The Nature of Beasts (Tinder and Zeraj)

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Etain laughed when she caught him blushing this time. It was cute how easily he seemed to embarrass himself. Her smile remained as he spoke of his family, describing a life so different from what she knew. Her relatives rarely spent their time entertaining each other. The hunters often gathered in the taverns in the evening to exchange tales, but they were not meant to thrill. They would review their hunt with their peers who would listen, nodded and frowning while they laid out how their plans had been made and changed accordingly. Then judgement would be rendered, either to the credit of the one telling their story or to his shame. The younger hunters were expected to listen and learn, but they would often begin talking among themselves, comparing their training scores from the day. Competitive blood ran through them all, but it never seemed to hinder the family. Etain had watched her relatives thrive while competing together. Her own skills would have been greatly lessened were it not for the encouragement.

Her reminiscing was brought to a sudden halt when Egil moved closer. Her instinct was to move away, but she stopped herself. The contact wasn't so bad; it was getting colder after all. She almost wished he would put an arm around rather than just touch her shoulder. Her cheeks grew pink and she looked down, finishing the jerky in her hand and focused on the forest ahead of her.

He continued talking, going on about the way the shadows moved. She followed his gaze, but only partly made out the image he saw. She laughed again, "There are worse things to speak of." A silence settled around them after that. Etain glanced around looking in the shadows for danger when something in the trees caught her eyes. Were those eyes? Two shimmering dots seemed to look down at her, but when she blinked, they were gone. She doubted it was an animal or monster of any kind. They had just vanished without a sound and there was no creature she'd ever heard of that could move so silently. She brushed the thought aside, dismissing it as her own paranoia.

She glanced back at Egil, watching him in the dim light. There wasn't really a reason to be worried tonight. For once she wasn't in the woods alone. Perhaps there was some way to distract her mind without ruining the night with pointless chatter. "Egil," she began uncertainly, "Would you mind playing your flute? I'd love to hear your play again." Music was fascinating to her, though she'd always pretended otherwise to please her father. Tonight none of that mattered however. It was only she and Egil, and she knew he wouldn't protest to music.
 
The idea of performing for Etain sounded wonderful to Egil. "I would love to play for you." He reached for his pack and pulled his flute out. It was an old thing. Made of some kind of bone. Egil wasn't entirely sure when his aunt gave him it. She merely found it in the storeroom with other old instruments. Certainly it felt like it had a kind of presence to it. It was carved precisely and had never failed him when producing sounds. He tilted to face Etain. His eyes falling onto hers. He held the bone flute near his lips. "Perhaps a story as well would befitting," Egil mused.

Egil began playing. He started with soft notes that swayed with the trees. Constant yet with filled with small adjustments here and there. There was the cry of animals and the gentle rustling of leaves. The water of the stream and the dark night sky. He gathered these simple things and brought them together. Then he began to weave his song anew adding more intricate notes. The fluttering of wings. The laughter of the silent folk. The dancing of waking shadows. The melody carried them into a far off land that was akin to a waking dream.

His voice rang out, melodious and stirring,

"The time before still as winter, yet vibrant as summer.
In lands greener than spring
Where the they were content to sing
Long lived lithe and strong
In men they did sing their song
Broken bodied they knew their fate
Cunning and wicked they made their bait
Men who heard this tale
Rushed to meet the unearthly wail"

Egil took up his flute once more. The tune was now haunting, yet contained the previous wonder. It was like spiderwebs and the skittering of small feet.

"A maiden they did not find
But a folk of Fae they did bind
It was not summer's work
Nor beneath did winter lurk
This Fae had no court to hold
Wingless and free it controlled
The Men bound and chained
Cried out before being drained
But afar a hero emerged
He came he ran he surged"

The feeling of being trapped dissipated as Egil drew forth notes of fire and steel.

"cold wrought iron was in his hand
Took apart what Fae had planned
But in anger it had flew
Terrible magic the Fae threw
But the hero was not alone
His love and life came with stone
She bound the Fae within
He carved his name with a grin

An eerie melody came suddenly and without warning. Egil played these notes frantically as if barely gripping his flute.

"Summer came and was pleased
Winter came and was not appeased
That cold mother glared and spoke
Bury this stone beneath an oak
That warm lady giggled and said
Around the oak all will be dead

Without a sound they left
The Hero and his love felt bereft
They followed the order
And came to the border
The stone was buried
They got married"

The song fluttered and waned. The sadness of the end counterpointed with the apparent happiness of the words. The clearing around them seemed to be different. Egil felt something was off as he looked around, but eventually his eyes returned to Etain's own. "I'm sorry. I didn't even know I knew that song. I must have heard it when I was a child and this moment may have drawn it out." His eyes lingered on hers and he felt a kind of pain in his heart. There was more to that song. He couldn't quite remember, but it made him feel pain. He returned his flute to his pack and settled closer to Etain as if trying to rid the cold in his heart with her warmth. His hand drew around her unknowingly and he pressed her body closer to his own. Egil's focus was sporadic as he tried to decipher the words he sung. There was movement around them. Egil thought he saw green eyes peaking from the nearby trees, but he pushed those thoughts away. The song must made him a bit delirious.
 
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Etain watched Egil as he played, allowing herself to become lost in the music. All the worries and foolish thoughts she'd had fell away as she became engrossed in the song, as though she'd stepped through a waterfall. By the time Egil began to sing, Etain could feel her strength fading. The words were unfamiliar to her, but that was no surprise. There were few songs she recognized. The story made little sense, meaningless words slipping by her as she listened to Egil's strong voice. The deep rumble of his voice combined with the airy notes of his flute transported her to a new world, one of peace where she could lay down her burdens.

As Egil finished his song, their eyes met once again. Etain found herself looking at his eyes longer than before. The way they looked in this light remained her of downy goose feathers. He apologized for the song, but Etain merely shook her head to indicate it wasn't necessarily. She couldn't say she understood it, but his performance had been beyond beautiful. Almost ethereal. It had almost sounded familiar to her, like something heard in a dream. Perhaps it was an old fable put to music or simply a poem, something she might have heard when she was a child. Stories were not passed around for entertainment much among her family, but many of the old legends were learned to teach about the different types of creatures. Or perhaps her exhaustion had claimed her senses, dulling her understanding of the performance.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Egil pulled her closer. For a moment, she remained still, paralyzed by the intimate action. Her muscles had locked, prepared to leap away but unable to find the strength to do so. She could feel the warmth of body and the soft beat of his heart on her arm, steady and calm. The music echoed in the back of her mind, drawing the fear from her heart. Slowly, she relaxed back against Egil, her eyes beginning to droop.

She stifled a yawn that came bubbling up from within her, warping her arms around herself and blinking several times to clear her blurring vision. "You play beautifully, Egil," she said in an attempt to wake herself up with some small talk, "Who taught you to use a flute like that?"
 
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Etain's question was a simple one, but it yielded long forgotten sentiments, but Egil wanted to answer the best he could. It was getting strangely warmer, and his body felt more tired than ever. His voice once booming with the haunting melody, now carried a tone of sleepy child, "In some ways I taught myself. In others it was my aunt and some of my family." His gray eyes peered up into the darkening sky, "But I believe the heart of my music comes from my parents. Their music entwined so beautifully together... At least thats what I hoped I remembered. It was too young before my mother disappeared and my father followed." The edge of this memory of not as bad he could remember. Usually Egil would be covered in tears when he delved this deeply into his memories of his parents. However, there was some wetness in the eyes. That dread feeling did not last long. Every time Etain breathed, her body shook slightly. Egil was close enough to feel her heartbeat as well as his own. Surprisingly, they were quite calm. It was a feeling he would not let go. It was like a soothing stream pushing away all feelings of weariness and loss.

After Egil's words there was only the silence. A deep silence that permeated the forest, enveloped by the growing darkness. Egil couldn't even hear the wind anymore, but that thought grew further and further away. It was actually becoming quite difficult to think about anything other than Etain in his arms. He couldn't even remember holding her this tightly before. Before any fear and caution could take root, Egil's eyes slowly dimmed and was finally closed. The silence was not actually void of sounds her realized. Beneath the layers of emptiness, he felt a odd rhythm in the background. It was like a reverberation of his own music, but different in every manner. He wasn't sure if he was tapping into this deeper song or perhaps something else entirely. With one final yawn, Egil embraced the warmth and slept.

