Lapis stared wearily at her blurry destination. The cave entrance wavered with heat shimmer; it was a bit out of their way, but her poor camel could use the shelter from the sun. The detour off the trail would be worth it for an hour or two of blessed shade for Helah. 

As she made her way across the dune, the heat waves began to reveal a strange sight. A small group was gathered at the cave mouth, wearing strange garments and covered head to toe in gore. They all wielded weapons and Lapis’s first instinct was to pull back on the reins, cooing to her mare. 

[color=#da5e64]Whoa! Arthur, do you see those people up there? What do you make of them?[/color] She could hear her companion put down the boots he was shining and poke his head out of the wagon behind her. She leaned forward to stroke Helah’s rump as she considered the group. They definitely seemed like they could be dangerous…but as she continued to study them, her nerves settled. They looked just as weary as she was, if not more. Evidently they had just survived some terrible battle, and would be in need of respite. A single eyebrow quirked up at the thought of the kind of coin such warriors must carry. And if she could see them, they could surely see her wagon as well. She may as well meet these battered people. Goodness knows she could use the money.

She turned to Arthur, however, to get his decision first. She'd come to trust his quiet opinions in the short time he'd worked for her. He had a straightforward way about him that she admired, his religion notwithstanding. [color=#da5e64]Should we offer them assistance?[/color]