On the Road

"I've seen only the edges. Leiland laughs with embarrassment. I grew up on to many stories of the dangers of naughty little boys who get eaten by big bad wolves."

Leiland studies Meht, the trap, and the surroundings. "I like the gloves" he says after a few minutes.

Indeed, the birds are chattering all around. But right near where you are, they are quiet, as though the presence of humans makes them nervous.

Over in the direction of the next trap --though only Meht would know that fact-- it seems quiet as well, as though the birds are nervous about something there as well.

---

What do you do?

Leiland draws his sword and shield, preparing to defend the group if something or someone charges.

The quiet over there becomes, if possible, even more quiet. There is no response to your call, but also no sound of attack or fleeing.

What do you do?

- Meht -
At the respectful address, the nearby birds start chattering happily about seeing your party which scared them earlier.
The birds over here have trouble understanding your enquiry about events over there --they have small heads-- and when you eventually convince them to broaden their horizons they start to chatter about everything withing the range of their birdsong.

Tweezering sense from what they are now all shouting at you is hard.

Meht now has a intimate knowledge of every seed, grub, predator, or mate within miles of their location, but can not get the dizzy birds to focus on what is important to the group. There is definitely something 'over there', and it is neither a grub, seed, nor mate (though some birds seem to imply there may be potential in that direction... for Meht).

The noise of the exited birds drowns out whatever is happening over by the next set of traps.

Meht can be fairly confident he can track, find, and catch up to the caravan if they miss it. There will be some explaining to do about being late, but they are unlikely to lose their jobs.

Leiland looks at his companions appraisingly "I believe there will be worse ahead of us, it might do us well to see how our skills work in unison."
Looking himself up and down "If we plan to move forward one of you should assess the danger. I will only give our presence away all the more."

Rook does not know exactly where the next trap would be in these outdoor environs, and can only guess given the few previous ones he has seen, but this does seem like the place. Of people, however, there is no sign... except maybe something that might be footprints on the forest floor, they might be human, but who knows what else lives out here, far from the city.

---

If Meht was to move up to the next trap location --possibly flanking with Rook-- he would find... nothing. Like absolutely nothing, no 'poacher', but also no game and especially no trap. Careful study of the ground would reveal a little blood where the trap used to be and human (or human-appearing) tracks leading directly away, opposite from your direction of approach.