The sun ascends over the horizon, gently hitting Otis's face causing he to awaken. He was laying flat on his stomach. He walks over to the boatman and pushes him over to wake him. "Time to go." Otis says throwing him two slices of bread from his bag.
Otis folds the blankets and throws them into the bag. He walks to the water and revives his face by dunking his head in the water. He stares into his reflection noticing the small marks on his face from laying against the sand, but does not think much of it. It reminds him of last night. The creature. He starts to think of what it was that startled him. "Could it have been,...a Dragon?" he questions himself "no that cant be possible. Perhaps it was just dreaming and the wind hit upon my face as I was in deep slumber."
Otis and the boatman grab the boat pulling it towards the river within the forest to continue there journey to the elder. The forest darkens as the trees enclose on them leaving the sun out of sight. Frightening sounds alarm from all positions of the forest. Although the forest is nerve racking, it is not the most frightening forest Otis has been through. Otis has worked in many forests that have left his nerves high and tangled with his mind. As they pass through the forest Otis begins to see the creatures that lurk among the trees. Bats, leamers, and in the far distance, even wolves. Drowsiness starts to pass over him. he knows that its the air of the forest messing with his mind, making him want to fall into slumber and prevent him from seeing what lies ahead. He pulls out more bread and takes a strong bite. He begins to think of putting his face in the water to relieve himself of his drowsiness, but that's not the most intellect idea considering the forest is playing mind games. For all he knows the water could contain toxins. He pulls out a metal can-tine of water. Gulping as much as he can but not finishing off the water, for the boatman needs some too. The boatman. Otis does not no much about the boatman. All he knows is that the boatman has a distance fee for where you want to go and that he is a silent brutant. "Sir," he begins " May I ask what your name is?"
The boatman gives him a shivering look. "Prytus" he looks away and resumes rowing the boat omong the river.
"Well, Prytus, I'd like to make this trip a bit joyus, if you don't mind. Tell me about yourself,"
"There's not much to know. I'm a brutus named Prytus whos a low priced boatsman for people like you."
"You have no backstory, where you came from who you wanted to be?"
"No." He resumed swaying the paddle.
Otis is shocked at Prytus's attitude, and is nearly intimidated by him. "If you don't mind me asking, were you from the brutant kingdom?"
He hesitates to form his answer. "Yes."
Otis has never visited the brutant kingdom. It is nothing but mere rumors, tales and trustworthy acquaintances. Brutants. The appearance of every brutant tends to be the same besides minor details of each individual. Genetically strong. High endurance. It would take about four elven arrows just to put a brutant to his knees. Also they're known for hard work.
The hour after that was silence. No speaking. Just the faint sounds of the forest and the crickets in the bushes. "Is there any possible stops along the way?"
"No, none that are charted. All through here is river. It'll be about an hour."