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The two manlings were very interesting indeed. Earlier this one has seen the beginnings of a great song being formed, but the manling could not properly hear all the notes. But for the manling to even hear this much was a oddity. This one did not know of any manling that could even hear the whispers of the forest or even the underlying weaving of the mothers. This was worth more than the acorn for this one to follow these two. The smaller manling was interesting from before, but this one became tired of the constant games of hide and seek. This one intended to continue watching. It even thought of a few pranks for the coming road. It was Nocturn's hour and this one could not play any tricks yet. There was no fun if they couldn't see, so it waited and watched, motionless and sly.
 
Egli's talk of family resonated with Etain, bringing her thoughts back to the siblings she'd left behind at home. Many nights she'd sat alone in a tavern watching the people as they mingled and chatted. Those nights she ached for her family. Tonight, the need was not so great. It was enough to sit with Egil and share the pain. Her hand came up and covered his, an instinctual act of solidarity. Her head fell back to rest on his shoulder. She listened as his breathing grew deeper, her eyes closing. The forest and surrounding danger fell away, leaving only the warmth of Egil's embrace. Sleep came to her in the darkness, quieting the last voices of cautions plaguing her mind.

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The night passed away with no incidents, leaving the pair to rest in peace. Etain woke to the morning sun shining through the trees. Her eyes opened slowly, the sound of bird song echoing through the trees. The perfect sound to wake to in the woods. When birds are singing, creatures are sleeping. She yawned, sitting up slowly to stretch. As pleasant as the morning was, she could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Nothing presently, but something else. Something she'd forgotten last night. She remembered very little, only stopping to eat and asking Egil to play his flute…

She froze as brief snippets of her memory returned, almost dreamlike: Egil pulling her close, taking his hand, falling asleep in his arms. "Gods," she jumped to her feet, blushing deeply as she brushed the dirt from her clothes. She walked forward to check the clearing, anything that kept her eyes off of Egil. "We must have fallen asleep," she noted, keeping her voice level, "It appears fate favored us though. Nothing came across our camp." She'd never been so careless in the wilderness before, not since her training days. She always set traps before she would even think of sleeping. That wasn't your only first last night. The thought renewed her blush, unsure what exactly had come over her. Not even exhaustion could have explained her behavior last night.

She didn't want to dwell on those thoughts. Not in the middle of a hunt with the lives of hundreds resting on her shoulders. She would be professional and keep going. She turned, her expression calm, "We should be going or we'll waste daylight. Perhaps a quick meal and get back on the road?" She waited for his answer, stretching her arms to give herself an excuse to continue standing. Her wound protested, reminding her of their struggles yesterday. She'd made too many mistakes. Today she would focus, prove her years of training had not been a waste.
 
At first there was a darkness, deep and unrelenting. It flowed like water across the abyss that was his mind. Egil could not comprehend the waves, but knew of the omens they brought. Whispers followed afterwards. He did not partake in their words nor their oaths. Beyond them all was the deep resounding beat. A constant song that never departed him. He grasped tightly to it and waded through until the darkness was only a trickle at his feet.

Warmth greeted him as he woke to the sound of a lovely tune. Her voice was tinged with emotions he could not identify and continued to change further as she seem to reclaim her composure. Words upon words, he couldn't quite comprehend them at first. His mind took a bit of unwinding but the constant song dissipated and his thoughts were finally cleared. "A meal..." Egil grumbled, rising from the ground. He felt surprisingly well considering what happened yesterday. The sight of Etain's stretching form caused him to redden a bit and quickly seek his pack. "Yes lets eat something and get going. That chimera's trail won't get any warmer." Finally his hand pulled out some more of his rabbit jerky. It was his last pieces. He'll need to thank that farmer later. Half went quickly into his mouth and the other half was handed to Etain. After downing some water, Egil stretched a bit and gathered what he could. He assumed Etain was ready as well. She seemed to be much better, but he still worried about her wound. He hoped that poultice worked. His hands certainly felt better.

With his belly content, spear in hand, and his companion readied, Egil smiled and set off. The music of the forest seemed to greet them with every step. "It certainly feels like a great day to hunt, " beamed Egil, "Lets find some homesteads as we said earlier. We'll need to try to pinpoint some kind of pattern between the attacks." It didn't take long before they found a well worn path that lead to a homestead. The sight was a bit strange. Half of the area seemed to be in disarray with broken fences and remnants of smaller wooden structures. The other side was pristine with the home looking as if it was built recently. Egil approached the main house only to hear a voice yell out, "Yer stop wer ye standin boyo!" Egil froze and turned towards the noise. From the half razed - fields an old man walked towards them, pitchfork waving in hand. "Yer come bring trubble? Oi know yer types. Feckin hunters commin to mah lands and askin yer quechins about that damn beast. Well it ain't here and neither should yer be." He pointed near Egi's feet, "And git yer damn feet way from mah iron!" There was a small rusty iron horseshoe decorated with several bright colored flowers. "Sorry!" Egil backed away from it. It seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't quite remember, "What's this for?"

The old man lowered the pitchfork and laughed, "Yer daft boyo. Callin yerself hunters wit smarts like that. That be a charm against de spirits of the forests. Yer can't keep dem damn feckin fae from stealin and wreckin yer crops" The old man looked at the ruined side of his homestead, "If oi finished proper. Mah farm would looked bran new. But yer damn hunters kep feckin wit mah stuff. Huntin de winged beast yer say. Well oi say feck off. I ain't neva seen nor hear de damn thing." He spits on the floor. Egil was surprised at the old man's words, "If the chimera didn't do this then what did?" "Aven't yer been listenin oi told you its de feckin fae. When yer live in de woods yer better know yer lore." He raised his pitchfork once again, "Now git away! Go bother Grezel and her son. Ther paps got dead from your beastie. They up the road."

Egil apologized, "I'm sorry sir we'll leave as soon as we can." Etain seemed to be awfully quiet during the encounter, but considering the temperament of the old man Egil thought that would be best. He didn't seem like he would listen to much reason anway. Egil lead Etain away and up the path which became a bit more traveled. Egil turned and asked "What did you think of the man's words? All that destruction and it wasn't the chimera's doing."
 
Etain took the offered jerky, grateful for the distraction. She ripped off a bite, chewing as she pulled her pack onto her back and strung her bow. Egil stood moments later and started making his way through the trees with a smile, leaving Etain to trail after him in bewildered silence. They were off…just like that. Like last night had never happened. Etain hadn't expected an in depth explanation of his actions, but she had expected a reaction. This couldn't even be called denial.

She turned her attention to the road side, allowing Egil to lead them. Had she overreacted? Her experience with men outside of her own family was limited, she could not deny that. Perhaps Egil said nothing of the previous night because it was nothing. They had fallen asleep near each other, simply too tired to laid out their bedrolls. And it had been cold that night. Her skin tingled with the ghost sensation of his arm around her still fresh in her otherwise muddled mind. An empty gesture that made her heart pound all the same…

Egil's sudden stop pulled Etain from her thoughts as she stopped just shy of bumping into her fellow hunter. She shifted a few steps to the side, giving herself a clearer view of the old man and distancing herself from Egil. She cursed her wandering thoughts, realizing just how long she'd been lost in her own mind. Her mother would have been appalled by her carelessness. She forced her mind to focus on the current situation, practicing the mental discipline drilled into her so long ago. I will give my mind to the hunt. She breathed deeply and quietly, shutting off her own thoughts as she listened to the man's account. I will absorb the knowledge of my target and its surroundings. Her eyes followed the old man's gestures, cold focus returning to her. She picked facts from the man's speech, the crudeness washing past her in a stream of language: folk charms, fae, chimera not responsible, Grezel.

When they turned to leave, Etain found her mind comfortably back at work. She kept her eyes focused on the road, shifting through her thoughts out loud, "There's a reason hunters avoid the fae whenever possible. While they are more intelligent and civil than your typical creatures, they have a wicked sense of humor and more than enough power to do whatever they please." She looked over at Egil, shrugging, "I'm sure the fae mean to do no lasting harm to the people here. It's all sport to them. Even if one of the farmers bothered to hire a hunter, there's little that could be done about the issue." She began to pick up her speed, heading in the direction the farmer had indicated. "At least the conversation wasn't a complete waste. We have a starting point. All we have to do is find this Grezel and follow the trail from there."
 
