The group make good progress along the road, without any untoward incidents or interruptions.

Towards sunset, the forest starts to thin out, and the road eventually passes out from under the eaves, and onto an open plain, which rises gently towards the east.  In the fading light, large, dark shapes can be seen flowing across the rain sodden land.  Shapes that soon reveal themselves to be herds of animals.

Wild horses, antelope, buffalo...

And then, as the sun touches the western horizon, a mournful cry lifts into the air, and is repeated a dozen or more times from all directions.  Wolves!

And there is something bright upon the summit of a low hill, not too far ahead.  A campfire perhaps?

"Hunting grounds !" Aarnr announces for everyone's benefit as he sets eyes upon the murky shapes of the herd animals.  Despite himself, he's impressed by the numbers - the beasts being rather more plentiful here than in the fodder-poor regions of his homeland.

The howls of wolves cause the priest's expression to darken.  Those creatures are as like to steal his meal or drive the herd animals away ... and there's precious little meat upon such stringy predators.  Not that he doesn't enjoy killing things, but considering the effort required for such sparse reward, it barely seems worth having to sharpen his blades.

The fire is more promising - something to keep the wolves from the throats of his companions, at least, or if they're really lucky, it could be bandits.

Or, and this with Bilfro's complaints still ringing in his ears, mayhap a group of travellers not unlike themselves, coming the other way ...

"Let's froggin' go that way !" Aarnr orders, urging the oxen on.

The cry of wolves and the sight of many animals lift's Eilieen's heart.  "Where nature resides, one will not find the unnatural," she murmurs, "for the natural flees its cold grasp."  A smile breaks her solemn visage for the first time in hours.  "And a fire...take heart, we may have a restful night!"

"I vote yes," she continues.  "Safety lies in numbers; we are many, and a few scoundrels at a fire will hesitate to do us ill.  And if they are good travellers?  The more safety against any danger this night might hold, safety for them and us.  Let us join them."