Dian
"Why can't we jst give up?" Steven complained from behind me as our horses followed the winding path through the marsh. "She clearly doesn't want to be found."
"It's precisely that reason why we need to find her." I answered, brushing my dark hair from eyes.
"What about Elena?" Cassandra called to me. "Surely we'll know if she's back or not."
Sensing the tension in her voice I replied. "We may never see her again. Or she could be round the next corner." A strong gust of wind swept the vapors from the marsh over us, causing my eyes to water and Steven to gag. "There's just no way of telling." I coughed into my hand as the foul stench passed.
"So we still can't go looking for her?" The young girl asked, not for the first time.
"No." I repeated "But that doesn't mean she won't show up." I cast a quick glance behind me and saw Steven looking out into the marshes and behind him Cassandra stared gloomily at the passing ground beneath her mare.
"So where are we going to next?" Steven questioned as the sun peeked over us from behind the clouds, casting its warmth over the murky expanse.
"I don't know." I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Great." Steven grunted, and I could sense him slouching back in the saddle.
"So we've run out of leads then." Cassandra stated as a raven crowed from above.
"For now." I agreed, watching the raven fly ahead of us, casting its shadow along the path.
"So what are we actually doing now then?" The girl questioned as another gust covered us with the foul stench again.
Coughing, I replied. "We could do with some more money, so I was thinking we should take another contract."
Steven perked up. "Do we already have one?"
"Not yet." I admitted, as a low moan caught my attention.
"What's that?" Cassandra's eyes scanned the marsh as I sat up in the saddle, listening to the sound. I heard Steven unsheath his sword as my own hands fell to the hilt of my weapon, the moaning slowly becoming louder and louder.
"Looks like we may have a contract." I muttered to the others, climbing down from my mare and giving her a slap on her side. Instantly she took of down the road, soon followed by the other two horses as Cassandra and Steven did the same.
"What is it?" Cassandra hissed at me as flames started dancing up her arms.
"I'm unsure." I answered, surveying the surrounding swamp.
"More undead?" Steven offered, falling into a defensive stance.
"Possibly." My voice was carried by the wind as a grey cloud fell across the sun, plunging us into shade. "Typical." I grunted to myself, pulling my weapon free.
"Over there." Cassandra pointed to our right. Dark figures penetrated the surface of the murky waters, limbs reaching towards us.
"Called it." Steven murmered as he strode towards the waters edge.
"I really hate these things." Cassandra complained, hurling a flaming ball into the swamp, causing the waters to hiss and bubble. "Why are there so many of them?"
"I don't know." I admitted, joining Steven by the water. "Remember not to let them surround you." I reminded them as the first of the rotting heads emerged before us. Another ball of fire collided with the closest of the undead, forcing it to stagger backwards slightly as the flames licked at it's decomposing skin before petering out.
