Wunjo pulled Kenaz roughly by her hairs. "Not that way young woman..", he grumbled. Not even looking at the mask of ache that was Kenaz' face for that instant! Right before her feet was a treacherously immediate patch of mud that vanished under the surface of a deep and cold looking pool. She had almost tumbled straight into it! With doubt on their faces they looked at the pool.. perhaps the result of a recent flood in this woodland, they had freshly entered a verdant forest, it was calm and lifted their spirits at first, but here a challenge lay before them. "We swim?", Froeydis asked bravely. Wunjo shook his head,".. Would spoil the meat we carry." .. Kirstjaan patted his pony thoughtfully, "How about we make a raft?" Uruz frowned, Ursell shrugged her shoulders. Northmen they may be , but woodsmen after all, had little to no need for boats nor anything that required passage over water aside bridges. "Let us find wood." , Alfknutr added helpfully with an adventurous smile on his face. So their search began, Ursell gathered wood wether it was usefull or not, most wasn't. Jotunvir wasn't far off and Elgiz stood at a distance, relieving himself against a tree. The day was still young and the sun wasn't on her highest zenith yet. The shadows in the woods hadn't lengthened just yet. Most felt good though , despite another hold to their adventure. The presence of thick ferns and high grass to walk in, beneath the thick branches with leaves whom were held up by the treetrunks. Like pillars would keep a roof lifted. The memory of Bree was already fading in most minds, despite all that had happened there. Alfknutr had made a small fire, not to join the gathering as his leg was still tender from past injury. He and Wunjo had shared many words together in the last few days. A mixture of questions and answers on both accounts, an intriguing duo for both were northmen, but where Alfknutr was well-travelled, cultured and very polite Wunjo knew little that went outside of Mirkwood, his manners crude and his mouth blunt. Strange the both of them got along, but they did very lively so. Perhaps both being pack leaders in a way was reason because of it. Today they spoke once more with the interest of the small band of northmen and women. "The meat of the great stag, will be plenty for a while yet, let our minds go out to the spirits of the woods? Perhaps make an offering for good fortune?" Alfknutr chuckled and wisely his voice sounded, " Do they not help those whom aid themselves?", he blew into the patch of dry grass to light it up a little more. As his head came up he continued, "Let us rest for a short while, build this raft.. and when that is done find shelter. Perhaps people live in these lands, or so rumours would have it. Roads run through these woods, even if they are well hidden." .. Wunjo cleared his throat.. ," Elves and Trolls, joah? I have my doubts to follow these paths.. they are abandoned for a reason.. " And so they went on for a while, trying to convince eachother with their wisdoms untill one would run without further argument. A healthy way of leadership, if a little longwinded in making decisions. When both of them shared words , Wulfaz had decided to follow Uruz in the search for wood, he looked at the giant man and decided to outdo him, "Another branch! Another log.. , one more..", his head slowly began to flush red and his eyes began to get purple circles around them, .. Still the enormous man was not to be held back, more wood was laid on his broad arms! Wulfaz could not keep up! His arms trembled and in his stubbornness to keep holding it he fell forward, all spilling from his hands on the forestfloor again. Uruz turned around and looked somewhat confused.. ,"No time to sleep.." ,he said as he walked up to Wulfaz' gathered wood. He picked it all up and simply laid it on his heap. Much to Wulfaz dismay and awe! Froeydis looked bitterly at the whistling Kenaz when she muddied her clothes of wool and leather. The redhead girl seemed perfectly fine with it as she laid branch after branch in her arms. Froeydis turned her attention to her muddied hands and she sighed inwardly when her beautiful hair was entangled with leaves and twigs. The braids were no longer neatly kept together. She had travelled before through the wilds, but not -in- the wilds!! Why didn't they just take the road? She got disturbed when Kenaz shoved a pile of wood in her arms, "Come, we are not done yet! Joah?" She looked at the wood doubtfully.. messing up her fine clothes... "Joah..", she whispered..
Kalf in the meanwhile had decided to go for a walk with Asatrid, "Filled with courage she had already gathered small twigs in her hands to help the others even before Kalf himself had even considered helping. The hunting hound Gelert and the small pup Freki were not far, expanding their territory and sniffing the woods.. occasionally tossing sand around to cover their tracks. Then Kalf startled as Gelert let out a complaint! He had a splinter his paw,.. the dog tried to withdraw it, but he managed to pull the splinter out. He looked at it curiously, "What a big thing! . And that's no ordinary thorn from a branch or anything either!" He was somewhat surprised.. and not at the same time as he suddenly found the remnant of a cartwheel in the grass...
(to be continued)
