The night past without incident. In the morning, as the party were eating, a figure was seen approaching the camp. He was quite tall and well built with thick hair and beard. He carried a spear, shield and wore leather armour. Dar called out a greeting, the man respounded that his name was Ulric and that he had come for far to the east. Ulric could see that Dar was injured and offered his services as a healer. Dar accepted with some trepidation and presented a scimitar as payment. Ulric rubbed some herbs into Dar's back which were unusually effective, he then refused to accept the sword. After talking to the party for some time he decided to travel with the group, apparently desiring company in the dangerous lands in which he had found himself.

The group packed up and headed back along the river to return to the ford. On passing one of our old camp sites it was noted that the site had been disturbed. It was impossible to tell whether it had been by animals or humans though. The party crossed the river and headed east until nightfal. No sign of the settlement was located. It was decided to try further to the north on the morrow. Ulric was not given a watch after the bad experience with Jade, this caused him some offence, but he was ignored. On the final watch Darion could feel the wolves in the area getting closer and closer to the camp. He woke the rest of the party and the final hours til dawn were spent in a tense stand-off,with the wolves never quite summoning the courage to attack.

With the break of dawn the wolves faded away and the party rested to recover from nervous tension. Ulric once again used his healing powers on Dar's back. The group then headed back west, but kept as far north as the impenitrabe forest would allow. By mid-afternoon the party was travelling staright north. Only a few miles from our southern journey days before. By dusk a castle with keep and towers could be seen to the north. Not exactly what the group was expecting, the concensous was to investigate it in the morning. The party camped in a hollow to the south where the light from the fire would not be visible to the keep.

Ulric healed Dar again and took first watch. It was a very uneasy situation, Wolves were very obviously circling the camp. The party rested uneasily in full armour. After an hour or so all were awaken by a call from Ulric which quickly turned into a scream. On rising Ulric's collapsed and bleeding form could be seen at the edge of the clearing. A large wolf stood next to him, with two more on the edge of the clearing and many eyes were visible from the wood. Darion armed himself and charged the wolf responsibile for injuring Ulric. With one mighty blow he smote the wolf which instanly collapsed (E-crit). Dwalin grabbed his hammer and a fire brand and prepared to meet the charge of the second wolf in the clearing. Thorin moved towards Darion but was too slow. The third wolf in the clearing dived from a bank into Dar's side mauling him terribly. Dar managed to stay on his feet but was very shaken and the wound in his side was pumping blood (33 hits and 8 per round). Things were looking grim.