A lone figure approaches the remnants of the Elementals' compound, adhering resolutely to the shadows, fiery orange fur and rich red hair darkened with dirt as camouflage, her normally polished black steel nunchaku dulled.
Staying low and silent, Hanna prowls away from the treeline on all-fours, approaching what's left of the perimeter wall. Flattening herself against it, Hanna slides along to the nearest gap; a single ear is moved into position to listen for potential hazards, slowly followed by a single eye.
The eye flits around; Hanna's gaze fixes on the main gate guard tower, still remarkably intact. That explains how someone survived. Another scan of the debris field; cautiously, Hanna slips round the end of the wall, through the gap. How many guards were in that tower when I torched this place? Doesn't look big enough for more than two.
Hanna takes a few moments to scan the debris once more; satisfied the way is safe, she scurries from the wall, and takes cover behind a slab of charred masonry. A large crack runs the full height; it's wide enough to spy through, narrow and shaded enough to remain hidden to all but the sharpest eye. Unclipping her binoculars from her belt, Hanna directs her attention to the top of the tower.
The angle isn't ideal; the light of the rising sun threatens to wash out the magnified view. With a silent sigh, Hanna backs away from the shard of wall, and makes her way around the edge of the former building to find a better viewpoint. An inadvertent misstep; Hanna slips, skittering rubble. Inwardly cursing, she freezes in place, ears frantically pivoting, eyes darting all around.
No-one heard that; good. Hanna continues with great care, eventually selecting a suitable scree slope shadowed by a section of former ceiling. Lying flat on her stomach, Hanna resumes her reconnaissance. This viewpoint is much better; her view of the chamber at the top of the guard tower is clear enough to determine no-one is in.
Now to get up there and look around. A quick and silent scurry, and Hanna is at the foot of the guard tower. A loud crash; Hanna freezes once more. She slowly turns to look over her shoulder; the section of ceiling she was under only moments before had collapsed, sending a sizeable dust cloud into the air. Swallowing hard to calm her nerves as she realises how close she came to being pancaked, Hanna turns her attention back to the guard tower.
Fifty feet straight up; not ideal, but not impossible. The wall of the guard tower offers a surprising number of hand- and footholds. Hanna psyches herself for the climb; focussed and determined, she ascends the wall with a balance of speed and care. Don't hang around Hanna Skarlett, you're horribly exposed right now.
At the top, Hanna swiftly rolls into the chamber, ending on all fours, claws extended, ready to fight; there's no-one to greet her. Big enough for two guards, but there's no way anyone can use this as a base of operations. A quick scan of the room reveals only bare walls and floor, confirming suspicions. Let's not waste any more time here.
A few minutes later, Hanna is back on solid ground; she pauses a moment to flex and massage her aching fingers. As she is about to return to the safety of the treeline, footsteps; a brief and frantic search for cover ends with Hanna slithering between two large blocks of masonry. The gap is barely wide enough; she has to breathe short and shallow, and stand awkwardly, tail between her legs. If I'm discovered, it's 'Game Over'; it's nearly impossible to move.
The footsteps get louder; Hanna's breathing quickens as the adrenaline surge hits. Calm down; you're hyperventilating. Hanna closes her eyes and clears her mind; this slows her racing pulse, and her breathing returns to relative normality. Refocussing on the approaching footsteps, she realises they're retreating.
Thank the Ancients! Hanna relaxes, and slides out from her masonry sandwich. One last look around. A methodical prowl of the debris of the three buildings reveals nothing of interest; disappointed, Hanna hastily beats a retreat to the treeline. As she is about to leave for home, she hesitates. What if there's a hidden access? Maybe I should keep watch, just in case.
After a swift climb, Hanna perches on a suitable branch, taking care to ensure she's hidden by the foliage, yet can still see the ex-compound. Now begins the waiting game.