You hesitate but move enough to confirm your existence in the forest. It was all the paladin needs to yell again.

"Come out. It safe," she beckons for you to come to the road. As you stand she dismounts and lands on the dirt packed road with a metallic jingle. You stand and brush leaves and dirt from your pants.

"Where am I?" you ask.

"On road. We get you to help," she smiles. She motions to the wagon and the archer fellow has put his bow away and is pointing to the back of the wagon. Your feet are aching, your back hurts, and your not sure you can walk another step and here is a crazy adventuring party offering you a ride to town. Eagerly you climb in among the bags and crates in the wagon while muttering your thanks. She smiles and mounts her horse again. Then you're all in motion heading towards the hopes of civilization.

Time passes but you have no way of measuring it. The sun has set and it's dark. There are more stars overhead then you ever thought possible but you can't find any constellation you recognize. That bright star overhead is probably the north star, you think, so is that the big dipper? You were never good at astronomy. The stars are pretty to look at whether you can find orion or not. You shift your position to get a more confortable view, the bag you're laying on is lumping, and moaning. A scowl crosses you face and you intentionally elbow the bag. It moans again so you sit up, untie the road holding it closed, and pull it down. Inside is a young man in his teens bound and gagged.

"Shit..." you mumble. Your brain comes to a stop and you give it a shake. What can I do? you think. Save him? Escape? Ambush the people who so kindly offered you a ride, though you wonder now where the ride is to. In order to make a decision you need to see what you have to work with. You start opening the bags and boxes but you're not as quiet as you think. A sharp pain in your back makes you gasp and fall foward.

"No," says the archer and you turn to see the malicious grin. Another arrow is propelled from the bow and into chest. Adreniline makes this one hurts less but it still takes your breath away. A third makes breathing impossible. The stars overhead disappear in the encroaching darkness as you struggle to take your last breath.

Maybe walking wasn't so bad.