The pump house clearing is a death trap. With John stabilized, Seth signals the group to abandon the exposed mud of the ravine. They plunge into the dense, overgrown thicket beyond the pump house, scrambling up a steep ridge that overlooks the valley.
Seth
Keep moving. We need the high ground before the light fades.
They crest the ridge to find an abandoned ranger fire tower, its metal legs rusted and creaking in the rising wind. It stands like a skeletal sentinel against the darkening sky. Seth checks the perimeter, his grip tight on his AK-47.
Miller
It looks sturdy enough, but if they tracked us through the ravine, this will be the first place they search.
Elena
It is better than the mud. At least here, we can see them coming.
Seth
Clear it. We take the top level. Move.
“We wait for them to pass it's all we can do right now”
SUCCESS (Great Tactics, rolled -1)
The group huddles in the cramped gallery of the tower, breaths held shallow as the wind howls through the rusted lattice. Below, a patrol of scouts moves through the tall grass, their torches flickering like dying stars. They linger near the base, shadows stretching long and jagged against the tower supports.
Seth
Stay low. Don't even blink. If they see a silhouette, we lose the element of surprise.
The scouts pause, one of them tilting his head toward the metal structure as if hearing the groan of stressed steel. They stand there for an eternity, boots grinding into the dirt, before the lead scout gestures toward the distant treeline. They break formation, heading north, leaving the tower behind.
John
They missed us. How did you know they wouldn't climb the ladder?
Seth
They’re looking for a fight in the open. They don't expect us to be smarter than their scouts.
Miller
They’re moving fast. Do we follow, or do we head for the sawmill while they’re distracted?
+ Scene Quest Added
Decide whether to follow the scouts or head to the sawmill