Aruna approached Hellendisle Forest, better known as "the black forest" because of the rumors that hideous creatures lived within and that anyone who entered would go insane. She wore a black cloak that covered her body and her wings. Her tail was curled up in her back to reduce it's buldge, and her Tail whip was pressing into her back, causing her slight pain. On her back she had a rugged back pack that contained several weeks worth of food and many survival supplies. She stood near the entrance of the black forest and felt as if she took another step a crushing weight would take her.
It's just your imagination. those damn villagers got to your head, and now you're psyching yourself out.
Aruna looked back to the village of Rotwood and could, using her draconic eyes, see that some of the villagers were still looking to see if she would actually go into the infamous forest. she had stayed the night at their inn and had asked a few questions about the forest. She had been met with either hostility or skepticism, but every reaction she got told her to not go into Hellendisle. She shook her head.
I really don't have a choice. I need what's in this forest.
She looked back into the dark depths and remembered her search, the following of clues and rumors and trails that had long since gone cold. But after everything that she had been through, she was finally here. There was a phoenix in that wood, and she needed its heart. it was really the only way.
Aruna sighed, gritted her teeth and walked into the depths of Hellendisle, letting the mist of the early morning consume her form as she disappeared from view.

Golden morning. Chirping of sharckits strangely soothing. It means none intruders and minut chance the 'call of the wild' shall disturb getting the worm. Term of endearment brain has placed upon brothers and sisters of the forest who, for still quite mysterious reasons to brain, go rogue, attack, and leave brethren to attract intruders. Keeping forward: eyes and ears must run and acquire the worm. Larking toward sky horns today. Riverspires rather bleak. Note to brain: take trip to color chest on Treble mount and caress the woman. Riverspires no good if fallen and Melody yet has not paled a revival.

Shh

This grass is strange.

Evelysia, a few feet into "the black forest" near her old home, looked more closely at the grass. Her keen eyes discovered the tendrils of green had small, spiked teeth, like that of a venus fly trap. She rose quickly back up, sneering at the strange grass. There was a faint sound emitting from them. This is unsettling. Good thing I'm wearing shoes.

She kept walking, keeping to the cool shadows. I must find this phoenix... there's no other way.

As Aruna walked through the woods she noticed that the grass seemed to hiss lightly as she walked. Upon closer inspection she saw that the grass had small teeth, like a Venus flytrap. So far it didn't seem to do anything, but Aruna didn't want to take the chance. she used her strong draconic legs and jumped up to grab a low branch, then swung herself into a crouched position on top of it. she then continued to walk through the tops of the trees.
damn, it's quiet.
And indeed it was. Though it was early morning the sun should just be coming over the horizon, but it wasn't. the trees were so dense and thick that no sunlight got through, and it was so still and so silent you might almost think that time had stopped. She stopped for a moment to take in her surroundings and take a short break. As she did she felt... something. And it was nearby. She stilled herself in the tree and waited. It was not long before a beautiful woman with bright red hair walked out of the darker part of the woods. She was pale and looked not at all prepared for a hike through the woods.
I mean, look at those shoes. Her feet must be killing her. She must be from Eclysite. It's the closest big city to Hellenisle, but still it's a few days travel away... why's she here?
She leaned in to get a better view of the mysterious woman but as she did the branch she was balancing on let out a loud CRACK.
Aruna went perfectly still and waited to see if her mystery woman had heard her.

Evelysia felt a phantom racing heart beat, though the vessel in her chest no longer stirred, as the cracking sound of the branch emanated throughout the woods. Head snapping to the source of the sound, the glimpse she got of dark scales and flesh was enough to make her quickly disappear further into the woods, her dark cloak billowing behind her.

No one can know I'm here.

Cursing the unfriendly eyes that had seen her, she blindly flew forward still. A scent began to fill her nose as she ran on, growing ever stronger.

Is that... maple?

