The Hunt Begins...

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon's boots touched the earth softly making hardly no noise as she made her way quickly though the forest. She sprinted forward, ducking around trees and vaulting over low branches and roots. She knew she was being followed but she didn't know what yet. The morning mist gently landed on her partially exposed face under her hood. She dodged around a tree and flattened against it, waiting to see if her per surer would make the mistake of exposing themselves. The forest was quiet except for the singing of the morning birds in their trees. She rested her hand on the hilt of the dagger that was strapped to her thigh as she peered around the tree with extreme caution. She exhaled a long held breath seeing that what ever was following her must have given up.
She stepped away from the tree and scanned the area. It was silent in the forest for that moment as she turned to make sure she was alone. As she turned her back on the tree she hid behind she heard a blood curdling roar. Her eyes widened in fear as the creature that was following her came around a group of tree in front of her. The creature stood at least 7 foot tall on it's hind legs and weighed at least 300 pounds. It walked like a human but it's features were clearly not. It was covered in fur from head to toe and had the face of a vicious wolf. It snarled, at Avalon as it approached her, snapping it's deadly teeth at her. It's eyes were fixed on the Silvermoon Elf in front of it as it's ears laid back flat on it's head. It flexed it's arms and it's razor sharp claws, as it longed to tear the flesh of the elf from her bones.
Avalon slowly backed away from the creature. She knew that this creature was not a werewolf, she knew what they looked like for she had hunted one or two down for some gold in a local town, but this creature was no werewolf, or if it was it was no typical one like she had hunted. Her thoughts were shattered as her back touched a tree. She took a deep breath and dashed to the right and breaking into a full sprint.
The creature expected it and quickly followed her, realizing that it was not gaining as fast as it wanted to on it's prey on two legs, it dropped it's upper half to the ground gaining speed and gaining on Avalon.
Avalon continued to sprint without looking back. She skidded to a halt as it seemed the earth just seemed to disappear from in front of her. Her boots skidded her to a halt right in the nick of time, if she didn't stop when she did she would have fell face first into the ravine that stretched out before her. Silently swaring she turned to face the beast that skidded to a halt in front of her. Reaching back she drew her twin scimitars that were attached to her back, she knew that she may not stand a chance but she would die trying at least.
The creature glared at her with a violent hunger in it's eyes. It slowly drew itself to it's full height and lunged at Avalon.
Avalon turned quickly with her sword and landed a clean strike to it's arm drawing first blood. The creature howled in pain and lashed out with a one-two combo slash to her face, both times he missed but as the second came through the creature kicked out, planting it's foot into Avalon's abdomen, causing her to stagger backwards. The creature took advantage of her stagger and followed through with earth rattling back hand to her face, sending the elf reeling off her feet and half dazed as she landed on the ground, sending her weapons clattering to the forest floor. The creature gave a low growl of victory as it picked up the elf by her tunic and lifted her limp, dazed form from the ground. It pulled her closer to it's face to better inspect her, so close that she could smell the rotten meat caught in it's teeth. Just as the creature was about to take a bite out of Avalon and another roar erupted from the forest. the creature's ears perked up and it snarled. It turned it's attention back to Avalon, still in it's claws and dazed badly. It's deadly jaws opened as it was about to tear into Avalon's neck another roar came from the woods, this time it wounded angrier and more vicious. The creature holding Avalon snapped a snarl out of it's jaws lingeringly, tossed Avalon to the side and bounded off into the woods.
Avalon hit the ground hard and rolled a bit, her head hitting a rock causing her to lose what attachment to her conscious she had. The world around her went black as she remained on the ground.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi silently trudged through the thick foliage, the damp heavy air glistened with the suns filtering rays through the canopy. He could not remember what possessed him to stray off the path to a nearby village and cut through this wretched forest, but he persisted through the underbrush, managed to cleanly slice through minor nuisances with the blade at his hip. The sword was light and thin like a katana, yet held the strength, solidarity, and shape of a broadsword. The hilt was a tarnished silver, wrapped and rewrapped in multiple different qualities and ages of leather. The blade though, was kept inconceivably well. The edges showed not a single sign of use, and the silver blade shine with a radiance rare to this part of the world

