A bedroll was laid out on the floor of the shrine to Chauntea. The half-elf, whom they'd learned was named Leosin Erlanthar, was spooning some broth into his mouth, and the group of five was gathered around him. "There's still much more to learn about the cult's activities." He told them. "If you all go and explore the inside of the cavern and meet me in Elturel, I will pay each of you one hundred fifty gold pieces."

"Done." Elli nodded without a moment's thought or hesitation. She looked at her companion. "What? I need money to make my potions." She asked incredulously.

"I was going to agree as well, but it's generally acceptable to ask." Nebula responded bluntly. She looked over at the other three. "What about you?"

"I'm already long past the due date for my delivery. Might as well make it worth it." Boar shrugged.

Xanth spoke up next. "This plan suits me well enough."

"Aye." Kalinthe agreed, looking down at Xanth with something like curiosity. He had been around the supposed boy for long enough to know that he was up to something. He just wasn't sure exactly what that was yet or if he should be worried.

Nebula watched the exchange between the dark pair with interest. The way the smaller one talked was strange. Like he was older than he seemed to be outwardly, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He just seemed like a very precocious child to her. She tore her mind away from the conundrum that was the child to hear the very end of the conversation. Damn her curiosity, sometimes.

Leosin placed his bowl down, and rested back against the wall. "Thank you for your service to the realm. You all are real heroes. I hear the whispers. What they're starting to call you. The Heroes of Greenest." He gave them a genuine smile, but, before any of them could respond properly, a growl emerged from Xanth who turned on his heel, and stormed out of the door.

"What crawled up his ass?" Boar asked Kalinthe.

Kalinthe didn't bother looking away from where Xanth had disappeared off to. "I would simply recommend not using that word as a descriptor when he is involved." His voice more of a low lilt than its usual quiet melody at the moment. He turned to give Leosin a small bow. "It's been a pleasure."

The half-elf bowed his head in respectful reply. "Likewise. Safe travels."

With that, the group gathered their wits, and began to shuffle their way out of town. As they were walking with just the four of them further and further from Greenest, Elli got an anxious look about her face. "What about your friend?" She asked Kalinthe.

Kalinthe didn't look away from their roughly beaten path. "He doesn't need to rest the same as the rest of us. He knows where we're headed. He'll catch up. Xanth is more than capable on his own."

Nebula thought about Kalinthe's words, categorizing them for later. She had a lot of questions for him, but, once again, this was not the appropriate time to ask them. Most of what she wanted confirmation of required a closed door and possibly a pint of ale. She let out a deep sigh. She wished she understood more without having to ask all these questions, but, like her, they were holding things back. They had secrets, too.

As promised by Kalinthe, Xanth reappeared while they were taking a short rest to eat rations. She looked at the boy, and saw raw emotion still left in his eyes. A part of her wanted to help him somehow with what little she could do. She looked down, and saw blood on his knuckles. She knew those emotions all too well, and found herself standing up. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up." She offered.

Xanth's eyes glowed perhaps a little brighter, and his brows furrowed together. "No." His grizzled voice replied slowly. His feet stopped. He wouldn't allow her to guide him. He wouldn't allow her to treat him like a child. He stepped out of Nebula's clutches, and walked to the edge of the small clearing they were occupying. "If I need healing, I'll ask the doctor. Grab your things. We're already far enough behind thanks to the trip back."

There was a collective sigh among the group, but it was true. They needed to catch up. Boar packed the remains of his rations back up, and was the first back on the trail, swiftly followed by the rest of the party. Back behind him, he could hear a quiet argument between Elli and Nebula over Xanth. Of course, the creepy boy would command the attention of this group. He rolled his eyes at the mere thought of it.

"You were going to clean his wounds without me?" Elli asked Nebula pointedly.

"He needed help, and wasn't asking for it." Nebula retorted.

"Clearly not." Elli scoffed in reply, taking quicker steps, and walking ahead of the genasi, leaving Nebula towards the back of the pack with only Kalinthe behind her now. She thought about that for a moment, and slowed down enough for him to catch up with her. They walked in silence for what was easily half an hour before Nebula finally broke the silence. "When we have time, I have questions."

The dark robed man, turned amber eyes towards the blue skinned woman. "But, of course." He responded with a wide grin. His voice sounded almost excited by the prospect. "Anything for the lady." He teased.

Nebula rolled her eyes, and gave him a playful push. "Oh, fuck off." She responded, shaking her head, and walking ahead- satisfied with the fact that she would, eventually, get her answers.

By the time the sun was hanging low in the sky and the colors of the sunset were streaking the blue skies red and purplish hues, Boar, who was still leading the party, stopped as they approached the cult's encampment. He looked back at the group. "Are you all ready?" He asked seriously in a business-like fashion. He didn't know about the rest of them, but he didn't intend to get in too deep on this adventure. As soon as it was convenient to do so, he was going to finish his last guild mission, and go find some normal fucking adventurers to work with. This group was ridiculous.

Xanth stepped beside Boar, and nodded, eyes on the prize in the distance, watching to see if any cultists came around the corner. After a moment, though, his eyes squinted slightly. "Do you see the ground heading North? Something's strange about it."

Boar went up on his tiptoes, thinking that, maybe, the angle would help his sight a little bit better. After only a moment, he lowered back down. "No, not really. I need to be closer. Your eyes are better, kid."

Xanth grumbled, and shook his head as he walked off towards what he'd seen on the ground. Damn them. Damn them all. He was not a child. He did a quick glance down the choke point entrance into the cult's hidey hole, and didn't see anybody coming. He was free to get a better look at the ground, and what he saw was unsettling. Wagon wheel tracks. Horseshoe markings. Kobold foot markings, and hundreds of cultist's boots. He sniffed the air. There was dust in it. More than there had been days before. Another growl escaped him.

Of course, they'd gotten away, and right under their noses. Stupid, weak, mortal bodies. If he'd been himself, he wouldn't need rest. He could've handled that camp by himself in a matter of minutes. Another notch to add to his belt of failures. A growl rumbled deep in his throat. This would simply not do. His aggressively borrowed cultist robes whirled around in a flurry of movement as he stormed into the camp in the growing darkness. He needed to see for himself exactly how little they'd left behind or if they could, in fact, mobilize en masse in such numbers on such short notice. They'd been dug in pretty deep when they'd last been here. He needed to know the true power and influence that this cult had. He needed to know everything.