[IC] Lantern

[Mokley]

Kituo said Looking away from Simon to focus on the ghost, he uttered his name. "I'm Kituo - Kituo Maji. Do you know where we are?" . . . In preparation for a possible disaster, Kituo raised the lantern up.

Talan said 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. . . . 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. . . . 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.

Kituo said He held out his incomplete spear to Simon. "Also, you can have this if you want. I won't be needing it."

Simon said Simon looked at Kituo " Why don't you hold on to that for one minute while I get that fire going" . . . He sat down and rolled all of the Ikaro leaves that he had collected nice and snug around the tip of the branch until he had none left. That was when he picked up the trees roots and secured the leaves onto the branch. . . . He sat down and and placed the torch in his lap and grabbed two rocks and slammed them together.

Purple sap dripped from the crude points of the daggers and seeped from the white open wound of the branch in Simon's hands.

The quiet grove, soft by the light of the fireflies, echoed with the gurgle of the stream and the crack, crack, crack of the fire-giving stones.

Shadows moved within the trees, untouched by the light. Talan's careful gaze would show him a flash of something red, a small ruby reflection that darted in the branches and was gone. His acute ears would pick up the scritch and scrabble of claws in the wood, each time a dark shape flitted among the fireflies. Eyes were watching.

"Kituo ... Maji. Help us." The voices whispered in Kituo's ear.

Something invisible slithered in the trembling grass -- several of them, weaving among tiny flowers and setting them shivering, but there was nothing to be seen.

The ghostly figure remained by the stream. Watching. It flickered, and turned its horned head. It was looking at Talan.

Only Talan would hear a whisper of several voices close to his ear, like a distant echo and a breath at once: "The dragon within the iron lantern ... belongs to us."

Simon said Simon blew into it ever so slightly, just enough that it didn't put out the little fire that was there but enough that the fire had slowly gotten bigger, and bigger, and bigger until it had completely caught the whole torch on fire.

For a few moments, the fire burned healthily atop the torch. But the leaves which Simon had used, thinking they were the ikaro of his homeland, did not burn nor blacken. The dark leaves beneath the flames slowly turned golden as the fire burned. These were not ikaro.

The sap from the branch alighted in the fire, and the flames rushed and sparked and turned a midnight shade of purple. The fire hissed and popped and fizzled and sparked with bursts of brightness, and within the purple flames the golden leaves trembled. The smoke was thick and pungent.

Something cool and soft touched the back of Talan's hand. When he looked, it was gone.

Something small and light touched the side of Kituo's neck. When he looked, it was gone.

Something sinewy and fingered rustled in Simon's hair. When he looked, it was gone.

The purple fire snapped and hissed. The shadows in the trees grew urgent and multiplied. Flashes of ruby caught the light.

Simon would hear the echo of several voices in his ear: "Only through the eyes of the forest can one see the truth."

The horned spectre flickered again, and its faceless head turned toward the mask of the wolf lying at Talan's feet.

[TheDarkTemplar]

