During the walk back to their camp, Penelope spent most of it walking besides Olivia, idly chatting with her friend. Gavin didn't seem as willing to try and convince her of Crow being the enemy with the other female knight so close. It was likely due to Olivia's involvement with Alistair that made him rethink trying to convince both of them at the same time. However, she did catch him try to interrupt their conversations a few times. Feeling tired and a little annoyed, she didn't let him get away with it and switched the subject without much issue.
As they neared the camp, Penelope began to grow a little more aware of the lack of patrols within the area. They hadn't seen a single one from their return to Myrefall. She didn't dwell on it though, guessing that perhaps Mia and the other barons had decided to focus their patrols in another section of the outer villages. She had convinced herself of this until Gavin came to a sudden and abrupt stop as the camp came into view.
She nearly crashed into the male knight, having not noticed him stop as she was wrapped up in a conversation with Olivia. Looking around him, she felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight of their camp. Even though they saw it at a distance, she could make out bodies on the ground, both enemy and comrade alike, as well as partial destruction of their camp. A few tents had clearly been ripped down and—though there were no Younis forces in sight anymore—she could make out the figures of several other knights rushing around as they tried to recover from the attack. Without another second to think, the knights broke out into a run, racing back to their damaged camp. Even Olivia, who was still not fully recovered from her hangover, hurried behind her two comrades with a shocked expression.
That's why there were no patrols. Penelope thought with a grimace. Younis must have finally launched their attack and when they did, her battalion had been far from prepared. A hint of panic and fear gripped her as she thought of her brother, Mia and Tomas. She prayed that the three hadn't become casualties in the battle. As they rushed back into the camp, her gaze flickered around frantically for them. "I-I have to find Layth and Mia.." she said shaking her head as she looked over at Gavin with a frown.
---
"Ask around I'm sure someone must have seen them." Gavin said giving her a concerned look. Penelope nodded her head and hurried off to try and locate her baroness and brother, leaving him alone with Olivia. His gaze swept over the chaos of their camp and an anger boiled in side him. He should have been there to fight alongside his comrades, to help them when Younis attacked. The fact that he had been out hunting false leads instead made him clench his fists at his side in frustration.
We shouldn't have even been this vulnerable to attack in the first place. he reminded himself. That's right. Younis may have attacked but they weren't able to defend themselves as well because of that thief. His gaze focused on the back of Penelope as she left. She wouldn't listen to him even though all the signs pointed to Crow. It seemed he would have to either get hard evidence or deal with the thief himself. He wasn't fond of the latter idea, both because he didn't want to hurt Penelope and because he didn't like the idea of behaving like Layth and killing mercilessly if it came to that.
But perhaps he didn't have a choice anymore. As he looked around the camp, it became clear to him just how dangerous this thief could prove to be. Something had to be done and it appeared he was the only one who could do anything. Gavin gripped the hilt of his sword and abruptly turned to begin to walk off, intent on finding the thief and putting an end to this madness.
"Where are you going?"
Gavin blinked and looked over his shoulder at Olivia, who raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. "I'm going to see if I can find Bran. You should see where you can help out." he stated. He nearly cringed at how easily the lie came out, wishing he could be a bit more honest with his comrade. However, she'd like snitch him out to Penelope and he couldn't risk that at the moment. Luckily she seemed to accept his words without question and gave a nod before walking off to see where she was needed.
With the rest of camp busy and scrambling around, Gavin made easy work of slipping out unnoticed and beginning to head into the woods. He wasn't quite sure where to locate the thief but he recalled where he had seen Penelope met him before. It wasn't a long shot to guess that his camp was somewhere near there. He set course for the clearing that was near Myrefall, traveling quietly with a fire in his gaze. I'm sorry, Penelope but this has gone on long enough.. I'll make you see the man he really is somehow.
