Help! Bandits!

Caen internally sighed as Maxie 'graciously' decided to hang back and allow the other three to take the first few steps. Not exactly the most heroic, is it? Using your comrades as a glorified meat shield. 

Or, perhaps, he was getting a bit irritated and tired. He didn't do well with heat at the best of times, but this seemed worse, possibly more oppressive than usual. 

If Boubka, like Dione asked, offered a drink of water, he thanked him, taking the bottle and taking a small swig of it. Sure, he had plenty in his bag, but best not to waste any at any point and drink too much, right? After he was done, he held it towards Maxie, saying "best to drink up. Wouldn't be good to get heat stroke out here."

Finally, whatever appeared to be surrounding the village caught the hedgehog's attention, and he narrowed his eyes to try to reduce the glare from the sunlight. "Perhaps it's some kind of barrier placed by the bandits? I can't be sure..."