The party continues north and east through the dense forest of huge, broad-leafed dark-wood trees. Limbs are close to the ground and the underbrush is mostly high grasses and fern with a few thickets of thistle here and there among smaller trees. The birds flap through the canopy of leaves and the insects buzz or fly incessantly. It is not long before each of the party members feels the oppressive heat, amplified by the high humidity. The air is hazy, hot and sweat beads quickly as the high sun follows its path in the sky above.

They finally reach the river, its current moving slowly to their left, westerly, and realize they have no way of crossing the wide river. They will have to follow the shore to the lake and around, which will take considerable time. Perhaps as much as another day!

The sun is a hand beyond its zenith for this time of year and a very light breeze blows from the north across the lake, giving the companions some relief from the relentless heat. Karok calls a halt to the company of adventurers, seeing something ahead.

Not far from the edge of the forest-shrouded lake, a fox with large ears and bright orange fur lies bleeding, its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of a crude iron trap. Its whimper can be heard clearly.

Dûrwë starts jogging over to the wounded fox, but stops about ten feet from it to proceed much slower hoping to minimize the creature's stress. He makes sure to stay clear of the creature's ability to bite him knowing that a severely wounded creature will attack.

As he kneels and takes off his backpack, bow, and quiver, he says to his companions, "I'll cover his eyes and then hold him down. Karok, do you think you can pull the trap apart to release it?"

That had not been Karok's instinct. He had thought he might, quickly, mercifully, lethally, relieve the animal's suffering. But Durwe seemed to have something else in mind, and this was not a thing worth arguing about.

When the elf asked not only his tolerance, but his help, he shrugged and moved forward. Prising his dagger between the teeth and levering it for better purchase, he slipped his own blunt, strong fingers between the jaws and slowly increased the tension (if there's a trigger that simply releases the thing, he'll do that, instead, of course...)