With Rick's response read loud and clear, Edmondo stayed pressed tightly against the tree, listening in on the now more audible words from their targets. More chit-chat about the prisoner filled the air before one of the men quickly shushed the other, pointing out into the forest where they were headed. With a stifled exclamation, the due began to jog through the forest, seeming to forget that they were supposed to be quietly making their way through it. Within moments, the two of them were gone far, but Edmondo didn't move.

It could've easily been a ploy, but after waiting a good five minutes, he crouched down and tossed a rock out towards where the two beings, now long gone, had been.
Nothing stirred, nothing moved. Nothing changed in their little pocket of the forest. With a sigh of relief, Edmondo slid out from behind the tree, gripping his gun tightly and holding it at the ready just in case. Nothing moved, even as he did, and after a few moments, when he'd reached the place the two people had started their sprint, he beckoned Rick over with a hand. He let his gun fall to his side, watching the faint light of the torch carried by the two beings light up the darkness far, far away.

"It'll be easy to follow them, at least, but look up above."

Through a crack in the foliage that acted as the forest's nature roof, Edmondo could make out what seemed to be a massive beam of light shooting up into the sky above. It was abnormally bright, and it came from far further through the forest than they were. When Rick had reached him and made his comment, if he made any, Edmondo glanced over to him.

"I think it's time we get this show on the road, don't you?"

[hr]

Edmondo lead Rick on a trek that lasted all night, then all day, then the rest of the next day and through the sunset that followed. As the sun set, the duo had to stop once again. In front of them was a massive ravine with only a large stone bridge there for them to cross it. On the other side was a sign, but Edmondo didn't exactly feel comfortable crossing the bridge just yet. Instead, he'd set up camp for the second time during their trip.
The fire had to be subdued for obvious reasons, but before the sun set, it burned brightly.
Edmondo was studying a map, furrowing his brow as he did.

"There shouldn't be a ravine here, but there is. If this doesn't spell out 'cultist activity', I'm not sure what would."

He folded the map, reaching up to rub his forehead. A small smile sat on his face as he sat in front of the fire.
"So, tell me about yourself, Rick. How'd you end up getting sent all the way out here?"
The question was simple, and as he spoke, Edmondo produced a duo of MRE's from his backpack and tossed one over to Rick.
He waited.