Part 2: Leaving the Watchtower and the hour is getting late

[Shukuen]

"Well, there was something I sort of left out myself," Leets admitted as well. "After I found this sword, I sort of passed out from wandering. Then this weird traveller with a pack full of maps helped me to New Brunswick."

"...bloody bastard stole half my food too," he muttered irritably to himself.

[Olvelsper]

"Hm. Leets, did he see you right off the bat?" Jan asked the boy, even as he turned a curious eyebrow at Ryder.

"The tower is basically a big mystery. No one but a scant few want to explore it, and even less have returned from it. The ones that do usually wind up like poor Farnham. He's said he's been in it before, but not that many believed him, since he used to be something of a coward before."

[Shukuen]

"Yeah, he did," Leets said, eyeing Jan warily. "First thing he said was I shouldn't sleep out in the sun."

[Olvelsper]

"Well, that was because you had passed out. Anyway, we've pretty much hit a dry spot with the conversation right now. Let's eat up and get ready to go to bed."

Food was promptly devoured as they all hit the hay.

[Dracos]

And so they slept...  Leets being the first to rise as moonlight was shining upon them.

Dracos

[Shukuen]

Leets yawned, stretching a bit to get the blood flowing in his limbs again. He was temporarily startled at the dark ceiling above him until he remembered the events of the previous few days.

"Bugger... not back in London now, am I?" he muttered balefully to the tent. "At least it's warm 'ere."

He sighed and got out, watching at the moonlite desert and the still sleeping camp. Shrugging, he began meticulously packing the tent away and idly grabbing a piece of dried fruit out of his bag to chew on.

[Olvelsper]

Jan fitfully woke up, shook his head, and started getting ready to head out. He made his way about waking up the other two as well as he made himself pretty. "Time's a wasting. It's best if we get moving now."

[Shukuen]

"Righty-o then," Leets said, stuffing his tent back into his satchel and going to wake the others up.

The camp was soon packed and the group continued marching onward.

[Dracos]

Heading out, they soon came to a conundrum...

Several large scorpions, the size of big dogs, were making their way across the landscape before them, moving over in the night.

Dracos

[Shukuen]

Leets stared, baffled. "...guess he wasn't lying about the scorpions."

"My votes for running. How about you guys?" he asked, nervously studying the approaching swarm for an avenue of escape.

[Olvelsper]

"Yes. It's for the best to avoid confrontation." Jan started leading some of the people in their group away from the scorpions and the long way around.

[Dracos]

They moved around, taking more time as they moved away from the tower.  In the distance, they could sort of spot something green as they continued on towards New Reno, the scorpions not rushing after them.

Dracos

[Shukuen]

"What do you suppose that is?" Leets squinted in an attempt to fix his view.

[Olvelsper]

"It isn't that far off our path. We should go check it out." Jan started towards the green spot.

[Dracos]

As they approached, they could see in the far distance...a tree.

Dracos