Main scout. That was what he named her, and the others went along with it. Main. Scout. The inner voice laughed, first to die, you mean. Ignoring the bitter taunt, she walked ahead. She picked the path for others to follow, her companion close behind to be sure she did not get too hurt. She could dance well in battle, but getting hit hurt more than it had any right to.
Death everywhere, but she did not see the bodies. The ones that did not move were no threat, no more than a rock to hop over in the stinking landscape. Moving ones were to be avoided if possible. She realised as she would weave among the trees by the road, that while she had no trouble alone, responding and reporting to others was new. She forgot to mention a few things. Things like they needed an audible system of signals that did not attract attention, for they often did not see her or her hand signals. Or, if there was a foe too great, she could lead him away from the group and return a little later. They worried so for her safety that they chased the mummy that chased her.
It was hideous. No other word for it, really. Many who approached it ran away, fright visible on their faces. She could lead it away. Shoot a few arrows that did nothing to slow it down, but annoyed it enough to get his attention. Or hers, she really could not tell the gender of the shambling thing. But the moment it turned to the lithe elf, all the others converged to hit it, half running away after getting close. Damn, she needed to tell them her intentions. Next time. After this thing was beaten.
Finally someone felled it, she could not see who. Warily approaching the group, they all breathed heavily, fear and exertion taking their toll too soon. Her eyes studied the others in turn, slowing over her companion, his arm already infected. No one could expect a mummy to leave a clean wound, could they? She pulled her herb packet out as someone asked for them. She did not wait for someone to offer, few studied mundane healing when they could pray for blessings or ask their priestly friends. She rubbed the herbs in the infected cut, rinsing it clean with the water she always carried. Anyone else? Yes, his friend’s hip was also cut and infected. Best fix that, she had nice hips.
“You should have called us,” the hin reprimanded. She pushed away the frustration, It was her fault, after all, that they did not know.
“I planned to draw him away and slip him,” she began, but the others already pushed south. Perhaps it was enough. She danced ahead through the trees.
So soon another group of undead barred their path. Skeletons and incorporeals. She skirted around, cursing again her lack of signals for the others. She really needed to work on this scouting business, though glad for her companion, for he led the others in her faint trail. Ten minutes later another mass of undead. Zombies. All sorts of zombies. Deer, bear, and a giant joined the rotting human forms. The sounds of fighting and cursing behind her announced that they engaged. Were they not supposed to avoid battle?
She turned around, arrows flying into the fray as fast as she could manage. They all fell under blade and spell, but for the giant. Nothing slowed it down, nothing opened wounds into his rotting form. Maybe they would let her draw it away. She attracted its attention, and again the others followed. Damn. Run, stop, shoot. Run, stop, shoot. An uncharacteristically frustrated shriek came from her slender throat. “GO DAMMIT!” She knew what she was doing, could they stop worrying for just a few minutes?
Yes, they could. Some of them seemed to understand, for they ran south. plink. plink. plink it turned its lumbering undead eyes on her. Elf against giant. She ran north, stopped to shoot again. It followed. She ran some more. It followed. Turn round a tree, suck down a potion of invisibility, run some more. They did not understand, but it was not their fault. She never talked about this game. This game she played since she first learned to run. This game that saved her life more often than she could remember. Only when you had sense to run, the hateful voice reprimanded.
She slowed her steps, looking over her shoulder. Yes, the giant still followed, though it could not see. Soon it would stop. Yes, there. She danced south, catching up to the others as they talked of turning round to find her. Her voice stopped them long enough for her to shake the effects of the potion off. They were not going to undo all the work she just did!
To add to their difficulties, they were about to head off course. She led them back to the road, skirting widely the area where the giant stopped to look for the black-haired annoyance. Main scout? She could get used to this. But she needed signals.