Vox Machina was returning from another successful mission. They were traveling through a mountain pass when they decided to make camp with the cover of a cave they found. Vex and Vax got a fire going, while Keyleth began to put up a spell to make their campsite a little less noticeable. Grog and Scanlan ventured further into the cave to see if it led anywhere, but were sorely disappointed when all they found was a dead end, and a few larger stones. Percy was checking their supplies with Pike, who also called Grog back over for some divine healing after their most recent encounter.

“Does anyone else feel a little creeped out by this pass?” Keyleth asked after a moment of staring outside the cave entrance.

“Not particularly,” Vex said, her tone a little flat as she raised an eyebrow. “It’s not as if we ran into anything terrifying on the way in.”

“That’s just it,” Keyleth said, a soft frown on her lips. “There was nothing in the mountain pass. Not even birds or lizards. It was just…quiet.”

Vax raised an eyebrow, sharing a look between him and Vex. “You think something might have happened to scare off all the wildlife?”

“Maybe…” Keyleth mumbled uncertainly.

“There’s no point in worrying about it now,” Percy said, adjusting his glasses. “We’ve already made camp. I say we get the watch shifts in place and just get to sleep.”

Pike had finished healing Grog by now, but Scanlan was still staring at the end of the cave. Grog, of course, called out the bard about his weird behavior.

“Sacred of your own shadow, Scanlan?” Grog laughed loudly.

“Uh…guys,” Scanlan said, his voice uncertain. “I think that rock is staring back at me.”

“What?!” Pike exclaimed, as the rest of the group ran hurried to where Scanlan was standing.

The bard pointed at a stone cluster. It took a second before Keyleth squeaked.

“Oh my gosh, he’s right!” she said, holding her staff out in front of her shakily.

The others were quick to draw their weapons. “You’re busted,” Vex snapped, her bowstring pulled. “Might as well come out and face us, whoever you are.”