

He was more satisfied now that he had, what resembled a tight cocoon, to sleep in. It looked more secure, would block the wind, and better yet … hidden and off the ground. It would be the last place someone would look.

Alexis turned a critical look to the sky, wondering if they would have rain again tonight.

She hoped not, because although she did set up a tent, she intended to sleep outside. She‘d rather not get tangled up in it in an effort to get outside in case of emergency.

Thinking back to the time on sentinel island, she remembered how Till had set it up, so that it would not be quite as blatantly obvious. Even so, with the two carriages and six horses, they could not exactly hide anyway. If someone wanted to find them, they would find them.
Also, with the horses, they were more liable to attract predators. So it least having access to fire to scare them away might prove helpful.

They would have to keep watch during the night, of course. She pondered if they‘d better go for single guards, having five shorter watches, or rather two double and one single.

With the sky darkening and the camp set up as it could be, the mercenary searched the horizon for other fires like their own.