Nightmare in the Dark Forest

[Drake Aurelis]

Drake ran, he ran until he could run no more... Not because he was exhausted, but because literally, there were no more openings in the trees to run through. There was an odd looking plant though. He stopped and panted. He had been running for a while. As he calmed down, he realized that it was a bit strange for the path to have been so clear in this place. Had someone else been through here?

He then began thinking about his predicament again. He looked around the dark forest around him. It certainly was... Dark. There was barely enough light to make out his surroundings at anywhere more than arm's reach. There were strange noises, of creatures all around. Drake then examined the plant in front of him. It looked like one he had read about actually. Supposedly, this kind of plant was sensitive to bright light. He began chanting a spell. "Darkness begone! Photon!" he cried. The plant shriveled, and revealed some more open area.

Drake resumed walking again. He didn't like all the movement he kept thinking he saw to the sides. Nothing seemed to be attacking. Suddenly however, Drake heard a loud rustling, sounded like a large creature, at least the size of a human. Drake drew his swords, and readied himself for battle, his longsword rested on his right shoulder, held by his right hand, and his left sword in front of him, held sideways. He was crouched down a bit as well. "Who's there?!" he shouted out. Hopefully, something I can handle, he thought or some strange wanderer who somehow ended up in these cursed woods but isn't with that... if he had been speaking out loud, he would have spat out the next word Witch who raised me.

[meridy]

Meridy walked towards Altessa's house. Her reasons for doing so were simple, she had come across what seemed to be a dead half-elf, as the body had pointed ears, yet looked too old to be an elf, and round an Exsphere. Seeing as how the half-elf's key crest was broken, Meridy was heading towards Altessa's to get one.Brushing aside a thick strand of vines, she continued through the forest. "This place is rather unpleasant, I do hope the trip back is not quite so vexing. Spotting the outline of a figure ahead, Miredy walked slightly faster.

Upon seeing it was a young-looking boy, Meridy called out, "Hello there young one, are you lost? This forest is not for one who cannot defend themself." Meridy, once she finished speaking, began to walk forward towards the lad. "So then, what is your name?"

[Drake Aurelis]

"Well..." Drake began, "I'm sort of lost. I don't know how to get out of here." He sighed. "As for why I'm here in the first place, I'd rather not talk about it." He sighed, thinking about why he was here I wish I could erase that witch from my memory. Then again, that would almost erase my whole life...

He said to the stranger "I can defend myself though, I'm not that bad with these swords, and I can use some magic as well." He then finished by telling her his name "I'm Drake. And you would be?" Hopefully someone who would be willing to get me out of here... he thought to himself.

[meridy]

"Hello, I'm Meridy. It'd be delightful to have a traveling companion. Come, I'm heading to a dwarf named Altessa's house." Meridy stated, beginning to walk just a few seconds after finishing her sentence. "Oh, and I am decently proficient in sword and sorcery. I will help you with your magic if you require aid with it." Meridy offered, continuing to walk.

As she pushed through the thick vegetation, her sword swung back and forth from its sheath on her hip. Suddenly, a snarl cut through the brush. Stepping back, Meridy drew her sword as several wolves burst through the brush. "Oh my, it appears that hostile beings have appeared.. Fight or run.. which to do.." Meridy asked herself, working her way towards a conclusion, even as the wolves snarled and surrounded her.

"I wonder what wolves are doing in the forest.. they are not usually ones to frequent this type of area." Meridy continued to wonder, finally deciding to just remain still. One of the wolves came up to her and sniffed, before snarling to the pack, and causing all of the wolves to move away. "How strange.." Meridy mused.

[Drake Aurelis]

"Altessa?" Drake asked, curiously, and then began walking as well when he noticed that she was moving. She then said that she would be willing to help with his magic, and Drake responded "That sounds good, if we can reach a safer place later."

They walked through the dark, eerie forest for a little bit. Drake didn't much like this place, it always felt as if they were about to be attacked. Sure enough, soon, a pack of wolves came, appearing very hungry and perfectly willing to attack. Drake was about to draw his swords to attack, when he thought of something else. Might as well try this... He thought, If I can control it, then...

In a flash of light, he transformed. He felt incredible! He was powerful, he was strong... He was a dragon. He stared the apparently alpha wolf right in the eye, and it decided to back off, taking its pack with it. Drake didn't transform back to human yet, he liked how he felt with this...

[meridy]

Turning around to speak with her companion after the wolves backed off, Meridy came upon the figure of a majestic dragon. "Fascinating... A dragon! My these are quite rare... I do wonder if it's sentient? Hmm.. I see no bones... I wonder if my companion fled or got lost? Ah well.." Meridy mused, walking up the dragon and beginning to test it absentmindedly, both observing the dragon and trying to make up her mind as to find out what happened to her companion, then of course her brain came up with something brilliant.

Her hands stopping from rubbing the glossy scales, and looked at the beast with a critical eye. "Hmm.. though I can't make a definite conclusion, I suppose this could be that boy. Though a were-dragon is not something you see in the common life of a person. Oh well, if you are the lad, shift back will you? There is no need for me to suffer possible neck problems from having to look up at your face in this manner." Meridy stated.

[Drake Aurelis]

Drake looked down at Meridy. Why was she... Oh. Ah, okay, sorry. He said... Without actually speaking. He definitely had said it, but he hadn't technically spoken... Yet another reason to like his dragon form, telepathy. He did shift back though. A flash of light enveloped him, and then he found himself kneeling on one knee on the ground, his right leg bent, ready to stand.

