April 25th is even warmer but by midmorning it has started to rain. It comes down in torrents for the next six hours, flooding the old road in places and leaving you all drenched. Still you ride on. At least the last of the snow is gone by noon hour.
That night you again camp in the woods, lighting a fire to dry out your clothes.
As you are preparing your dinner you hear a noise from overhead, and a strange creature lands at the edge of your camp.
It looks vaguely horse-like, though much larger, with a unicorn-like horn protruding from its forehead. Its coat is a luminous gold in colour, and its mane and tail are a darker shade of gold. The hooves and horn are a golden pink, and its eyes are violet.
The creature regards you.
"Good evening," he says in a deep voice in perfect Common, "I am one of the Guardians of the Forest. What is you errand here?"
Niko doesn't say anything, but does look around for She-ra.
Kadlian pats Fleetwing on the back, letting him know he will come back to finish the job of cleaning him, and approaches the creature. "We are travelers, passing through. I am Kadlian Lun'Folard, a Ranger of Aldacan, and the leader of this group."
"You are far from your home, Kadlian Lun'Folard. What brings you to these parts?"
"We seek an artifact that is important to the Kingdoms of Humans, Elves and Dwarves. Something that must be kept out of the hands of evil, lest they use it to overthrow the good kingdoms. We have much further to travel.
"I apologize for being vague, but we know agents of evil are searching for it and we never know if they may be scrying on us."
"So you are passing through these lands on another errand. Quite so. And the orcs?"
"Converts to Foresti. We have a cleric of Foresti with us who has managed to turn them from their former god. Another one of our clerics tested them and they are turning from evil."
"Converts to Forseti," Logan finally comments. "Well met, I am Logan Obi Wan, formerly of the Jungle of Chult, so I am honor and respect your position as guardian."
Kadlian looks at Logan and puts his finger to his lips.
Logan rolls his eyes, but obeys the boss man.
"Welcome back," he mouths to Kadlian with a slight scowl, but lets the ranger continue.
The creature ignores the interchange between Logan and Kadlian.
"They seem well behaved," he says, referring to the orcs, "So I will do them no harm. These are troubled times, with war and rumours of war coming out of the east. You appear to be heading in that direction, so be aware."
"We have not heard these rumors. Who is warring?"
"There is civil war in Saltar. People are fleeing westward into the Mississippi Forest to escape the fighting. In their desperation, many are turning to banditry to survive. If you cross the River, be careful. So far none of these refugees have crossed over into these woodlands."
"Do you know, Guardian, what has precipitated the civil war? I had thought the emperor was secure in his position."
"The emperor is dead. He was murdered, so the tales relate. Now the relatives and pretenders are fighting for the throne, for he left no direct heir."
Eventually the guardian leaves, and you pass the night peacefully.