All of the mounts are ready, either bearing riders or equipment, spare feed and other odds and ends. Cloudkiller stamps his feet having become bad tempered since losing his master, and has been put in the care of the Rhino elders, women experienced with far more dangerous animals in their lifetimes.

Amongst it all, possibly the last of it's line, stands the Ostrich found by Haratt all those weeks ago as he made his way alone in search of his friends. It's become attached to it's new masters, is good natured and for some strange reason has avoided being eaten.

The ravine is full of noise, bustle and the smell of fresh bread , a commotion added to by the Rhino youths who are here, there and everywhere, excited to be on the move again, a feeling mirrored by Mordy who as usual is barking at everyone and getting in the way.

At last it's time to go, with those at the front urging their mounts down the steep exit to the South, setting off at a good pace to act as scouts and warners of ambush. The rest soon spread out with the elders in the centre, helped by Iye, Maska and Kimimela to watch over the new additions to the herd.

Finally at the back rides Haratt, rear guard and for the moment joined by Copperman, who standing on the back of Oberon waves happily at the ravine until a spur of rock hides it from view.

The intention is to ride out of the gullies and the Boulder fields and swing West, following their previous route when they'd come from the home of Emesh-Ga fourteen days ago.

Their first nights camping would be at the dry gully found by Amara, where Melock had celebrated Grandmother Spider's Holy day...

With the ravine behind them Salen turned his attention to the route ahead. He was in good spirits, and alternately teased and comforted Mordy, who seemed even more animated than usual, the silly dog.

"Hey Melock!" he shouted to his friend. "What cosy critter are you going to find for an ally this time? A snake? Perhaps a dragonsnail, or a broo?!"

Amara rode to the finger holes with her javelins ready to use across her lap as they travelled. She was wary that the FireFeathers they'd freed might just try to get the rest of the warband to attack them, even though she hoped that the gesture of allowing them to be freed would generate some goodwill among the Impala tribe.

She hoped that there might be some visible signs of the return of the Earth to the area. That Gadesha would be more stable and enjoy the brief reunion with her husband. They had much yet to do and it seemed as though on every trip they lost one of the rangers. The task they'd set out to do was not without dangers, but they'd already paid a large price for it. Amara thought it would be worth it to see the return of the garden, hoping it would be in her lifetime. She hoped to see the Earth Witch healthy and happy. She had a lot to do and the finger holes still needed a lot of work to be safe for her, but with Gadesha at her side, Amara was confident that the finger holes would some day be a strong testament to the Earth.

Amara's gaze scanned the horizon looking for any signs of life as she rode. With the others having joined their group it was important to keep them safe. Life here was dangerous, but she still felt the pang of loss at Fireborn and Mina, in a place where they thought they were safe. Amara kept herself vigilant as the group moved towards the Giant Finger Holes.

In reply to Salen Dustchaser (msg # 2):

He grins at Salen "feeling brave now she's not around? I think if I get the chance it'll be another spider, maybe a leaping one, that'll keep you on your toes"  looking at the open expanse around the group, Melock feels more relaxed than he has all week and puts it down to the fact that they are moving again

It is good to be moving on again, not only because of the promise of good grazing and the rest of the tribe at the end of this journey, but because there are things that Ohanzee still needs to do to fulfil his commitments to Dowenhowee, things that she told him to do and for which he needs to find a true shaman, a shaman of Raven. And of course there was the incident between Frog Woman and the spirit in the pool. That embarrassment could do with time and distance between him and Rhino Gouge for a while.

Ohanzee feels good too that he is now one of a band, that the pressure to protect the Sept is spread now between more shoulders than just his own and as they ride out of Rhino Gouge he is far more relaxed than on the trek to it. Mounted on Wihakayda he is so confident in the combined abilities of his fellow Wandering Rangers and his Sept that he allows himself to doze, rocked by the rolling motion of Wihakayda.

His newly acquired skullbat hangs in a box like device that he has fashioned from a strips of wood tied together and which hangs from his saddle. The box like structure offers protection from the elements and danger. It has an opening so that she can leave and exercise, but about her foot is bound a fine ‘rope’ made of several bison tail hairs joined together so that she can still fly but cannot fly away. She is still unnamed for the name will come with the spirit bound into her.

When night comes he and his bat will keep Melock company on watch through the hours of Raven’s darkness.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Tue 29 July 2014.

At the back of the group Haratt keeps vigilant, though it doesn't take long before Copperman's incessant tooting and venting steam begins to drive him mad.

He nudges Oberon hard with the butt of his lance and trots forward to draw up next to Salen

"Here you go Condor, you seem to be the things friend. You can look after him" and he swings the copper construct over and on to Kohana's back.

Then whilst admiring the Clan's fastest Bison up close, he salutes his friend and wheels away, returning to the rear.

