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Sure enough, as the two of them traveled deeper, the foreset got much more dense. It wasn't incredibly noticeable at first for Tenkai, probably because it was so gradual that Tenkai got used to it quickly as they went along. But soon enough memory kicked in, and the monk could tell that it was a lot darker than it was half an hour ago.

Just then...a noise?

An odd noise. A sharp, rustling-type noise. It wasn't too far away, but he could tell it was some sort of movement of leaves. It could have been the wind, but it felt too sharp and unlike the gentle blowing of leaves that was felt when they first entered the forest. One would also think that the thickness of these areas of the forest would provide more wind cover. Still, it could have been easily overlooked...had it not been for that smell. It was a burning smell, the kind of smoky aroma that comes from meat that's just about ready to be taken off the spits. Tenkai hadn't eaten more than a bowl of rice for breakfast this morning, so he picked up on the scent of food fairly well. Had he been just a bit closer he'd be able to tell what kind of meat it was, unless it was some sort of animal he'd never eaten.

But Tenkai was not a dog. His senses were sharp, but probably not that sharp. Though, based on the direction of the wind, odds were likely the scent came from the same direction the wind blew from. Fortunately, it just so happened that they were heading right towards it. Good. Downwind was good. More importantly, Tenkai could make out from the cover of the trees that there was a stream just ahead going along the path.

Shaking leaves, the smell of cooked meat, and a water source. A camp, maybe?

Either way, if there was any hostile presence Chen probably would pick up on it by now. Tenkai's range of insight was definately not like Chen's psychic abilities, but if there was a strong enough killing intent in the area Tenkai would probably be feeling it too. It seemed safe for now, but who knows? Killing intent wasn't too difficult to hide with the right mental practices.

"Take it a bit more slowly, Chen," whispered Tenkai from the forest, hoping Chen could pick up on his voice with his senses. "There's something up ahead."

As the men followed the stream's curve, one from shadow and one ignoring the occasional stones and actually walking on the surface of the water. Their thoughts would soon be confirmed as their journey led them around a few more trees. The foliage began to suddenly thin and become tame, wild growth culled and cleared relatively recently (perhaps a week, as opposed to the wild ferns and such all about). And just steps more off the side path, they would break into a clearing.

It was perhaps 30 yards in its longest dimension across the river, half that in width. Clearly visible were a great amount of tracks, footprints, tread lines, disturbed earth, and what actually drew them there-- a large smoldering campfire surrounded by stones, with a carcass left on a suspended stick. There were other smoldering areas, though those were only as large as one's fist and not only covered with dirt, but water. That central fire was the only one left to burn away, the owners perhaps comfortable in the make of the pit. Only hours had separated the two parties.

The other side of the clearing had a very visible, well-worn path. It would seem to be a main one, and the one taken by whoever had camped.

The elemental dove forward as the axe made a pass for his hip, at a loss for words. Chosen? The bloody hell was that s**t?! He'd come up low infront of Ivan, standing up fast with his hands on his hips. " How bloody stupid do you have to be?" He asked, fanged mouth moving so fast his teeth clicked loudly, punctuating his words.

" Chosen? Did you actually call him that? What is he your ******** messia?" He snarled, leaning up to try and become face level with Ivan. He was well aware that at any moment he could be nailed with that giant axe, or a knee, or any number of things. But by all the gods he wanted to get things straight!

" Look, I get what you want to do, and I sympathize, but come on! You can't be blind to the fact that this is mass genocide!"

Tenkai wasn't very much shocked at the fact that Chen walked on water, since that was something Tenkai knew was possible. Sometimes people used some form of magic as to not disturb the equilibrium of the water's surface. Other methods Tenkai was more aware of was simply weight control to boost oneself off impact with the water, but that had to be done by running. Chen's ability seemed the opposite, using his abilities to even out his balance totally rather than using initial impact to push off.

Still, even with Chen staying low, it wouldn't be too hard for him to be spotted from that position. If it were Tenkai he'd rather submerse himself in the water, but that wasn't good for either of them. If Tenkai got his robes soaked they'd be heavier and make movement much more awkward, and Chen probably had some electronics on him that most likely didn't like water.

At the very least Chen would be less visible than he was before, which served Tenkai's purposes well. Tenkai remained in the treetops as they proceeded towards the scent before chancing upon...

An empty camp?

"Close enough, I guess," thought the monk.

Tenkai was expecting to run into people, but it seemed the camp had been temporarily abandoned. Temporarily because of the food left on the fire. Either that or whoever left this was due for a meeting with Smokey the Bear.

Tenkai stood on the branch of a tree and thought a moment of the possible scenarios. He was going to assume this wasn't just some case of carelessness, so whoever left the fire here was probably intending to come back by the time their food was done cooking. Either that, or whoever resided here was driven away by something. But if so, what could drive them away? And there was always the possibility that if the party was away, something could be keeping them from returning...

