The Hunt Begins...

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon swiftly followed suit behind Gilashi. She darted past trees and kept up with him as they made their way through the forest. Something caught Avalon's eyes as they continued to dart through the forest, the sight stopped her dead in her tracks. She looked up in horror at what hung in the trees. What appeared to be one of the villagers strung up in the trees, his arms were stung out to his sides along with his legs and his stomach was ripped open with his innards hanging out. She looked around and seen a sight that sent her into a frenzy. She ran to a tree that had a hooded person slumped against it, blood pooled around the person. She ripped the hood from the person and fell to her knees screaming in pain. As the hood came off his face fell forward shaggy brown hair shielded his face. Avalon raised her hand and brushed back the hair to show his features, blood trickled from his lips, clearly he was dead. "Iori! Iori, wake up." She grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly. He was human in his features and was dressed as a ranger, his sword a few feet from him. She pulled him forward into her arms and cradled his broken body saying her farewells to him. The cause of his death was clear, he was slammed into the tree with enough force to snap his bow that was slug over his shoulder and he was impaled with his own bow. She kissed his forehead and leaned him back against the tree, she reached up and took the amulet that hung around his neck and placed it around her neck. She stood with a seriousness to her, "I will be back my friend to give you a proper funeral once i take care of what killed you." She pulled one of her crystal scimitars from her belt and looked around, she knew the creatures couldn't be far, Iori's body wasn't that cold. He was recently killed. She turned to Gilashi and nodded to him silently unable to find words.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi looked about at the gruesome spectacle. Hanging strands of meat and gore, human remains strung like puppets from tree limbs. Whatever these creatures were, they were intelligent, and enjoyed displaying their kills. Swallowing his bloodlust, he felt a slight pity for the victims strewn so carelessly. That is when he saw Avalon collapse screaming. He saw the man impaled upon his own bow, a cruel irony of fate, the object meant to protect him ending his life.

As Avalon joined him, he actually felt pity for her as well. He placed a hand on her shoulder solemnly. "Do not worry. We will find these beasts and you shall have justice. Then you may give him a proper burial." Sniffing the air once more, Gilashi turned to a scattering of broken tree limbs. He stepped over the gore, and began walking, following the stench of death and rot, a sent all too familiar. He turned once more to Avalon. "This way, and be prepared, they are not far."

Walking towards a certain battle, Gilashi felt the uneasy stillness and silence in the air. In an awkward attempt at conversation, he decided to inquire of the body. "That man, you knew him?"

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon looked over at him as she regained her composure. She nodded her head, "He was my personal body guard and a very close friend. I knew him since we were children, we would play together in the streets. As we grew up we became closer friends." She smiled and shook her head. "He accompanied me to the village where i got this deadly job. He went out first to scout, he was very good at tracking, sometimes too good. They must have ambushed him or he stumbled onto this gruesome mess like we did." Avalon eyes misted over with tears and she quickly wiped them away. "Iori was my friend and i swear that i will kill every last one of these beasts till i avenge his death."

[Gilashi]

Gilashi felt overcome with sympathy for the elf, he too had known loss. He shook his head smiling gently. "That is all well and good, and I shall help you with your justice...but be forewarned, revenge is a powerful entity, a god that has no mercy. If you allow yourself to become blinded by it, you will lose sense of yourself, and your friend...Iori was it? He would not want you foolishly harming yourself in vain. I know better than anyone the cost of vengeance..." Gilashi sighed continuing onward.

Without warning, Gilashi heard a steady, rapid thumping, like that of muffled knocking upon wood. Pressing himself against a tree, pulling Avalon with him, he listened closer. The heartbeat was heavy, and heard the difference between it and Avalons, knowing it must be the monster's. Soon, several other beatings joined it and Gilashi placed a hand upon his hilt. He nodded slowly, gathering his breath in a nearly silent whisper.


