Hunting Party|Clan Seere, Beastlands

[Kender Bard]

Thavan hesitated, not because he didn't know, but because he had to think carefully on how that would temper the actions of his men.

"Yes," he answered after a long pause. "Be prepared to defend yourself but try to do so in a way that minimizes casualties."

[Darastrix]

"If it comes to that, should we try to take one or two captive in the process?" Sefu asked. "It could be useful in finding out more."

[Kender Bard]

"If you can do so, that'd be very good," Thavan agreed. "They have captives of their own and the leverage could prove extremely useful." He flashed Sefu a smile. "Good thinking."

When no one else presented any other questions, Thavan recommended they all get a good night's sleep as he settled himself down for the night in the quarters provided to him.

---

At the crack of pre-dawn, when the sky was lightening but the sun hadn't put in an appearance yet, Thavan rounded up his men. A couple Seerelings were sent to notify the rest of the Poldorans to begin catching up. Once everyone was split into their groups and given directions on where and how they were to search, they departed.

Thavan took lead of his two men and headed off into their area of the forest. "If you see the slightest movement or hear the faintest sound, investigate it," he instructed them softly. "I don't care if you find a dozen squirrels and no faeries; they've been hiding under our nose this long. We must assume that they have superior sneaking skills."

[Skittlebug]

Masego stalks along warily, doing her best to keep Thavan between Sefu and herself. Her spear remains on her back, considering what the Packleader had said earier, but she's ready to grab it if need be.

For his part, Ashra prowls a bit ahead of the group, scouting the underbrush.

[Darastrix]

Sefu stepped lightly though the woods, keeping his own movements are quiet as possible so that he could better listen to his surroundings. He kept his head low to keep his horns from catching on low-hanging branches, and moved his head from side to side as he walked; he hadn't been gifted with the ears of his affinity, so to listen for sounds in other directions, he had to turn his head so that an ear would be facing that way.

[Kender Bard]

It took most of the day and Thavan had to call for a couple stops for them to rest and for men from the other parties to report what, if anything, they had found. A whole lot of nothing, all around, it seemed.

Just as Thavan was going to call a halt for the day he caught a flicker of movement ahead and froze. Looking at Sefu and Masego, he pointed to both, to his eyes, and then tilted his head with a puzzled frown and a nod in the direction he'd spotted the movement. Did you two see that?

[Skittlebug]

Masego hadn't been looking in the same direction and hadn't caught the slight movement, she frowns as she eyes the area.

Arching a brow questioningly toward Thavan she glances toward her companion. Ashra could investigate.

[Darastrix]

Sefu gave a short nod to Thavan--he'd caught the movement--then gave a frown and a faint shrug. I saw, but I don't know what I saw.

[Kender Bard]

Hmm... Well at least he had confirmation. He nodded towards Ashra then gave another nod of assent. Go ahead. Scout ahead.

[Skittlebug]

Masego continues to scan the area, as if still looking for where the disturbance came from. Watching her companion would only give him away.

Ashra slinks around, slipping into the brush with his whiskers twitching, seeking out the source.

[Kender Bard]

Sure enough there's a faerie scout in the area. Its body is almost translucent, allowing it to crouch hidden against the landscape and hide easily enough. Spotting Ashra, it smiled and brought a long, bony finger to its thin lips and winked.

[Skittlebug]

The mongoose sniffs at the faerie, curious, but doesn't deem it a threat and continues searching about, looking for another possible source of the movement.

[Kender Bard]

Thavan shifted, watching Ashra's movements. He decided to cast out himself and began to investigate the area. The faerie just stayed where he was crouched down, waiting for the humans to pass or make a threat of themselves.

[Darastrix]

Sefu followed Thavan's lead and crept around as well. He touched his sign and tilted his head up to smell the air. His sense of smell wasn't on the level as that of a true sable, but it was still miles better than an ordinary human's.

[Kender Bard]

Fortunately for the faeries, they tended to smell only of earthy things. After all, if they hadn't been able to disguise their smell, they'd have never hidden from the Beasts for so long.

Thavan shook his head after a bit of searching. Whatever he thought he'd seen had gone, clearly. "Let's stop here a moment and wait for final reports from the others," he announced and gave a large stretch. Forces, but it was tiring work to be so meticulous in searching and still on your guard the whole while.