The small party walked deeper into the woods. Armas winced a bit at Conway's angry shout, but kept going. Hopefully he could swing it as just keeping an eye on the others. Edward kept up his little diatribe as they kept moving, seeming dinstinctly unhappy to be there. Armas tuned it out, trying to keep an eye on the dark forest around them. 

Suddenly Edward was cut off with a sudden curse and a crash of undergrowth as he tripped over a hidden root. Armas grinned a little at the blue streak coming from the reporter as he started to pull himself up. He moved forward with Luna, lighting the way and helping her pull Edward to his feet, brushing the leaves and dirt off his clothes. He looked up at Luna's soft joke, noticing the dark cave for the first time.

[b]"Soldier's didn't mention anythin' bout a cave - did they come out this way?"[/b] He asked, holding the lantern ahead. A man in a black suit and top hat - of all the things to be wearing on the expedition! - stepped out of the darkness. Armas felt his eyes start to cross a little at the stream of consciousness monologue that followed, but managed to pick up on the salient points. He wasn't even aware they had a ship's magician, but here he was getting dragged into some dark cave by something nasty.

Luna looked at him, a hefty stone gripped in one hand, and started grimly towards the cave. Krauss simply turned and walked off, mumbling something about spiked drinks. Armas couldn't really blame him, and it was probably best they got word back to camp as soon as possible. Constance was clapping and carrying on, [b]“Wait for me, sweetpea!”[/b] she said, following after Luna. 

Armas had no idea if it was actually some kind of trick or not, but he wasn't about to leave those two by themselves in the middle of the dark woods. Particularly when he was the one with the lantern. They walked towards the cave, keeping eyes and ears peeled for any sign of the beast or strange magician. As they reached the mouth of the cave he leant down and picked up a solid looking stick, gripping it in one hand. He'd never been much for fighting - his experience stopped at the occasional bar brawl, but he had a good reach and solid swing.

[b]“Come on out, darling, we all know that was just for show,”[/b] Constance said, pressing up against Luna [b]“Seriously, it was fun at first but this bit has gone on a little too long. You can go ahead a drop the charade.”[/b] Armas waved at her to be quiet as he moved forward to be level with Luna, holding the lantern ahead. The walls of the cave were damp, and glistened in the lantern-light, but the back of the cave still vanished into the inky black.