Meanwhile, the previous afternoon/evening ...

Elscene listens as Anavren talks. And talks. 'Anavren? You are, without a doubt, the most talkative and hot-headed elf I have ever known. Sure, the elven people live longer, but do you have to make it feel like we're all going to live to be 700? While going out for the Healer?'

As he continues, Elscene starts to take affront at his words.

'You have no desire to make any enemies amongst us, yet you call us muddle-headed monkeys? You act as if we're all friends, yet all you've done is hurl insults?'

When Anavren starts talking about how great he will be one day with his archery, Elscene laughs out loud. 'A good archer must know, first and foremost, their bow. Their arrows. You don't look like one who understands the feel of the grain, the angle of the cuts. You just shoot the arrows. You may be a good archer one day, but you'll never be "great" until you quit trying to buy skill and understanding.' Elscene realizes that she's preached a little bit, her heritage showing through, and lapses back into quietude.

When Anavren begins to intentionally bait and harass Horek, Elscene steps away, sensing that the large man may not take it well. 'What happened to "put away our weapons, apologize for our misunderstandings, and agree to work as a team?" Or did you mean "everyone but me?"'

Elscene decides that Anavren isn't worth the argument, and decides that she will drift off to the edges of the road, wandering in and out of the forests, while whatever resolution occurs. She wants no more to do with a quarrel that, seemingly, can only end in bloodshed.


Meanwhile, the next day

Elscene walks through the woodlands by the road, watching for signs of anything. She thinks to herself, 'Good or evil, it doesn't hurt to watch for them. They may be good and think us evil, and they may set a trap that doesn't stop to ask questions ...'