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Malacost had finally managed to recover his horse. He had cut some steaks from the other dead animal ensuring he has some supplies for the days ahead.

He knew that as long as he made sure his targets didn't circle back it would be a while since their companions knew something was wrong. All he had to do was to make sure that he kept pushing them deeper into the mountains. It was only a matter of time before he caught up with his prey.

The next morning he picked up the trail of an overburden horse traveling along the old pathway. Malacost was an expert tracker, taught to look for the passage of animals and people in the wilderness. But he knew he had to keep his eyes peeled for brigands.

But so did Islana and Hunter. Most men had joined the call to arms to fight the Odsier but those that stayed behind were going to be very dangerous to deal with.

Malacost set out chasing the two fugitives. They had one day head start on him. But he would catch up with them soon.

Hunter woke up Islana before daybreak and had her pack up so they could head out deeper into the valley.

Islana gave a morning greeting to Hunter, mostly to let him know she was awake. Between experimenting with her power, not feeling comfortable having no one on watch and her concerns the young woman hadn't managed much sleep but she didn't let on.

They needed to push through, no time for much of anything else. She lit a quick fire and made them each more of the pain killing tea. It would be easier to move on with some of that in their system.

The pack up was quick, it probably took more time to help Hunter up. Using the same method of having River lay down, Islana helped Hunter on top of the horse before getting on herself. Off they went headed in the same direction they had been; deeper into the mountains. Hopefully giving them more distance between themselves and the bounty hunter and enough time to find a cure for Hunter.

Hunter kept his eyes out for danger and the ingredients as they rode in silence for the most part. The charcoal helped him gain some mobility to make the ride easier and less wobbly and Islana's tea took the edge off the pain. Then he spoke up to Islana, "The bounty hunter has two choices.......either go back for help and supplies or recapture his horse and follow us. Use you falcon to warn us if he or any other danger gets close."

Islana wasn't sure if she could control Kaithak like that, yet. The falcon had, however, warned her in the past without her asking, maybe it would do the same now.

Not having time to explain the whole only having that level of ability under immediate life or death scenario. The young huntress gazed upward for a moment towards the falcon and sent a message to warn as it was best to, at least, try.

The falcon keep to a wide spiral above you as continued onwards deeper into the mountains. You kept to the larger pathways as to not injure your horse. The animal was bound to get tired sooner than normal having to carry two people and your gear. With the sun rising above the mountains and cliffs of Fang you set out across the valley into the unknown.

Each drew them closer and closer to the mountains. Hunter forced himself to stay alert for brigands, wild beasts, the possible locations for his much needed ingredients and the threat of the bounty hunter. To make it worse he was concerned about the horse being worn out to soon which meant more breaks. The charcoal was helping a lot but it was not a cure and it was only a matter of time before the damage from the poison was permeant. Hunter then asked quietly, "How much do you know about traps?"

Islana was also concerned for River. She thought about maybe dropping a few items off the horse to make it easier but there wasn't much in the way of things they didn't need, having had to leave somethings behind when they fled.

Green eyes kept watch. She had her bow of course, in case of attacks, but last night, on top of everything else, the young woman had spent time practicing with the spear she had, using what Alexis had taught her. It was an easier weapon to maneuver one handed which had become a necessity.

It perhaps didn't matter much what she already knew or had been briefed on regarding traps. It was easier to just hear the man out and take any new information he could offer.

"A little bit but not a great deal."

Hunter replied, "Well the thing about a trap is its purpose. Traps for hunting animals is usually for capture or killing like snare and pit traps. However traps for people can work differently since we can identify them with skill. If the bounty hunter is skilled at tracking us he may also be skilled in identifying traps. We can use that to buy us time. There is a simple trap we can make to slow him down." Hunter then told Islana they can make a hole four inches deep and six inches wide. Then imbed some sharp rocks in the hole and then use small branches and leaves to cover the hole and then cover it with dirt. The design is to cripple a horse if it stepped on it. However they were going to cover them sloppy like so the bounty hunter have to slow down to avoid them. Since time was not on their side Hunter suggested only making a few real traps and the rest were fakes to confuse the bounty hunter. Simply making a small mound of dirt would look like one of the traps. Then Hunter asked, "So do you think we can do that while the horse rests?"

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