Thanks to the dark-vision granted by her headband, Fawnlum saw the five north-side tri-cleorps moving in, on the pair of decoys sitting by the fire.

Halrick and Caitlyn faced each other quietly, for all intents oblivious to any danger.   From her perch in their fourth nest-site, which the humans had built themselves, after the dwarves had gone back north to Dark Hulthuein, Fawnlum watched the invited guests approach.

They might not attack her group, but as she had anticipated, a lone pair of humans sitting around a low fire was too good to resist.

She let the little leather flap of the window drop back into place.

Except for Lucas, the ambush party quickly and quietly slipped their anchored vines out of the doors – which were camouflaged quite well thanks to their lift-up design – and down the trunks.

Seeing no tri-cleorps around as she reached the ground, Fawnlum silently approached like a wild predator.

She saw the back of one tri-cleorps, just as Halrick threw a burning stick over Caitlyn’s shoulder.

Then the tri-cleorps rushed the decoys, but the Coastals rushed in as well, quickly cutting down the monsters with abandon.

<*>                                                          <*>                                                      <*>

After two days of marching, and staying in their more easterly sixth nest, they crossed into the territory of the rival tribe.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to the smell,” Caitlyn moaned, as she carried her sack of grisly cargo.

“We’re here,” Fawnlum heartily announced.

In the roar of their built-up fire, and the noise of their drinking song, Fawnlum heard the snap of a stick from out in the darkness.  She and her Coastals fell silent and looked.

Keeping her saber sheathed, Fawnlum picked up a tri-cleorps head, and marched away from their camp, alone into the darkness, right up to the dumbfounded member of the other tri-cleorps tribe.  Coming within five feet of his armed self, she impaled the head on a nearby stake, and told him, “This will happen to all of you!”

Then she quickly turned, and walked back to her comrades, laughing out loud.

As they walked across the dividing line, she could hear behind her the laughter of one, and then many tri-cleorps, as they inspected the other impaled heads, each draped with the talisman of their rivals.

“Someone’s about to be upset, eh?” Lucas said.

Fawnlum led them quickly southwest, back to their quarry tribe’s territory and back to the hunt.

<*>                                                          <*>                                                      <*>

Egress sat in his study, watching with Loray the scene of Fawnlum’s party, as they appeared in his crystal ball.

“Good thing he has such a smart leader.”

Loray did not respond except with a slight ‘hm’.

She was not seeing the strength of the group, but was more worried about their being in the middle of enemy territory.

Egress looked at the scene with a very different perspective.

What chaos the girl was about to sow!  And what a devious plan.  But Maguleth must be kept from finding out about her.

He dispelled the connection, claiming fatigue, and sent Loray away while he contemplated his situation.

Fawnlum Lichner had to survive, or else she would be useless to him.