Everyone stretched out on the floor, trying to find comfort on the sandy stones. Mery began to sing softly, and Isa felt herself drifting to sleep, even as part of her was amazed at such a feat. What if the mummy woke up again? What if more killer priests showed up?

But these thoughts broke apart almost as soon as Isa thought them, and a blanket of gray calm seemed to settle on her.

Sometime later she opened her eyes to the gloom of the small chamber where they’d laid down. Had it been an hour or 5 minutes? Her notebook would tell her how many hit points she had, but to get to it, she’d have to sit up and open her shoulder bag. Wait until you hear someone else stirring, she told herself.

To pass the time Isa let her mind drift. Images of Oaks Bottom Park flitted by, then Ysel, as Isa had first met Her by the tree, before Isa knew that She was a goddess. All of her adventurers in Varana, nothing had prepared her for this tomb and its denizens. Had that ghost cat really aged her? Surreptitiously she held the back of her hand out for inspection. Her grandmother had always said that a woman first shows her age in her hands. Was that blood? Christ, what would her grandmother think of that?

Isa rubbed the dark streak, and flakes of red fluttered to the floor. In this light it was impossible to judge how her hands looked. Once they were out of this stupid tomb and in the bright light of day, Isa could get a good look at herself, take stock, and know if Alice was right.

And what then? Can you reverse something like this? Would another cleric – a powerful one – be able to restore her age? But what would that even mean? What had Isa lost, really?

Alice touched her shoulder. “Stop fidgeting,” she whispered.

She rolled toward Alice and softly said, “Do I really look old?”

“I’m trying to heal, my love. Quiet.”

“But—”

Alice put her hand on Isa’s stomach. “Shhh.”

Isa stared at the ceiling and tried to clear her mind. Maybe she should try mediation or take up yoga. Staying limber is important, after all. Of course, so is nutrition. She and Alice could both stand to take a multivitamin, and—

Isa sat up. “I’m old!” She put her head in her hands. “I’m having old people thoughts, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Mery groaned and sat up. “Growing older is what happens to lucky adventurers, so count your blessed stars.”

“Has it been an hour?” Lund held his arms straight up. “I feel good.”

Dulrak pulled out his notebook, flipped a few pages, and nodded. “Not sure we can expect much better considering the accommodations.”

Alice stood and retrieved her own notebook. “That’s great – just one point off from max points for me.” She turned a few more pages. “And I recovered enough magic for two more spells. Forgot about that. And I hope I don’t need them.”

Isa started to look at her notebook, but she realized that her age was listed on the front page, and did she really want to see her fears confirmed in ink? She’d look next time she leveled but not before.

“I’ve been thinking,” said Lund. “We have a lot of searching to do; we should split up.”

Everyone began to talk at once, and when the din died down Alice said, “He’s right. I know it’s a stupid idea – you never split the party, but we don’t have a lot of time.”

Isa shook her head. “There’s five of us, babe. How does this even work?”

“If it’s even numbers you crave,” Dulrak smiled, “I can conjure up a dire wolf or a bear quick as you like.”

“But—”

“We have two hallways,” said Lund. “And every minute we spend searching for that urn is another minute for that mummy to wake up or revive or whatever it is that happens.”

“Don’t forget the priests,” said Alice.

“If we do this….” Mery held out a finger. “If. How are we going to communicate?”

Lund laughed. “The bard asks this question? You have message. I’ve seen you use it hundreds of times.”

“What if we get out of range?”

“I’ve got message too, and I have Peck,” said Alice. “I can summon him, and if we find something, I can send him to find the other group.”

“Two groups?” said Isa.

“Two hallways.”

“That’s not exactly accurate.” Alice pointed down the straightaway. “Three hallways. That one just happens to be where we came in, and maybe we missed something or maybe there’s a room that’s now blocked off with that trap we triggered.”

“Who’s got the map? There were marks on it, right?” Lund looked around. “One on each side? I say we explore this side and see what happens.”

Alice pulled the rude map from her pocket. “If we can believe this, there is something on this side.” She pointed at the mark on the right side of the paper. “The author of this map thought it was important.”

“Fine,” said Mery. “Me and Isa and Lund. You and Dulrak and his animal friends.”

“Wait a minute. I didn’t say that I wanted to go with you. Maybe it should be me and Alice and Lund.” Isa crossed her arms.

“Dulrak and Lund could go,” said Alice.

“The fighters together?” Mery shook her head.

“Dulrak, Lund, what do you think?” asked Isa.

Lund said, “Isa, Mery, and me. Alice, you and Dulrak make a good pair, and he can heal.”

Dulrak shook his head. “Alice will have her bird; I will have my wolves. That should be two separate groups. The animals can be our messengers. No distance penalty.”

“Oh. My. God.” Mery clutched her head. “Boys and girls. Done. Let’s go.” She marched toward the northern hallway.

“I guess….” Alice shrugged, and Lund nodded. He said, “We could spend a day and a night debating. Be careful, go slow, and send Peck if you find something or need help.”

Isa nodded. “Same. Send one of the—”

Just then Dulrak finished his spell and two large wolves now stood in front of the dwarf, one white, one black. He looked at Lund. “I almost feel like we should send one with them.” When Lund nodded, Dulrak bent to the white dire wolf and whispered in its ear.

A moment later it was beside Isa, and Dulrak said, “Her name is Arna, and she’s a good and true friend.”

With that Isa and Alice hurried to catch up with Mery whose dancing lights were casting shadows on the low ceiling of the passageway. The bard herself waited 20 feet down the hall. Arna padded along beside Isa, the dire wolf’s shoulders almost even with Isa’s hip.

“Did we make the right choice?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know. We might not know until we’re all back together again.”

“Yeah,” Alice said softly. “There’s a reason that players never want to split the party.”

“More game talk?” Mery rolled her eyes. “But you brought a friend!” Mery knelt down to let Arna sniff her hand. As if in response, the dire wolf bared her teeth and let out a low growl.

“Mery?” Isa felt the hair on her nape rise.

“Dogs love me. I don’t—”

“It’s not you,” said Alice. “It’s them.” She pointed at the three men standing the room behind Mery.

Spoiler: New Hit Points

New Hit Points (short rest + song of rest - all but Dulrak used 4 hit dice)

Alice HP 4+12= 16+ 14 and 2 spells = 30 HP

Dulrak HP 32 +17 and 4 spells 49 total out of 67? More hit dice! 49+14= 63 HP (used all hit dice)

Isa HP 12+11= 23 + 26 at MAX 34 HP

Lund HP 19+12= 31+ 36 at MAX 63 HP

Mery HP 38+23 at MAX 60 HP