Kelik wasn't happy that they were waiting until morning to go after his friends and family, but rushing into goblin infested forests at night was suicide and everyone knew it. Tamron, Kaleb, and Kelik weren't happy that the dark elf or half elf apparently, wasn't tied up or dead, but they agreed to a truce of sorts if she helped them fight the goblins. Alex wasn't happy that his gambeson still felt wet or that he felt the need to keep watch over Abigail lest one of the other unhappy members of this very not merry band slit her throat in the night. The Tel'ani, well, he couldn't tell with them. This was just another day in the life for them he supposed. Breakfast was boiled meat and tubers with some type of hard bread. It wasn't very good. Everyone seemed tired and cranky as they headed out into the forest. The passing of many goblins and their prizes having left an obvious trail.

It was mid afternoon when everything went to hell. It dropped out of a tree, screaming all the way down, two rusty knives burying to the hilts in Tamron's back. Four more goblins rushed out from the side. They were far enough for Alex to get his shield off his back. Kaleb loosed a shot from his crossbow, the bolt flying unerringly into one of the greenskin's chest. It fell forward and face planted into the forest floor. Kelik and two of the Tel'ani went after the goblin on Tamron. The other Tel'ani nervously waited for the goblin charge to reach them, their axes readied. Abigail shouted something that made no sense, her hand stretched out toward their attackers. Two of the three remaining goblins stumbled and fell face first to the ground.

Alex tore his stunned gaze away from the failing charge in front of him to the screaming charge behind. He had just enough time to put his shield between him and one of the newly revealed trio of goblins attacking from the other side. Tamron's scream abruptly cut off, replaced by the shouts of pain from the two Tel'ani that had been attacked from behind. Alex swung his axe at the monster in front of him, missing completely. The little bastard grabbed the edge of his shield and pulled itself inside Alex's bubble of protection. The ugly horned thing then attempted and despite Alex dropping his shield and falling back, succeeded at taking a bite out of his leg. A dulled pain tore through him and he swatted the damn thing with his axe, finally unable to miss. It never let go as thrashed in its death throes, tearing further at the muscle and skin.

One of the Tel'ani helped pry its jaws open. Alex hoped the wound looked worse than it was. He ignored the blinking in the upper left and lower right corners of his vision and surveyed the scene in front of him. Everyone on their feet was out of breath and looking either scared or concerned. Tamron was a bloody mess, as was the goblin that had killed him. Kelik and Kaleb seemed uninjured, two of the six Tel'ani lay dead.

Abigail pointed into the woods. "Those two are only sleeping. Kill them quickly."

She was bleeding from a long cut on her forearm, the goblin that had singled her out was face down on the forest floor, black streaks or charred flesh still sizzling and producing a sickening odor.

"What's your health at?" She asked Alex.

"What?"

"Your health. How bad is it?"

Alex took a moment to look at his character sheet. He threw his hands over the wounded leg as his remaining health ticked down from four to three. A bit of panic seeping into his reply. "Three of nine. It was four a second ago."

Abigail nodded and put a hand on his shoulder. She said... something. It clearly wasn't english and it didn't sound friendly, but a gently warmth washed over him and his leg tingled slightly. "How about now?"

"Uh…" Alex brought up his character sheet again. "Six of nine?"

"Hmm, a bit unlucky. That's all you get today. Try not to die."

Alex got up and examined his leg. He could still see where the teeth had punctured him, but the would-be holes were filled with new pink skin. He picked up his shield and looked at Abigail in confusion as she was now holding the ornate shovel she had when they first met.

"Right, fantasy world. Magic and shit." He quietly reminded himself. "Bag of holding?" He asked.

She looked at him for a moment before his words seemed to register. "Oh, yes." She started digging.

"More of them!" Kaleb shouted as he ran back to the trail they were on.

Alex's heart began pounding. The Tel'ani seemed to flinch as a unit.

Kelik and Kaleb turned their crossbow out to the forest. "Ok, Alex and you four up in front, we'll pelt them from behind. This time they don't have surprise on their side."

It was hard to get a count on just how many goblins were running at them through the trees and underbrush, but it was likely an equal amount or more. The unarmored Tel'ani took one look at the trees, then at the non-Tel'ani, and fled back down the trail.

"Get back here you cowards!" Kelik shouted.

Abigail also turned and ran. The two fired their crossbows as Alex decided three against ten was suicide.

Kelik's screams echoed from behind him as he ran. He managed a quick look back to see Kaleb trying to run and load the crossbow at the same time, seven or so goblins charging at him, screaming their high pitched battlecries. Alex nearly tripped as a goblin came out from his side. By some stroke of luck it missed him, but he wasn't quite as fast as the damned thing. Realizing he wasn't going to out run it, he stopped as hard as he could and bashed it with his shield. It slammed hard into the wood and fell. Unfortunately for Alex, it latched onto the sides and held on. Alex ditched the shield and ran as Kelik's screams now echoed throughout the trees. A bit faster without the weight of the shield, he was catching up to Abigail. One of the Tel'ani in front of her tripped. Alex grabbed the girl by the arm and yanked her to her feet. He was too out of breath to yell "move!". The word just coming out as a huff. They made it about four steps before she fell screaming. A goblin on her legs, its rusty knife buried in her flesh just above her pelvis. Alex stumbled backwards. Her look of pain and horror burning into his mind. In full panic mode, he ran.

Alex fell to the ground gasping for air. His lungs burned furiously and every muscle was in agony. When the first Tel'ani stopped for breath, everyone following had done the same when they caught up. The group was now down to three Tel'ani, Abigail, and Alex. The goblins must have stopped chasing them. Either due to distance, or more likely, having enough to chew on. The whole thing was horrifying. The tiny attack on Oxbow was nothing compared to what must have happened here. How many goblins were there? Why did only nine mostly unarmored people think that following the trail into the woods was a good idea. One of the Tel'ani picked themselves up and started stumbling down the trail. Alex figured the guy had the best idea and after helping Abigail and one of the other Tel'ani to their feet, followed suit. Without speaking and with nerves on edge, the group walked the rest of the way to the burned out town.

Two of the Tel'ani collapsed in the boat. The other began struggling to push it out into the water. Alex joined in the pushing and Abigail, after a moment of hesitation, jumped in. The Tel'ani looked at Alex nervously. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but shut it as Alex grabbed one of the oars. The boat went nowhere as the two rowers failed to synchronize their efforts until another Tel'ani pulled themselves up to the tiller and all Alex and the other had to do was row. They didn't make it very far. Stopping on the other side of the river, they lay there, too exhausted to set up camp. Too nervous and horrified to actually sleep.