Chapter 28: 28

After dinner, a lull settles over the group. The five of you sit companionably together in silence, contemplating the fire or the radiant stars above. But then you spot a flicker of movement down by Abdul's hand.

Your eyes widen. A vivid, greenish-yellow scorpion, about three inches long, has scuttled out from under some rock or other and is right next to Abdul. Its tail is high above its body, poised to strike and poison your companion's unprotected hand.