Right, yes, Farsight, that was the thing. "Can do from the saddle, dunno about with a map." He holds out his hand for the map anyway.

"They're here, or should've been, we think." Savil points. "That's where we're headed. You...were on that trek with Starwind to sort out the weird Changed tree that ate people, right? That should've been - here." The spot she points at isn't far, maybe a quarter-mile. "Can you try to Farsee where the tree was, and then sort of move your Farsight east?" 

The lines on the map seem to wobble in his vision. He bites his tongue and forces himself to focus. The tree that was eating people is hard to forget; it made the list of bizzare alternate ways Tylendel has died in his nightmares. He reaches out with his Farsight, stumbles, rechecks his center and ground, and tries again. There. Now which way was east, from there? A headache starts at the edge of his brain as he moves his Farsight; he rarely goes to bed with an excess of reserves and last night (this night?) was no exception.

And meanwhile they're riding out; Yfandes follows Kellan, making sure to keep her gait smooth so as not to jostle Abras, now they're outside the Vale moving at a fast canter through the quietly falling snow. It's cloudy, no moon or stars; Savil's mage-light is the only light.

:Any luck, ke'chara?: Savil sends, her mindvoice soft; she's trying not to distract him more than necessary.

:No, I'm looking but I don't see anything but forest, I might've gone past it. Or just be looking along the wrong line.:

:Hmm. Back up a bit? Could be easy to miss a campsite in the dark. Though perhaps it's a good sign if you did, I'm sure you would've noticed a campsite that was on fire. Anyway, we're about a third of the way there – if you don't have any luck in the next few minutes, drop it and save your energy, we can look when we arrive: 

He backs up and looks around some more, but doesn't spot anything, and just as he's considering dropping the Farsight he loses it on accident anyway. :I couldn't find anyone, I'm sorry.: He fights down a yawn and tries to straighten up in the saddle a bit.

:Are you doing all right, Chosen? You seem really tired: 

:I'll manage. Just wasn't expecting to be up this early. What even time is it?:

:Couple candlemarks after midnight. I'm sorry about that – you can sleep in tomorrow, well, I guess it's today at this point: A wisp of disapproval creeps in with the concern. :How late were you up?: 

:Uh.: He remembers noticing it was almost midnight and telling himself "just a few more tries and then I'll turn in", but he doesn't remember which of the times he told himself that that one was. :Later than I would've if I'd known this was gonna happen, that's for sure.:

:Well, you didn't know: She sends a waft of affection.

Within a candlemark of cold, miserable riding, they reach the campsite. It's no wonder he missed it; it's tucked into a clearing between two enormous trees, and the fire-pit is down to coals covered in a layer of grey ash. 

Savil freezes. "Oh no." 

Oh no is right. "Got any idea what happened?"

"Shh." She switches to Mindspeech. :Traces of blood-magic. Whoever caught them out here, they had a bloodpath mage with them. Well, at least one, could be more: She turns slowly on the spot. :...All right, there's a trail to follow, and they can't be far. But you and 'Fandes aren't as experienced at this and I'd rather you not make noise and warn them. Can I get you to stay back here until I've got the location narrowed down?: 

Ohhhh shit. Nod nod wait she can't see him in the dark :Okay.: 

:Hmm - I don't want to tire you out by getting you to Farsee ahead the whole way, could be a while, but figure you could anchor on me for Farsight if I Mindtouch you at some point?: 

:Sounds good.:

Savil rides off. In her absence, it's dark and quiet (except for the occasional creepy forest rustle, but Abras is pretty used to the Pelagirs by now), and miserably cold. 

He didn't notice the cold so much when he was moving, but now that they need to be still and quiet it's sapping what little energy he has. He's so tired, and there's really no reason to keep his eyes open when it's dark and he's just waiting for a Mindtouch. Maybe if he adjusts the way he's sitting a bit he'll be more comfortable, just lean forward a little and stop putting so much effort into holding his head up . . . 

:Chosen, wake up: Yfandes prods him. :I can keep an eye out, but we're not exactly in a safe location:

Ashfjsk YUP he's awake now. So awake. Definitely. :Sorry. Thanks.: He tries chewing on his tongue to give himself something to concentrate on, but still every blink is a disorienting moment that might have lasted half a second or three seconds.

:Abras?: Savil's Mindtouch reaches him as though through fog. :Think I'm close but don't want to spook them - give me some Farsight coverage ahead?: 

Okay. Wait, he didn't actually Mindspeak that. :Okay.: Wait, he didn't actually Mindspeak that. :Okay.: He bites his wrist and pulls up his Farsight, takes a couple seconds to get it pointed in the direction Savil is facing and move ahead a ways. Is there anything distinguishable out there? (He winces. The headache had faded a bit while he was waiting, but now it's back and more so.)