Ashleigh felt a painful grip around her heart as she read about the scout’s shock and concern at seeing the blue-haired man and the children around the campfire.
She paused and took a deep breath.
He had done his part. He had warned them of the danger. As a result, he should have been able to go home safely without guilt or concern. He did not make a mistake. She did.
But the scout did not go home. He was concerned. He drew the attention of the monsters that had also noticed the party in the forest below, and once again, he was chased through the woods.
After spending the night in the village, the scout wrote about planning to set out the next day, hoping to find the group from the night before, warn them of the danger, and get off the mountain.
Ashleigh swallowed as she looked down at the page of the next entry. Her hand moved slowly to touch the dried stains. The writing was smeared, and some was unreadable under the dark red smudges.
