Lith felt the chill of the night air seeping through his clothes, making him shiver despite his best efforts to keep warm. The fog had settled in thickly around the wagons, obscuring his vision and making him feel as if he were swimming through a murky sea. He could hear the steady creaking of the wheels beneath him, the occasional clink of metal against metal, and the sound of his own breathing. He was on high alert, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.
The foggy forest felt even more ominous at night, with shadows cast by the flickering lightning illuminating the dense trees. The branches and leaves swayed in the wind, creating a cacophony of rustling sounds that added to the overall sense of foreboding.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Lith's unease grew. He had heard rumors of bandits and thieves that roamed these woods, preying on unsuspecting travelers. He knew that the merchants were carrying valuable goods, and that made them a prime target. Lith's hand crept towards the hilt of his knife, ready to defend himself and his companions if necessary.
As they continued on, the sound of rain began to fill the air, growing louder and more insistent with each passing moment. Lith pulled his cloak tighter around himself, feeling the water seeping through the fabric and soaking his skin. He knew that they needed to make it to their destination quickly but this weather was slowing their progress.
As the storm intensified, the lightning became more frequent, casting a bright light across the forest at times. The thunder was so loud that it felt like the entire forest was shaking. Lith could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end as the storm raged on.
Lith's heart sank as he caught sight of the eerie red light glinting through the thick fog. He couldn't shake off the memory of the creature with red glowing eyes that had killed the two strangers in front of him just a little bit over a day ago. His instincts told him that this could only mean trouble.
He quickly relayed his concerns to Drogan and the other mercenaries, who were also on high alert. They immediately began to strategize, taking into account the risk of splitting their already small group in half.
After some heated discussion, they decided to send two of the mercenaries on horseback to investigate the source of the light, while the other four would stay behind to protect the merchandise and keep watch for any other potential threats.
As the two mercenaries rode off into the fog, Lith and the others could only slowly continue their journey and wait in tense anticipation for their return, straining their eyes and ears for any sign of trouble. The storm continued to rage on around them, the rain pelting down like bullets and the wind howling through the trees.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack of thunder, followed by a blinding flash of lightning that lit up the forest like day. Lith squinted against the sudden brightness, trying to get his bearings. He could see the outlines of the trees looming around them, the shapes of the wagons ahead, and the hunched figure of the dwarf Arin at the reins of one of the carts.
"Laddie," Arin called up to Lith, his voice barely audible above the sound of the rain. "We need to keep moving. We don't want to be caught out in this storm."
Lith nodded, adjusting his grip on the knife as he scanned the surroundings once more. He could see nothing but the swirling fog and the raindrops streaking across his vision. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a mix of fear and excitement surging through him.
They continued on, the rain pounding down around them and the thunder rumbling in the distance. Lith could feel his muscles straining with the effort of staying alert, of staying focused on the task at hand. He knew that he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a moment.
The storm raged on, becoming stronger and stronger with each passing moment. Lith sat perched atop the wagon, his cape soaked through with water as he kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. The muddy roads were making progress slow, and the constant lightning flashes made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
Hours had passed since they had set out on their journey, and Lith was growing weary from the endless struggle against the storm. Suddenly, a loud roar pierced through the sound of the thunder, causing Lith to jump in surprise. He quickly scanned the area, trying to determine the source of the noise.