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The rest of the camp awoke to find an empty bed and the sight of red.
"Oh no, she's done it again." Shadowheart said, the worry evident in her voice as Clarisse was missing from her bed, the last time this had occured a dead and bloody dragonborn bard had accompanied the sight of all this red liquid.
The party examined their camp, their spare clothing had been cleaned and folded at their tents, and the fire had been put out, someone had clearly been here, Shadowheart examined their numbers, and they all came to their conclusion at the same time, Clarisse, and Gale were missing.
The party followed the red liquid along the trail it led, their hearts heavy with worry, all besides Lae'zel who had assumed a duel had taken place and was eager to challenge the victor.
The trail reached it's end as a thicket of bushes obscured their sight, as Lae'zel eagerly parted them Wyll was the first to yell out, "Gods, No!" Clarisse was hunched over a figure that could only be Gale, the thick red liquid covering the ground. Shadowheart was the first to reach Clarisse as terror in her face she pulled her beloved by what she knew was Gale's mangled body.
"Oh, there you all are! we had a bit of a spill, but Clarisse's nose led her here quickly!" Gale mused as he was cleaning his clothes in the pond beside them, a large pie sat on a makeshift blanket on the ground, it's red contents leaking out the sides. "I'm afraid that is the second pie, there was another, but someone's urges gave in again, and she not only spilled its contents all over my finest robes, but the ravenous girl followed me all the way here trying to eat the other one!" He swatted Clarisse's hands away from the pie. "No! that is for the picnic and we will share it!" He exclaimed.
Clarisse reluctantly sat, her red and green eyes trained on the most succulent of cherry pies and as the rest of the group laughed, Shadowheart clinged to her beloved, still torn about what she had thought had occured. Gale finally came over with the wine he had prepared for this surprise day out, as everyone gathered around the blanket and cut into the pie, Clarisse refraining from using a knife as she grabbed a chunk and brought it to her already cherry red stained face. They all enjoyed their day out, Lae'zel, a confused look on her face finally exclaimed, "So who was the winner?" Shadowheart sighed and smashed a piece of pie into the gith's face.