Chapter Three - Return to the Mournland

Kalli flicks Stella’s reigns and guides the group though the muddy terrain. Thankfully the mud is not too deep, but enough that the going is slow. The trees around them are completely black, still fully leaved. As Kalli had said earlier, they seem to still be alive. The leaves show no signs of rot and hang as if healthy. Gnarled roots come out of the swampy water as many trees lean at awkward angles. The canopy above is not quite as dense as the Thornwood. The blackened leaves overhead block some of the sunlight, allowing the rays to cast the strangest shadows with the dull grey sun.

At times the group would swear the trees are talking. The ever present whispers, still incomprehensible, seem angrier. Hoarse shrieks randomly tear through the air from behind the trees. These almost seem to pass through the group, yet the travellers are never able to pinpoint where they came from, or where they went.

The heat and the humidity is oppressive. Clothing quickly sticks to everyone. Kalli makes a number of stops to make sure Stella has enough water. She had earlier warned the rest, "It should go without saying, but don’t drink the water here. Though, it doesn’t seem to harm you to touch it.", she advises, "Or at least, not that I’ve noticed.", she adds with a less than confident look at down to the swamp.

Pulled by the lightning energy, the cart travels with relative ease, despite the environment. Tryne’s repairs hold up just fine as they continue along.

Tryne is able to properly fasten Talon to the top of the cart with his he own rope. The lioness seems less than thrilled at the idea, but sits obediently on the roof. The large minotaur at his side, the khoravar continues on, following Kalli’s lead. The group has a tough time working through the mud in several places. Kalli comments on how it seems deeper than the last time. The perpetual whispers seem to buzz like hornets all around as they continue deeper into this strange area of the Mournland. Now and then, a splash is heard in the swamp around them, but the cause is never seen, only the ripples stretching out from the source. Vice seems haunted by moving trees and flashes of a knife finding its mark in his friend. 37 feels like they’re being followed. Laulalith and Tryne are confident the two of them are just seeing things. Torhak and Meepo try to ignore the stress, but are too distracted to see much. Meepo considers taking a vial or two of the water. Just in case…

As the sun reaching noon, no signs of the Grey Dogs can be seen. Any trace of their journey has been erased by the muddy swamp. Kalli remains confident in the route they used to enter the grey and stays the course.

The heat and oppressive humidity is incredibly taxing for everyone except Talon and 37. Throughout the morning, they discover they’re drinking their water very quickly. At times, even the black opaque water around them seems to call out for them to drink of it. Despite this, Kalli worries at their lack of progress, commenting that they need to pick up the pace.