Makeda raises two fingers from the ravine edge, then points toward the fir-lined footpath. No patrol or sentry occupies the eastern ascent.
She descends beneath the bare shoulder, where Daria waits with the others. Julia leans against Sofia, pale and sweating, while Sofia steadies her carefully.
Angela
The jug is sound, and the food remains dry. We have enough for several days, if we stop wasting strength.
Angela tightens the jug’s covering and reties the smallest bundle. Petar stands apart, watching the empty bends and the mule road behind them.
Daria
The road is faster, but Julia cannot match a mounted patrol. The footpath hides us, though every mile will cost time.
Daria
We leave the road here. The ascent exposes too many bodies, and Julia needs a route where she can pause without being seen.
Petar
Then I will take the first bend and watch the path ahead. If anyone comes, I signal twice.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the next hidden shelter
“They continue according to plan.”
SUCCESS (Great Survival, rolled -1)
The fugitives leave the mule road and enter the fir-lined footpath. Petar leads to the first bend, while Daria keeps the group close beneath the dripping branches.
Makeda moves beside Daria, guiding Julia around slick stones and low roots. The narrow trail hides them from the road, but wet brush tears a strip from Makeda’s sleeve.
Petar
The path remains clear. I see no fresh tracks beyond ours.
They press east in single file. Angela protects the jug, Sofia supports Julia, and Daria quietly gathers the torn cloth before it can snag again.
Daria
Keep moving. We have the cover we wanted, but the road will not stay empty behind us.
The footpath bends into thicker firs and descends toward a shallow hollow. Its stones are damp, its cover continuous, and the mule road vanishes from sight.
Julia
The hidden path is harder, but no rider can follow us here.
“They keep going.”
SUCCESS (Great Health, rolled +0)
The fugitives continue east along the fir-lined footpath, descending into the shallow hollow. Wet branches close behind them, hiding the group and the mule road completely.
Petar
The hollow bends east. I see no tracks ahead, but the stones are slick.
Makeda steadies Julia over the worst stones while Daria keeps the line compact. A sharp branch tears Makeda’s sleeve and scratches her forearm, but she does not stop.
Sofia
Rest here briefly. Julia can stand, but only if we spare her ankle before the next rise.
They reach a recessed bank beneath thick fir roots, concealed from every direction. Angela sets down the jug, and the group lowers their bundles without lighting a fire.
Daria
We have left the road behind. Eat little, drink little, and keep the eastern path in sight.
The footpath carries them safely into the fir-covered hollow. Their progress costs Makeda a torn sleeve and a shallow scratch, while the food and water remain secure.
Quest Complete
Reach the next hidden shelter
Skill Upgrade: Survival Great→Superb