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Ydalon
Struggling up the tree had not proven the wisest course of action. His hands and feet had become sticky with resin, and he doubted he'd ever get his shirt back to crispy white now. The ancient, rough bark had damaged skin, though he could determine no bleeding. It was just as well.
On the other hand, he reflected, he'd have been better off cutting loose strips of his hide himself. It was no surprise the tree was fruitless. What disappointed him was learning the same held true for his struggles. There had been no view from the upper branches whatsoever, save to confirm the presence of neighbouring growth all around.
In hindsight, falling from the branch he'd slept on twice during the night had been an omen to heed.
Ydalon dropped the last few feet to the ground, landing beside his pack. He searched around briefly, trying to ignore the ticklish throbbing of his palms. Fortunately, the now not so clean white wrap had landed closeby and looked to be salvageable with a bit of a dusting and sufficient water.
He was absolutely cross with himself.
Of course he'd had to take it with him, there was no denying that. That it would suffer some stress was unavoidable. But he might have tied it well enough that it wouldn't fall down most-way up the tree. It was wholly inconvenient and hindering his swift descent, while he should have been monitoring the group.
They were gone now. Thankfully, he added as he hurried towards the stream for an essential change and clean-up. He might have been stuck up there for hours if there'd been no screams. Whatever their cause, it was mostly over now. He'd be left with the toughest, most able members of the group, or else be freed of a ragtag band clearly unequal to even the random challenges of the wild.
He did not linger overlong, but neither were his actions hurried as he gathered up his belongings and set out in pursuit.
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