The others were lucky to be farther away from the cabin’s door because Sir Gunnar and Irene were both thrown into a coughing fit that didn’t seem to want to cease after being exposed to the elusive smoke.
The girl remained crouched in front of the door, insistent on guarding it as the others looked on.
By the ti she was done with her coughing fit, Leif had gone to her side, hovering over her in concern. He then pulled her water skin to the front of her, forcing her to drink sothing to soothe her throat.
Unfortunately, it also ant she needed to be much more careful. Unless they found snow, there was no water on the mountain for them to drink. They would have to wait to get back to the ground to refill their water skins.
There was a heavy pause as the two righted themselves.
"What now?" Sir Phillip asked, his voice giving away his impatience. "We need a place to sleep. Better to let this air out so we can get inside. I’m going to investigate it for myself."
At this, Irene beca energetic. She jumped up and placed herself in front of the door with her arms wide.
"You will not, Sir Phillip," she objected with a scratchy throat but it didn’t make her conviction any less.
"An apprentice telling what to do?" the knight asked. "How often does an apprentice who shows insubordination beco a knight?"
"Phillip," Sir Gunnar spoke the man’s na in a warning tone.
However, it was unnecessary because Irene wasn’t picking a battle and she was determined to prove as much. She bowed her head.
"Sir, it is unsafe for any of us to enter this space," she persisted. "You cannot imagine what it’s like to be affected by it and have your energy relentlessly sapped from you for weeks after. I can’t imagine soone exposing themselves to it for even longer than I was. Certain death would greet you, I guarantee it. This year’s monster culling must be done to completion."
She offered a silent apology for speaking out but remained in front of the door so they would know she was serious.
"As the highest ranked, I say we will listen to the child," Sir Gunnar spoke up in an equally rough voice even after he had drank down a bit of his own water to soothe his throat. "We will find a place to camp but we must make haste. The sun will soon rise."
Irene cast a grateful glance towards the knight and he responded with a slight nod.
Outwardly he wouldn’t admit that it felt he was choking to death after inhaling the black smoke. He coughed so hard his throat had certainly started bleeding. If it could feel worse when the strange substance was injected into you, he could only imagine what Iro went through in healing from it.
There were no other solutions to the cabin. Since monsters seed to be involved with the smoke, would it call to them if they left the door open to let it all out? Would leaving it be just as much of a problem? There were no good solutions. Montarily, Gunnar wondered if they should have brought mages with them. It would be unusual but it might be a safer asure with the mysteries cropping up in the mountains.
Without a solution, Gunnar guided the group forward and they had no choice but to press on, the promise of a warm cabin to sleep in was cruelly ripped from their hands.
Fortunately, not one of them was unfamiliar with the outdoors and they all ca prepared to face it if that’s what was required of them.
Eventually, the knights at the front found an alcove against a rock face. As their eyes traveled upward to make sure nothing would fall on them if they settled there, all they could see was the heavy clouds of early morning resting on higher elevations.
"This will be fine for now," Sir Gunnar said. "Get your supplies out and make sure you’re warm. This is the best we can do until tomorrow."
The biggest reason for sleeping before sunrise and through the day was that monsters were less active during the day so they wouldn’t have to constantly watch over their shoulders. It also ant the group would be stagnant in the warm and moving in the cold. It would fare better for them like that.
They were permitted a small al since no hunting had been done as they had to co up with a new camp.
Despite the sun rising and Irene having to hide her eyes so it wouldn’t keep her awake, she was quick to find sleep. She had been running on little sleep while they tried to get used to night watch again.
While it wasn’t their preference to have to sleep in armor and boots, it was the reality of their lives at least for the next couple of days.
Unfortunately, there were still beasts in the mountains who didn’t care whether or not it was night or day to hunt.
When Irene only had about four hours of sleep under her belt, she turned her head left and right as she tried to resist whatever was touching her forehead.
"Go away," she muttered. "We have a bit of sleep left."
It left for a mont, but the feeling against her forehead returned. She tried to brush it away this ti with her hand, but where her glove had separated from her outer coat’s sleeve in her slumber, she felt sothing wet and she was up and alert in no ti.
Considering it was day out, she saw the scene before her quite easily.
There were four dire wolf cubs standing amongst the sleeping campers. However, the most horrifying thing was the mother dire wolf that slowly approached the campers, realizing her cubs were missing and finding them next to a bunch of sitting ducks.
Considering it was the end of the season, the wolves were thick and energetic.
"Dire wolves!" Irene scread the mont she realized what was around them.
The pups started growling. She felt awful having to raise her sword to sothing not even a year old yet.
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