Escorting, following and gathering
An escort is a moving group with a leader, not a rigid formation.
[Q] gathers the nearest available members of the controlled slime's species. They leave space between one another, follow on a loose lead and sprint if their leader draws far ahead. Together they fend off nearby enemies, but pursuit ends beyond the group's area.
Why a member strays
Primary needs decline more slowly during an escort, but do not stop declining. An unusually long journey can therefore still call for a supply break. Afterwards, the member tries to rejoin the group if it still exists. Combat, immediate flight or cargo already held can also override a gathering order; the group is an aid to leadership, not a sealed-off state.
One forager left the group on the dry slope. It met the returning leader again at the water.
