John kept walking through the ash, which was slowly deepening on the ground. A hot wind blew from the east, like a draft from a furnace, dry and smelling of soot. The walk was uneventful, but John kept his eyes open, scanning for that first shadow he saw, looming behind the smoke and ash. He arrived at the farmstead, noticing the clearing which surrounded it more than the building itself. The hazy air prevented him from seeing all the way to the barn. He looked around him, now suddenly more aware of just how many figures could be hidden in a fog like this, just beyond his view. Could they be men? Were they what the townsfolk in Radasanth spoke of? Reportedly, there was some kind of creature that rose with the volcanic eruption, though the large number of conflicting stories gave John reason to doubt.

However……

John chased the thought away with an increase in pace towards his home. Well, formerly his home. It wouldn’t be fit to live in soon, considering what the predictions were on how deep and far this ash would travel. He opened his door, taking off his stifling cloth mask, finally breathing deeply of air that was at least not full of dust and smoke. He closed the door quickly, and lit a few candles around the place, as the haze prevented much of the sunlight from reaching into his home. He then set about collecting his things. He grabbed a large doubled burlap sack, placing it on the floor. No time to be stingy or careful about his tools. His hammers and tongs, good blacksmithing tools all, went into the sack, followed by the two magical dehlar hammers. His bow he placed across his shoulder, tossing some more odds and ends into the bag. The closet was next. He grabbed the tomes inside, including that strange codex, and his engraving tools. He took a moment to look around the house, wondering what he would do now. Maybe live with Jamie for a while? He shook the worry for her from his mind, if he was to meet with her in Radasanth again, he’d have to make it out of this place, and he couldn’t do that while worrying about her. He tied the bag tight and hefted it above his free shoulder, pushing his door open to a clearer sky than he was expecting. In fact, across the way and down a hill he could faintly see the edges of buildings.

That would be Kivatch, trading town and periodical buyer of horseshoes and nails. They never bought expensive treats, but they always paid for their smithing on time, and knew how to care for what iron they did buy from him. Something to the north of the town, wasn’t there before? John squinted, trying to make out what it was, other than two vaguely…green? No, perhaps yellow, but they were there. John started, the wind dying down again, which began to cover the ground and air with that suffocating ash. There had been something out there, and could it have been moving toward Kivatch? He looked back in the direction of Radasanth. He knew Jamie would find her way, and knew she had faith in his own survival. If there were people in Kivatch, then they would undoubtedly need help. John groaned a complaint about his own scruples, the irony not lost on him, and set out in the direction of the small town.