Every now and again he talks to the spirit in the gold coin, though never talking his eyes off the surroundings.

Hoskar has had a busy morning, one way or another; checking his trade goods are well secured again on Ram, inspecting the new rhinos to check their health now they've had the water and salt he had promised, attaching combative loot around him where it will be handy on Kor, filling all those excess waterskins he's collected still can't be too careful with Fire Season almost upon us, and of course feeding the growing Four-Paws what with hunting in the wastes being a dangerous thing for what is, after all, still quite a small Manul cat; who's now curled up, snoring gently as only a cat can, amongst the goods on Ram.

At first, he sets off towards the front of the group so the new rhinos can have a strong lead from the one who brought them to their new herd but, as they relax into the pace of the trek, he moves round somewhat to keep a lookout for trouble; both ahead and in any rocks they pass close to. For someone who's added to the Rangers' wealth, he seems unusually pensive.

It's getting on by the time the Rangers find Amara's dry gully. To be honest it's not hard to miss for it's full of cobwebs, with the entrance entirely covered by the sticky strands.

It's where Melock had worshipped Grandmother Spider on her Holy day all those days ago.

Mordy drops to the ground growling and behind her the assembled beasts stamp the ground.

Their campsite it taken....

To the West Bright Treasure begins to vanish.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:14, Tue 29 July 2014.

In reply to GM (msg # 9):

Melock looks around, sheepishly. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?" he sighs, "We'll have to find somewhere else tonight. If I can persuade Grandmother Spider to let us stay safely here, they'll never go in" he points to the animals

Amara rolled her eyes at Melock "I swear if you so much as mention her name when we get back I'm going to......" Amaras hand clenched tighter around her javelin. "Never mind. I think we're going to have to make it a rule for you not to sacrifice anything to her anywhere important. So are we going to clear this area by fire or move on?"

"They're not alone. I think you're the only one who would even dare try it, Melock. Let's move on quickly."

Salen looks around from confirmation, and if he gets it will head out with the rest. He looks to Copperman with a smile. "Drinky later?"

Ohanzee grins at the exchange and adds his words to the mix "Or you could find yourself another spirit to talk to, one that doesn't tend to take over a place. I'm sure she's used to people coming to her when in need and then leaving her alone, just like many other spirits."

Haratt stops before the webs and stares for a bit. He's never seen anything like it having joined the party recently.

"Where did you meet this spirit first? Is this what you were worried would happen in the Ravine?"

In reply to Haratt Goldhand (msg # 14):

"we needed some spider venom to make a cure for a ghoul bite and I suggested we ask" he pauses and looks at Amara "she who I cant name, for some instead of killing a spider for it" he looks at the web filled gully "well, it didn't even cross my mind that this may happen to the ravine, but others, including Oglod pointed it out to me, which is why we reached an agreement" he smiles at the memory of the 'agreement'

With a sigh and in a more serious tone Ohanzee says "If you are going to keep on worshipping her Melock then perhaps you should not find somewhere where it does not matter that her children come because others may have different ideas than you about such a place."

"Maybe you should go somewhere where she already is, somewhere here in our world  or even learn to move to the spirit world and go visiting her there rather than bringing there to here."

He looks at Amara "It'll take a lot of burning by the looks of it and with it getting dark soon we'd likely miss some and anger those remainng." He shakes his head "We have to put some distance between our herd and those blood suckers."

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 16):

"I'll stay here and keep an eye on them, while you guys go and make camp away from here, we can meet up at dawn" he dismounts and grabs his bed roll, some dried meat and other bits and bobs "I think its best if Stinky goes with you guys"

"We asked for venom and made a bargain to get some. That's not the same as offering service to her. Grandmother Spider has no friends, Melock, only victims... when you serve her you are choosing her over the rest of us. One day, it will leave you without any friends." Amara glowered in anger at Melock as she rode onwards.

Hoskar has been in a reverie, sad eyes on the surroundings in mechanical caution, but he seems to come back to some focus on seeing the gully.
I cannot say if this is good or ill but know, friend Melock, you have shown me a new thing here; not just my shadow rising to greet me as we re-tread a path full of lost times and lost companions towards happy meetings and sad remembrances. If I could only trace back some of the paths now lost in the Great Spider's weaving...

His words peter out, and shakes his head vigorously as if to clear cobwebs from his mind.

I'm uneasy around this darkness, but would you like company in your watching? I could tell you the twin tales of the Wasted Khan and of Ogar the Unstung, of which I am minded by this place, while you keep guard.

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 18):

Smiling he shouts after her "Dont forget, you helped as well"
He turns to Hoskar still smiling "your most welcome to join me. Just bring cold food as I wont be lighting a fire tonight and some snacks for the little ones" he points to the webs