*Fwoosh! *Rustle!
The sun hung low on the horizon, its golden light casting long looming shadows through the trees that began to thin each step the group took.
The darkness crept steadily as Jinn’s group, along with Era’s—finally stepped into the clearing, the camp spot they were talking about.
Jinn’s eyes scanned the area, shifting left, right, and upwards.
The forest opened up noticeably.
While the trees were indeed still present, they were less compared to their previous camp which were surrounded by tall and giant trees across all directions—making it hard to see what was beyond.
Compared to the previous one, the ground was flat, free of thick roots that shot up the ground or uneven stone that would make setting tents hard.
No sudden dips or even hidden holes.
Just solid and leveled earth.
It was the perfect campsite.
But what caught Jinn’s eye the most was the tall ridge not far from their location.
It rose like a tall watch tower above the treetops, the kind of formation that could be used to reveal miles of terrain in every direction.
A perfect place for setting watches, or spotting threats before they could co too close.
"It’s a good spot," Biyo muttered, scratching at his beard as he slowly paced and inspected the surroundings.
"Better than where we were before, no doubt."
"Great!" Era chirped as she made a single clap with her hands.
She then looked at the sky, eyes narrowing in realization.
"Let’s set up camp, shall we? Night’s almost here."
Era’s group then quickly moved into action as they noticed the sun was setting.
They spread out across the camp as they began setting up camp.
Hands worked in rhythm,
*Thud! *Thud! *Thud!
hamring wooden stakes into the soil as tents rose one by one—each person having their own, flapping lightly in the cool breeze.
Others anwhile scour the nearby forest, then they return with bundles of sticks and branches that would be used for campfires.
Near the edge of the camp, one man crouched low, diligently sharpening the ends of several thick branches.
*Shhk! *Shhk! *Shhk!
’His movents were quick with urgency.
Biyo approached him, his heavy footsteps crunching the forest floor.
The man looked up, flinching slightly at the sight of Biyo’s massive fra towering over him like a giant.
"What are you doing lad?" Biyo asked, his voice gruff but curious.
"Making a spear?"
The man straightened as he stood up, brushing wood shaving from his hands.
"N-No sir," he stamred with a respectful tone.
"I’m just making spiked poles—for defensive walls around the camp."
For a mont, Biyo went silent as he pondered to think, then threw his head back and laughed loudly.
*HAHAHAHA!
His booming voice echoed throughout the camp, turning a few heads.
"You don’t need to do that, lad," he said, grinning as he glanced around the periter, as if asuring its shape with his eyes.
"I’ve got it handled."
"What do you an si—?"
With a slow breath, Biyo walked to the very center of the camp as he planted his feet firmly to the soil, exhaling deeping and raising both of his arms.
"Hup!"
With a thunderous motion, he slamd both his hands down against the earth.
*BANG!
The ground trembled and shot once beneath everyone’s feet—an instant later, jagged walls of ice erupted from the edges of the camp, racing upward to form a crystalline barrier around them.
A wall of frozen solid ice now surrounded the camp, sharp edged and thick—just like the wall he had ford at their previous camp, the very wall that could withstand even woodland giants.
This ti, though, it wasn’t just for his group—he had used it to protect and include Era’s people too.
"W-Wow!! This is amazing!!" Era’s eyes glead and sparked as she spun slowly in place, her eyes taking in the towering ice walls now enclosing the entire camp.
The ethereal blue shimr of eidra reflected in her pupils, wide in amazent.
"It’s like sothing out of a story book!"
"You’re one of the fad warriors of Skjöldheim, aren’t you?" a voice chid in clear.
A tall man with glasses stepped forward from Era’s group, adjusting his glasses as he examined Biyo with palpable interest.
Biyo turned, raising one brow. "You know of my people?"
The man nodded enthusiastically and extended a hand.
"Jerien—explorer, scholar, and a bard!" he declared with a proud voice.
"I indeed know of your people. A pleasure eting you good sir!"
Biyo cracked a smile and shook his hand firmly.
"A man of travel, then? I too am a man of the travel myself haha!"
Verhedyn, half listening nearby while settling his tent upward, spoke without looking.
"Why’d a guy like you end up as a slave?"
"Ah..." Jerien laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, I’ve been traveling to gather stories. You see, I wanted to write a book."
"A book you say?" Vox shot up from across the campfire, interest lighting in his eyes.
"Mhm!" Jerien nodded, his expression lighting up.
"A book telling the journey of a powerful individual who rises to defeat evil and corruption—a beacon of hope for this dark universe!" He raised a fist as he took pride in his idea.
Orin, seated casually near her neatly pitched tent, scoffed.
"Sounds cliché."
"It is cliché," Jerien agreed with a nod, no sha, "but maybe that’s what the universe needs right now. A cliché hero—strong, good-willed. And unshakable!"
"And have you found this cliché hero of yours?" Orin asked, tilting her head, slightly amused.
"That’s what I’m searching for," Jerien answered confidently. "Still looking."
"And yet you ended up as a slave. Great start." Verhedyn scoffed, wiping dirt from his hands.
"Well, everyone has their ups and downs," Jerien said with a crooked grin, yet deep inside he was truly focused on this idea.
After a few monts, Biyo looked to the sky, the fading light casting even long shadows across the camp.
"Before you dream of finishing that book, let’s focus on surviving the night."
Darkness then fell swiftly over Gravemarch.
The temperature dropped, and Biyo’s walls lood tall and protective, glowling sentinels under the moonlight.
The ice shimred like glass, encasing the camp with an unbreakable wall.
Forty souls now moved inside the camp—their tents already set up, campfires ready, and weapons at the side of their tents just in case sothing were to happen.
At the sa ti, beyond the walls, distant howls pierced the air—low, haunting and visceral.
The beasts were on the prowl once again—and ti will tell if they were to strike the group in this dark night.
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