The fae, spoken often, rarely seen. It was a topic both familiar and foreign to Egil. Etain's words reinforced what he had already learned from his family, but it was still something he lacked much knowledge in. However, he knew enough stories to fill a book. From wandering sprites to wives with lost children, the stories were told from all mouths, yet hecould not recall specific and concise descriptions about the fae. Certainly plenty of traditional folk charms like the old man's horseshoe, and the all encompassing weakness of cold iron and clean flame. Generally the hunting of the fae was not done and there was no solid account of any incidents. There as certainly a lot to consider, but He wasn't sure if it was important to this hunt.

Egil agreed with Etain, "Yes lets get there soon. I'm sure we'll be visiting a lot more places ravaged by the chimera. Its best we find him soon. Before other groups find him." He gestures at his pack where the alchemical potions were kept, "We have a promise to keep."

The song of the forest dimmed, slowly being replaced by a dreadful tune with every step down the road. Although the old man's farm was half wrecked, his presence gave it the feeling of life in regrowth. The sights Egil saw now was nothing like that. This farm did not have the deliberate destruction of the previous. There were signs of chaos everywhere. Slaughtered livestock strewn without care. Fences shattered as though some massive force plowed through them. The structures were in a much sorrier state with their thatched roof clearly torn off and left dangling from their perch. Egil's chest tightened with an uneasy feeling. There was certainly loss here much more than he had expected. It was clearly done by the chimera.

Egil look back at Etain to see her reaction. It wasn't shown explicitly but he felt she shared his thoughts. "Lets go to the house, perhaps Grezel is there," Egil spoke, dreading actually finding the woman. He knew she would have to relive some of what happened here. As he got closer to the house, there was a young voice singing.

"Stone stone light and shiny
Water Water big and clean
Fire Fire why so tiny
Wood wood not so green
Throw the stone in the water
Three hops leads the way
Throw the fire on the wood
Five embers comes to play
Throw the stone in the fire
See the old man pray
But don't throw the wood in the water
or else you see the broken fae"

Egil finally found that a boy was sitting on a rock etching in the ground with a stick. "Hi there," Egil ventured. The boy stood up quickly, saw Egil and froze. "Mother!" He yelled. In one breath, the door to the house slammed open, revealing a large women. "What you yellin for Den! I'm right here." she spoke in a loud tone. She turned towards the newcomers and eyed them carefully. She had a strong frame and arms that seemed capable of lifting large barrels. Egil was reminded of several of his aunts. He almost chuckled at the resemblance, though he was certain she could not beat any of them.

The boy rushed to the mother, "These folks just came up here." The mother shooed the boy in, "Yeah yeah get inside and let me deal with them." She walked closer with strong steps. Any fear of strangers with weapons didn't show in her face or body. "What do you want? Don't you see we're busy cleaning up the damn mess left by that beast. You hunters won't stop coming and bothering us folk."
 
Etain watched Egil walk off, lagging behind a few steps, "Right. A promise." She adjusted the straps of her pack before following. An impossible promise.

The surrounding forest had seen better days. Etain noted the unnatural silence, suggesting the wildlife had moved on. Only insects remained and even they seemed to whisper in the underbrush. The farther they walked, the thinner the trees grew, eventually falling away entirely to reveal the other farm. Etain needed only one look to see that something monstrous had been around the place. She sized up the damage, noting the abandoned carcasses surrounded by flies. The smell they omitted was enough for Etain to pull her breathing mask into place. Whatever had done this had meant to destroy whatever it could find. Judging by the gouges in the remaining buildings and the widespread damage, it was likely their chimera.

She agreed with Egil, nodding her consent and following him up toward the semi-demolished house. When they came across the boy, he went running for his mother. She appeared moments later and, judging by her well-muscled frame and firm stance, was prepared to throw the both of them off her land. For a people under attack by a veritable killing machine, they were proving to be quite uncooperative. Etain was beginning to think they enjoyed have the creature.

She stepped forward, maintaining a calm demeanor, "We have a few questions we would like to ask you about the attack."

Grezel crossed her arms and gave a fierce scowl that could only be attributed to years of parenting, "I've had just about enough of yer questions. Bad enough there's only me and the boy left to work the farm, but now we've got no animals for milking or butchering come winter. I don't got time to waste with yer questions, so get yerselves back on the road and keep walking."

Etain stood her ground, meeting the older woman's gaze head on. "I'm sorry for your loss," she replied coolly, "We'd be happy to leave, just as soon as you describe the incident as best you can. We need information to stop this monster."

Grezel stood silent for a few heartbeats before she spoke again, "Fine. Happened when the beast were just a rumor spreading round. I was in the house with Den, my boy. Had supper cooking. We heard a screech then some yowling from the animals. I grabbed a pan, thinking bears had gotten in the pens again. When I went out, I saw the beast swatting our sheep like a pack of flies and tearing through the barns. It must've heard the door, 'cause it turned and came a runnin' for the house. I closed us in and took the boy into the pantry, farthest from the front door. It started ripping into the house, screaming and hollering like it were eatin' fire. My husband must have come runnin' home when he heard the commotion. He did something to draw off the beast, probably stuck a few quarrels in it. The beast turned and ripped him apart. Then it left, just as quick as that." To her credit, Grezel's voice had remained steady, betraying no fear or sorrow. "That enough information for you?"

"Yes, thank you," Etain replied, her voice softer than it had been. After hearing the account, she understood why Grezel was tired of repeating it. It was a dark tale and a darker memory no doubt. Focus on your mission. The tale had helped to piece more details together about the creature. She hesitated for a heartbeat before asking, "Ah, just one more thing. Did the beast eat any of the animals?"

"No. Just left 'em lying," Grezel pointed with her head to the fields.

Etain followed her movement, her frowning beneath her mask.
 
It was a story that seemed typical with monster attacks. Egil was sorry for her lost, but that women seemed to have already mourned and was ready to move on. He certainly shared the mentality. Loss was something that couldn't weigh down a hunter long. Death was not a foreign concept to hunters. He had heard his share of the fates of many of his family. Their tales were meant to harden him and learn from their mistakes. However, Egil learned to appreciate what he had instead. He considered that much more important.

The field she pointed to was littered with dead sheep scattered. He was surprised that they weren't moved or burned yet. "Can we examine the sheep?" Egil asked. "Go right ahead. Ain't nothing we can do bout it. No good comes from eating things cut by beasts like that." Egil agreed with her comment. There were monsters of all kind and some had claws that were poisoned. These people must have encountered something like that before.

"Thats a good rule to keep. Theres a certain kind a beast in the desert that would kill and lace the body with poison. It would wait buried in the sand near the body. When scavengers come and claim the body. The poison would paralyze them all. The beast would then rise from the sands to finish the rest off." Egil recounted.

Grezel only nodded, but Den came forward with eyes brimming with interest, "Wow really? Whats it look like? How does it breathe in the sand? Is it big?" The torrent of questions was a surprise to Egil, but Den was quickly stopped with a whack to the back form his mother. "We got no time for questions, boy. Get in the house and tidy what you can up. We got to let these hunters look and quickly leave." Den looked disappointed but he ran back in the ruined house. Grezel faced the hunters once again, "Like I said go look and then leave. We got too much work to do for hunters scramble around my farm." With one large step, she spun her body away, and walked towards the house.

Egil had a question for the boy, but it seems like that would have to be dropped. "Well that was mostly informative. Lets check the bodies and see a timeframe for when the chimera struck." They walked toward the sheep. There weren't many, but all of them were certainly dead. Egil approached the closest and bent over it. He poked and prodded different parts, and lifted one leg to look underneath. The kill was clean and was caused by very strong claws. Considering that the body wasn't bloated yet, this sheep had been a recent kill. He took out a knife from his pack and cut open the sheep. The organs hadn't decomposed that much yet.

