Swamped

You almost can't work out what you're seeing - it's too close. You slip back in and pull up your goggles before looking again.

Marshguards.

You turn back and put a finger to your mouth. Dean nods, and motions to everyone to move further back.

You do, and watch carefully. The Marshguards soon come into the bushes and find the dead bear.

"What the hell is this, a bear? Since when does this swamp have bears?" one of them asks. You recognize him as the one who was captured when you first arrived. You don't think you ever caught his name.

"I'm more worried about what killed it, personally," says a shorter one.

"It's not hard to guess, Shorty," said a third guard, with noticeably tall legs. "We just had rain a few days ago. This is more than likely the work of the rainspawn."

Shorty shudders.

"I wish you wouldn't just, y'know. Mention them."

"That's stupid. They're the most dangerous thing in this whole damned swamp, how can we not talk about them."

"Quiet, Legs," the first guard says. "This is definitely not the time to argue about that again. Greeneye, is this about where you saw some movement?"

"Yeah. And I doubt it was this bear-thing."

"Could be scavengers," Shorty chimes in. "Maybe we scared them off."

"Or maybe there are intruders. You know, like the ones we're supposed to be keeping watch for?"

You feel a tap on your shoulder, and turn to see Walter. He's holding up his fists and giving you a questioning look. Seems he wants to know if you're ready for a fight.

Are you?