Cha. 1.2 - Sadur's and Kimbek Down and... up?

Sadur seeing that Kimbek is joining him notice his new "friend" sitting on his shoulder and that Pepper is also approaching them. The nimble, but not so big dino visibly wasn't so self-confident and frivolous anymore, instead looking more so frightened and subdued. Plus after recent harsh treatment from Sadur she is visibly trying to avoid him. But as she is looking for some support in this environment, she apparently is finding it in Kimbek.

Noticing a tiny insect perched on Kimbek’s shoulder, Sadur let out a sharp huff of disdain. The small creature froze instantly, shrinking into itself and feigning death. Observing this, Pepper trotted over to Kimbek, seemingly volunteering to take the lead for the uphill trek through the steep ravine.

Undeterred by the small drama, Sadur pushed forward with characteristic dwarven determination. Despite a pounding headache from the recent battle with the spectral tiger, he bulldozed his way through the underbrush, snapping branches and clearing obstacles with sheer brute force. His endurance saw the group through roughly half of the arduous ascent, but eventually, the strain and fatigue caught up with him, forcing him to pause.

In that very moment, Pepper—now thoroughly trained to stay with the group thanks to Kimbek—did something unexpected. The small dinosaur rushed over to Sadur, gently nudged her head under his arm, and made a clear effort to hoist him onto her back. Should Sadur accept the offer, Pepper would tilt her head toward him, emitting a long, birdlike squeal. To anyone watching, it might have sounded like she was saying: "See? I can be useful too!"

Taking advantage of the brief stop, Kimbek began to survey the surrounding vegetation. His keen eyes soon spotted something he had observed before—clusters of fruit he had named Death’s Apples.

"For humans, undoubtedly lethal," Kimbek muttered to himself, examining the fruits with interest. "But for a tiny creature that already carries venom in its body?" He pondered aloud, his curiosity piqued by the strange interplay of toxins in the jungle's ecology.

With the combined efforts of Sadur’s formidable strength, Kimbek’s keen observation and strategic planning, and the unexpectedly obedient and helpful Pepper, the group managed to ascend the steep ravine. Their teamwork carried them to the other side, where they quickly spotted a set of ancient stone stairs. These began just beyond the remnants of a precarious hanging bridge.

Step by careful step, they climbed higher, the jungle thinning slightly around them as the elevation rose. Eventually, the stairs brought them to a grand stone portal, its surface weathered and worn. The structure loomed before them, a silent guardian of what lay beyond. Its presence suggested it was once part of a temple, long since fallen into ruin, though the faint traces of its former majesty lingered in its carved details and sheer scale.

What do you do?

Kimbek looks at the impressive structure. "You think the others saw this too? Hopefully we'll catch up with them soon."

Huh. Sadur exclaims with not particular meaning And we didn't see it from the other side?.
I follow Kimbek wherever he goes.

What Sadur and Kimbek didn't know was that they were quite lucky, as the strange birds that Belladona encountered have flew somewhere else... probably still fighting for her red scarf.

Although a little tired they continued to climb over countless steps towards the stone portal, entered it with caution an emerged on the other side of short corridor contained in ancient structure's walls.

Before their eyes they saw another bunch of stairs ending with a square with a stone floor, on it some last remains of ruins and some tents sitting between them like ducks trying to hide in dense vegetation, but immediately visible.

Before they were able to reach the stairs leading to the square they heard a muffled sound to their left, coming from nearby bushes:
"Shhh..." - apparently someone was trying to attract their attention and probably themself too.

Pepper behavior changed a little, making it look a little excited and starting to sniff the air around them, but still staying close to Kimbek.What do you do?

Upon hearing the hushed warning, Kimbek looks around with some urgency then attempts to sneak towards the sound, taking Pepper with him. He also attempts to get Sadur's attention if Sadur had not heard the whisper.

If they are hiding from me - that should mean people afraid of me and are shushing each other (or their children for example). Sadur thinks straight. Dwarf barbarian is quite used for human children to be afraid of him.

I mean no harm. He say aloud, rise his hands to show he has no weapons and moves forward.