She definitely moves faster than a normal human... And she doesn't want to be followed.
A small grin came to her lips.
Well, I never was good at taking the hint.
Aruna strapped her bag to the tree and used her knife to mark it so that she could find it later. she would need full mobility, and her pack would slow her down.
She also removed her cloak and exposed the black scales on her forearms and back, as well as her tail, Tail Whip, and wings. She stretched her wings to get them loose, Then she began to move through the trees at a much quicker pace back towards the Redheaded... whatever she was. For all Aruna knew that woman was also here for the phoenix. And that was not a risk she would take.
As she ran on all fours through the tree's branches she flicked her tail and there was a small SHINK as the blades on the tail whip slid into position as a blade on the end of her tail. She also removed her knife and placed in her mouth so she could use all of her limbs to move rapidly through the trees.
Soon she began to feel that same presence she had earlier.
She's close.
@JadedPetals

That noise. Ears say high. Infernape? Odd, early for his likes. Eyes scan. Wh - what in hell. INTRUDER. How? why? So much for the early birdy. *draw bow* Sharckits not attacking. No yawking. Looks human. Exorbitantly less breathing. Unarmed. Unfortunate. Must protect isle. Evade and distract

Double trouble. New beast, not in the slightest unthreatening. Breath. Realign sights. Observe. Black scales. Razor Sharp tail. Wings. Climber. Brain, it can't be? Zakrom went rogue long ago and was put down. Spire claws won't do much damage hear. In need of backup. More eyes. Extra shade. YAWK YAWK YAWK. Oh now we speak up. Blood has been split. "Chika chika"

Sigh... this is the last thing I need. Evelysia knitted her brows together in irritation. I don't feel like dealing with that brute. Where can I hide?

She dipped below a mangled tree and behind a thicket. Evelysia drew her cloak tightly around her, blending into the shadow.

Aruna slowed her dash through the trees and began to creep, using her draconian eyes to try and find the woman she had seen.
hmm.... I know she's in this area, but I need something to draw her out.
Aruna heard a buzzing as she sat thinking and looked up to see a Sythe Wasp nest. She grinned wickedly as an idea came to her. She cleared her voice and spoke so that she was sure the woman could hear.
"Hey! I know you're around here somewhere! And I'm giving you one chance to come out and give yourself up! You won't like the concequences!"
She stood on the branch, posed and waiting.

Anger. How dare - UGH. Don't touch my things. Riverspire doesn't belong to you. Love and I will have your head for this pain. "Greetings." "Ground dwellers; dig traps from here to mount Treble. Flyers; follow them both and keep me informed. Swingers; you know what to do. Be careful family, these are not our normal outsiders."

This is becoming increasingly annoying.

"What," her voice came out as a snarl, "do you want?"

Aruna smiled.
"Well, what I want is none of your concern, but what I need, is for you to tell me who you are, why you're here and why in the name of the gods are you wearing those shoes?"

Evelysia's right eye involuntarily twitched. "Who are you to ask me who I am?" Evelysia hissed.

Aruna, looked around and scanned. She was looking around for anything that might hone in her diamiter of search. She readied her knife, and spoke.
"I'm the one whose going to make your day very bad if you don't answer me."

"I am uninterested in being pestered by an impudent beast such as yourself. Leave me be. We're not alone, at any rate."

Can not allow trespassers into Eden. Too many secrets. Healing riverspires... Not my intended meal task. Found bag. Must search. Not in the open, it might come back. I'll take this.

@JadedPetals
Aruna's smile fell and she speaks in a soft, dangerous tone.
"Beast, huh?"
She cuts the stem of the Sythe wasp nest as she spins and hits the nest dead center while it falls, knocking it to ground in the general area where the woman should be. The nest smashes open and hundreds of Sythe wasps with inch long stingers that look like blades, and they seek out a target for their rage.
"I'll show you a beast."
She reaches into her pocket and brings out a small red stone, but she just holds it in her hand.

Wasps... Really? Evelysia sighs and steps out, simultaneously raking a claw-like nail down her forearm, producing blood that is nearly black. In another swift movement, she flings the blood at the wasps while muttering under her breath. The blood sears into the wasps, effectively burning them all.

Moving to higher ground. Help is established. Must keep moving. Damned outskirts plenty capable of handling themselves. Eden is but 30 clicks south. Home, assess, plan, enact.