"From what I see I would say this sheep was killed about less than two days ago. Etain would you agree?" Egil asked while cleaning his knife with a cloth. He stood up. There wasn't much point in looking at the rest of the sheep. He would only find the same wounds and decay. He wondered if there was a magical inspection Etain could perform on them. Egil watched her intently. Once again he was surprised and her calm demeanor and cool look. He couldn't see her mouth with her mask on, but her eyes seemed to move and scan everything with such precision and grace. He once again smiled without knowing. Somewhere in his mind a melody began playing, one he did not know he was making ever since he saw Etain.
 
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Etain followed Egil over to the field, ignoring Grezel's harsh words. Be like stone: cool and unmoving. People who had suffered as the residents of these lands had often turned to anger to hide their frustration and fear. As a hunter, she had to turn her attention from their comfort to the job before her. Only then could she bring them real peace.

She watched Egil inspect the bodies, his movements sure and practiced. As skilled on the hunt as he is on the battlefield. She smiled beneath her mask. As he lifted one the animal to examine the underbelly, she caught the slight ripple of his muscles beneath his armor. Warmth washed over her as Egil's song from the previous night crept back into her mind, shortly followed by the events of the morning. She snapped her gaze away from him. Focus. Sharp of steel, steady as stone. She sighed, the sound muffled by the fabric over her mouth. His examination confirmed what they had been told. The animals hadn't been dead long, which meant their quarry had come here shortly before the attack. "The chimera was here recently…"

She knelt by the corpse, dropping her pack onto the grass at her side. She reached inside and withdrew an empty vial, pulling the cap out with her teeth. She pushed it into the sheep, collecting a sample of blood. The sickly sweet stench of rotting meat carried through her mask, wrinkling her nose and forcing her to breathe through her mouth. She pulled back and, using her free hand, retrieved a small flask from her pack. She pulled the cork out and poured a measure of clear liquid into the vial. It bubbled and foamed before turning a dark grey. She capped the flask and then the vial, wiping blood from both before placing them in her pack again. "Wounds seem ordinary enough. No venom, which I expected based off of Annabelle's description of her husband's work."

She sat back, her eyes flickering over the sheep before her and in the surrounding fields. "Seems our beast is targeting humans, not prey," she noted with a frown. She pushed herself to her feet, pulling her pack onto her back. "But that doesn't make any sense. It should be operating on animals instincts." She took a step forward, one hand find chin while the other went to her hip. "If it's not, then there's a chance a part of its human mind remains intact, but that shouldn't be possible." She paced forward and her voice dropping as she mumbled to herself, "Well theoretically it's possible. No one's ever proven it one way or the other, but what could his motivation be for killing his own kind? What's he trying to accomplish?"

She paused her pacing, crossing her arms to stare at the destruction on the farm. "I don't like any of this." She turned back toward Egil, "We should keep moving. The chimera won't lay low for long."
 
Etain posed an interesting question. The alchemist had certainly become a beast but beasts kill mainly for survival, not nonsensical slaughter like this. Egil scratched his head in confusion, "I'm not sure what his motivations are, but its clear that he is not in a correct state of mind beast or no. There seems to be no particular pattern in the slaughter of these people and animals. As a magical construct I don't believe he is doing this for sustenance. However there also doesn't seem to be any trace of doing this for sport. It is too chaotic. Theres no sign of playing with its prey. Just quick wounds and aimless destruction. Everyone should be methodically dead if that was the case. The mother, the child."

Egil looked up to the sky. He knew he had something dangling out in front of him. Some clue he missed out on. He smelled the air once more. It certainly was becoming more rancid, but there was something off. He remembered something from the Old Man's farm. There was a scent of lavender. It was one of the flowers of the horseshoe charm. Why did that matter though? Egil spoke his thoughts out loud without meaning to, "The old man did say the chimera didn't attack his farm... but his farm was on the way to this one. Why had the chimera had the chimera avoided that man's farm for this one?" He looked by down to see had had been wandering away from the sheep. The smell of death lessened and he could hear a buzz in the air. It was coming from within the woods further away from the road. He turned around to see that Etain was keeping up with him. Her eyes seemed to filled with as much questions as he had. "Do you hear that?" Egil asked.

The buzz grew into a low hum. He ventured towards the source of the noise. He was drawn to it like a fire. There was something eerie about it, but also a sense of nostalgia. Had he heard this somewhere before. The hum once again grew loud and became a song. The words melodious and haunting. It was not quite female nor male, something in between. The words unfamiliar, unknown, and filled with a sense of depth Egil had not heard in any language. He heard his loud breathing. When did he begin running? The trees moved past him in swirls of color and smells. He did not stop. He couldn't. The song compelled and enticed. It pulled against his mind, his body, and his heart. Egil's thoughts were filled with clarity yet he could not pursue his own thoughts. A sudden thought burst through the sensations. Where was Etain? Was she still with him? With more effort than he had expected, he turned his head back to look. She was keeping up, but her golden eyes had something he had not seen before. Was it worry? Worry for whom he wondered? His head snapped forward once more. The song thrumming through his body. His muscles were strained, but he didn't feel any pain. The song demanded more than that.

Finally he stopped ungracefully by crashing into the ground. He rolled to take some of the impact, but all the pain from the run hit him all at once. He gulped for air as he tried to maintain his breathing. He was at a large clearing with small lake. Within the center of the small lake was a large white tree. Egil tried to speak between breaths, "Why.... did... I... run... That... song..." He began coughing. He felt his body shudder trying to recover. Egil flattened onto the cool earth, looking up to see Etain's eyes staring back down on him.
 
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Etain nodded as Egil spoke, agreeing with his own assessment. Nothing made sense, nothing fit. It felt like she'd been given a shattered clay pot to reassemble with the entire bottom half missing. She paced again, taking her frustration out on the grass. Picture the clues and lay them side by side. What do you see? Nothing, a lot of guesses and questions. She turned her attention back to Egil, intent on calling for them to move on when she noticed he'd begun to walk away. "Egil?"

She followed, confused as she heard him begin to murmur something to himself about the old man. What's he on about? He stopped near the road, looking back at her and asking if she could hear something. "Hear what?" With her concentration broken she thought she could hear something beneath the sounds of the forest but her hood damped the full effect. Egil said nothing in return, only turned to walk into the forest. She followed him, irritation building. "Egil, what the devil are you up to?" The sound he mentioned seemed to be building, but Etain paid little attention to it.

Suddenly Egil broke into a run, crashing through the trees before them. She groaned, starting in after him, "Wait! Where are you going?" They raced through the woods, tearing through miles of underbrush. Branches tugged at her clothes occasionally making swipes at her eyes. Egil ran like a madman being chased by fire. Etain did all she could to keep up, feeling her muscles strain to keep pace. Damn him and his long legs. The way he moved looked almost inhuman, his drive beyond even what she'd seen of him in battle. Fear's familiar caress touched her already speeding heart. Is this the creature? Something to do with the blood? He looked back for a brief moment, just long enough for her to catch the look of utter confusion in his eyes. "Egil…" she panted out, beginning to fall behind him as he returned to his chase. Her legs faltered, unable to keep his ridiculous pace. She came to a halt, leaning onto her knees to catch her breath. He went ahead through another set of bushes after which Etain heard a crash. She jogged the last few steps beyond the bushes into the clearing, hardly noticing the lake or the odd tree. Her lungs and muscles burned as though they'd been covered in acid. She ripped the mask from her face, the scent of lavender and fresh lake hitting her in a rush. What…? She looked around the clearing, seeing only green around them. Wait, Egil!

He lay sprawled on the grass a few feet away, the strain of the run suddenly visible. She walked over to his side and knelt, "Are you…alright?" He said something about a song, looking thoroughly exhausted. "I'll get you some water. Hold on," she muttered, concern and irritation present in her voice. She dropped her bag onto the ground, opening it to search for water. Where had she left her canteen? She dug through her bag and found nothing. Blast it! Remembering the lake, she found an empty flask and walked over to the waterside. A sweet scent drift up as she dipped the flask down, distracting her momentarily. She swallowed, noting how dry her throat was. Just one sip felt like more than she'd ever wanted. The flask came up and moved toward her lips, stopping before she could tip it up. She got back to her feet, shaking her head. Help Egil, then get a drink.

