To scare a ghost...

[Nikitas]

Galudir leaned in against the tree behind him as the Dunlanders left. There had been far too much excitement for one day and so Galudir took a moment to settle his mind. That brief rest, however, cost him an escape and Galudir realized that as the dwarf was calling out for him.

"Curse that dwarf, he moves faster than the length of his legs would suggest." Galudir whispered to himself and his horse.

"I'm here dwarf." Galudir walked around the tree, his riding horse in tow. Whilst forming an explanation for the dwarf, Galudir paused a moment, he noted that the Dunmen had taken back their deer. "They took back their deer" Galudir stated just above a whisper while staring at the empty spot which the hunting prize once occupied. Turning his gaze to the dwarf, Galudir repeated himself, "They took the deer, why do you suppose that is? Also, why would they decorate the trees into such gruesome totems?"

[Stefan]

"Are ye daft?  They took the deer because they were hungry.  And their tree hangin's are none o' my concern.  Now let's go scout that camp and see what we can do about gettin' me companions outta there."

With that the dwarf began marching down the hill, Jethro in tow, looking for a place where he could observe the village without bein seen.

[Nikitas]

Galudir let out a short sigh at the dwarf's responce, then followed him toward the settlement.

"If they took the deer because they were hungry then why would they leave it there in the first place? Perhaps that spot is somehow sacred to them, possibly part of some hunting ritual." Galudir offered some exagerated gestures as he was explaining his thoughts to the dwarf. "This sort of thing is important, we could use it to our advantage. Maybe they would not pursue us up there, it could be a hiding spot or way to cover our tracks. After we free your friends of course."

Galudir did not leave much of a pause for the dwarf to respond, expecting his next question Galudir continued, "As to my plan. Well it is simple enough. We should observe the Dunlanders for what is left of the day, throughout the night, and into the morning as best we can. Then, tomorrow night, we can use our knowledge of their defences to enter their settlement and free your friends. You're rather small, just step lightly and we will be fine."

[Stefan]

Nain listened to the human babble.  He had assumed that this was some holy place from the moment he'd laid eyes on it but that still didn't explain at all why the deer had been left.  Not that he really cared about their human ways.  Most of the things humans did seemed a little crazy to him anyway.

At the mention of these humans and elves being his friends his mind turned on a tangent.  Were they really friends?  He had been with them for a while and they had saved his life but to this point he had travelled with them as a matter of necessity and convenience.  As he rolled the thought around in his mind the human continued his talking until something else caught his ear.

"Small!  Ye really are daft, another remark like that and ye'll be making company with the other skulls hangin' back yonder."