Genken lets out a little growl at his missed shots as he makes his way around to try and recover his arrows. He then returns to the dead plants to look them over and see if he can identify anything about why they may have attacked or what made them move so (I'm guessing Nature: 9, but if you'd prefer/want Investigation: 17).

You manage to retrieve both of your arrows from where they have landed in the nearby foliage. When you examine the plants, you're unable to discern how they were able to move and attack you. They appear to be solid, twisted masses of branches and leaves, and lack any normal signs of life such as blood or organs. If not for their humanoid shapes, they would be indistinguishable from regular shrubs.

Summer scans the area to see if there are any other threats in the area, her eyes alert and wide.

(Perception: 14 )

You don't notice any immediate threats. You do, however, see three figures on horseback silhouetted a ways down the road.

"Looks like some unexpected guests left the party," Summer quipped, sheathing her sword. "Or they're headed this way, can't tell."

Genken looks in the direction that Summer indicates and seeing the figures move along the road, he quietly says "Perhaps I'll see if I can get a closer look before they reach us. But if things go south, I can sneak up to attack them as well. If you feel the need to attack, just yell out something about a lack of rain lately as your signal," Genken gives a sharp-toothed grin and slinks off into the forest beside the trail and moves stealthily towards the oncoming group and watching them closely for any signs as to their intent (Stealth: 12; Perception: 9).

Once you get closer to the group, you immediately recognize them as Kira and the other merchants. They're quietly conversing, and don't seem to notice you in the shadows. They seem to have elected to ride their horses on the way back to camp now that the animals are no longer laden with heavy packs of supplies.

(DM Question - can Genken hear what they're talking about? Anything juicy or of importance? Perception: 21)

While Genken is gone, Arisys will retrieve her Boomerang and strap it onto her back. She will wander over to the plant that was cleaved in half and examine it for interesting characteristics.

Nature: 16 

Ondrej stands over the unmoving plants as his rage slowly fades. He pulls a few clinging vines and branches off of his blade and returns the weapon to its place on his back. Looking around as if disappointed the fight is over so quickly, he turns back to the party. "That was a good warm up, shame it ended so soon. You all did well." He nods toward Lar-Dun. "I liked that trick with the fire."

Genken, you catch a few snippets of conversation, but none of them are particularly interesting. They discuss a potential new village to sell to, how this town has improved their grain farms since they last visited, how Kira purchased some sort of trinket for her daughter back home, and other similarly mundane topics.

Arisys, aside from the plant's shape, you notice nothing unusual about it.

Lar-Dun smiles at Ondrej's comment. "Well, if we're unlucky, that won't be the last of it. And next time it could be much worse."

"Hmm...Well that was fun!" Arisys hops up from examining the plant creature, and she returns to the campfire. "At least we got to test out some of our skills. How is everyone feeling?" She takes a look at her companions for injuries. 

Genken will wait for the group to pass him by and then step out onto the road and quietly follow, though he's not trying to be overly stealthy, just casually walking behind them at about 30-40ft.

Summer checked on her companions. "I'm fine Arisys, and from the looks of it, so is everyone else. I just hope Genken doesn't find himself in any sort of trouble..."

After about five minutes, the merchants make it back to the camp. As they're dismounting the horses, Kira notices Genken behind them for the first time. Her brow furrows in confusion. "Were you following us?" She looks as if she's about to say something else when her eyes catch on the fires around the campsite and your drawn weapons. "More importantly, what the hell happened here?"

"Made some new friends. They couldn't stay long though." Ondrej kicks at the closest plant remains and shrugs, adjusting the weight of the weapon on his back. "I'll take first watch tonight."

"It seems you were right, Kira. Trouble on the road is more prevalent the closer you get to Oakhurst." Arisys says. "Have you seen creatures like this before?" She gestures to the plant beings that were just defeated. "What else can we expect to encounter?"

"We were attacked by these plants. We don't know where they came from or what they are." Lar-Dun explains.

"Devon," Kira waves the man over. "Does that look like..." She leaves the question unfinished, but they share a glance and it's obvious he understands.

Devon, who you've learned to be Kira's younger brother, crouches down and examines one of the plants. "I mean, I never got a super clear description out of him. He was undestandably a bit shaken up by the whole-"

"Does it or not?" Kira impatiently cuts off his rambling.

"Yeah. Yeah, it does."