Kael remained frozen in his hiding spot, the rough bark of the ancient roots pressing against his back. His 'Stealth (Rank E)' skill and the 'Silent Step' ability were his only shields against discovery. The three figures were less than fifteen feet away, their attention fixed on the entrance to the root-choked hollow.
The leader, the one with the club and the necklace of teeth, spoke again in that harsh, guttural tongue. Kael couldn't understand the words, but the tone was one of command, mixed with a clear undercurrent of anticipation. He pointed towards the hollow, then gestured for one of the spearmen to approach it.
The spearman, a burly individual with a heavily scarred face, hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes darting nervously towards the dark opening. He clutched his spear tighter, then, with a visible swallow, began to move cautiously towards the moss-draped entrance.
Kael watched, his own heart pounding in sympathy. He knew the System's warning about the energies within, the depleted wards. Even if the immediate entrance was safe, what lay deeper?
The spearman reached the threshold, poked his spear tentatively into the darkness beyond the moss, then leaned forward, trying to peer inside. He muttered something back to his leader, a low, uncertain sound.
The leader barked a sharp reply, clearly impatient. He gestured more forcefully, and the spearman, with another reluctant glance back, took a hesitant step into the hollow, disappearing behind the curtain of Shadowmoss.
Silence descended for a moment, broken only by the faint, almost inaudible drip of water from somewhere deep within the roots and the distant, almost subliminal hum of the ancient energies Kael had sensed earlier. The leader and the remaining spearman stood alert, their heads cocked, listening.
Kael strained his own senses, trying to hear what was happening inside. The Sylphwing Quill in his tunic seemed to vibrate with a slightly increased intensity, and he focused on it, trying to extend his perception, to catch any subtle sound or shift in the air.
Then, a muffled yelp from within the hollow, followed by a scraping sound and a choked exclamation in that same harsh language.
The leader and the remaining spearman instantly tensed. The leader shouted a question into the darkness. There was no reply, only another scrape and a low, guttural moan that was abruptly cut short.
A look of alarm, quickly suppressed, flashed across the leader's face. He exchanged a rapid series of harsh words with the remaining spearman. Their earlier anticipation was now heavily tinged with fear. They both gripped their weapons tighter, their eyes fixed on the dark entrance.
Kael's mind raced. What had happened to the first spearman? Had he triggered a trap? Encountered a creature? Or had the "Silent Watchers" made their presence known? The System had warned that the recommended level for deeper exploration was "significantly higher" than his own. These newcomers, despite their rough appearance and weaponry, might not be much higher level themselves, if their reaction was anything to go by.
The leader seemed to make a decision. He gestured for the second spearman to stay put, his spear leveled at the entrance, then he himself began to cautiously approach the hollow. He moved with a predatory grace, his club held ready, but there was a distinct tension in his shoulders.
He reached the mossy curtain, paused for a long moment, listening intently, then, with a sudden, decisive movement, he plunged into the darkness after his companion.
The second spearman was left alone outside, his back to Kael's hiding spot, his attention entirely focused on the ominous entrance. He shifted his weight nervously from foot to foot, his knuckles white where he gripped his spear.
This was Kael's chance, if he wanted to take it. He could try to slip away while the spearman was distracted. Or, he could try to get a better look at what was happening, perhaps even learn something about these people or the dangers within the hollow.
The silence from within the hollow stretched, becoming heavier, more oppressive with each passing second. The lone spearman outside began to mutter to himself, his voice a low, fearful tremor.
Then, a new sound. Not from the hollow, but from the forest behind the spearman, back along the path the newcomers had taken. A faint rustle, then another, closer this time.
The spearman whirled around, his eyes wide, his spear raised. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice cracking.
Kael, still hidden, also tensed. More visitors? Or something else entirely? The situation was rapidly becoming more complex, and more dangerous.