It was over. The battle was won. Talan's grip on the neck of the creature loosened, it's lifeless corpse laid on the ground as Talan got to his feet. "Kas!", he cursed out as he stood up. He examined his arms, torso, and back. They were covered in deep cuts, bite marks, and scratches. Body still aching from his injuries he weakly dragged his feet towards the stream. Nothing was important right now. In his first waking moments since he arrived here he's been attacked by snakes, spirits, and winged beasts. He's found magical masks growing in this unnatural forest and found the egg of a dragon in a lantern. If there was anything that made this place seem to be part of the world he once knew it was now long gone along with his will to live. Arriving at the stream he fell to his knees and collapsed on his back into the water. He didn't even notice the boy with the mask standing nearby, even if he did it wouldn't matter. All he wanted was to wet his wounds to ease the pain before whatever was coming to kill him arrived next. As he laid in the stream, with his blood being washed off him, Talan would remember his mother. The nights she'd comfort when he couldnt sleep she'd hold him in her arms and sing that song about coming home. "Zur los dal holkiin, minah"(I'm returning home, mother), he said softly to himself. He closed his eyes as to not see the creature that would take his life when a memory played back before him. It was the night his clan was attacked. The fires burned so bright in the night sky that to Talan it seemed to be day. The heat was so intense it was hard to stay within ten feet of the flames. By far the worst of it all were the sounds, the sounds not only of the raging fire crackling as it burned down everything. But the screams and crying of those caught in its blaze. His mother's screams were among the many. That was a sound he would never forget. It was the day he pledged to live on and avenge his people somehow. That's when it hit him. He could not just simply lay down in this stream and die, he was bound by honor to survive, to escape this evil place and bring vengeance down upon those who took the life of his mother and clansmen. Like a corpse rising from the grave, Talan stood up out of the water with new purpose. His determination to survive allowed him to ignore the pain as he walked back over to where the torch he had thrown was still burning. "Let it stay beneath the water", he said in a cold and unmerciful tone. He was done just surviving as he had when he was with the clan. From today on he was going to become a warrior, this forest would kneel to him once he was done here. He grabbed numerous branches and as before fashioned them into spears, however this was not all he would do grabbing the dead bat-monkeys he took the dagger he used earlier and skinned the thing. Washing away the blood in the stream and binding them together with twigs and leaves took some time but when he was done he had fashioned himself fur padding with twigs for the frame and the interior filled with multiple layers of thick leaves for padding. The skulls of the beasts were rid of their flesh and cleansed of their blood and made into a necklace. Once he had a non spirit creating fire he'd forge this animal hide into leather. The final piece was the mask of the wolf. He wore it once more not as an Omega wolf but an Alpha. He would decide his fate not others. With spear in hand he was finally done with his armor crafting. This was when he looked to the boy in he rabbit mask, he noticed him while crafting his armor but did not speak to him till the fast was done. "You, where did the one with the lantern go?", he demanded answer but did not stand and wait. He moved to Simon and shoved a spear in his hands, "Next time. Fight. We carry our own weight here of we die"

[drewccapp]

Anise let out a surprised squeal as the bat monkey attacked her leg and she kicked violently in and attempt to get rid of the thing. The nightstick felt quite warm, but she only passed that off as her adrenaline kicking in and causing her body to warm up. After dealing with the critter she looked around with her night vision and saw that there were more things looking at them. She simply assumed that all of them wanted to hurt them and she got herself into a defensive posture. Even if she didn't know how to fight she wasn't going to just give up without one. At this point the person she had helped by smacking one of the bat monkeys off of him took off running. Her heart skipped a beat. "No! Wait! Don't run off alone!" She glanced back and forth between the disappearing light source and those now around her. She couldn't decide whether she should run after him, or stay with these people to grant them the vision they needed. "Ethelred, grant me the courage I need." Just uttering those words were enough to give her more focus to do what was needed. She looked again at the one in the wolf mask as he asked Tyaelaem where the one with the lantern went and she stepped up to him. She was intimidated by him, but fear was beginning to sharpen her senses. "I know where he went. If we don't want to lose him in this darkness I can lead the way. We are being watched though." She gestured out to the forest. "We should hurry." She was grateful that she could see again, the nightstick was something of a lifeline for her. "I don't know how long I can see for." She wanted to ask Tyaelaem which way was the right way to get out of this forest and get back to Riverforde, but new comrades were what mattered right now. She had lost Hania and Randold, but she wasn't going to lose anyone else. She refused to let that happen. Finally, she had to get introductions out of the way. "I am Princess Anise Sinclair. This is my friend, Tyaelaem." Even now she still couldn't stop that formality of letting others know she is a princess. However, this forest had changed her a lot in the short time she had been there.

[Red_massa]

