As they feasted on the juicy fruits, Eli regaled them with tales of his solo adventure. "And then, I saw a rabbit, and i thought, 'Lunch!' But it outsmarted me and stole my sandwich!"
Ava giggled. "You made a sandwich in the wilderness?"
Eli shrugged. "I had bread and cheese. I got creative."
Malcolm chuckled. "You're a regular wilderness MacGyver."
Rachel grinned. "Just don't try to make a pizza next time."
Eli's eyes lit up, "Pizza? That's not a bad idea!"
Sophia rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Let's focus on finding the keystone before Eli starts his wild pizzeria."
The group laughed, enjoying the brief respite from the journey. But as they finished their snack, they knew they had to press on. The keystone awaited, and they still had many challenges to overcome.
After their satisfying meal, they decided to press on, but not before Malcolm suggested, "Why don't we take some fruits and veggies with us? Who knows when we'll find a bounty like this again."
He glanced at Eli, who was already mentally planning his next snack.
Eli grinned sheepishly, but everyone knew Malcolm's suggestion was a wise one. They gathered a selection of fruits and veggies, storing them in their packs for future meals.
Once they were ready, Sophia asked, "Can i see the book, please? I want to review our next destination>"
Malcolm handed over the ancient tome, trust etched on his face. Sophia carefully opened the book, studying the yellowed pages.
"According to this," Sophia began, "Our first journey will take us through the River of Whispers. We'll need to be cautious; the currents are treacherous, and the river is said to be home to... unusual creatures."
Ava's eyes widened. "Unusual creatures?"
Sophia nodded. "The book doesn't specify, but it warns of dangers lurking beneath the surface. We'll need to be vigilant."
Rachel asked, "How long will it take to cross the river?"
Sophia pointed to a crude map in the book. "We'll need to follow the riverbank for about half a day. Then, we'll find a shallow point to cross. After that, we'll head into the forest of Echoes, where we'll camp for the night."
Malcolm nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Let's get moving. We have a river to cross."
As they journeyed on, the River of Whispers grew louder, its gentle gurgling evolving into a cacophony of sounds. The group exchanged nervous glances, their senses on high alert.
Sophia led the way, her eyes fixed on the riverbank. "Stay close, and watch your step, The current is stronger than it looks."
Eli, ever the curious one, wandered closer to the water's edge. "Hey, what's that noise?"
Ava grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Don't even think about it, Eli. We don't know what's in there."
Suddenly, a faint whispering began to echo through the air, the words indistinguishable but malevolent intent clear.
Rachel shivered. "What's going on?"
Malcolm's grip on his pack tightened. "I don't know, but let's keep moving. We need to find that shallow point and get across."
As they pressed on, the whispering grew louder, the words becoming clearer. "Turn back... while you can..."