She returned to his side, pulling his head into her lap to ease the process. Her fingers brushed the hair off his forehead, moving without thought. "Try to drink some of this," she encouraged him, holding the flask to his lips, "Then you can tell me why you felt the need to run the whole way here."
 
Egil let the cool liquid flow down his throat. It was slightly sweet with a floral taste. Etain's handling of him was softer than he expected. His mind was in a daze, partly from the run, but also from how Etain was treating him. His head on her lap, her fingers on his head. After gulping down several more sips from her flask he tried to reform his thoughts. He had been running, very fast from what he could feel from the scrapes and bruises from his limbs. Her question was why? Egil tried to answer, "I heard... a song. Something I could not avoid. It seemed to cling to me and drag me along the forest path." There was more to this, he knew, but he couldn't quite find the words to it. It was a gut feeling. Something the gripped his heartstrings. His very being called him here to this lost place unknown to all. Egil tried to shake his head, "I'm not entirely sure, but I just felt we had to be here." He let his head lull back into a more restful position upon her lap. "If you don't mind I would like to rest for a couple minutes here."

Several long minutes passed with only the sounds of his breathing and surprisingly Etains as well. She must have done much to keep up with him. At the moment he wanted to look up to her face, but he had reclaimed some of his embarrassment at the situation. Egil wanted dearly to know what she was thinking right now. She was above him, her body warm, and her breath was ruffling his hair. It was time he got back on his own feet.

"I think I'm okay now," Egil rose slowly and faced Etain. She was still holding the flask. "You should try some of that water, its actually quite tasty." Egil spoke without meaning to. It was strange, he didn't particularly think it was that great. Water with a hint of some flowery scent. It was lavender if he remembered correctly. She took some tentative sips as well before Egil could stop her. He felt that water was more than it appeared. Someone suddenly giggled. It was high pitched. Egil tensed and looked towards Etain. It wasn't her as she was seeking the source as well. Egil stood and heard it again. It was towards the tree in the center. He thought he saw something blurry around the trunk. The shape was barely distinguishable. How odd. He never had issues with his vision before. In fact, his eyes were better than most, capable of spotting details from afar.

"Do you see something near that white tree?" Egil pointed. Egil turned to Etain once more only to see her drop the flask and wobble slightly as if drunk on something. The giggling grew more persistent now. He reached out for Etain, catching her before she stumbled. "Are you..." Egil tried to ask before disorientation hit him like a blow. He then heard a sing song chant,

"Here and now far from home
Is where the fae come to roam
But naughty children comes to play
Heard silly song from broken fae
Drank her water from the tree
After your payment you will see
The dreams of the shallow one
Fractured figment filled with sun
I will keep your vessels safe
No manling comes not even a waif
One thing I will tell
Do not enter the stony cell
Find your answer seek the truth
If not quickly begone your youth"

The chant ended, and Egil fell onto Etain. Both somehow perfectly locked together as if embracing for a final rest. A figure was above them both. It was small of frame, but had large iridescent wings. Almost childlike in appearance, but it carried itself with age. It looked back at the tree. Its movement utterly graceful and smooth. There may have been a frown, but it's ageless face hid many secrets. With a single shake of its head it returned to the unconscious couple. There was magic in the air. It pulled and weaved it close and wrapped the veil around the two. The magic shimmered and pulsed as if breathing. With its work finished, it flew off to be as far from the tree as possible.

Egil woke to a pleasant sensation. His body felt refreshed and renewed. He opened his eyes to capture a twilight landscape. The smells were strange almost too foreign. What touched his skin was not sunlight, but something else entirely. Someone was beside him. It took a bit of concentration, but he remembered. It was Etain. He quickly shook her awake, "Wake up. Wake up, Etain." Her hood and mask was off, leaving her face in full view. She still had her bow and arrows, but her bag was gone. He checked his own. His bag was gone, but he still had his spear. Egil remembered the stories and was about to perform the deed. His face was inches above hers. Egil wasn't sure why he could do this so easily as if following the pages of a story book. Her eyes suddenly opened. Those golden globes reawakened his senses. He back off was quickly as he could, his face burning with an intensity he had not felt in a long time. "Etain... you're awake. Thats good," He stumbled and helped her get up. The entire world seemingly had shifted to another color pallet, one of dark purples, light blues, and vibrant greens. "Where are we?" Egils words carried awe and confusion.
 
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Etain pulled the flask away from Egil when he paused for a breath, her hand moving it to her side without conscious thought. Her eyes passed over Egil's limbs as he attempted to give her his answer. The thin scratches looked painful but superficial, no need to waste herbs on those. A quick rinse perhaps…Her hand tightened around the flask. Her throat burned, begging for the cool liquid. She began to lift the flask off the ground, stopped only by a quiet voice within her warning against the action.

Egil laid his head back onto her lap then, drawing her eyes to his face. Thoughts of the water drifted away, replaced by a fluttering deep within her core. Memories of that morning returned unbidden; his arm around her as she woke to the soft sun of the morning. Warm, safe, peaceful. The world narrowed around her, silence enveloping the clearing save for the sound of Egil's steady breathing and her own heartbeat. His scent, though mostly sweat and grim from their hunt, smelled sweeter to her than the greenery and wildflowers all around them. Her eyes followed the line of his jaw to his chin and up. She clenched her hand at her side to prevent herself from reaching up to touch him. Focus. The hunt must come first. She breathed deeply, turning her gaze away from Egil to focus on the trees. His body heat warmed her legs, easing her own tired muscles. First we find a way back. She forced her thoughts through the haze in her mind, then we follow the road to the next home.

When Egil moved to stand, Etain felt a pang of relief and regret within her chest. Enough! She forced herself to her feet, attempting to hide her frustration. She examined Egil as objectively as possible. His face had regained color and his breathing had leveled, all good signs. "You seem to be doing better," she replied, stretching her limbs to ease the stiffness out of them.

"You should try some of the water, it's actually quite tasty."

Etain realized she still held the flask, though she'd nearly forgotten it. Seeing the remaining liquid brought back the dry pain in her throat and her need to rehydrate. She lifted the flask to her lips slowly, glancing back at Egil once before taking a sip. It tasted ordinary enough, pleasantly cool and refreshing. She went back for another taste.

Suddenly a soft sound came through the trees, almost the sound of a child laughing. Etain stopped to look around, noting Egil seemed as confused as she. She turned to look lake then the trees, catching a glimpse of something moving nearby by. She opened her mouth to warn Egil, stopped by a sudden intense burning in mouth and throat. She tipped back the flask and drained the water, gulping it down before she realized what she was doing. With the water gone, her thirst receded, leaving her in a fog. Why had she done that? Ordinarily she could control her impulses, but that had felt completely wild. Like another being came to inhabit her skin for a few brief heartbeats.

Egil mentioned seeing something near the tree in the lake. Etain glanced up to check when the world turned on its side. Her hand went to her head as the flask fell from her hand, dropping into the grass with a dull thud. The ground shifted and jumped before her, becoming impossibly blurry. "What…?" She attempted to step forward to catch herself, falling against Egil as he came forward to help. The giggle transformed into a chant, a bright melody which Etain struggled to grasp as her vision faded. Something about payment and truth, a riddle perhaps. Her muscles loosened, becoming nearly paralyzed by whatever had been in the water. Had they drank poisoned water? No, it would have showed signs if it had been contaminated. Her eyes fell closed, unable to remain open any longer. Not poison, magic. The song ended and she found mind embraced by darkness.

----------

Etain drifted back into reality, the sensation of her body being shaken calling her back from the edge of the abyss. Slowly her sense came to life as she became aware of the cool grass tickling the back of her neck. The sound of a melodic wind brushing through the trees and someone's uneven breathing above her accompanied by the smell of twilight and flowers drew her awareness outward to her surroundings. She pulled her hand into a fist, her limbs coming back to life. Gathering her strength, she opened her eyes and found Egil poised above her. He back away out of her sight as she blinked, raising a hand to her eyes to rub away the sleep. She sat up, standing with Egil's help. Surprisingly enough, she felt perfectly fit aside from her drowsiness which had already begun to fade.