Simon had been caught in a state of eternal darkness, all be could see was darkness, all he could hear was the darkness, all he could do was feel the darkness around him. He felt like it weighted it down like he had an elephant sitting on his chest unable to move. This was what happened to Simon during the whole duration of the ordeal. If you had looked at Simon it looked like he had been a ghost pale as could be and looked like he had been frozen in stone. Simon had no control over his body until Talan had thrust a spear at him but he hadn't known that the battle was over so he had swung his hand that once had the torch with all his might at the alleged opponent. However the torch was no longer there but instead IT WAS A SPEAR! Thankfully he didn't have good posture and the tip of the spear just grazed off the tip of the wolf mask on Talans face. This was the first time that Simon had seen the outcome of the battle the had occurred during the time he was in his blacked out state. Everything was normal this time, no purple highlights, no blackness just normal. Well as normal as possible given the circumstances, there were tons of dead bats on the ground, some skinned which happened to be wear on Talan as some victory clothing that a hunter would wear to show his spoils of war. Surveying the field around them Simon also noticed that there was two additional people since be blacked out, one girl and a person in a mask similar to Talans however this one had the shape of a rabbit instead of Talans wolf. He stared Talan right in the location that his eyes would be behind the mask "I'm sorry, sorry for everything" after apologizing Simon took a small walk to collect himself after everything that happened and partially to look for the torch that he had created since he noticed that it hadn't been any individuals hands or anywhere near a person. This was when a small amount of purple could be seen slowly rolling down the stream being taken along with the current. He decided that it might be useful in the future to have this torch again. When he reached into the stream with his left hand to reach for the torch he felt as is he had been pulled forward into the stream but didn't see anything and when he fell forward he his hand off a rock and felt a small pop in his wrist. Great just something else to make himself useless to the group, he however thought that it wouldn't be a good idea to mention it to the group. He did manage to pick up the torch with his right hand. Simon decided that he would do whatever the group had collectively decided to do since there was strength in numbers. Just when he started to get comfortable he heard a voice from the girl that was unknown to his party;

I am Princess Anise Sinclair. This is my friend, Tyaelaem

He really wasn't in the mood so he just waved his torch to acknowledge that he heard her. He was still skeptical about anything that wore a mask, maybe except Talan ... Maybe.

[Zealous Blade]

Kituo was sung by the claws of the fiends digging into him as he swung the lantern. The adrenaline pumping, he was able to ignore most of the pain for the fear of getting killed propelled him to keep swinging the lantern at his assailants. Just as he expected, the lantern was doing its job of protecting him properly. He was able to keep the fiends at bay for a little bit before reinforcements arrived. Kituo found himself swamped with an endless pile of enemies who refused to relent. Whenever he swatted one back with the lantern, another one came ready to reap him with its sharp claws. He winced as his felt blood ooze from his arm. Surprisingly, none of his newly attained injuries hurt as much as the rat attack despite that he was literally being torn to shreds. Kituo was unaware of the latent effects of the water he drank. He still kept fighting, his mind focused purely on survival and nothing else. It quickly became apparent to Kituo that he would not being going anywhere. Imagine how greatly that disappointed the coward. Stumbling upon yet another problem that could not solved by running away was both aggravating and saddening. The fiends insisted on ripping Kituo apart. He could feel their hatred and rage as they dug into him. But, like a phoenix, he emerged from the ashes of his own despair and continued fighting. By now Kituo's will was broken and it was only his adrenaline that drove him to keep fighting, his bodies naturally response to resist getting butchered. He desperately wanted to quit but his body wouldn't allow him to. He begged his arms to quit swinging and his legs to quit teetering about as they tried to steer him through the onslaught. The fiends continued their descent and Kituo continued to recover. No matter what he wished for - relief or death - he would be getting neither. Not even the spear craftsman's arrival to his aid did not Kituo's automated defense. It wasn't until he saw the fiends fleeing from him after he killed one of them that he began to calm down. His heart slammed against the walls of his chest as if it were trying to break out of prison. The adrenaline that operated Kituo's body was drained and his tank was rushing towards empty. Time slowed around Kituo as he took a clear observation of the encompassing chaos. A girl had joined them in the clearing and was doing her part in fighting back the monsters. Sweat streamed down Kituo's limbs as his eyes and ears twitched, his senses stabbing him with the force of a gazelle's horns. He was in shock. Trapped within a paradox conjured by his own mind. His mind registered the carnage as an illusion while his body recognized it as real. Kituo was baffled as to which was correct. Finally, retrieving him from his consternation was a single word from a familiar yet foreign voice that played in his head. "Go," it told him and that he did. His legs moving on their own once again, Kituo stampeded down the exact path that he would not have picked if he were in control of himself. It was dark and void of any preexisting lighting, the lantern's glow rectifying that obstacle as he advanced further. Over his heavy puffing he could hear the screeches of the winged monkeys as they chased after him. Kituo clenched the lantern as tight as a python around its paralyzed prey. His legs were burning and joints felt as if they were ripping apart. He didn't know how much longer he could keep going. Eventually, the last of steam vanishing, Kituo's speed gradually decreased until he dropped onto his knees. He threw his head back and was stunned to see that his pursuers had lost his trail - or so he assumed for he could no longer see nor hear them. "I-I made it," Kituo gasped. He was due for a rest. He left his knees in the dirt for awhile before he pried his body up onto his feet. He couldn't stay in one spot for too long. There was no telling if the fiends were still after him. They were definitely more familiar with the forest than he was and he doubted they had much trouble navigating it. A worse realization Kituo had was that he was now all alone. He couldn't see Simon, the spear craftsman, nor the girl who had showed up in the midst of the fray. He was all alone with only the lantern, which was inanimate, to keep him company. Kituo couldn't pinpoint his exact thoughts on the matter. There were advantages and disadvantages to being alone, the latter heavily outnumbering the prior. Now that he was without the benefit of comrades, Kituo had no one he could hide behind if danger came. That was horrific considering that danger seemed to be lurking around every corner of the forest. On the other hand, he did have his beloved lantern to himself. He was secretly afraid that the others would try and rob him of it once they took notice of its protective properties. Without the lantern Kituo was nothing. He had to secure his only asset and part with all who posed a threat to his dependence on it. The transition into a peaceful atmosphere quelled the linger side effects of Kituo's shock, his cluttered thoughts dispersing and his body temperature decreasing. Any aching was beginning to subside as it was overwritten by a tingling phenomenon. Feeling better, Kituo failed to identify the healing scrapes and bruises that littered his body. The tingling, while he found it be awkward, soothed him. In comparison to the strenuous claw raking that previously tortured him, Kituo deemed it the best feeling he had since the entire ordeal begun. He stared up into the canopy as he ambled aimlessly. Bing! "Ouch!" Kituo's forehead rung after it tapped against a hard object. Having fallen too deep into his recollections, which had recently become his favorite avenue for amusement whenever something wasn't trying to kill him, he failed to heed the bell dangling in front of him. "What's this doing out here?" Kituo reared from it. If there was one lesson he learned it was that he should never touch anything that wasn't water or the lantern. Too bad he already brushed against the bell.