"They are here..."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon flattened herself against the tree along side of Gilashi. She looked up at him and nodded silently, her hands trembling as the slid to the hilts of her twin swords. Her fingers curled around the hilts and she closed her eyes as she drew them from their sheaths. She breathed deeply and slowly as she heard them approach the area. Their feet crunching the foliage underneath them as they rushed to the area. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Avalon as she spun from her hiding spot to face the creatures, her long honey brown hair fluttering in an arch behind her. As she came out from behind the tree she was met by the first creature who was feet from her. Savagely it spun to meet her, it's arm arching out to swing at her, deadly claws poised to tear her face from her. Seeing the move Avalon ducked quickly into a squatting position thrusting her right sword up and into it's chest cavity under it's arm. She looked up at the creature with a wicked smile playing across her lips, gripping her sword she came up to a standing postion with the sword still in the creature, she tore the sword around to it's back using the momentum as she dashed around him to drive her other sword down into the opposite shoulder. The creature howled in pain as she tore the swords from it's body causing it to draw back from her. The creature's eyes locked on her for a moment as it turned to face her then with a growl it looked past her. Avalon knew what was behind her and turned quickly, but it was almost too late. The monster that stood behind her had already started a horizontal back hand swing at her, she scrambled to dive out of the way but the creature's massive paw hit her in her back sending her forward, making her left shoulder collide with a tree. Immediately upon impact she screamed and as she lost her grip on her sword and it clattered to the forest floor. Panic crossed her face as she realized the impact knocked her shoulder out of place and she had no use of her left arm. She backed into the tree as the creature growled with satisfaction knowing that he had hurt her. The creature raised it's arm again to swing at her. The arm came at an alarming rate and slammed into the tree at the last minute as she tucked and dove head long out of the way of the blow.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi smirked slightly watching Avalon springing into action. A little headstrong perhaps, but she was brave, and extremely quick. She had quite a skill to her fighting, and her swordplay was a beautiful art. Quite exceptional for your average sellsword. He drew his blade, awaiting the perfect time to strike as well, knowing the beasts hadn't detected him, and wishing for the element of surprise. Just then, Avalon was sent into the tree, and barely dodged the final blow. Seeing the bone protruding from her arm, he knew now was the time.

"Hey! Furballs! Why don't you stop messing with mercs and lemme show you what a real monster looks like?" The beasts all turned at Gilashis abrupt shout, a thingyy fanged smile upon his face. His eyes shone brilliant red with his bloodlust, as the entire group charged at him, a drooling clawing mess. Leaping off the ground, he kicked off the head of one of the beasts and landed behind them, lightly caressing the blade of his sword yawning. The group turned around again, now infuriated by him and seemingly to forget about the injured elf. "Perfect..." Gilashi muttered, readying his blade as he crouched in a stalwart position.

As the beasts charged him this time, Gilashi flew forward, the razor edge of his sword slicing with sickening wet, sloppy smacks as it cleanly hewed through the waists of two of the creatures, slicing them in half. Ducking and dodgin the swipes of the rest, he turned and faced them, sheathing his sword. The blood on the ground began to bubble and boil, still filled with vital life force, and as if with a mind of its own flowed toward Gilashi's feet. It swirled up along his entire body, entering the red jewel of his amulet, causing it to glow with refreshened power. His grin only grew wider as he extended an open palm face up. "Now comes the fun part!"

As the beasts attempted to blindside him from every angle; Gilashi clenched his fist, digging his claws into the palm of his hand. Without warning, large black hands burst from the ground, each easily the size of a small hut. Each one finding a beast, they grabbed them tightly in their grip, squeezing as the creatures let out howls of pain and agony. Walking to the tree, Gilashi extended a helping hand. "That should hold em' a while. You okay?"

