"No," he chuckled, tying up the last bit of his shoe and speaking through the ham within his cheek. "But I needed to stay up a bit to recharge my spells." He did indeed meditate a small bit before drifting off to get back a few of his key spells and his mystical strength. He really wished he was more advanced in the arcane arts, but for now what he'd learned so far would have to do. He took another swig of water as she got ready, and collected the small pot and throwing daggers they had used last night. The mercenary was shoving the equipment into his side pack when she returned the folded up blanket. He gave a wink and returned her grin with a boyish one of his own. "I had it on hand." he replied.

They made it out of the shelter and into the small bramble field they had discovered the night previous. Small, roughly forged trails made by animals, and perhaps Orcs or bandits twisted and turned through the widely spaced gnarled trees and the rough vines and sticks that crowded about them. Hand resting on his sword hilt, Markus led the way, doing his best to take them as far northeast as he could without finding a dead end. Once or twice they had to double back, but within the hour they had made it to the small creek Markus had found last night where their water bottles had been replenished. 

It was shallow and cold water, but clear and quite serene as it flowed over small pebbles and stones. Markus refilled Valerie's bottle and handed it to her as she stood guard, and then he filled his own before they were off once more. There were a few clouds in the sky, but the sun was still clear and bright. Markus thanked the Gods the weather had not seen fit to rain the past week. Out here and without a good roof, that would be a terrible thing to endure. 

The edge of the 'bramble dale' was a rise in the ground, akin to a small cliff. It was slightly taller than Markus, and passed it looked to be a quaint wood of birch trees. What wasn't quite so quaint was a sudden, dull roar in the distance. At first, the dark eyed young man thought it was a monster, but there seemed to be many deep voices in the noise, and it died down within moments other than a few aggressive hoots and cries. Markus shared a look with Valerie. 

"Let's go," he breathed, kneeling down and cupping his hands to hoist her up. With his equipment, he could make it up the rise himself, but it would take some scrambling even with his fit figure. He'd grab a-hold of her hand once she was above him if he could. "Probably best to go slow through the trees and bit, and stay low," he whispered to her. It was an obvious statement, but he wanted to tell himself the same thing. Those voices were more than likely Orcish, and the sound of so many could unnerve and take the rational thinking of a hardened adventurer. [@Luminosity]