She looked around them, noticing the unfamiliar landscape and sudden shift from day to night. "I have no idea," she breathed, staring wide-eyed at the darkened sky. Had they been unconscious that long? What happened to the pain she had felt? She gingerly touched her cheek, glancing toward Egil. Not one scratch was visible. No wound, superficial or no, healed that quickly. She looked down at her own body with a frown, taking a few steps forward to test. "Something's not right." It felt like a step, but in a way, not a step. Could it be? She stooped down and began to draw a circle on the ground, filling in the runes as she went. When it was finished, she took a breath and held her hand out over it, palm facing down. She chanted in the Language of the Dead, "Light of the almighty Sun, I beseech thee. Pierce this veil of thy enemy and release us."

The magic flowed into the runes, causing them to glow warmly for a heartbeat before sputtering out. She narrowed her gaze. Was I wrong? Suddenly a spark flared up from the ground, striking her hand. Her breath hissed out between her teeth as she pulled her hand away, "Damn it." She stood up, shifting her attention to Egil. "Wherever we are, there's a barrier of some kind keeping us here. Powerful magic from the feel of it. There's nothing I can do to break it." She looked around them again, crossing her arms. "I think our only way out is to go farther in, though I couldn't say which way that would be." What could have produced such powerful magic? Maybe that old man was telling the truth. No, fae didn't attack hunters without provocation. They sought easy prey with little to no means of fighting back. It had to be something else; someone else.
 
Egil felt uneasy in such a strange place especially after Etain's revelation, but her presence gave him some stability. "Farther in..." Egil echoed. Thats much more daunting as initially sounded. He had now gotten used to the strange glow that surrounded them. There was no longer the white tree or the lake in the clearing they were in. Certainly he could see trees around them, but they felt entirely fickle as if not completely still. Egil had to blink several times, but he could have sworn the branches were never in the same position. That wasn't even the strangest sight. The skies although dark had variation and depth of color that shifted and changed as if tuned to some unknowable song. Every sound was not distinct. It stretched and bent, echoed and reverberated around them, creating a melody of discontent and almost despair. This was not an inviting place. It was a place of building sorrow and drowned hope. He would never sing this kind of song. A song that would wrench and rip a man's heart out if not prepared. He had to leave quickly.

He made sure his spear was secured and grabbed Etains hand. The connection to her felt entirely too good among the darkness of this world. With no other distinguishing feature to guide them, Egil chose to head towards the brighter spectrum of the sky, "Lets head towards the light. If anything it will give us better vision to fight in."

Etain trailed beside him silently, her hand growing warm with the contact. Egil spoke carefully, "Lets be on guard for anything. We don't know what lurks in this place." His words reminded him that they were both armed. He let go of her hand with disappointment, "I apologize. Its probably better if you have your bow ready. I'll ready my spear." His weapon felt cold in comparison to her hand, but there was a different kind of warmth to it. The familiarity of it gave him purpose, and a sense of strength to protect. Most important of all, it triggered the fire within his soul that demanded to hunt. After all he was a Bloodsong, hunter of beasts. In this world of faded lights, he would not be prey but a predator.

He turned back to check on Etain. She was a quite a sight. Etain was the embodiment of a huntress with her black leathers and bow in hand. Her golden eyes gleamed with alertness and calculation. Egil smiled. He was glad to have her by his side. The gloom that surrounded them dissipated greatly with them now fully prepared.

Egil's sense were heightened as he moved carefully forward. The landscape had been growing brighter as time passed. Every look back confused him slightly as he could never recognize the path they had just been. A few more minutes later, they finally approached the first oddity.

The structure came almost suddenly upon them with no real warning. "Why didn't we see this earlier?" Egil questioned, "The trees aren't that tall and something this massive would be noticeable from miles away." It did not look like any building Egil had seen before. There was certainly an entrance, but it was overgrown with soft pink flowers with sharp green leaves. The material was glassy yet seems to not reflect anything. Egil stood next to it and although it was shiny, he could not see his own reflection. Egil approached the entrance and the flowers parted open slightly. He stiffened and swung his spear forward. The flowers made no motion. He backed away and they returned to their original spot. "What is that?. Do you think its safe to enter?" Egil asked. Etain knew much more about magic than he did, but he suspected she may not have seen something this strange before. Certainly he could recall wards that were capable of sealing and opening gates, but one of flowers sounds entirely too fantastical. Though fantasy and the fae are one and the same in most stories. He would have to be ready for anything.
 
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Etain shared Egil's hesitation, though her own reasons were grounded in the physical realm, or rather the lack there of. She had little time to reflect on their shifting surroundings however as he took ahold of her hand and pulled her onward. A blush broke out on her face as she followed him, her thoughts scattered to the wind. His firm grip stirred an intense want within her, leaving her heart a fluttering bird trapped within her ribs. He said something about following the light, focused on moving onward. All Etain could manage was a nod of agreement. She feared the words that might escape her if she opened her mouth. She kept pace at his side, fighting back the hazy cloud the physical contact had brought up in her mind. Her focus narrowed to Egil, the surrounding trees and their shifting colors falling away. She could think of little more than his hand, the rough skin rubbing her own calloused fingers with each step they took. Her thumb moved to the outside of his hand as they walked, softly caressing his fingers.

Her mind cleared after he released her hand. She flexed her hand to chase away the tingling sensation that remained, clearing her throat when he mentioned their weapons, "Right. We ought to be careful." She tugged her mask up around her face and unslung her bow from her shoulder, hiding her wandering thoughts. She breathed in and out, trying to reign in her focus as she had been taught. The solid weight of her bow anchored her, steadying her spirit and focusing her mind. That magical feedback had to be the cause. She'd spent too much energy. On a spell that small? She gripped her bow tightly. She looked back at Egil, noting the intense thrill in his eyes that appeared whenever he took up his spear. On any other person, she would have taken that to be a sign of lost control, but Egil had proven he was as capable as he was passionate. She smiled back beneath her mask, her own confidence rising.

They set off into the strange landscape, walking in silence. With her head cleared, Etain focused her attention on their surroundings, attempting to track their progress through the confusing forest. She watched the shifting light of the path, noting how it moved whenever she blinked. Everything was in perpetual motion, slight but noticeable the longer she stared at it. The trees added to the illusion, the light reflecting off them and through their leaves casting shadows and other odd things onto the already odd path. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, an ache building behind her eyes. She prayed they found the exit soon.

Minutes later a structure appeared before them which Egil was the first to note. Etain frowned, looking up at the shiny tower. The material looked glassy, but the silver tint suggested another substance. She glanced down at the ruins on her bow, noting a similarity in color. Could it be…? She watched Egil approach the entrance, her hand moving toward her quiver when he jerked his spear up. Only the flowers. A ward perhaps? She slung her bow over her shoulder again and approached the tower.

She stopped near the entrance, watching the flowers twist and turn as they recreated an entrance. She reached out and touched the plants. It felt correct, with a cool, smooth texture that belonged to a flower petal. She leaned in and tugged her face mask down to sniff the flower, finding the expected delicate perfume but one that was vaguely familiar. She backed away, replacing her mask. If this was a ward, then it was on a level beyond her study. Wards were meant to safeguard important spaces, not act as overly complicated doors. Yet these flowers parted with no spell or touch, and they felt real. She bit back a growl. Unreadable light paths surrounded them while an impossible tower stood before them. The tower could offer perspective, but it could also be a trap. She took a step back. "I haven't a clue," she admitted, taking one last look around them, "But I suppose our options are limited. Might as well see if we can't orient ourselves in there."

She walked on through the flower door, ignoring the faint smell the managed to get through her mask. It aggravated the pain building behind her eyes, increasing her issues with concentration. Inside the interior, while darker, looked to be the same glassy material. Etain approached the wall and put her ear to it, rapping it with a single knuckle. A quiet ringing song reflected back, one she recognized from her lessons growing up. "This is fae silver," she whispered, her hand resting upon the smooth metal. She'd never seen an entire structure created from the stuff. Where had it all come from?

To their left, a winding stair case led upward toward the near blinding light of the sky, to the top of the tower she assumed. Below stood a single door carved into the metal. It may have led back outside or perhaps into a room deeper within the tower. Etain strode forward and pushing it inward. It resisted. She put her weight onto it. It wouldn't budge. She stood back, "Seems this way is out of the question. Might be a good idea to try going up then, get out lay of the land before we…"

A flash of red in her peripheral vision stole her attention. She turned to see a figure hobble through another door she hadn't noticed before. A red ponytail ran down the figure's back tied neatly with a black ribbon, the only color visible above a dark cloak. He walked with quick, short strides down the steps. Etain's eyes widened. I know that walk. She started after him, momentarily forgetting Egil.

