The five adventurers led by Ruth stood before the cave. The massive boulder sealed its mouth but it was crudely placed.
Ruth placed her hand against the stone, feeling the faint pulse of her Marker Rune. She knew he was inside. He was probably wounded, wary, and waiting to get better.
"Enkrid," she called…
"It's us. The Dawnblades. We're not here to hunt you."
There was silence at first…
They waited for him to speak, but for a few minutes, there was only the rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a bird. They didn't rush the man as he was definitely under a lot of stress.
Then, faintly, a voice answered from within.
"…Why are you here?"
Cielo stepped forward and spoke with a concerned tone…
"We saw the bounty. We know what the guild is saying. But we don't believe you're the villain they claim."
Jericho added…
