Alarming Discovery

   Though the rain fell incessantly, and the thunder cracked over head, the small group of rangers still managed to find the trail they had been following for two days. It appeared that they were gaining on their prey, but without the aid of horses, or some other form of living transport, they were still behind what they were hunting. All six of the rangers had been tracking all day, and wanted to rest their feet, and eyes. Soaked to the skin, and barely being able to see because of the dark clouds over the forest, the head ranger signaled for the halt.

   Without a word, Alaran, the head ranger, thrust his bow and long knives under a patch of low hanging ferns. The soft bed of dry needles he found under the large leaves was an inviting sight. Resting on his arm, he began to rummage through his travel pack. Bringing out some dried meat, he started chewing the half wet morsels, and watched as one of the other rangers crawled under the ferns.

   “Master Gavin.”

   The newcomer simply nodded to Alaran, and began eating some of his own dried meat and fruit. The two sat in silence for some time; each with their own thoughts on the day's tracking. Finally, Gavin spoke.

   “Alaran, that young Quinn, he doesn't know too much about tracking, or being a ranger.” His voice was calm, but yet firm.

   Alaran smiled in the dark. “He will learn in time.”

   “In time. That's what you always say about everything. If I am right about what we are tracking, then he won't have enough time to learn the ways of the forest!” Although Gavin's tone had risen in volume, he still kept his words under a calm control.

   This time Alaran did not smile, but looked hard at Gavin's face in the dark. Being almost entirely of elven descent, Alaran could see nearly as well in the dark as a cat. The slight look of fear and unawareness he saw in the ranger’s eyes, made Alaran ask.

   “You know what we are tracking.”

   “I fear what I have seen, but the signs have to be wrong. There are no…”

   “Master Alaran, Gavin. Evraan has returned. And he brought with him this.” Holding out his hand, Quinn, the younger ranger Gavin was talking about earlier, showed the two a thick strand of gnarled black hair. Hair, that was clearly not human.