The road to Pinewood Cave

The four companions were walking down the road towards the cave. Nothing actually happened, but the night was falling.

"I suggest we set our camp up here." Taman said, looking up the sky.

Aelor looked at Taman and shook his head. "Not here." he simply said.

"Where do you want to set up camp then?" Taman asked, confused at the short answer of Aelor.

"Just follow me." The hunter said.

Taman sighed, he was getting tired of walking around in his heavy plate armour and chainmail. His shield hung on his back and his trusty blade was sheathed on his hip. He envied his companions. Aelor only had his bow and arrow and wore light leather armour, as far as he knew. Akvahl still wore black sorcerer-robes. He also had a small dagger on his hip, probably for close combat, although his tail was more than enough to floor an enemy, Taman thought.

When Taman was turning to Arzen to analyse his outfit, Aelor called out to stop.

Aelor looked around to check if everyone was still following.

"Something wrong?" Arzen asked.

Aelor shook his head, but pointed to an open area, hidden between the trees.

Akvahl was the first one to set foot on the open area. It was a grassy field, hidden from those who don't know it is there. In the middle, there were 5 tree-trunks laying on the ground in a circle

The three other followed soon after.

"I recommend we set up camp here." Aelor said. Behind him, the sun was setting and it became dark pretty soon after.

They entered the area between the trunks and placed their bedrolls on the ground between the trunks.

"Taman, I want you to find some firewood and dry twigs to set up a fire. Akvhal, I want you to find some food." Aelor ordered.

"You got it," Taman smiled, "but I think that our Dragonborn should wait here until I found some wood." The paladin looked at Akvahl.

"Why? Maybe our tinman doesn't know how to make fire?" Akvahl mocked.

"No, it's just …" Taman started, but was interrupted by Arzen.

"Just let him go, Taman. Soon it will be completely dark, and this forest is full of traps, don't forget that." Arzen said.

Aelor nodded in agreement.

"All right, I'll take my leave then. Make sure we have a big fire when I come back." Akvahl said, turning away from his companions.

Taman smiled. "You got it." He said, and left too.

When Taman left, Aelor and Arzen were left alone.

"That noisy piece of paladin …" Arzen complained in himself. He sat down on one of the trunks and started cleaning his daggers. The blood of the bandits was drying on the blade.

Aelor stretched himself on his bedroll and watched the cloudless sky.

A few minutes later, the paladin entered the area, packed with firewood and dry twigs. The rogue Drow was impressed that Taman found so much firewood. Aelor saw Taman and sat up from his bedroll.

He nodded in appreciation. "Not bad." The hunter said.

"I got the wood," Taman said, "but can one of you two help me to make the fire?"

"So you do not know how to make fire?" Arzen asked teasingly.

"I know how to make fire, but I'm not so good at it." Taman replied, turning away.

"Fine," Arzen smiled, "I'll help you. Just stay back for a few moments."

Taman put down the firewood and stood back for Arzen.

When Taman and Aelor were standing back, Arzen brought out his hands and started channelling magic in his hands. After a few moments, some sparks started to appear. Soon after, the sparks became small fireballs. He then shot those fireballs on the wood, which caught fire immediately.

Aelor and Taman came back to the fire. The wood was burning hard, and Taman could finally analyse Arzen's outfit. The rogue wore a black cape, and beneath that, he wore a leather armour. He also wore two pair of weapons: two daggers and two short swords. 'He is a duel-wielder, wearing only pairs of weapons' Taman thought.

"You got the fire, good" Someone spoke out.

The three companions turned to see Akvahl entering the area between the trunks. Something was placed on his shoulder.

"What is that?" Taman asked.

Akvahl grinned. "This is one unlucky boar."

"Nice catch." Arzen complemented.

Aelor nodded in appreciation.

"So, who made this fire? I don't think our paladin could made one this big." Akvahl said disdainfully.

"I started this fire." Arzen said, wanting to prevent a would-be conflict between the paladin and the Dragonborn.

"I started it using my magic." Arzen continued.

"You can use magic?" Akvahl asked.

"Yes, I can, but not good enough to use it in combat. I have to concentrate hard before I use it, and it happens to fail sometimes." The rough said.

"I see." The Dragonborn answered.

"Well, we have our fire, we have our food, I suggest we start eating before it becomes day again." Taman said.

During the meal, nobody said a word. Aelor didn't like to communicate. Arzen was too busy cleaning his daggers between each piece of meat. Taman and Akvahl were glaring at each other, but they didn't say anything.

After the meal, it became completely dark. "I think it is better to take a rest now. Tomorrow will be a tough day." Aelor said, stretching himself on his bedroll.

"Wait a minute, shouldn't there be someone on guard?" Taman asked.

"And who will take first guard then, tinman?" Akvahl asked, glaring at Taman.

"I'll take first guard. I only need a few hours to meditate." Arzen said. He was a Drow, a Dark Elf. Elves only need a few hours to meditate each night. That was their sleep.

"I'll wake the next one when I'm done with my guard." Arzen said. "You guys fight out who take next watch."

With that, Akvahl, Taman and Aelor went to sleep. About 3 hours before sunrise, Arzen woke up Aelor. One hour later, it was Taman's turn to take watch. The last watch was for Akvahl.

With the first rays of light, Arzen came back to his senses and woke up everyone up who was still sleeping.

Taman immediately looked around. "Where is the lizard?" He asked.

Arzen realised he wasn't there. "I have no idea." He answered.

"Searching for something?" A familiar voice spoke up yet again.

"There you are, what were you doing?" Arzen asked, turning to the Dragonborn.

"Gathering something to eat, aren't you hungry after almost a whole night of standing on watch?" Akvhal asked. He showed his catch, hands full of berries and small fruits.

Aelor looked at the catch. "Good job." He said simply.

The companions ate a bit of the berries. "I hope these aren't poisonous." Taman said, glaring at Akvahl.

Aelor shook his head. "They aren't poisonous." He answered.

After the quick meal, they left the open space to continue their way to the cave.

"I hope we'll arrive at noon." Aelor said. "This cave is not that big, so we can explore him in half a day."

"I hope so too." Arzen answered. "Caves can be really dangerous when it becomes dark."

"And the danger for dark powers will increase by night." Taman continued.

"So let's continue our way." Akvahl finished.

The weather was nice and the road was calm. They arrived at the cave just as Aelor wanted: at noon.

The entrance of the cave was hidden between the roots of a giant pine-tree.

"I see now why this is called the Pinewood Cave." Taman said with awe.


A/N

Wow, after 2 months, I finally got to upload my next chapter.

So, sorry for the late upload. Right now I am facing the worst enemy of writers (after a writers-block of course): time. I don't have much time to write, but I really want to continue this story. So I can't really tell when I'm going to upload my next chapter, but stay tuned if you want to read more :D

MistaaMustache, over and out.