[Mokley]

Arriving at the stream he fell to his knees and collapsed on his back into the water.

Talan

Within moments, the gurgling gold-flecked water filled Talan's wounds with a cool relief. Throughout the next minutes, his injuries would slowly heal themselves, tingling and only slightly painful.

"I am Princess Anise Sinclair. This is my friend, Tyaelaem."

Anise

The boy in the rabbit mask bowed awkwardly, his eyes still fixed on Talan with a wary stare. "I am honored to be counted among your friends, Your Highness." He sloshed barefoot through the water until he stood next to Anise, and he shifted from foot to foot as if he might bolt. "Your Highness," he whispered to her delicately, gesturing to Talan as the wolf-masked man skinned and stuffed the dead monkey-bats, "please be wary of the wolf, he doesn't seem entirely sound of mind, I think, Your Highness, and he makes weapons. Wolves should run in packs but he seems very alone, you see, Your Highness. He might attract pirates if he doesn't turn on you himself. I've seen it, Your Highness." As he spoke, the fireflies above continued to disperse and disappear. The forest around them grew darker, and darker. The only light came from the torch, and a faint green glow deep in the woods where Kituo had gone. Anise would continue to be able to see just fine, though, as was the power of the nightstick.

He did manage to pick up the torch with his right hand.

Simon

"Ack!" Tyaelaem yelped, as he saw Simon draw the burning purple torch out of the water. Like a rabbit he bounded and splashed through the water, just as the thick smoke of the torch began to mold itself into the form of a person again, and shimmers of ghosts began to form around Simon. The boy in the rabbit mask grabbed Simon's wrist, and with long fingers of the other hand yanked the golden leaves off of the torch. Immediately the fire became a normal and familiar, hot red and orange, and the leaves blackened and crumbled in the boy's hand; the ashes washed away in the stream, and the ghosts disappeared. "Spirit weeds are nothing to play with," Tyaelaem admonished Simon, letting go of his wrist. "Unless there's a dead person you'd like to speak to. I don't think there was, was there? I mean, it's very hard to summon spirits, I've never seen so many at once, but you did it, I don't know how, how? Are you a soothsayer?" Tyaelaem stared at Simon through the dark holes of his rabbit mask -- and he suddenly stood up straight and looked out toward the green glow deep in the woods, where Kituo had run. He'd heard something. The woods were black all around them, and the yellow light of Simon's torch was the only thing that kept the shadows at bay.

