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Ceolfric couldn't say he found the change in weather comforting. Even if the impending rain didn't bring with it the threat of demons, the thought of trudging along a muddy road while damp and freezing was hardly tantalizing. And if that wasn't bad enough, the horse suddenly decided it wasn't content with its current employment. He nearly dominated the stupid creature into trudging forward regardless, but he was interrupted by a wolf dragging itself onto the path.

His blade was drawn in an instant, unhappy that a mere animal - and a wounded one at that - could surprise him so easily. Of course, where there was a wounded animal, there was also something to wound it. Probably what had spooked the horse to begin with. Unfortunately, no masses of aether stood out nearby, and certainly not one large enough to kill a wolf.

Come to think of it, he didn't feel a wolf either.

Cerric's inane commentary was useless, and the bandit briefly considered that the man had conjured the damn thing himself just to fuck with them. Of course, that begged the question of whether the thing in front of them was a result of an infiltration of their minds, or if it existed as a physical construct. The latter would make for an easy first strike on whoever was bold enough to investigate the wounded canine, should the supposed corpse suddenly spring back to life and attack them, though the former was probably more troubling.

The boy with the strange hair approached soon after, nearly earning him a swift strike to the head from the on-edge bandit, but he purchased his life with information that Ceolfric had missed. He had no guarantee that wasn't also an illusion, designed to draw their attention in one direction while the real threats attacked from the other, but they couldn't afford to ignore it either. However, he didn't quite see the point of the subtlety. If Ermes had spotted an enemy, why was he whispering? Did he not recognize that they'd already been caught in the trap? Or was he merely trying to cower behind the only competent fighter the group had to offer under the guise of being helpful. No, it was probably just the way he'd learned to operate; little urchins like him didn't confront their enemies, they evaded them.

[color=AA4A44]"There's no guarantee it didn't find ours first, on your guard,"[/color] Ceolfric hissed back to Ermes as his eyes scanned their surroundings for any more movement. Abandoning the cart to search the area would be a poor move, but they couldn't keep moving with a threat lurking so near.

Did these idiots even realize there [i]was[/i] a threat?

[color=AA4A44]"That is [i]not[/i] a wolf. Someone with a bow, check to see if it's tangible or not,"[/color] Ceolfric warned loudly, heedless of Ermes' earlier attempt at subtlety. What was their attacker going to do? Attack? [color=AA4A44]"Everyone else, get ready, the creator's here somewhere, and he might have friends."[/color]

He turned now past Ermes to address their mystery assailant. [color=AA4A44]"We have no quarrel with you. Allow us passage and live to seek easier prey."[/color] He had no idea whether their ambusher was a man or a beast, but he supposed it couldn't hurt to throw the offer out regardless. The scheme seemed a bit advanced for a feral monster, but this forest only grew stranger by the minute and Ceolfric was not a betting man. Perhaps he could lure the conjurer out with promises of a toll for passage, and then rip out its throat for daring to waste his time. At the very least, it might spring its attack once it realizes it'd been seen. Save him the trouble of playing chicken with a fucking bush for hours.

[hr][@Trainerblue192]