Gilashi had finished stopping at a small spring, parching his throat with the mineral rich water when from the distance he heard several strange sounds. A struggle in a clearing, and then bloodcurdling howls, both of them dishearteningly near to him. He silently dashed between trees, grateful his old worn greaves did not choose today to betray him to whatever strange beasts has made the sounds. As he dived through foliage and leaves, he came slowly upon a clearing and a shape laying on the ground. His eyes widened slightly, and hesitantly he approached it, a hand firmly grasping the hilt of his sword. The blonde hair panged instantly in his mind, but he shook away his past, and kneeling he shook the shoulder of the unconscious figure, noticing it to be an elven female.
"Hey Knife-Ear, you okay?" he spat, his voice unintentionally sharp as the blade at his side.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon started to stir a bit hearing the voice that called her a knife-ear. Her ice blue eyes fluttered a bit as she slowly raised her hand to her forehead. "Ugh..." She moaned as her vision started to clear from the blur of the blow to her head. Noticing that she was not alone, her instincts kicked in in full. She instinctively dropped her hand to her dagger at her thigh as she scrambled into a low crouch, not realizing that the man in front of her was not one of those beasts. Her vision started to clear more to where she could make out the man that was in front of her. "Uh... i'm sorry." She spoke, her voice sounded melodious, like a spring breeze sweeping over a valley. "I thought you were one of those creatures..." She slid her hand from her dagger and attempted to stand. Her legs felt weak as she attempted to stand, she wavered a bit and staggered as she fell to her knees, her hand instantly rushing up to her forehead. She silently swore as she ran a hand through her hair. She knew that she was vulnerable in this state, and if one of those creatures were to come back, she would stand no chance against it. Her eyes locked onto the man in front of her, "You asked if i was alright. I fear that I am not in that good of condition until my head stops spinning." She was wearing a white button up blouse with a grey colored tunic with a hood, tight black leather pants and black leather boots. Her honey brown hair tumbled around her face in lose curls as she gazed at the man in front of her. She reached up and pushed back a lock of her hair behind her left pointed ear, as the lock of hair exposed the tip of her ear the sun light glinted off her earring that was placed at the top of her ear. The stone was set in the metal wiring of the earring and was formed into the shape of a house crest, the crest of the Silver Moon Elves, the Royal family crest of the Silvasti's. "Who did you say you were?" She asked skeptically arching an eyebrow.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi stepped back a bit watching the elf begin to rise, his crimson eyes scanning her condition. As he saw he reach for her dagger he began to remove the shining sword from it's battered sheathe.
"Easy there. You may want to reconsider that. If I meant you harm, you would be dead by now."
He eased his hand away from his blade, showing his palms to indicate his good will. As she sat; his ears perked at the mentioning of beasts.
"Ah; so that's what's making that ungodly racket is it?" He scanned the small area around them, Eyes piercing through the trees, but he saw nothing. They seemed to be safe, but who knew when they would come back. Gilashi shrugged and began to walk away, knowing the sooner be left the woods the better.
"Well, good luck with your monster problem."

