The Pathless on Paths---------Chapter VII part 2(27)

“Time already?” He asked Emmerich, and grabbed his rucksack from the ground, which he had been using as a pillow. An unfit one, at any rate, for he could tell by his stiff neck. He felt no better after sleep, if not worse. He told himself hr would feel better in time, for he had only just woken up. He shook the drowsiness from his head, and refrained himself from laying down again.
“No. Reconnaissance. Just me, I will be putting you on guard. No, no, have no worries. It will be sunrise quite soon, so you will not be losing to much sleep. I understand you are weary, but I have to get our bearings clear, or we shall never leave this forest. I will not go far, only to find clear ground for observing the first light——where would be the east. This, at least, should not have changed. I did not want to wake everyone, for in the early hours all is silent here, and we would make a racket. I shall not be gone for long, expect me in ten minutes.”

With that, he picked up his rucksack and flipped off of the stone floor and onto the forest undergrowth, and went on his way. Before he disappeared out of sight, he turned again.