Bing! "Ouch!"

Kituo

Something moved in the bushes behind a tree ahead. Leaves rustled, branches broke. "Sssshh!" a voice hushed. In the light of the lantern, a gaunt old man stepped halfway out from behind the tree, his eyes wide and a finger to his lips. He wore weathered, rusty old armor that had been patched and beaten back into shape a hundred times over, and his white hair was bedraggled in a crazed halo around his head. "I'm hunting monkeybats!" he whispered loudly. The little bell flashed and shimmered as it swung on its thread from the branches.

[Red_massa]

This place was absolutely crazy and Simon hated all the different faucets' of crazy information that just seemed to pop up after every ordeal. Just more questions to be asked but never with any more answers. After Simon pulled out the torch that might protect them again in the future the bunny mask wielder went psychotic and bolted towards him and grabbed on to his wrist. A voice appeared on his right side of his head right by his ear Cook that damn bunny rabbit cook him until there is nothing left to his pathetic body. Do what you were brou... The voice cut off before it had gotten the chance to finish its sentence this was when the rabbit had pulled out what he momentarily explained to be spirit weeds. After he had explained this he also asked if he was a soothsayer. What are you talking about you weird rabbit? What is a spirit weed and what is a soothsayer? He was a little frustrated since he had ever heard that phrase once before. One time he was supposed to be staying with a family friend in his village but he snuck away and decided to go back home and he heard his parents talking about him, saying that he might be a soothsayer and how could they possibly prevent it from progressing. When he opened the door and said what's a soothsay it looked like his parents had seen a ghost and were a absolutely pale as one. That was the only time he ever heard that phrase. We should go look for that child with the green lantern since it seemed to have Simon This place was absolutely crazy and Simon hated all the different faucets' of crazy information that just seemed to pop up after every ordeal. Just more questions to be asked but never with any more answers. After Simon pulled out the torch that might protect them again in the future the bunny mask wielder went psychotic and bolted towards him and grabbed on to his wrist. A voice appeared on his right side of his head right by his ear Cook that damn bunny rabbit cook him until there is nothing left to his pathetic body. Do what you were brou... The voice cut off before it had gotten the chance to finish its sentence this was when the rabbit had pulled out what he momentarily explained to be spirit weeds. After he had explained this he also asked if he was a soothsayer. What are you talking about you weird rabbit? What is a spirit weed and what is a soothsayer? He was a little frustrated since he had ever heard that phrase once before. One time he was supposed to be staying with a family friend in his village but he snuck away and decided to go back home and he heard his parents talking about him, saying that he might be a soothsayer and how could they possibly prevent it from progressing. When he opened the door and said what's a soothsay it looked like his parents had seen a ghost and were a absolutely pale as one. That was the only time he ever heard that phrase. We should go look for that child with the green lantern since it seemed to have some affect on those weird things that attacked us earlier said Simoneffect on those weird things that attacked us earlier said Simon

[drewccapp]

Anise listened to Tyaelaem, but did little but nod slightly. She felt if she spoke she would cause trouble, after all Tyaelaem and herself were strangers in this group. She was grateful that the nightstick was back online. The ability to see was quite nice. She worried it would turn off soon however, and wanted to get moving to make the most of the nightstick. She looked down the path the lantern-holder ran down with an expression of concern. "We shouldn't stay here for long." She then looked nervously at the trees around them and the eyes staring back at them. "The monsters are still in there and I don't want your friend to be out here alone for long." She then looked back at the torch-bearer who spoke mentioning how the lantern had and effect on the creatures. "I saw him go that way." She gestured down the path he took. "We should leave quickly. I don't want him to get hurt." She noticed the masks, but she did not chose to take any of them. They were much like the mask Tyaelaem wore, so she was confident she could trust them to be safe, but she worried that if she put one on then she would be stuck here forever. She had already picked up something that was useful, but she felt that picking anything more that was related to the forest even if she had to would prevent or delay her escape. She started down the path. She was starting to feel hungry and glanced at the bodies of the creatures. Meat sounded nice, but she felt sick at the thought of eating such hideous looking creatures. She would have to ask Tyaelaem about food after they found the runaway lantern-bearer. She had a limp as she walked thanks to the injuries she got from the creature attacking her leg. Her whole body hurt and she hoped that she could keep going under all this stress.