A pang of guilt shot through him as she mentioned she was in no condition to defend herself; and here he was walking away. He raised his eyes to the sky; sighing and muttering.
"It's always the blondes..." He turned back walking to her his arms crossed over his scarred leather breastplate. He shook his hair from his face and looked somewhat beyond her, not wishing to make eye contact.
"Names aren't important, but if you must know I am called Gilashi." he brought his hand to his amulet, showing the fine inscription upon the back. He only hoped this elf had not heard of him or the kingdom he had come from, much less the atrocities he committed.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon rose to her feet with the help of a nearby tree. She stood there looking around to make sure the creatures were not still around. She dusted herself off shakily and adjusted her twin crystal scimitars at her hips. "So where are you headed? Not man y people travel this way in search of the cities. They know this way is dangerous due to those things. They say that they were once human, but now they are those horrible wolf creatures. i was hired by a near by village to get rid of them. They told me that a few of their villagers have disappeared, they fear the creatures either killed them or changed them." She peered over at Gilashi and took note of his eyes, they were crimson. She had never seen anything like that in her life except for the eyes of the army members of the Asgoth that killed her family and destroyed her kingdom. The Asgoth were in search of her, they wanted her blood, for the blood that runs through her veins was the blood of the water mystic. There was only one difference the Asgoth's eyes glowed violet not crimson. She arched an eyebrow as she peered at him, her ice blue eyes showing a hint of worry. "Your not part of the Asgoth army are you." She asked hesitantly as her hands slipped towards her twin scimitars.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi stood seeking uninterested, but took in every word of the woman. Whatever was out there was quite obviously no longer human, and had quite the attitude to match it seemed. He scratched his head further listening to her and laughed slightly.
"Sorry, guess I missed the sign saying "Watch out, monsters in forest!" Besides elf, I am not from these lands, in fact I traveled many seas just to get to this land. I was just looking for some civilization, and if you say there is a village around here, I suppose that is my destination." He looked around the clearing once more, forgetting which way he entered, silently cursing himself for string distracted. He met her cold blue eyes and laughed once more.
"As I said before, if I meant you any harm, you would be dead by now Missy. I've never even heard of the Asgoth." Gilashi smirked, silently satisfied knowing the elf had never heard of him, and even mistook him for another person. He sighed and reached into a small worn leather pouch on his side, patched and torn in a seemingly endless cycle that was somewhat comical. Tossing her a small glass vial containing a light blue milky liquid he spoke a little softer.
"Listen, I don't know what these things are, and I don't care. But I don't need your death on my conscience. Thats a mixture of an herb from my land, it's a pain killer. It also accelerates the healing process. Take it or don't, doesn't matter to me. But if we have to face thEse creatures, I'd rather not do it alone, and id also prefer you not being dead weight."

[ParisArkw]

(Hey! Hope you don't mind my jumping in! =b)

Perrin was currently on his way by foot, his horse following close behind him of its own accord. He had been on a long journey that had lasted month's now, with no place to call home, no where to return to for some comfort or true rest. He had not had a roof over his head in over a month.

All of the walking had him quite warm, and his traveling cloak was draped over the back of his horse, along with the worn saddle bags that carried his minimal belongings.

When he stepped into the presence of the two that were standing there, he stopped walking and looked at them in surprise. The horse stopped abruptly behind him, and her head bobbed in apparent surprise, as well. He had not seen people for hundreds of miles, and now this? It was unexpected, to say the least. Not only that, but they were quite an unusual pair to come across. The elf had just been chased and nearly killed by a beast. Perrin had no knowledge of this, but they certainly looked as though something had been going on.

"Well. Hello." He glanced back and forth at the two. His expression seemed suspicious, but it was just that he had not talked to anyone or even smiled in some time. How did he address the strangeness of the situation? "Hm, I hope you don't mind my asking, but what has brought you to this place? Myself, I am on a journey, and it is quite unusual to come across a conversation, right here."

[Gilashi]

Gilashi turned instinctively, hearing the crunching of leaf and twig underfoot long before seeing the man. He had his hand on the hilt of his blade, ready to fight whenever the need be. His eyes scanned the solemn looking man, a new addition to this little gathering in the woods. "Great," Gilashi thought sarcastically to himself. "it's a party!" he placed a hand to his temple, then gestured to the newcomer.
"Great, a third to this fiasco. I'm sorry, but who exactly are you? Ah who cares, you are here now. I am Gilashi, this is..." He stopped modsentence realizing he had never caught her name. He shook his head sneering, being out in a worse temper. "Anyway I decided to cut through here to get to a town but the young lady here has so kindly informed me there are apparently creatures that like to wear your intestines as a necklace. So I've decided to help her out just so I don't have a death on my conscience. So don't you go and do anything stupid, I've already done my good deed for the day." Gilashi smirked his eyes glinting, though he could shake the strange feeling he recalled the man from somewhere.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon caught the little glass vial and looked at Gilashi. "I can handle myself in battle, just that thing caught me off guard. I won't become dead weight." She looked at the vial with an arched eyebrow and popped the cork. She smelled the contents and decided to trust this stranger. She placed her lips to the vial and took a drink. Almost instantly she felt better.

