<strong>Eshalu - in the wilds of Dra Sirdu</strong><br/><br/>Even by Eshalu's reckoning, they had made good progress in the day. She was unaccustomed to the slower pace of travel outside her native lands, but they did seem to have covered a fair amount of ground, no doubt facilitated by the guidance of Vin's map.<br/><br/>When the first menacing calls broke the familiar background sounds of forest life, Eshalu thought it quite natural. The trail had been left by a large predator and its territory was almost certainly in these parts. There was nothing intrinsically dangerous in territorial displays and, given their number and Erianthe's size, she knew that even the largest natural beast would think twice before attacking. Unless, of course, it was defending its young. But they were too far from any obvious den sites for that to make sense.<br/><br/>Vin's warning of unnatural creatures focused Eshalu's mind. She had to adapt her training to completely unforeseen circumstances and she could no longer rely on experience alone.<br/><br/>"Do you hear that?" Eshalu whispered to the group, "It calls for us to turn back. If it had wanted to strike now, it would have done so without warning to catch us unprepared. But we are in its territory. Or close and it may have our scent. I will see what the view from the canopy tells us."<br/><br/>With that, Eshalu sprinted to a nearby tree which canopy she judged to provide a good vantage point and began to climb it, hoping to find a place on a branch in the canopy from which to survey her surroundings.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Comment: Eshalu Athletics check in climbing the tree<br/>Result: 4, 2, 5, 3,<br/>A net result of <strong>+3</strong> (+0 roll and +3 skill), a <strong>Good</strong> success<br/></div></div>