[Zealous Blade]

Kituo rubbed his head after his collision with the bell. His brain was ringing and his vision blurred for a few seconds before returning to normal. He heard a voice shush him and was surprised to see an elderly gentleman emerge from the undergrowth. Kituo's eyes spread at his mentioning of "monkeybats" - the only reasonable description he could conjure for the creatures that attacked him. He examined the man closely and took note that he was wearing armor. Although it certainly did not look like it would be formidable against a well crafted sword, he was definitely prepared to do battle. "I know where some 'monkeybats' were," Kituo said, taking a pause to reconsider what he was planning to say. His conscious wanted him to tell the man about the peril he and his former companions had faced just moments ago. However, being realistic and true to himself, Kituo was in no way ready to relive the predicament. For the sake of remaining well, he elected to reveal no more knowledge. "Never mind. I'll be on my way." He tried to tuck the lantern under his shirt to prevent the man from seeing it as he walked to move past him. What lay beyond the boy was unknown and he didn't doubt that there were worse dangers awaiting him. But, there was nothing that made him feel more invincible than the lantern. Anyone that tried to come between him and his beloved source of illumination was an enemy. Kituo had yet to become aware of it, but his possession of the lantern was making him have some unusual thoughts. He did have to admit that he felt like a slightly different person since the whole ordeal began. Getting a chuck of his ear ripped off - the most traumatic experience of his short life - played a huge role in his alteration. Now less trusting of others, it seemed as if he was developing some faith. Hopefully it wouldn't get effortlessly squashed again.

[Mokley]

What are you talking about you weird rabbit? What is a spirit weed and what is a soothsayer?

Simon

Tyaelaem shifted from foot to foot, taut as a wire. The forest hushed around them, and the stream gurgled and sparkled as it flowed. The green light of the lantern had disappeared into the darkness. "Spirit weed grows in starlight, and eats the souls of the dead," the Kith spoke quickly, and he glanced around the forest. "A soothsayer is someone who has a strong connection with vagrant souls and is able to release spirits from the spirit weed -- among other things." He smiled warily, and he hopped and flitted away to stand close to Anise. He felt safe with the princess. Simon's presence made him uneasy.

"We should go look for that child with the green lantern since it seemed to have some affect on those weird things that attacked us earlier"

Simon

She then looked back at the torch-bearer who spoke mentioning how the lantern had and effect on the creatures. "I saw him go that way." She gestured down the path he took. "We should leave quickly. I don't want him to get hurt." . . . She started down the path. . . . She had a limp as she walked thanks to the injuries she got from the creature attacking her leg. Her whole body hurt and she hoped that she could keep going under all this stress.

Anise

"Please drink some of this, Your Highness," Tyaelaem offered, hopping backwards in front of Anise and holding out the canteen full of water from the grotto. "It will help your injuries, Your Highness, and you'll feel very refreshed." He shook the canteen in front of her and grinned hopefully. But soon his mouth turned down in worry, and he leaned closer to whisper, "I think these people might be pirates in disguise and we should be careful and leave them as soon as we can." Soon after Anise, Simon and Tyaelaem had begun their pursuit of Kituo, a scuffle and a muffled cry sounded suddenly behind them: something heavy hit the ground, and a red-feathered arrow quivered in the bark of a tree. In the branches above, a cacophony of monkeybats screeched: eeeEEE! eeeEEE! eeeEEE! The white wolf-mask lay still in the grass. Talan was gone. "PIRATES!" Tyaelaem cried over the screeching, and he grabbed Anise's hand -- and the moment he did, the world went dark for Anise. While Tyaelaem touched her, she could no longer see in the dark. The rabbit-boy yanked her along through the woods. Simon would be forced to run if he wished to follow them by the light of his torch, while the monkeybats sounded their alarm and shadows moved among the night-dark trees. The path ahead was winding, and led them around great ancient trees and boulders coated in bright green moss; the path itself had long ago been carefully laid with flat stones. In the thick green foliage were old statues, obscured by moss and roots and blooming flowers. As they fled deeper, the screech of the monkeybats dimmed and disappeared behind them, leaving only a peaceful silence. Ahead, Kituo's lantern light glowed.

