Emerald decides just to wait a little bit longer. Getting a bit bored, the colt pulls out the notepad and attempts to blacken the paper in attempts to see what was written there above it.

MILK
EGGS
BREAD

…Oh, it looks like Hope's shopping list. Emerald suddenly gets a pang of worry for Hope. He doesn't really feel like she is probably in any danger, but he didn't even really get to say goodbye to her. He realizes that maybe Hope saw the message on the map as well, and decides to sneak closer to the road going south and see if he can intercept her.

>Dex Check
>Rolled 2, Passed.

Emerald manages to make it to the outskirts of town unseen, and hides in some bushes. It's really a good a place as any, and if he doesn't see her he can just make his way where he needs to go, though he isn't sure where that is yet.

His luck pays off however, and Hope comes barreling down the road.

>Perception Check
>Rolled 1, Passed.

Emerald sits up to call at Hope, but dives back down as he suddenly notices that there are some unarmored ponies sneaking behind around her, clearly following the mare to her next destination.