The adventurers push forward through the mere, following the muddy trail. Late in the afternoon, Leosin, who is leading the group, stops and holds up a hand to stop the others. "There's something up there," he whispers. Everybody stops. Leosin takes a few steps forward, looking up the trail, and crouching to make himself less visible. "It looks like a camp," he says.

Everyone steps off the side of the trail, but they don't hear any noise from up the trail. Hooflepoof notices that there is no smell of campfire; perhaps the camp is abandoned? He puts on his Cloak of Invisibility and goes forward alone to investigate.

Shortly ahead is a clearing, with a small beach. On the beach are three canoes, and a firepit on a raised platform. On the side farthest from the shoreline are four wicker lean-tos, which appear constructed from loose branches and other forest materials, but offer protection from the weather, and floors up off the ever-moist mere. Such as this land could be called dry, the dry land seems to end here; on the other side is a murky river, and beyond that nothing can be seen.

Hooflepoof explores the lean-tos. Inside one of them are some baskets containing dried fish which looks quite yummy, and also dried lizards and birds which look like roadkill. He also searches the bushes and areas around the camp, but doesn't see or hear anybody.

He goes back to the group. "There doesn't seem to be anybody here," he says. "But it looks like a good place to spend the night, and there's some dried flesh, if you're hungry."

The group advances into the camp, and they explore the beach area thoroughly. The trail indeed seems to end here; there is no evidence of a continuing trail, nowhere to go except on the river. Hooflepoof notices skid marks where the canoes were apparently drawn up.

They decide not to make a fire, so as not to attract any unwanted attention, but they dig into the available dried wares. Most of them just eat fish, but Elfo helps himself to a dried lizard, which actually tastes better than it looks, especially the eyeballs. Once they are all fed, and the sun begins to set, they make their beds in the lean-tos. Hooflepoof takes the first watch.