It was only a matter of another few minutes before the tracks led the hunters within site of the native village.  Ulric paused, still aware of the figures shadowing them.  No sense trying to skirt around the perimeter since their presence was already known. Plus it was likely enough that their quarry was still inside the village.  He kept his hands well clear of his weapons as he continued forward. 

[hr]

Brinley sprinted along the riverside trail with the others, not even daring to pause long enough to look back.  She had been frightened before...  of being caught by the slaver, of being lashed, and of being put back in the hull of the Crimson Eel and doomed to a life of servitude.  Now she scared for her life.  But she was only beginning to realize the dangers the jungle held.

Beside the trail, something large moved just behind the fleeing group, surprisingly quick and stealthy for its bulk.  The previous night it had built its large and sticky web across the trail, hoping for some tasty morsels to find their way into it...


[img]http://stuffershack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Amazon-Spider-pic.png[/img]