As they moved that day, the sounds of the forest animals slowly seemed to become warier, somehow. As they were walking through the woods near noon, Annella abruptly paused. In front of her the forest ended as if cut off by a knife, with only stumps ahead of her. Nearly half a mile distant, they could see the shape of buildings behind an imposing palisade. Towering over the small town was a large stone tower that rose at least eighty feet into the air, and they would be able to see several small huts and the beginnings of farms around the town.