With Jasper gone, the group has been reduced in number to five: Luthiel, Devlin, Malen, Garrit, and Cryndo. They pack their bags and head east, through the wood.
There is a rough trail, it isn't difficult to follow. It winds a bit, but always veers generally east. Hours pass. The journey began just after sunrise, the sun is now approaching the horizon. The forestseems to grow sparser and brighter the farther they travel from the clearing. The tree trunks aren't so massive and the canopy isn't so thick. A few bright rays of afternoon sunshine pierce the foliage and illuminate the path ahead of them. Birds are chirping, squirrels are dashing about, and not a single wolf is seen. Nor any other monster, for that matter. The transition happens quickly, only a little more than half an hour and the wood has changed from dark and creepy to bright and happy. And suddenly, the tree line ends.
In front of the group lies a massive expanse of tree stumps. As far as the eye can see, the once-forest extends. Not too far off, a small semi-permanent settlement has been established. There are a few shoddy wooden houses, but mostly tents, and one very large tent, with plumes of smoke coming out the top. The smell of some kind of spiced meat stew tempts the nostrils. Men with thick arms and broad shoulders can be seen hauling logs onto carts. Some are singing in grunty voices, some are smiling, all of them are sweating and dirty.
Nobody has caught sight of the group yet. The sun is directly behind them, the little settlement directly in front. This must be the place the ancient elf was talking about.