The forest. They are close by, and the bandits likely had some kind of camp there.
From Create Your Own Story
Staying off the main path, you start to head into the largely unknown and un-mapped plains. The sun rises to it's highest point after a few hours of trekking by the time you reach the edge of the forest. Tall pine trees rush up to meet you in a swaying, green wall that rustles in the light breeze. The sun becomes mottled and mostly blocked out by thick branches and leaves.
"Where are we going?" your slave whines, panting as he struggles to haul both of your backpacks. You snap around immediately, grabbing his face easily with your left hand, firmly.
"Don't ever ask me questions again," you reprimand, your tone cold. You leave the threat of punishment open as the boy just nods in compliance, scared out of his wits.
You quickly find what you are looking for: tracks. At least four or five people, the same numbers as the highwaymen who had jumped you earlier in the day. They obviously didn't care about covering their whereabouts. Even with your limited tracking abilities, it was like following a drunken horde of bears- someone had clearly torn through the foliage, creating a makeshift path.
"This look right to you?" you call over your shoulder, sneering. "Yes mistress," the young man replies.
The path seems to take you rather deep into the forest, swirling down and following a small creek that winds and bends around a gully. It makes for some rather difficult trekking, and all the more difficult for your slave, who keeps tripping up and falling under the heavy weight of his load.
Eventually, as the sun is setting and disappearing from the red sky above, you reach the camp. Three, large canvas tents sit inside a small clearing, circling a stone fire pit filled with charcoal from previous fires. A cooking pot hangs over it, creaking and swinging slightly as a gust of cold air blows past. Home sweet home, you think to yourself. A glint catches the corner of your eye. Curious, you head over to investigate. A chain sits amid other useless equipment. Perfect.
You grab the chain and run it along your slave's neck, forming a makeshift collar. He looks surprised, but doesn't argue as you lock it to a nearby tree, giving him room to move around the camp, but not much else. You point to one of the bags. "You'll find some food in there to cook. Get to work."
He immediately scrambles for the contents, but it's going to take time. What do you want to do in the meanwhile?