Nevertheless, this merited further investigation. There were other smoldering piles about the size of a fist around the area, but they had obviously been put out. What could they have been? Too small to be an old campfire. Other than that, there were quite a bit of tracks down there that needed closer inspection.

"Inspector!" whisper-shouted the monk.

Once he got Chen's attention, he'd continue.

"The camp's filled with tracks," said Tenkai, "If you're going to be the one they can see, you should check them out!"

This way, Tenkai could remain hidden and stay alert for any disturbances or possible ambushes. Chen was probably more suited to inspecting the tracks, even if having the Inspector "inspect" was a bit redundant.

The two of them would be able to make sense of Chen's findings once that was through. But then there were other things to consider. Looking towards the path leading out of he clearing, Tenkai wondered if his initial thoughts were sound. If someone had set up camp and intended to return, where were all of the supplies? If supplies were what they were investigating, wouldn't they have a lot more than just a fire? Either the party was very lightly equipped or they were on the move, and the two of them were losing valuable time.

Nevertheless, analyzing tracks was an important part of tracking if you wanted to get an idea of who you were following. Chen's psychic abilities would probably make that all the more vivid. In the meantime, Tenkai would keep his senses sharp just in case this was some sort of unseen trap.

The ruts, linear and relatively thin, pushed hard into the ground, nearly an inch in the firm soil. As Chen was closely looking at the tracks, he could see the exact orientation of them. On the edges of the path were footprints, much more shallow but numerous and belonging to some big-and-bare-footed (or at least most of them were, though a set of flat bootprints was seen amongst them) beings. The path itself had the aforementioned ruts and hoofprints, numerous, and nearly as deep as the linear ruts.

(Since the GM is only 80% sure that "ruts" is the proper term, it will be clearly stated here that these "ruts" are the result of a wagon wheel. It'd be easy to identify, since the only other explanation could be a Ski-Doo.)

Chen's response would be that in the one-mile area that he requested searched, there was nothing that he was looking for. There was a path, however, told by the fact that the trees split for an ever-widening, well-trodden road. While there were a couple of other side paths that branched up into the main (just as the path they took into the forest linked up), there were no signs of people on them, and no equipment or fortification.

" Really? It....it was that easy?" Damion said, his tone incredulous. He'd expected more of a struggle really, perhaps more words or atleast abit more convincing. He was glad for sure, but he had definately not expected this. " So...uh....lead the way...I guess?" He asked, moving from infront of Ivan and motioning towards the door. Not like he knew where to go.

He'd know what to do once they got there.

Ivan wasnt moving.

You do not understand.

He said gravely. And Damion did not, there was a different misunderstanding in the language. The Bartender took a deep breath, and then, trying on a whim he spoke again, this time in his native tongue.

The Work King will rise, and we will all die...so that he may cleanse the world. These infested pawns are what is left of my friends and family. I would rather die fighting beside them, fighting for a change...

One hand held the hand axe, the other grabbed the massive handle of the two handed great-axe monstrosity.

...Then fight for nothing, like you. This world will die, either by Ysmidon's hand, or by its own. And on its waste will come a new one. If you mean to stop that...

He shook his head, and just incase Damion did not understand, which the Dagan likely would have assured he did. Ivan added, in a more common tongue.

...Ve have nozhing else to talk about.

And now the slash was coming.

Damion's face fell more and more as Ivan spoke, his jaw clenching tighter and tighter, arms hanging at his sides as he slumped alittle as if in defeat. He had nothing to say to that, nothing to say to change Ivan's mind.

" I'm sorry...."

He did not try to stop Ivan from grabbing his axe, nor did he seem to be looking at the bartender's body anymore, his green eyes focused on the floor as the axe began to move. It was fast, as one would expect but it was after all a two handed weapon. Damion's only weapon was his body, and it moved faster than any man wrought weapon ever could. His body dipped low to the ground, his right leg stretched out far behind him, his left knee almost to his chest as he slashed his left hand across the flesh of Ivan's stomach, dragging those sharp digits across.

Blood, bile, likely worms would follow the slash, but Damion's right hand would have chambered in the slash, fingers tight together and clawed tips pointed forward he snapped his hips around, right hand slicing into the newly opened gut just above the waistline, driving in with all his strength, all the way till he felt them erupt out of the back and curled them around the bendy pole that made up the larger mans spine. He didn't care about the hand axe, the big axe, any form of retaliation, if he did it would interrupt what he was trying to accomplish as his left hand smashed forward against the flesh of Ivan's body, providing a stable base for Damion to flex and pull, ripping out a small but undoubtedly vital part of Ivan's spine.