Chapter 2 – Part 1: The Ease of Tracking Chaos
Despite fitful sleep the men found themselves truly rested for the first time since receiving Agatha’s
missives. Agatha, Harold, and Marshal Young gather to see the men off early, promising to keep an eye on Prairie’s Edge while they visit the first source of power behind this mess. There is no small amount of appreciation in her voice when Agatha thanks them all for doing this. While there may indeed be a real danger in ignoring the problem at hand, any one of the men could have easily saddled up and ridden away from Prairie’s Edge in the night.
Soon after putting the sun to their right and heading out of town they come across the vacant graves allowing Doc and Tony to get a full glimpse of what was only described the night before. There was certainly no shortage of empty holes in the ground that was certain. Swallowing fear the group finds the trail left by the dragging feet of untold numbers of the undead and press north. It was high noon when they came across the remains of some coyotes, of course they could only tell that by the one head still left intact, mostly they found a pulp of blood and fur. After that the trail was more than just footprints, it had taken on a red hue for miles. Animals of all types were found mangled along the way. Why the animals seemed drawn to the horde none could discern, but they all met horrific fates it seemed. Perhaps the animals were trying to stop this unnatural presence as well? It seems at least a few undead were brought down by the creatures of the wild.
missives. Agatha, Harold, and Marshal Young gather to see the men off early, promising to keep an eye on Prairie’s Edge while they visit the first source of power behind this mess. There is no small amount of appreciation in her voice when Agatha thanks them all for doing this. While there may indeed be a real danger in ignoring the problem at hand, any one of the men could have easily saddled up and ridden away from Prairie’s Edge in the night.
Soon after putting the sun to their right and heading out of town they come across the vacant graves allowing Doc and Tony to get a full glimpse of what was only described the night before. There was certainly no shortage of empty holes in the ground that was certain. Swallowing fear the group finds the trail left by the dragging feet of untold numbers of the undead and press north. It was high noon when they came across the remains of some coyotes, of course they could only tell that by the one head still left intact, mostly they found a pulp of blood and fur. After that the trail was more than just footprints, it had taken on a red hue for miles. Animals of all types were found mangled along the way. Why the animals seemed drawn to the horde none could discern, but they all met horrific fates it seemed. Perhaps the animals were trying to stop this unnatural presence as well? It seems at least a few undead were brought down by the creatures of the wild.
It was unsettling but none of it could prepare the men for the sight beyond the next ridge. A wagon train had set up for the night it seemed, or what remained of a wagon train. The scene before them was horrifying. Broken wagons, horses, and people were strewn about. The dust had been churned to red clay from the blood spilled. How many had died it was hard to say, but looking over the scene they could see that a few of the murderous guests had remained, hunched over dripping pools of bodies they seemed oblivious to anyone’s being there. That is until a scream erupted from one of the wagons that looked in better shape than the others. Sounded like someone was still alive, more screams were heard, sounded like a few… it sounded like children.