Avalon noticed movement from the corner of her eye and cranked her head in the direction. She looked puzzled to see it was another man traveling these dangerous woods. She studied the man as he spoke to them, she was looking for any obvious signs of him being attacked or bitten by one of those creatures. She breathed a sigh of relief as she came to the conclusion that he wasn't related to those creatures. Her ice blue eyes scanned over him one more time before locking eye contact with him, "I am here to hunt these creatures, a nearby village asked me to take care of their beastly problem for a good amount of coin. The villagers forgot to mention how strong they were though." She turned her attention back to Gilashi and spoke kindly, "Thank you sir for the potion." She put the vial into one of bags that dangled from her belt. Her eyes focused on Gilashi one more time. "The nearest village is beyond that ridge, it's a good two day travel and now a very dangerous one with those things lurking around." She said as she motioned to the ridge.
Avalon turned and studied the gound around them until she found what she was looking for, A set of biped beastly foot prints. "The villagers said that the first time they had seen one of these creatures was when one of their own men came up missing. They said at the time he came up missing they saw the first one, it was lurking on the outskirts of the village howling and keeping to the shadow." She knelt down and studied the markings on the ground, "They said that they had only seen one, only one. But clearly there are more at least one more. When the one that attacked me was about to kill me another called out to it causing the creature to run off." She placed her hand to the ground and closed her eyes and let out a long breath.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi eyed the woman's behavior, raising an eyebrow and expelling a jet of air from the corner of his mouth in an exasperated gesture. When she came to her point about there being more than one monster, he had to stifle a laugh. "oh? You truly think so?" he said sarcastically, chuckling as he studied first her, then the new stranger who had come upon the clearing. Drawing his sword, silver reflecting sparse beams of light flitting through the canopy, twirling it to and fro. He began tossing it in the air and catching it; showing his dexterity with a thingyy air about him.
"I'll tell ya what blondie. Give me a name, and an escort to that town afterwards, and I'll help you with your beasties. I know you are competent, but we don't need ya getting caught off guard again. Besides..." he stopped throwing the sword into the air, extending his sheathe and allowing the sword to fall directly into it, before placing it back on his hips, "I've got nothing better to do." He smirked and looked over at the man. "You heard the elf, towns that way."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon smirked at his Gilashi's remarks. She rested her hands on her twin scimitar hilts as she looked at him. She took a step forward and extended her hand, "I am Avalon Silvast--" She cut herself off. She didn't know if Gilashi knew of her slain parents and that she was wanted for a good price for the Asgoth army. "Avalon Silvaria's the name." She looked at him with curiosity. "Are you sure you are willing to put your self in that kind of danger?" She eyed him and gave him a taunting smile. She turned and started after the tracks the creature left behind itself.

[ParisArkw]

Perrin tilted his head at Gilashi's hostile behavior, looking at him with some curiosity. 'A third to this fiasco,' he said. So, it did not appear the two had been acquainted for very long. The look he returned to Gilashi's introduction was carried by a simple frown.

"Oh, do not worry," he said, lifting his chin. "If I am possibly in need of help, I would not ask you." He gave Gilashi a small smile at that. He felt ruffled by the disrespectful way he was being addressed by this stranger, but it wasn't something that would really upset him. People were often shy to show nomads much kindness, though few were as outwardly moody as Gilashi.

'Gilashi,' the name was familiar, but Perrin came across all sorts of names, and all sorts of people. Familiarity, kinds of deja vu occurred fairly often in his travels. He did not think much of it.

The girl, though. There was also something interesting about her. He was caught off guard enough by their presence to have not looked closely enough, but as he watched her speak, he realized that she was an elf. It was true, he had traveled and seen many places, but still-- coming across an elf was a rarity. He had only met a few before.

Perrin did not have intentions of over-involving himself, but he was curious. He stepped forward, following Avalon as she followed the tracks. His horse followed, too.

"Do you know anything more about the creatures? Are they beasts of magic? Or could they have been created through sorcery? Forgive my saying, but if they were not created by sorcery or enchantment, then your chances of killing the entire race is unlikely. If there are two, there are certainly plenty more. However, if they were created by a human source, then it is possible that there are only two, but you will have to find their source to guarantee the creatures cannot come back once you have dealt with them."

[Gilashi]

Gilashi laughed slightly, bowing with a hand behind his back, and rocking back onto the heels of his greaves. "Oh charmed I'm sure Miss Avalon." he said in a mocking regal tone. Standing back up he smirked, having noticed her faltering voice when trying to say her last name. She too was trying to conceal her identity, but why? He gazed into her eyes from lowered lids, grinning. "We all have something to hide, don't we?" For a Brief moment, his eyes glowed with a red hot brilliancy, before returning to their dull ruby shade. Keeping one hand on the hilt of his blade, Gilashi followed after her, making sure to keep beside her and the other man who had joined their group somewhat mysteriously. He didn't like the look of him, something seemed so familiar.