She ran to the door as the figure passed through the doorway at the bottom. What? She ran down the steps, taking them two at a time. As she ran, the stairs seemed to increase, the bottom always another step away. It can't be Roy. Why would he be here? She continued her decent. The light began to fade replaced by wriggling shadows and flickering sparks of light. It's too much of a coincidence. He's got to be leagues away. By the time she reached the bottom step, the light had turned to darkness with only a few floating orbs remaining to illuminate the path.

She stopped there, her lungs burning from the unexpectedly long decent. Her eyes surveyed the darkness but no figure emerged. Only darkness and patches of dim light. Her head throbbed, forcing her hand to come up and cover her eyes. This place is affecting my mind. She blinked to fight back the pain, taking a deep breath before she looked back into the shadows. "Where are we?" Her words echoed in the silence, the chilled air seeping through her leathers. She shivered, glancing back, "Egil?"

The stairs had vanished along with Egil. She gaped, staring wide eyed at the empty space. "Egil?" she repeated, urgency creeping into her voice. She attempted to walk back but found only a dark wall. Her exit had disappeared. She tapped the wall, attempting to find the edge. She thought, hoped, another ward had been there to act as a door, but nothing appeared to be movable. The metal was solid. She stepped back, breathing hard.

"Etain…"

A voice slithered through the air, cold but familiar. Etain turned, catching another glimpse of red hair, this hair much shorter. "Egil?" she called down the hall, confused by his sudden appearance. He continued to walk far ahead of her, following the lights. She took a step forward, "Egil, wait!" She glanced back at the black wall. Instinct told her to follow, but sense told her to remain. She ground her teeth, staring at a blank wall will gain me nothing. She began to sprint down the hall after the Egil, unaware of the lights going out behind her.
 
Egil watched Etain pass through the threshold of flowers carefully. He agreed that they might was well see what they can make of this structure instead of wandering the forests further, but something bothered him. Perhaps it was just the overall experience of this place, but he didn't like the tower at all. Egil entered through the flower door and noticed it closed behind him. Etain was examining the area. It seemed like the glassy material was made of fae silver. Egil had only heard of its like from stories. He heard it was extremely malleable and was capable of bending to even the will of a person. Court mages apparently prized it for its rarity, yet they stood within an entire structure of it. Egil knew a few things about smithing, but shaping something like this was way beyond his capacity.

Etain attempted a door, but it wouldn't budge for her. Egil offered, "Let me try perhaps its a bit stuck." He put his strength into it and surprisingly the door pushed open quite easily. "Etain, were you even..." She was gone. Egil quickly looked and only saw the door he opened and the stairwell upwards. "Etain! Where have you gone?" Egil yelled. There was no response, not even the echo of his shout. It was as if the sound was absorbed into the very structure. Egil gripped his spear tightly. Had she ventured somewhere else? The door that he just opened didn't seem like a plausible explanation for her disappearance as she could not have open it earlier. So the answer must have been the stairwell up. But why had Etain went up without calling back to him?

Egil began sprinting up the stairs. The glass interior walls seem to darken the further he went up, contrasting with the extremely bright light shining above. Step after step, and Egil seemed to make no progress. This tower must have been endless or something else was afoot. Egil considered something else. He began running down the stairs and within two or three cycles, he was back to the first floor with the door he had just open. Apparently he had was not moving at all up the stairs. "Is this some kind of illusion?" He smacked his hand against the wall. The sound reverberated like a grand bell. The fae silver within the wall undulated and rippled, creating strange patterns. The patterns changed shapes frequently and was almost decipherable as basic writing at times, but mostly were arcane and archaic symbols and images. His head hurt immensely just trying to look at it, but he couldn't quite take his eyes off.

A smooth, almost slippery voice spoke, 'Egil.... Egil... I'm over here.." These words were familiar yet was dissonant. It was enough to pry his eyes away. He saw a black shape disappear into the door he had opened earlier. "Etain!" Egil ran forward through the darkness. It was suddenly much darker except for a small ambient lighting that came from no obvious source. What he was able to see was a long hallway indistinct and plain with no furnishings. The shadow was running at the end of the hallway. "Etain wait up! Why are you running?" Egil said while trying to catch up.

His head was burning with a constant throbbing sensation, but he didn't let Etain out of his sight. All he could do was run. The strange part was his body never felt tired as he ran. His breath never tired and his legs never strained. It would have been a pleasant feeling if he didn't feel like his head would split. Finally, he was almost to her, but before his hands could reach out., she slipped behind a curtain.

Without thinking he pushed through as well. The lighting was significantly better. He was able to see he was inside some large tent made animal skins. There were familiar patterns painted across the insides and the ground was strewn with supplies and oddities. The half remembered songs of his mother poured into his mind. They spoke of the desert, the blaze of the sun.The coolness of water, and long treks through the sand. Although Egil did not know her well, he had seen what she had left. The traditional garbs of her people and many strange trinkets that he often held and pondered about. The things in the tent were like those trinkets. The painted images upon the canvas of the walls were similar to the clothes she had left behind. Tears welled up in eyes. He wasn't sure why, but he quickly pushed them aside. He had to find Etain. Egil tried to take a step towards the entrance, but a hand reached out and pulled him down to the floor. Egil couldn't pull away as he tumbled onto a bed of skins.

A lithe form greeted him. He saw now what had pulled him before, a pale skinned hand. He followed it towards the face and was surprised to see it was Etain, but she was definitely acting strange. Her face was one of seduction and glee. Her eyes did not hold the normal sense of calculation and thought, but was burning with unfiltered desire. Egil was entirely confused. "Etain, what ar..." he attempted to asked, but she shushed him with a finger. Egil now had noticed she wasn't wearing much. In fact she wasn't wearing anything at all. There was only a large blanket wrapped separating her and Egil. Egil started. Something was wrong with this situation.

What had he been trying to do before. Find Etain. Had he accomplished what he set out to do? Etain was in front of him, naked and just staring at him. His head continued to hurt. Egil whispered, "No... this isn't right." Her voice was pitched lower than normal as if trying to be more sultry, "Egil... everything is right. You Me. We can do what you always wanted." There was another layer to the voice, one of power and command. Egil's head strained against the words. "You're... not... Etain." Egil tried to stand up, but the pristine hands just pulled him down. Where had he placed his spear? It should be nearby. Why did he even let go? Egil tried to pull away. It took all his will to even move his arms to search for his spear. There he gripped onto the end of it. It wasn't the bladed edge, but the banded side. It was exactly what he needed. Before he could regret his decisions, Egil pressed the iron banded shaft onto Etain's hands. A horrific scream resounded through the tent. "Cold iron for the fae" Egil recounted.

The thing that was Etain was screaming, clutching it's hand as if burnt. There was no sizzling or burning. It's hand merely melted and glowed brightly as if it was flash metal. The room was no longer a tent. It was same glassy silver interior as the tower. The creature now looked like something else entirely. Loose skin wrapped it's skeletal frame. It was a shapechanger or skinwalker. Egil hoped it was the former as the latter required a body to function. Egil stood up with spear in hand, "You've fooled your last victim." He swung the iron side towards the creature. It dodged deftly and clung to the ceiling. It laughed and spoke, "Shadows beneath. Blood and Song. You think you know! Haha. You think you see? When the broken fae comes. Winter and Summer bleeds." It plunged both its hands into the ceiling and yanked. Two bladed scythes appeared attached to the ends of it's limbs. "Skins for the walker. I claim thee!" it screeched and pounced. Egil barely brought his spear up to deflect the blow. Training and experience took over next. With a single flourish he turned both blades aside and smacked the creatures head with the iron end. It stumbled backwards dazed. Egil spun around his weapon and thrusted it into the creatures body. It screamed as greenish fluids spilled about absorbed into the glassy walls and floors. It sputtered and both silver scythes melted back into the ground. Egil pulled and spun it once more. This time he plunged the iron end towards the heart of the creature. With a single dying cry, it flashed and faded from existence. It's body dissipating with magic and flesh.

