<span style="color: #FF8000">"That's a lovely trail, what do you think, cap'n?" one of the Demon's asked, standing in the alleyway that their prey had been several minutes before.<br/><br/>The captain sneered. "You think we could find a handful of miscreants in a forest this big while travelling with a small Army? With an Elf with them, he will no doubt teach them how to make themselves scarce."<br/><br/>The second in command tilted his head, his gray ram horn nearly touching his shoulder. "Then, what's on your mind, sir?"<br/><br/>The captain glanced at his right hand man, then at the others still filing out of the inn. "Release the Riders."<br/><br/>"And then? Are we going to sit in this fish-stinking city until they return?" grumbled another Demon.<br/><br/>"Shut it! No one asked for you to cut in!" the captain snarled, but the other Demon did not even flinch. Instead, he curled his lip, showing his pointed teeth. "Do not dare question me! The Riders will find us, even if we are on water. So we will start back to our lands and the Riders will return before the few weeks travel to our continent is over."<br/><br/>"Aye aye, sir!" shouted the entire group, and they turned to head for the docks.</span><br/><br/>~~~~~<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">When the race was over, and the group came upon a clearing with two Anithropes, Morys joined the Elf and the human boy, before stopping to catch his breath. He leaned against one of the trees that lined the clearing, panting. The Almerkian listened to the others speak. The muscles in his legs tightened, but not painfully so, as if urging him to continue the exercise.<br/><br/>Morys looked back through the way they had come and noticed that much of the underbrush had been flattened in their haste. Looking back at the others, he acknowledged the two Anithropes with a simple nod to each one and said, "If you think you can take on a small Army of Demons, then by all means, join us. If not, perhaps you wouldn't mind watching over the kid," he motioned to Farish with his thumb.<br/><br/>That said, Morys looked up at Drachon still in the trees. "You're way of travel would be useful, my friend, if only we were all so nimble!" As if his words made him remember the sprint he had done, Morys breathed in heavily and let it out in a sigh. Afterwards, his breathing became much more even and not nearly as labored.<br/><br/>Morys combed a hand through his too-long black hair, as he did so, he noted how quiet the forest was. He heard no squirrel in a tree, no rabbits in the brush, no songbirds chirping. Morys hoped it was because of how loud their group was, and not because the Demons had entered the forest. Not listening to the others if they were conversing, Morys said, "We should keep moving."</span>