Find Friends #5

Keeping to the shadows, you move in a wide arc, staying far from the firelight. The last thing you want is to be discovered. As you approach the edge of the campsite, you find Valda crouched behind a fallen tree. She motions for you to keep low and keep quiet.
There’s no sign of Dorbane.
From your vantage point, you can see the clearing—the whole area revealed by the campfire. Four bodies lie against the far embankment, a gentle slope with thick trees growing higher up the incline. You notice each with a sac over their head, hands tied behind their backs.
“Prisoners?” you whisper.
“One of them’s a woman,” she hisses, jabbing a finger at the last body. Sure enough, you then notice the smallest body is wearing a dress.
Closer to both of you, sitting next to the fire, is a soldier. His helm reflects the dancing flames of the firelight. Two others stand near the bodies—more soldiers. They look to be arguing, but you can’t hear what they’re saying. All three are wearing the blue and red tabard of Andilain.
With an abrupt plop, Dorbane falls down between you and Valda. He’s breathing hard.
“I worked my way around the forest. Wanted to make sure no one could sneak up on us.”
“And?” you ask.
“…and they’re alone,” whispers the Kutollum. “They’re also talking about killing the three prisoners.”
“There’s four prisoners,” you correct him.
“No,” Dorbane shakes his head, then points to the shortest of the bodies. “They have three humans and a Kutollum. They mean to frame the deaths on him.”
You growl deep from your chest. “Not good.”
One of the standing soldiers draws a long knife…and starts walking towards the bodies.

If you decide to rush the soldiers, go to page #6
If you make animal sounds to draw them away, go to page #52