They would have made excuses, found reasons to be busy, suddenly remembered urgent tasks elsewhere.
One of them would have claimed a sudden stomach ache, another would have remembered an important family matter, a third would have insisted their bowstring needed replacing and they couldn't possibly shoot without a proper one.
Or they would have complained about hand pains and explained in great detail why hands were critical for shooting: the grip, the draw, the release… y'know… the steady aim that required healthy fingers and wrists.
They would have produced a dozen reasons, each one more creative than the last, all designed to avoid stepping into that part of the forest.
The forest was dangerous enough on its edges, but the deep parts?
Where Yuimons and Horned Olfs roamed? That was death territory.
The narration from Seren alone was enough to make seasoned hunters hesitate.
