We now view three men. All cloaked in different colors but still bearing the same emblem of a circular shield above each mans heart. The one on the left side of the road who appears to be youngest is a man named Thane. Thane wields a simple hand and a half sword on his left hip, a dark green cloak, and uniform beneath his cloak. Thanes has wavy dark brown hair (almost black), the same color as his eyes and he was just recruited by the Rotek as the top of his class in all courses. The man in the middle appears eldest. Wielding a long staff and a purple cloak is the elder Rand. Rand has long gray hair in a ponytail coming down to his lower back and his face shaved clean, almost appearing young again. Rand holds much information and has been apart of the Rotek for nearly 20 years and is of the finest pathfinders and negotiators. On the right is a shorter man than both Rand and Thane. This man dawns a maroon cloak with a black uniform. With a large two and a half handed sword and a small dagger on his belt, this is Bigby. Bigby has brown hair that is down to his shoulders and a scruff of a beard. He is of the Roteks finest in hand to hand combat and is known extremely well for his bad temper.
As the pathfinders enter the path from Labdül to Verunian one of the guard members asks "Marian informed us that you would brief us on our mission once we entered the forrest and we departed from the royal grounds. So tell us Rand. Why are three of the Rotek been sent out to one assignment? Are we expecting conflict?" Thane asks curiously. "No conflict is expected, just a bread merchant who took these trails and missed his delivery. He has been gone a week. We were sent to find him, he could very well have wondered off" Rand replied. "Why are we ON the trails if our merchant is suspected to not be on them? I'm hoping we find some conflict. Things within the territories have been quiet.. really quiet." Bigby asked sternly. Rand stops abruptly and Thane follows suit shortly afterwards. Bigby takes a few more steps before turning back at them and impatiently exclaims "How do you expect us to find anybody if we don't continue forth? We should be pressing onwards!" As Bigby turned to leave Rand replied softly "Aye, but knowing where to press on would be wisest. Would it not?" As Bigby muttered a curse beneath his breath he walked back over to where his colleagues were standing. "Thane, climb this tree. See if you can scout something out." Rand said to Thane as he started to climb the large tree. Bigby under his breath muttered "I was just about to say that..."
An eerie silence filled the wind that started to flow through Rand and Bigbys hair. A rustle in a nearby bush caused Rand to turn and look, and Bigby to place his hand on his sword. As the two Rotek stared all they could hear was a yell from Thane above "A wagon! A wagon beneath a willow! Just a few paces northeast!!" As Rand and Bigby turned to help their friend down from the tree the rustle was heard yet again...
After a short while of walking and reflecting on the information given to the small band of warriors, they finally arrived at the cart. Rand and Thane approached the cart to observe. It was exactly as it was left one week ago. As Thane searches the area around the tree, Rand searches the wagon and bread. As Bigby notices an odd movement from Rand he suspects nothing of it, he is too concerned with the odd bush movements. "The area is free of blood.." Thane says aloud. "And the bread has been untouched. Could be a Pakalee or a Beamon." Rand replies quietly still observing the area. Bigby turns around quickly in confusion "Don't the different creatures of the world know the territories? We humans don't have a lot of land as it is. They have their lands and we have ours! That's that!" Thane responded "The paths of each territory tend to cross, perhaps there might have been a dangerous encounter while our merchant took a rest?"
Both Rand and Bigby nodded in agreement as the orange sun started to set in the west. As the three men allowed the winds to flow through their hair Rand finally said "We are losing daylight." Bigby replied quickly "We can't find him in the dark.." Thane walks over to his colleagues and places his hand on Rands shoulder "I'll take first watch." Rand nodded at Thane, and then to Bibgy. As Thane sat himself down on top of the bread wagon and drew his sword, Rand and Bigby set their clocks as blankets and placed their weapons nearby. Thane slowly drew his weapon, he didn't believe for their to be a threat, but he still thought it wise to be prepared. Bigby fell asleep first and Rand shortly followed as the sun set over the horizon. Now Thane was surrounded by darkness, yet he know he is safe. Thane started to drift off as he allowed his sword to land in the soft grass below.
The sun the next morning is what woke Thane up first. As Thane rubbed his eyes he looked over to see how Rand and Bigby were doing. He saw the outline of where they slept. But both were gone. Thane quickly snatched up his sword and dropped low to the ground. Staying with his back against the wagon and his left side near the willow tree. He whispers quickly "Rand..?" No answer. "Bigby?" He hears a bird and he thinks to himself [no bird would stick around if there was danger] as Thane stands up, weapon now drawn he notices tracks of bread and boot prints in the ground leading towards the bushes... "Rand!?" He calls out. Still no answer. Thane starts to panic, he wouldn't leave fellow warriors to suffer the fate of some hillburn bush! Taking a deep breath Thane starts to sprint into the bushes! "RAND!! BIGBY!" He calls out! "RAND! BIGB-" Thanes shout was cut off by a hand covering his mouth and pulling him to the ground. Pulling him deeper into the bushes...
