As Talan chipped away at the branch he had noticed the sap from it begin to ooze out from it. Surprised he examined it closer to find that the branch was well alive despite it being severed from the tree when he found it. Perhaps it has just fallen off? No it would have shown signs of drying up already. [i]This is not a normal forest...something strange is at work here[/i] For now he cast his curiosity aside. What the group needed now was food and a fire and it was up to him to provide one of those, both if he had to. 

This reminded him of home before the attack. Every night the tribe would get ready for the final meal of the day. Some gathered wood for the fire, others the meat and other foods. After his father and he returned from hunting Talan would play with the other children. They children would craft spears and battle each other around the fire as the adults watched or conversed among themselves. That was what he missed most about the tribe. Before the attack life was great he has everything he needed and a family that extended beyond his mother and father. Now he was an outcast, a pariah to his people and it were these thoughts that caused him to take the mask. 

Before he touched it though he heard the lantern holder speak to him, warning him not to touch it. He gave him a look of concern, he was right this was not natural none of this was. Yet he couldn't help but take it, as soon as did another began to grow in it's place and Talan immediately felt the sensation of being watched from all over. [i]By the gods what have I done[/i], he thought to himself as he stood there still as possible. He ever so slowly took hold of his spear in both hands and with one quick movement he got into a stance his father taught him when facing a wild animal. 

Possibly coincidence but Talan had a feeling whatever was watching him was a wolf pack. If that was the case he and his newly made friends were in big trouble if he was the only one who knew how to fight. He quickly backed towards the others with spear in hand aimed towards the darkness. His eyes darted as he scanned the surrounding area preparing for what was out there waiting to strike. His heart began to pound in his chest, not out of fear however but out of adrenaline. The hunt always gave him a rush especially if his quarry was able to turn the tables. When hunter became hunted was when Talan felt the most excitement in his life and he had great respect for anything that could do this, for a creature faced with odds stacked against them to rise above the challenge that required strength. 

However the fact still remained that it was a threat to him and his people(is that who they were now?)and it was either them or the creature and Talan favored the latter. He said to the others in a low tone yet loud and sharp enough for them to hear him, "Someone make a fire. Now!" He quickly snapped his branch in half and crudely chipped of pieces of the broken off half into a smaller spear. Tossing it in the others' general direction so as to arm themselves he switched his stance from spear to dagger wielding. Whatever was coming was going to have to fight for it's meal.