[center][h1][color=dimgray]Caractacus[/color][/h1][/center]
Why was she laughing? Had he said something funny? Caractacus held onto the thought for a few seconds, though he snapped to attention when she started speaking again. He looked at the small, personalized knife she presented. It certainly seemed to be well-used, but certainly not neglected. He peered over it, trying to make out the engravings a moment before she returned it to its sheathe. [color=dimgray]"It is certainly a, er, good knife. Well made. I-I think."[/color] Caractacus had nothing of the sort, of course. His staff was a simple oaken design, unadorned and unmarked, and his own blade was a dull, ill-managed piece of steel. He hardly used it.

She smiled again, Caractacus noted, and accepted his offer of help. He nodded a few times, smiling back for too long. [color=dimgray]"Yes! Of c-course, we can help each other. Now, if I've a moment, I think I c-can..."[/color] Caractacus closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and magically reaching out into the ground in search of something he could revive. He found it easily, and began starting his spell. This would take a bit more effort than the standard zombie, but it would serve a purpose hunting much better. Before he could animate his target however, he was startled out of concentration by movement in the brush, and Kathryn turning to prepare herself for battle. Stumbling back, Caractacus faced the source of concern, and started calling his zombies to him. 

The intruder emerged from the bush, a large, grotesque creature, only vaguely humanoid. Even to Caractacus, it was somewhat off-putting. He readied his attack, in line with Kathryn, the order 'Attack' on his lips, but he hesitated as he watched it. It wasn't getting any closer. Were he alone, he would not have thought twice, but Kathryn was holding off her attack, curious about the monster. She seemed to snatch something from what could be generously described as its hand. Caractacus nodded at the plan to flee to camp. His zombies could at least hold it off while they fled. Despite himself, Caractacus couldn't help but try to peer over Kathryn's shoulder to read the note, and when she turned to speak to him, he hand to jump back to try and seem as though he weren't.

[color=dimgray]"Right, yes, b-back. With them. That is a...good idea, I th-think."[/color] Caractacus turned, first away from the beast, then around again. He wasn't quite sure where he had wandered on his quest to find lumber for fire. But with Kathryn here, he could at least pretend he wasn't lost, and merely let her lead the way. [color=dimgray]"Let us go then. I can keep my zombies in between us and that thing, and you can watch our f-front, yes?"[/color] The hunting solution would simply have to wait.