"Don't you worry about me, I've seen danger, and putting down a few ill tempered creatures isn't danger." he scoffed, keeping pace. He listened to the man drone on with his theories. They made sense, but man was he boring! Gilashi yawned and cast a sideways glance into the eyes of the stranger.
"Listen, I don't really care what they are. Anything can be killed...even demons." He smirked slightly revealing fanged teeth. "Secondly, once we find them, we kill the whole lot, let one of them lead us to the source as it scurries away in terror, and then we find out what or who's responsible. All I know is, it's been ages since I've had fun, so let's all enjoy ourselves hmm?" He laughed beginning to drift ahead, a hand with fingernails resembling claws grasping tight to his hilt. "Afterall, they could be magic, or a natural adaptation, or maybe even demonic possession of animals. I guess running into you wasn't so bad Afterall Avalon," he turned smiling, "now I have something to do"

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon looked at him and caught on to his remark about having something to hide and with out thinking readjusted her hair to hide the royal crest that rested in her left ear. She continued to walk and fell into step behind Gilashi. She noted a few things that made him stand out from other races that she had seen around. She looked around the canopy of the forest they were walking in, the rays of sunlight peeked through the trees. She wondered how long she was laying there defenseless unconscious until Gilashi found her.

"All i know about the creatures is what the villagers told me, that they showed up around the time that one of their own disappeared. They told me that the creature would stand at the edge of the village and cry like it longed for someone to come to them, or it was trying to lure people to their deaths." Avalon said as she brushed a curl from her face. "The elders say that there was an old tale of a sorcerer that lived in these woods that would dig the bodies of the dead up and use them for his spells, and he had been known to try and work with live victims too." She shuddered thinking about the amount of disrespect that it took to dig up the dead and experiment on them. "All i know is that they may have once been human a long time ago, but they sure are not now." She shook her head as she rubbed her left shoulder absentmindedly, hoping that neither man would ask her too much of her origins, she had a rehearsed story in her head that she had said over and over again but feared these men could look through it.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi listened to the information Avalon was willing to share, which in all honesty to him, wasn"t much. Continuing along the path he tilted his head slightly. The thought of the creature, even after losing its humanity, crying for a loved one...it raises emotions and memories in him, ones he would rather forget...

It was only shortly after the massacre, and the sounds of screams and cries for help still echoed upon the cold stone walls of the castle. Walking with a determined stride, Gilashi seemed more to glide upon the stained floor than walk. As he walked, something caught his eye upon the wall. A large metal shield, highly reflective, showed a terrifying sight. A monster with eyes glowing as if on fire, and long silver hair that raised in long spikes along his head and back. His teeth were sharp and prominent, quite the fearsome maw. His claws were razor sharp and black with the crimes he had committed. It was only when he saw himself wearing the royal armor that Gilashi realized it was himself. Tearing away all he could of the stained armor, he continued on.
Finally Gilashi stopped outside the large wooden doors of the stable. Lifting the latch easily, he forced his way in. The body of his beloved still lay there, illuminated only by the fires that burned throughout the kingdom behind him. He walked over, lookin down upon his slain . Even as this, his heartless demon, he looked toward the sky giving an earthshaking roar. Lifting her torn body upon his shoulders, he carried her back to the castle.
Once in the throne room, he set the battered body in its place. Kneeling before her, he gently lowered his head, tears falling gently to the floor. He left her there as the castle burned, a makeshift funeral service for his .

Gilashi shook his head, wiping away the single tear that formed. He didn't want to pity these monsters. They weren't like him, and that was history. He continued onward; cold as stone. When she mentioned experiments with the dead he chuckled gently. "Just like Xariss..." This made him stop right in his tracks. Could Xariss be responsible for this? His necromancer brother causing havoc once more? He hoped not.

Gilashi paused, lifting a hand. He had heard a rustling, deep withing the brush. Soon after, the scent of rot and death. He began darting in the direction, pausing only to look over his shoulder. "Whos coming with?"