Chapter 24
Kazur sprinted as quickly as he could. At first, he was nervous that he'd never find a trail to follow in order to locate Fan-Huang, but that worry was quickly answered. Soon after he'd entered the Cursed Woods he'd found the bodies of demons and beasts being eaten by carrion bats. The wicked bats paid him no attention, but attempted to satiate their never-ending hunger by devouring the corpses of their fallen brethren. He knew this was no accidental death of a demon. It was the work of those he was after. Either Fan-Min or Huang had done this.
As he inspected more bodies on his trek through the woods, he noticed bolts in the heads of some of the fallen demons. Each bolt was directly in between the eyes of the creature. Someone was very accurate with a crossbow. He worried for Fan-Huang. Renegade Wizards were viewed in the same light as demons to many people in the world. He wouldn't be safe from anyone, especially a hunter as experienced as whoever had slain these monsters.
Kazur traveled on, ready for a fight at any moment, but none ever came. It was as if all the demons were already dealt with, they were scared, or they were already occupied by something. Whichever it was, it made for easy travel for him.
He made his way through the thick forest of twisted trees, soggy vines, and thick fog, following the path of blood and decay. Suddenly, out of the mist came a group of villagers. They looked exhausted and beaten, but at no threat of death.
"Are you okay?" Kazur asked. The villagers looked at him cautiously, but apparently saw him as more of a potential ally than a threat.
"We're fine." The man in front, obviously the unspoken leader of the group, spoke. "I don't remember exactly how we all got out here, but we woke up in the middle of these woods."
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"Yes." He explained. "That's how we woke up..." He looked at the other villagers with a bit of uncertainty. "I think..."
"Who were they?" Kazur asked, grabbing the man by his arms and looked intensely into his eyes. "Was one of them a really short guy?" Kazur gestured with his hand down below his chest. "About this tall. Robes? Brown hair?"
The man nodded nervously. "Yes!" He said clearly. "That was him. He was the one that freed us."
"And the other?"
"She's from around New Tristram." He explained, again looking to the other villagers for confirmation. "I don't know who she is, but she always wears a hood and dark clothing."
"And she carries two crossbows." A younger man added from behind the one acting as the leader.
"Sounds like a Demon Hunter." Kazur said absently.
"Do you know where New Tristram is?" The man asked. "It's so easy to get lost in these woods."
"Yes." Kazur answered, refocusing on the people before him. "I just came from there." He pointed back down the path he'd followed. "It's a few hours in that direction." He then gestured over to the dead demons nearby. "Just follow the path of dead monsters and carrion bats."
"Thanks." The man said, clearly nervous about the carrion bats. "I hope you find who you're looking for."
"Thank you." Kazur said as he continued on his way. He was re-energized by the confirmation from the villagers that Fan-Huang had passed through here. He was confident he'd find him, especially if he was able to keep up his fast pace.