The merchants' early evening dinner of porridge soup was disrupted by a thunderous roar echoing through the forest. It sounded like a mountain had just erupted, and the earth itself had shifted to the side.
"What was that?"
"Guards, can you please check that out?"
The caravan of merchants had hired a group of adventurers to protect them during their travels. So when the loud guttural roar echoed through the forest, they were the ones to be tasked with the safety of the entire group.
The four adventurers stood ready—one tank, one swordsman, one mage, and one herbalist—raising their weapons in the air as they faced the direction the sound had originated from.
"GROOAHHH!"
Another roar caught all of them by surprise. This one sounded louder—much closer than they would have assumed, and caught them off guard. It was as if the monster were already upon them.