"I know where some 'monkeybats' were" . . . "Never mind. I'll be on my way." He tried to tuck the lantern under his shirt to prevent the man from seeing it as he walked to move past him.

Kituo

The old man squinted at Kituo, and seemed to foggily realize that the boy was holding a source of light in the vast darkness of the forest he was so accustomed to. He tipped his head at the green light that glowed through Kituo's bulging shirt. "Well hey now what've you got there? Well I might think that's a summoning lantern if I didn't know better. But how could you have that? It's impossible. Come, come, let me see." He stepped forward, his eyes on the light, and he stretched out a hand to touch it. As he came closer, Kituo might see a few more details regarding his person, such as the black tattoo on his palm that resembled an eye. The armor that he wore was etched with runes and sigils, and each piece of armor had a very different arrangement of them. A battered old sword hung at his waist, and an iron pendant hung around his neck.

[Red_massa]

Pirates! Pirates! Where in the sweet lord would pirates locate themselves in the woods, Simon has never really heard of pirates really occupying woods as opposed to vast oceans and the only real water that has been seen since his whole time here was the healing stream. However dispite the fact of not trusting the rabbit Simon thought that it might be a decent idea to follow him since at this point in time he wasn't attacked by rabbits as opposed to these "Pirates" that Tyaelaem claims are after them. If the Pirates did have Talan the rabbit and possibly other of his kind might have some intel that would help regain their ally but right now his main goal would be getting back Kituo since he was younger and wouldn't be able to defend himself nearly as well as Talan had. As Simon was following behind the feet of the eager moving rabbit he scooped up the wolf mask that had been left behind from when Talan had gone missing. It might be of a benefit in the future, so he slide it into his pants and continued after the rabbit. Another arrow had wizzed past his left ear, it was so close that he could actually hear it pass by him. Simon wondered if these "Pirates" were aiming for the party itself or of one member in particular. The reason that this thought had crossed his mind was because of the look of absolute terror that he struck that Tyaelaems' face when he realized that it might be "Pirates" Also besides trying to find some answers to some of the questions that he was wondering he thought that he also would try and keep an eye out for the Princess Anise since it seems like this rabbit has quite an interest in her.

[Zealous Blade]

If Kituo could clench the lantern any tighter, he would've. He had abandoned his only allies in favor of securing his possession of his lifeline. He would be distraught if some random old man took it away from him. Kituo refused to allow the old man to encroach, picking up his pace in hopes of creating distance between them. A summoning lantern? Kituo registered, catching wind of the old man's classification of the lantern. Just what did he mean by that? He took a glimpse at the lantern, its glow ever so soothing to his nerves. It did have a strange feeling to it. It gave off a vibe that he couldn't necessarily describe. Exactly what could be inside of this thing? Kituo wondered. What if the lantern's purpose was to summon a monster to kill its owner? There it was again. Kituo's wild imagination which was responsible for his excessive panic attacks. There was no way the old man would want something that was going to kill him. Nobody wanted anything that would kill them. There was definitely more to this "summoning" aspect of the lantern. Kituo determined to find out. "Ah!" Kituo lost his balance, tipping over as the stray tree root caught his foot. He turned mid fall, now facing the man as he neared him. Frightened, Kituo shuddered as he took notice of his eerie features. The armor he wore was covered in markings that reminded the boy of those scribbled on the tree where he first spawned into the forest. What concerned Kituo the most was the tattoo on the palm of his hand. It was that of eye and it seemed to carefully inspect Kituo as the man reached towards the lantern. "Get away from it!" Kituo snapped, kicking out and attempting to roll over. Very seldom did his fear cause him to lash out. However, given his circumstances, flight was becoming less and less viable of a solution. To kick the man was a very impulsive and probably stupid decision on Kituo's part. He was certain that his armor wasn't normal and he failed to notice the sword he kept. Besides the lantern, which was confirmed to work on monsters such as the monkey-bats, Kituo bore no other methods of protection. If the man decided to draw his weapon then he would be completely vulnerable. He inferred that the lantern didn't work on humans. After all he had been able to hold on to it so far without any ill effects. "Help!" Kituo screamed, kicking out again to prevent the old man from getting closer. Maybe he was being too extreme. Oh well, that was a part of him being his self.