[hider={ROUND}]
[@Lord Zee]
[@Hawlin]
[@Darkmoon Angel]
[@rush99999]
[@Cuccoruler]
[@Rekaigan]
[@ineffable]
[/hider]
As the darkness of the night swept over the camp, unease returned to everyone's hearts. The surrounding forest was dark and unapproachable, a black abyss where a stray soul would be lost in a heartbeat. Mysterious voices whispered from its edges in unknown tongues. The Warlock's influence could still be felt, as if he were still here, watching them. But Ivan Stormwall, bless his heart, did not let it daunt him. He bravely set foot beyond the borders of the camp clearing and ventured into the void. As he moved deeper in his patrol, the forest drew silent. Only the methodic cracking of leaves beneath his boots made any sound in the wild.

Then, a bird chirped. A couple animals chattered their way up a tree. Something else had entered these woods, a friendlier presence that seemed to drive away the fear. Suddenly, an arrow thudded in a tree behind him. Ivan's ring warmed on his finger, and a dim light appeared on the arrow's shaft in response. Now, he could see that there was a piece of parchment stuck to the arrowhead with elvish script on it. The handwriting was elegant and precise, similar to that found on the letter Tiberius had shared with the party.

[i]Dance with me.[/i] It said.

Twigs snapped a little ways away.
__________

[u]Back at camp...[/u]

The Storyteller's prediction was proven accurate. The ring stopped shrinking, and golden dust floated from its edges, the telltale sign that powerful magic was about to be cast. Suddenly, Vert felt needle-like pain shoot through her chest as mystic threads sewed the maw shut. Unlike ordinary threads, they would not open with the maw or come back together when it closed. Agonizing as the procedure was, it was over in seconds. The ring loosened on her finger enough to be safely removed.

Fin barely paid the two any mind, since she had eyes only for Tiberius. "There is no one waiting for me at home, Miss Vanarys, not anymore," he had said. Those were just the magic words she was waiting for. And as if this opportunity couldn't get any better, the thought of being alone saddened Tiberius - the perfect opportunity for an attractive female to step in an [i]comfort[/i] him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and assumed a solemn expression. "I'm so sorry. It must be hard having no family to go home to. At least you're not attached to that silver airhead sitting by the fire," she said, tilting her head toward Laina. Unfortunately for Fin, both Laina and Kaite were within earshot...

Gorman, meanwhile, found himself getting distracted with Laina. She looked up at him and smiled. "My name's Laina. Laina Silverstide. I'm the healer here.  What is your name?" she asked. Struggling not to stare or stutter, Gorman gave a nervous chuckle. "It's Gorman. I'm an orc. Obviously. I was captain of my own army once, before, you know, certain parties dragged me out of it. What a nice night this is! Say, how about you wash the rag and I make the dinner? There's this venison stew recipe I've been wanting to try. Could I borrow the knife?"

He didn't get very far with the butchering before silence befell the camp, causing him to stop and look up.