After quite successful attempt of moving silently towards the source of sound[NS] for a few good feet Kimbek sees that Pepper caught someone's or something's scent, abruptly severs all ties with him and runs towards the center of the camp[TF]. Resigned Kimbek continues his stealth approach... for it only be interrupted once again by Sadur bold and direct approach... Kimbek while crouching sees Sadur bypassing him and heading straight to the place the sound came from with risen hands.

For their good luck it wasn't an enemy or some other treat that called them, but it was Princes Shallan herself. She raised a little from her hiding place in the bushes to show with gestures that Sadur should crouch too and behave silent, then with some other gestures she invites them to join her and the most of The Rest, that were hiding in the bushes.

Her eyes becomes wide open when she notice what a peculiar creature is Kimbek caring on his shoulder, but manages to hold her curiosity and focuses on more pressing matters. She explains quickly that they have found this strange camp that looks abandoned at some times, but other signs looks like it would be left not so long ago. So they decided to observe it for a while, didn't see any movement and then decided to send Delia and Auren under Belladona's command to investigate it. Coincidentally they went there like 10 minutes ago.

"So... maybe you will join them? And by the way... what is this creature... I have never seen anything like this! Does it have any name?" - the sparks of curiosity started to shine in her eyes, and she is visibly preparing to touch the bugling on KImbek's shoulder with her finger.

What do you do?

"Don't touch it. I haven't fed him yet, so we're not exactly bonded. I don't want him to be scared off." Kimbek whispers. "He'll have a name once we've bonded." Kimbek realizes rather belatedly that he had just barked at royalty.

"It is the offspring of a creature we had to kill. Some kind of psychic screaming insect that could create illusions."

Kimbek tries to feed the bugling some of the fruit in an effort to calm it down.

Sadurs as as instructed and when Shallan share the info on situation he just say:
Investigation? I'm not kind of investigator, Kimbek is. And I'm not good with people should we find any. I'm only good with animals... well I was good back home he looks at Pepper with a sad smile. I used to be good at travelling mountains and jumping and... I better stay here with you, to protect you.

Dwarf seemingly lost some of hiss will to contribute to party progress.

"What exactly are we hiding from, anyway." Kimbek whispers to anyone around him who might know.

"Oh... I see..." - Shallan pulls back her hand with some confusion on her face as even being a very modest person and always kind to others - especially considering her social status of being a daughter of the king - she wasn't used to harsher answers and way of talking towards her. She become a little gloomy as she would be thinking: "Hmm... so that's the way things will be from now on... if I will not fight for my respect alone...", but then she hears of the animal organ and immediately brightens again and says:
"SO it's dangerous? Like it's parent? Thanks for the warning! How did you manage to tame it in such short time?" - she asks while watching with delight as Kimbek is feeding the little fellow still sitting on his shoulder with half of Death Apple[NS]. Fortunately Death Apple didn't seem deathly at all for the little bugling, on the contrary it made it look more bright and alive.

But when Sadur approached her Princess Shallan straightened a little, taking visibly more serious pose and offering the brave dwarf her full attention. After listening to what he had to say, she answered:
"I think you really underestimate yourself, Mr. Sadur! I saw Pepper with you looking better than before. And I don't think walking her through the bridge would end good.... You both - with your friend Kimbek - also look well and healthy. You even brought a new friend to our little company! I'm very sure it was your brave and bold leadership and lack of hesitation when the matters required it that brought all four of you back to us! Thank you!" - Shallan ended bestowing the sturdy dwarf with charming smile and then added:
"Of course, if that's your wish - stay with me and the rest of our people. It's better not to have too many investigator at once in one place."Picking up on Kimbek's whisper, the princess decided to be the one to answer:
"Hiding... ehh... I wouldn't necessary call it that way. We - together with Belladona - decided to make and send a scouting party, before our main forces will join. In case it would be some kind of trap... I heard that my father always do it this way..." - she explained with noticeable doubt in her last sentence.
"Will you join Belladona, Mr. Kimbek? If you are as good investigator as Mr Sadur claims, you should."