by badams30 » Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:21 pm
Aside from what sounds like coyote calls in the distance about an hour after Violet comes to camp, the rest of the night is uneventful. Around 3AM, the snow and wind picked up dramatically, then suddenly dropped off around 5AM. Buck and Grinkle stoke the fire and get some warm food cooking, as the first rays of sun try to poke through a cloudy, cold grey sky. Despite the amount of snow that has fallen, most of it has blown away, and it lays in small accumulated drifts next to boulders and static objects. Buck shakes his head and comments "This is how it is up here this time of year. Could have 2 feet of snow tomorrow, then warm and sunny the next day." He shrugs, pouring coffee and says "That's why we waste no time, eh gents?"
Buck motions toward the growing light on the horizon and says "No hurry in getting started the next two days. We need to take our time, the next campsite is a short distance, and then the by the following day we should enter the valley.
After a filling and warm breakfast, you all mount up, Grinkle taking time to comfort Violet and tie her to the wagon on a long lead. Buck also spends some time mixing some herbal salve and applying to her wounds, making her visibly more relaxed. She's still pretty thin, but looking better than last night when you met her.
With that, you are on your way, with more of the same rocky, hilly terrain. in some places despite the relative rolling terrain, the trail is very narrow and boxed in by rocks and boulders, making the progress slow and deliberate. Grinkle carefully threads the wagon through this though, proving his worth yet again.
At lunch time you pause to eat a cold meal and rest the horses, then it's off again. As it gets later in the day, you can see the mountains in the distance, and ominous grey clouds framing them. Buck smiles a humorless smile and says "There is our destination. We'll be there midday at this pace. The trail has become more winding and slower as you proceed, and as you round one particularly sharp curve, Buck suddenly calls out "WHOA! STOP!" and as you bunch up near him at the front, you see at the feet of his mount a carcass of a white and brown riding horse, almost blocking the trail. The horse appears to have been dead for at least a week, and looks to have been a snack for some wild beasts on occasion. Buck rides forward about 50 feet, looking about, smelling the air and generally being observant. He says "This may be one of our search party's horses, but I'm not sure. He points out what you've already seen - aside from a bridle, no saddle or gear is apparent. Buck dismounts, drawing his axe and starts to look about the area.
Any special actions?