8 PM: At the base of a moderate waterfall, the team decided to make camp. Everyone was flagging and sweat dripped freely down their faces. Shadows gained on the verge quickly, but ample wood was found to light a campfire within minutes. Aramil did not bother to help assemble a proper camp, but rather found it necessary to study his new book at the end of the shallow pool of water. Noise amplified from the pounding of the tumbling water upon the rocks below, but nobody thought it necessary to carry on much chatter anyhow.

Nanith walked quietly to the side of the shallow pool and hunched down low, like a frog about to pounce. Splattering his face with the crisp water, he was clearly enjoying this brief moment of relaxation.
Roslyn watched her fellow hobbit spurt a few jets of water from his mouth and she smiled; some hobbits sure do love their cleansing rituals.

Vrai and Erelis carefully laid out their bedrolls in the shelter of parallel trees while Teflar and Oktavianus methodically set to work stoking a fire. Most of the company were already half-asleep, but the thoughts of a dinner kept everyone alert for the brief time.

Nanith's contentment evaporated when his stomach growled in protest. " What I would give for a bit of meat." he mumbled glumly. Sighing dejectedly, he pulled his backpack closer, flapped it open and started rummaging through. Moaning, he unwrapped a package of tasteless rations and doggedly chewed it while watching the others sort out their meals as well.
" Sorry about my inquisition when we first met, Vrai." Nanith apologized. " We just had to make sure about your loyalties towards the Pinedroin army. Since you are a mercenary, you don't have any real allegiance with them." The rogue smiled while adjusting his pack into a more suitable pillow.
Vrai sat still, nibbled his food, and meditated over this flat statement.

Erelis tossed a few twigs into the burn center. " Vrai should know what is going on if he is willing to put his life on the line for us. If he proves to be a traitor, he couldn't escape our group successfully anyway." The psionic winked at Aramil who tried to ignore the conversation of the group. He held his dark book higher, shielding all but his forehead from the flash of fireplay.

Teflar agreed " We are StarPoint Raven, Vrai. A call from our king has given us a mission to top all quests. What you see before you is the last remnants of a worthy posse. The rest ...are loyal friends."

Somewhere, a twig snapped in the blackening woods beyond! Nanith jolted from his sleepy posture. Eyeing the darkness around them, he quickly got up. " Are we sure that no one is watching? We don't want anyone else knowing who we are." he whispered tentatively, the firelight reflecting off his frightened eyes.

Roslyn reassured him it was only an animal awakening for its daily ritual. When Nanith challenged Vrai to an archery contest to take his mind off matters, the druidess rebuffed this game. It was a match that should be had in times other than these.

Oktavianus turned to Vrai " I have nothing against you bowman, but I have nothing for you neither. You gotta' earn my respect before I let you stand at my back with your fancy bow. You gotta show your mettle. I wanna see the look on your face when the evil dead want to drain you of your strength and your soul. I gotta' see your face when the chips are down. Only then will I hail you as friend. You are just an archer that ran out of the woods, told us a tale about a band of orcs slaughtering your friends, and asked to travel with us. You are not a StarPoint Raven until we see more of what you bring to this party."

Vrai apparently alert from the adrenaline of the day, responded " You listen here, dwarf. I honestly don't care whether you consider me a friend, as long as you don't make a mistake in a fight that gets me killed. I'll prove my mettle soon enough." He looked over at the rogue who was already snoring away. " And I'll spank Nanith so badly in this competition, his ego won't be able to ride a horse for a month." That said, Vrai flopped back down to his blankets and fell asleep almost as instantly.

Roslyn silenced any further conflicts with a stern warning that they were not to draw attention here in the forest. The enemy was still about and would love to gain this advantage while the party bedded down still recovering from the dire day.