<em>Masumi was not being followed at all as the side path he had picked out was off the conventional path. It looked like an animal trail. And as he followed it, he couldn't make out the sounds of other voices within the woods near the riverbank. In fact both he and the lookout that was meant to watch the path were absolutely blind to one another. Masumi had snuck past him without even realizing he was there and the lookout looked half dead standing up as if he was just on fumes. He was complaining that he couldn't even get a bit of the action from their new pet. Take the edge off him. Masumi in the meantime soon came to a dead stop as he finally rubbed the pollen from his watering eyes and realized he was in due west of a bandit patrol that looked to be setting up some kind of ambush near the riverbank. He could see two with short bows being drawn back and a two others with swords. There was one last one that was watching the bridge. A man dressed in robes tucked away behind one of the oaken trees and being flanked by the two archers. However he heard a fair voice up at the plateau overlooking the running waters above. A shout of "Help!" pierced the ambient noise...</em><br/><br/><em>Aten, Rieta, Aron and Ellera, however completely miss the animal trail cleverly concealed and the direction Masumi went. They headed up towards the path skirting the plateau towards the old and weathered foot bridge. Their eyes were still cautiously scanning the area for a potential ambush but they didn't see it immediately. However, as they began to cross upon the bridge, a piercing cry came over the rushing waters that they did make out. A woman's voice that shouts for help before it is swiftly silenced. This prompted the ambushers to come out quickly lest their quarry be keen enough to get off the bridge they were partially upon.</em><strong>"GET THEM!"</strong><em>Another of the men calls out with bow at the ready crossing over the plateau into view.</em><br/><br/>(Roll Initiative!)