"Now hold on! Who said anything about being assaulted? We dont know what these things are, and they seem to have plenty of food. If we have any luck whatsoever, they will leave us well alone"

"Expect the best but prepare for the worst. I'd rather ere on the side of caution."

Alkyn nods, "In the city, everyone wants a piece of you. Why should the wilds be any better?"

What do we think- investigate the hilltop, or continue and try your luck?

"While I do believe in luck," Six says, reaching up to take hold of the pendant around his neck, "I also agree with Sinsil - precaution does not hurt. The hilltop will be a good break from riding, if nothing else."

" To the hilltop!", said Ashanti dramatically.

You shove your way past the gorse bushes, and gain the top of the hill. The view is dramatic, with the Ashkeeper peaks rising grimly to the east, and rolling hills surrounding to the south and west. You have excellent visibility all around. The hilltop is a rough semi-circle around 60feet across at the widest point. The ground is littered with broken rocks of different sizes, cracked by the wind and snow. 

" Well this is lovely."

" Should we go see if we can hunt down some dinner or just use the supplies we have?" 

Sinsil checks the bushes to see if there are any berries among them sand then tries to ensure they are edible.

Investigation: 12 passive 13

Nature: 20

Alkyn rummages in his pack for a time and pulls out some rations, sniffing them with apparent delight, "Boiled cat, salt, and sulphur, mixed lovingly and dried in Grandma's chimney, what's not to like?" he says.

He, too, casts around for alternatives, considering what he saw on the way up the hill. (( Survival: 6 ))

"It sounds delicious, but I don't think Six will be too pleased with you eating her brethren, even the intellectually impaired. Why dont we find alternative means of nourishment?"

Six looks vaguely nauseous at Alkyn's words, his ears flattening against his head. "Ah, yes, I believe I will just...Go over here and tend the horses," he mutters, leading his mount away with murmured words.

Alkyn looks taken aback, "What?!? I dont regard monkeys as close kin ...and besides...it's probably rat meat anyway."

" Hunting it is then."

Ashanti followed Six.

Survival: 6

Sinsil manages to find a scrubby bush of small yellow berries- but realises they are speckled catwort, a powerful purgative. Great for emptying your belly, but not for filling it. (I’d say theres enough for one dose of mild poison).

So Ashanti, Alkyn are definitely hunting, six is with the horses- Tristan? 

The hunting party moves quietly through the brush, watchful for signs of animal life. Alkyn soon finds a game trail, and you manage to bag a couple of unwary rabbits as you progress. If your memory of the hilltop view serves, the trail should head to a pond not far away. 

Six, as you take care of the horses, you notice they seem slightly agitated, stamping and snorting. Something seems to have them spooked. 

Tristan stays behind with Six, realizing that too many hunters will decrease their chances of finding game.

Sinsil collects the berries and holds on to them for later.

(( If the rabbits are sufficient, head back to camp...if not, move on stealthily to pool, hoping to find something near water.

Stealth: 21))

Noticing the horses' agitation, Six looks up and around, trying to find the source of it. "Tristan," he calls, "something has spooked the horses. Might keep an eye out, just in case."

Perception: 11

Tristan nods "Yeah, I saw. Don't let them run, or we are screwed." 

He looks around for anything out of the ordinary 

Perception: 18