Into the Ravine

JP with Gonyaul, Alexis and Hunter:

As the sun rose above the horizon line and began painting the tips of the tallest things below, a group of four horses and riders lined up for the start of their venture. No wagon this time around, though they had equipped all the supplies they deemed necessary, because speed and maneuverability were going to be in high demand. The horses weren’t the only thing this trip was riding on, but the hopes of those above and below the ground.

They started out two by two from Aquilos, knowing that formation would probably change the further they got into the unknown. Alexis and Hunter were in the front. Gonyaul and Malacost, impersonating Alcuin, brought up the rear.

As the group took to the trails north, one of the Odonine, on the behalf of Balt, started whistling for safe passage loudly from the top of a little hill. Gonyaul tried to replicate it; however, ended up just spitting and blowing small bubbles to the annoyance of Amu.

The group moved at an urgent pace. The inexperienced Gonyaul was falling behind as usual, but able to stay close enough. As they continued the past deep ravines and narrow valleys, they had to start going single file. Hunter was instructed to take point due to his keen observation skills; in addition, in this part of the country women in charge was probably frowned upon.

They made uninterrupted, save to relieve themselves or take brief breaks, progress throughout the majority of the day. When late afternoon came upon them and they just entered another ravine, they did not yet know they were moving into an ambush. A group of ten brigands, who had been looting the aftermath of the battles and taking advantage of the weak, had heard the chain of whistles and were setting up to surprise down on them once they were fully committed to going through the tighter space with steep sides.

Once they were further into the ravine, where a quick retreat out the entrance was no longer an option, the group would begin to hear whistling sounds which sounded a lot like the natural avian life in the area.

The brigands were communicating and repositioning themselves based on what they were observing using the signaling system. Every now and then there could be discernible shifting earth sounds from above, but it could be mistaken as just normal sounds.

They were confident about this ambush. From their perspective there was one main threat, the man in front that looked formidable. Other than that, it was what appeared from the distance to be two women and a weathered older man. This was going to be an easy score; four horses, two women, and all their supplies.

Alexis scowled. Something was off. It was this feeling that had one’s hackles standing up, and that one learned to pay attention to when surviving year’s worth of walking battlefields.

One hand wandered to the hilt of of her sword, loosening it for fast release, while with the other she strengthened her hold on the reigns of her horse.

“Stay sharp.”