He pushed up with that leg, and stood up the rest of the way. He said "Sorry about that. I felt so powerful, didn't want to return to this form again..." Although, the truth was, coming back to human form felt good in its own way somehow. He wasn't sure why. He then did remark to her "You know, if you started messing around with the monster variety of dragon like that, it would probably try and eat you." He laughed a bit. "Shall we continue on?" He hoped she wouldn't pry, at least, not yet. He didn't want to talk about his past right here and now.

[meridy]

"Ah but of course then.. Drake I believe? Good. You can explain your combat abilities on our way to Altessa's. I wish to know your strength so that we can be able traveling companions" Meridy replied, once again moving in a brisk pace, though her sword was now out. Cutting through a few vines, Meridy stepped into a clearing and looked around. "3 Paths... well not including the one I just cut in. Unfortunately I cannot seem to see how the sun is positioned.. and that makes telling the direction all but impossible. Hmm... If I assume that I've been heading East towards Altessa's, that would make the center the best. Though if I was heading southeast the north path, and northeast the south path.." Meridy continued to think on the matter, after all what were brains for other than thinking?

As she glanced among the paths she began to analyze how each looked. "Assuming Altessa orders his food, or goes to get it himself.. the paths he uses would be a bit more worn..." Meridy muttered, looking at the dirt of the trails, and seeing the north and center paths being trampled a bit more. "Though I do believe Altessa lives on the other side of Ozette... so the foot traffic would be from them." Peering through the darkened vegetation, Meridy picked out a faded sign on the center path, that said, "Ozette this way, path to Syback, North path, unknown destination, south path." Nodding, Meridy quickly made her way down the center path.

[Drake Aurelis]

"My... Combat abilites?" Drake replied back to her. "Er, alright then?" He wasn't sure how to begin. "Well, I haven't really been in a real fight before to tell the truth. I was trained by the woman who raised me, but she..." He then noticed what subject he was going on. It was not a subject he wanted to talk about here.

"So I'm not sure how effective I'll be in real combat. I don't know much about my dragon form either, that was the first time I used it voluntarily..." His hand flew to his face. "voluntarily"? She would probably ask questions about that too. He sighed.

After they reached the fork in the road, which Meridy didn't have much trouble with, Drake became curious about something. "By the way, why do you need to find Altessa anyway?" he asked, "I'm just curious really..."

[meridy]

"I found something and need Altessa to craft something to go with it. Nothing more. I take it you've used your dragon form while sleeping or some such thing? Were-creatures are apt to do so. At any rate, tell me of your magical capabilities." Meridy replied, as the duo started to reach the end of the forest.

Ozette is up ahead.. Meridy mused, slowing down her steps as the trees began to thin. "Hurry now, and speak quickly. We need to prepare ourselves before entering Ozette" Meridy called back to Drake. Checking her gear, Meridy stowed her sword within its sheath and continued her slow paces forward.

[Drake Aurelis]

"Er, yes, that's what happened with it..." Drake said. This woman was... Incredible. Not in a good way either... Not necessarily a bad way, but not in a good way. She made him feel like he was constantly being analyzed...

And then the question about magical capabilities... Drake responded "My magic... I can't use darkness, and I don't have offensive spells for water. I can use every other element just fine though, including healing." He sighed.

And then they were at Ozette. She said something about preparing themselves. Drake looked at her, confused. "Prepare ourselves for what? You don't expect people to attack us, do you?"

[meridy]

"The people of Ozette are known to be highly racist. Especially towards half-elves. A full elf, such as I, would come under suspicion, no matter my looks. One such as you, with your ability to use magic, would also come under suspicion, as humans are not usually able to tap into the arcane arts so easily. Though I hazard a guess that you a half-elf, as most elves live within the Ymir." Meridy stated.

Stopping several feet away from the ramp that led up to Ozette, Meridy carefully positioned her blade so that it would not be easily apparent. "If they think us hostile, they may attempt to incarcerate us." Meridy stated in way of explanation, as she continued to fiddle with the positioning of her sword.

[Drake Aurelis]

"Oh." Drake said simply. A town of racist people? Drake simply... Didn't know what to think, other than that it was bad, it was too much. She kept adjusting her sword, to make it less obvious, saying that they shouldn't look hostile.

Drake pointed out to her "If they see us without weapons, while knowing we're outsiders, they'll probably assume we're half-elves, no one gets through a forest like this without some form of protection..." He then thought of something else. "Your hair is long enough to hide your ears, just do that, and we'll try to avoid using magic while we're in there."

He hoped that would be enough. He glanced at the mark on his hand. It was unusual... Anyone who looked closely at it could tell that. And if he got angry at someone while he was there, and they noticed his eyes... That wouldn't be good either.

[meridy]

"While my hair is long enough to hide my ears, the way that I have styled it will not allow it to. That is, unless you are skilled at the stylization of hair? If so, fortuitous, if not I will have to keep my hood up." Meridy replied to Drake.

As she pulled the hood of her cloak up, she also made sure that she was presentable. It seemed that only her eyes were seen from within the cloak, that was good. Looking over at Drake, she took in his appearance, and frowned. "Can you not cover that mark on your hand? It seems quite strange. I would loan you one of my gloves, but they are tailored for me." Meridy stated.

[Drake Aurelis]

Drake nearly laughed. The stylization of hair? "Er, no. I'm afraid I don't know how to style hair, sorry." he said to her. Then she asked him about the mark on his hand, if he could cover it up. "I don't think so. I don't have any gloves myself, so probably not." He sighed "Well, I guess we should try passing on through." he said. "It's not like there's a lot else we can do."

He began walking into the town. Of course, then he realized that he had no idea where he was headed. "Meridy, perhaps you should lead the way?" he suggested.