I'll try to expand the scene while maintaining your writing style. Here's an attempt to reach around 1,000 words:
As the others worked on pitching up tents, I stumbled upon a small clearing, surrounded by dry underbrush and fallen branches. The air was crisp, and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees was soothing. I gathered as much wood as I could, my arms aching from the weight of the branches. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the mountain landscape. As I returned to the campsite, I noticed the group had already set up a small fire pit. I added the wood to the fire, watching as the flames crackled to life.
Warrior handed me a small pouch containing a mix of dried herbs and tea leaves. "Make us some tea, kid," he said with a nod. I poured the mixture into a small pot, adding water from the canteen. The aroma of the tea wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of the mountain air. As we sat around the fire, sipping the warm tea, the group began to relax.
The twins, entertained us with stories of their past adventures, their laughter infectious. They spoke of battles won and lost, of friends made and enemies defeated. The dark-skinned man I started calling assassin shared tales of his homeland, his eyes sparkling with warmth. He spoke of his people and their traditions, of the land and its beauty.
The sorcerer spoke little, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a quiet intensity. He watched us with a calculating gaze, as if sizing us up. The martial artist didn't speak at all, his eyes fixed on the flames. They seemed completely different from when I first got here. At the beginning of our journey, they seemed to be tensed, ready for battle. Now, they seemed more relaxed, more at ease.
As for me, I listened intently, trying to learn more about these men and trying to choose who to learn from. I had thought about it for a while. The clans weren't known for handing out knowledge for free. I was in a trial, and by the looks of things, these people seemed both skilled and knowledgeable. So why wouldn't I want to learn a thing or two from them?
The martial artist didn't really suit me. I don't like being too close and personal with anyone or anything I'm fighting. The twins' style is dependent on each other, the assassin didn't use a weapon I planned on using often or at all, as for the rest, their styles didn't suit me and my build. That doesn't mean I wouldn't learn from them or at least personally, instead I would just observe their styles and practice them for later use.
I didn't intend on using a single weapon; instead, I would learn as many styles as possible. But I would still like to mainly use a sword, an odachi or katana maybe even a tachi. Lastly, there was the sorcerer, although he didn't seem powerful, those let me call them "spells" are truly interesting.
But despite the camaraderie, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this mission than met the eye. What were we really doing here? What was the purpose of a scouting mission in this desolate mountain? Apart from the questions swirling in my mind, I knew I had to be patient. For now, I would continue to observe and learn.
I also needed to get some experience, but from our earlier encounter, finding a beast I could beat would be rare. That wolf-like monster took all five of these guys to kill. But they didn't really give it a chance to attack, so I might be able to kill one on my own.
Lastly, I thought about what I was going to do if I pass this trial. I didn't have a specific goal in mind, but guess becoming rich, knowledgeable, comfortable, and strong enough to stay like that. But to do that, I needed to survive first. Perhaps joining a guild too, there was the academy, but I didn't want to be shackled by authority.
As the night wore on, the group began to settle in for the night. "Set up a barrier, won't ya?" Said the warrior to the sorcerer. "No problem," he answered, walking to the edge of the camp. There, he recited those incomprehensible words again, these ones seemingly different. A transparent dome appeared in an instant, encompassing the whole camp.
The sorcerer's eyes gleamed with a hint of satisfaction as he surveyed his handiwork. The barrier seemed to shimmer and glow in the fading light, casting an otherworldly aura over the campsite. I watched in fascination, my mind racing with questions about the magic and its limitations.
As the night deepened, the group settled in for some rest. I slept soundly, difficult as it may be with one eye open. The barrier's presence was reassuring, but I knew better than