Alphonse had never been a hunter and was the last person to ever notice any of the tracks, no matter how deep in the mud they were.  He passed around his ale skin to any who would take it; it was the most he could display his merry disposition in a setting that required silence. 

When they looked out over the valley, and Gale pointed out a cabin, like anyone in the group had missed spotting it.  Grendel wasted no time to start down the hill to reach the place, and Alphonse was inclined to agree with him.  It felt right, the foreignness that had invaded his mind was stronger than ever, even if it was keeping silent now.  He didn't stop to question whether he [i]wanted[/i] a foreign entity in his mind or not, but chimed in, since they were talking now.  

[color=f26522]"I reckon ole Gren likes the look of that place.  You know, I've walked out this way a few times, I've never seen that cabin before.  Maybe we should take a look after all?"[/color]

He started down the hill as well, but where Gren was heading right for one of the flooded out sections of the valley, he headed north to move around them.  It wasn't the shortest route, but it wasn't the longest either.  While he didn't have to wade or swim, he was sloshing through mud most of the way.  But his boots were already soaked and muddy, so he had no qualms with getting a little more on them.  Maybe he'd be a bit taller for the mud caked under his feet.  

Alph arrived shortly before Gren, owing to his longer strides and brisker pace, and looked back to the line of his companions in the various ways they chose to come in.

He abandoned the pretense of hunting and called back across the valley to all of them.  [color=f26522]"Think anyone's home?"[/color]  He knocked on the door.  There was no answer.