Egil came down to one knee, propping himself up with his spear. His headache now had grown to immense levels of pain. "Shapechangers have no talent to affect the mind. What is wrong with my head?" Egil groaned.
 
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Etain tailed Egil for what felt like a league or more, she couldn't say for certain. Tracking their progress by the small balls of light was next to impossible. Her lungs continued to burn along with her head, pain spurting up from her legs at random points. What is happening to my body?

She continued to run, fear that she would lose track of Egil driving her on. Why had he begun to run again? Perhaps he knew something that she didn't or he'd learned something when she'd been looking for her brother. Or his rashness had gotten the better of his good sense. "Egil, stop," she yelled down the empty room, "I can keep up this pace."

He stopped at the final light, his frame tense. She held up a hand to grab hold of his arm, but he darted to the side and disappeared into the darkness.

"Egil!" Etain stopped, leaning forward onto her knees to catch her breath. Red hot pain seared her head, flaring with every gasp for air. She forced herself to breathe deeply, using the familiar motion to take herself out of the present and go through what she knew. They had come straight forward the whole way which mean the stars were behind her. Egil had run forward into the darkness as well. Despite the long run, her body felt fine. As soon as she'd forced herself to breath normally, the burning had stopped in her body. That smacked of magic, as did the growing headache she had. This whole places reeks of magic. She stood alone next to a glowing light, safe for the time being. The water would inform her of anything approach. Water? She took another breath, looking around to confirm what her feet told her. Water had appeared all around her, lapping gently around her ankles. It had not been there during her run. She listened for sounds of Egil or any other living being. Nothing. The wisest course of action would be to turn back and follow the straight path she stood on. She peered into the darkness, searching it in vain. Egil remained out there. She couldn't just leave him. Any number of creature could live in this swamp. "Egil, where did you go? We should go back."

Cold, damp air blew across the back of her neck. "Etain…"

She jumped and whipped around, bow drawn on instinct. Nothing stood there, only impenetrable darkness. Her eyes widened. Where had the path gone?

"Etain!" The voice called again, a figure appearing on her left. She turned and saw Egil standing there, spear in hand and savage expression of glee on his face. "I've found the creature. We can finish our hunt. Follow me!" He ran off into the darkness again, the splash of his footsteps growing distant.

The creature, here? Etain took a step forward, lowering her bow, "Egil, wait-"

"You hunt a monster?"

Etain spun back, another figure having appeared in the light. A dark cloak wrapped around his frame, she recognized his long red hair and scarred face. Her mouth fell open, "Brother." She could hardly remember the last time she'd heard her brother's voice. It was the night he left, when he came to say goodbye. "What are you-how did you get here?"

He ignored her question, turned to walk off in the opposite direction. "I tracked a creature down here, uncertain of its purpose. Now I understand. This is my chance to reclaim my place. Come Etain. Help me and we can return home together." He strode into the darkness, bow in his hand.

She watched the darkness, listening to the rhythmic splashes. Roy would need help, but so would Egil. If she followed her brother, Egil would be alone to face whatever creature he had found. I promised to keep him safe.

"Sister, please," Roy's voice called from the darkness, "I need you."

She gripped her bow tightly, grinding her teeth. She could feel his strong arms helping her to pull back Heart Seeker for the first time. Gentle but firm, Etain. That's it. Treat the weapon with respect. All she'd wanted was to impress him, to see that smile he gave her whenever she hit the center of the target. You'll be a proper hunter yet. He had the most infectious smile, the sincerest praise. But Roy never had anyone to protect him. He'll need more help than… She paused, the scene of her brother walking off replaying in her mind. No limp, a perfect gait. You were lucky to survive at all. Darkness clouded her eyes. She turned to follow Egil's path.

"You would choose your lover over family?!" Roy's voice crashed down on her like thunder as he emerged from the darkness before her. Anger colored his honey eyes, a shade too close to her own.

Etain drew back her bow, meeting the creature with an arrow pointed at its chest. "Silence, beast. You are not my family. My brother can hardly walk, let alone hunt."

He hissed and charged forward, bow now a silver scythe. "I will not allow such disrespect!"

Energy hummed in her arms as she took aim at the creature's heart, striking him square in the chest. A hair off. It fell backwards with a sickening thud, the silver floor returning. She bit back a cry. He wasn't Roy. She grimaced as the pain flared in her head again. It wasn't Roy.

The creature laughed from its place on the ground, pale green fluid leaking from Roy's mouth. "Sister…why?"

Etain dropped down by the body of her brother, "I didn't choose Egil first. I knew this was a deceit."

"You were supposed to save me," it cough pitifully, "To take me home with honor."

"You're not real," she yelled, yanking out the arrow and plunging it into her brother's forehead. It gave a shudder before melting away, leaving nothing but her arrow. Her bow dropped to the ground as she fought back tears. She wrapped her arms around herself, her voice shaking, "He wasn't real."

A pair of arms around her, soft lips whispering into her ear, "It's alright, Etain." Egil's strong form pressed against her back, his warmth enveloping her.

"What is this place?" she asked him, reaching up to touch his smooth, gentle hands. Wait.

"You don't have to hide it anymore," Egil went on, his lips brushing against her neck. A shudder went through her body. "We can run away together, start a life on our own. Your family never needs to find out."

Her cheeks grew warm as her eyes went cold, "Rokos." A blinding ball of light appeared before her, driving back the creature as she retrieved her bow. "Egil knows nothing of my family, beast. You should have studied my memories more closely."

The form of Egil melted away to reveal a second shapechanger. Etain ignored it, allowing her light to keep it at bay. She picked up her arrow and used it to write on the malleable floor.

"More magic. Foolish human. Feeds the broken one. Gives up your life-force. Easy meal, easy prey," the creature hissed, circling slowly.

Etain completed her summoning circle and chanted, "I beseech thee, mistress moon. Grant me the peace of thy light." She cut the tip of her finger and dropped blood onto the inscription, forming a pentagram in the air. The circle glowed once before a simmering shield came up around her. Within, the sounds of the outside world disappeared. Her headache lessened until she felt nothing, cut off from the ringing of the fae silver. I should have predicted that when we entered. Every lesson she'd learned on raw fae silver taught to keep it in a soundproof shield until use. The natural substance could poison a human mind easily.

She focused again on her light. I need to find Egil before something terrible happens. She would need to move fast to stay ahead of the creature. With two spells active, she wouldn't have the energy to pull back her bow. All the more reason to find Egil fast. She whispered a second spell, preparing to move, "Dukos."

The light floated back, heading where Etain had come from. She followed after it, running to keep ahead of the creature. It followed her from the darkness. The room proved far shorter without the tricks of the creatures there to confuse her. Her spell guided her straight, taking the shortest path to Egil. She reached the stairwell in minutes. Taking the stairs by two, she climbed back up to the ground floor. She burst through the door, the creature skidding out a second after. The light turned into the open door. The one she'd been unable to open. "Egil!" An arrow flew passed her cheek, striking the wall and melting into it.

"Egil, come quickly. I need you!"

She looked back where the creature had been, shocked to find herself staring back. It held a bow, full drawn with deadly intent in its eye. Etain felt her light dissipate, pulling out her own bow to meet its challenge. "Egil, don't believe whatever it says. That thing wants to kill us both."

It released another arrow, forcing Etain to dodge to the side. "It's a shapechanger, Egil. Kill it quickly!"

Etain reached for an arrow, reluctant to take aim. Her shield drew on too much of her energy. Adding the magic of her tattoos to the equation would be dangerous. "Egil, the silver is affecting our minds. Its ringing can poison a human mind after too much exposure. You need to enter get beneath this shield with me."

"Don't believe it, Egil," the creature cried out, "It wants to tempt you to get close to it. It tried to do the same to me after forcing me to fight another that looked like my brother." The creature paused, as though the next words were difficult to say, "It…embraced me. I thought it was you."

Etain gathered her strength, nocking an arrow. The longer the creature talked, more chance it had to use Egil's confusion to its advantage. She took a breath, staring down the creature as it fired a third arrow that narrowly missed her head. "That's enough out of you," she hissed, aiming for the creature's head and releasing her shot.
 
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