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon winced in pain as she sheathed her sword with her good arm and took Gilashi's extended hand. "My left arm was blown out of socked. I can't move it." She looked down at her limp arm at her side. "WOuld you mind helping me?" She motioned to her arm. While she waited for an answer she turned her gaze to the creatures howling in pain and then turned her gaze to Gilashi. "Magic... but how, how did you do that?" She asked in disbelief. She shook her head and pondered an answer, 'Maybe he is like me? Maybe he has the blood of the Mystic's running through his veins as well?' she asked her self as she gazed at him. She looked around and found her other sword and sheathed it. She turned her attention to the creature that she had mortally wounded that laid on the ground in pain howling and crying. She walked up to it and kicked it with her boot, the creature was heavy but it turned over to it's back with the right amount of pressure. The creature laid on it's back howling in pain and staring up at the sky. Avalon pulled her dagger from her thigh and looked down at the beast. It looked so pitiful laying before her howling in pain, she almost felt sorry for the creature. She clutched her dagger in her good hand and spoken in her native tongue apologizing to the beast for what she was about to do, "Amin hiraetha." She closed her eyes and slammed her dagger down into the beasts heart, blood sprayed upwards and splattered little drops across her face. The creature cried out one last time in pain and became still. She opened her eyes and looked down upon the beast, it's eyes were still open and stared blankly up into the sky. She stood and placed her dagger back in it's sheath. She turned to face Gilashi and walked up to him. "That's one." She said as she raised her right hand to nurse her out of socket left shoulder.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi paced back and forth between the monsters as they snapped at him, only causing the hands to tighten further around them. He chuckled at the savage beasts now completely powerless. He returned to Avalon after she finished her ritual with one of the creatures. The blood coating her face and the dead wolf soon flowed off of them and into his amulet again.

"Here, let me help you with that." gently placing a hand upon her forehead, he sent a numbing shock through her system, lasting only a brief moment as he quickly snapped her arm back into her socket. Taking back his hands he smirked. "And as for how I do it, some things are better left a mystery no?"

Eyeing the monsters with a sadistic smile he shook his head. "Sorry, we don't have the time to give them all individual death rites. We only need one alive to bring us to whoever created them. So pardon me for speeding this up." Gilashi once more raised his hand, and all but one of the black hands ceased all movement. Slowly extending his finger, the large hands followed suit, each one with a terrible claw easily the size of a broadsword. He quickly closed his fists, and the hands simultaneously sunk their claws straight through the hearts orr their captors. Gilashi had to surpress a laugh, his bloodlust obviously showing through. The hands descended as his amulet once more gathered blood, and he walked to the last remaining beast.

"Your gonna take us to your master, arnt you big boy?" he smiled his fanged grin, the creature now whimpering, terrified having its comrades slaughtered so easily. Gilashi bade the final hand let go and vanish as well, throwing the beast to the ground. As it scrambled to its feet, Gilashi turned to Avalon. "Come on now Avy! We have an escort!" Gilashi snickered at his own poor humor; kicking the beast into movement, before his eyes and the amulets flow both dulled. He was back to sanity for the brief moment.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon watched as the blood flowed into his amulet, the gears in her head turned more and more. 'Blood magic... or maybe even a demon,' she said to herself trying to figure out what Gilashi was she shook her head and dismissed it. She watched at Gilashi slaughtered the creatures appearing to be on the edge of insanity. As the hands sunk their claws into the creatures Avalon closed her eyes and again in her native tongue apologized to the creatures. She eyed Gilashi as he released the last creature, "Are you sure it will listen?" She asked him skeptical the creature would even comply. She felt pity for the creature as it looked at Gilashi in fear, she had felt that way before long ago when her parents were killed right before her eyes and she had to escape the castle of be sacrificed to the Agoth Gods. She turned her sight from the now whimpering mutt and turned to the tree Iori was slumped at. Shock clearly shown on her face when she realized the body was gone. She jogged over to the tree and looked for his body, it was no where but it appeared it had been dragged from the spot. She turned to Gilashi, "Iori's body is gone! He was dead there was no way he could have gotten up and walked away."

[Gilashi]

Gilashi turned stunned, seeing the disappearance of the body, picking up the beast as if it were weightless, clutching it tightly by the throat lifting it high into the air. Digging his claws into the soft flesh, he let out a low growl. "He will listen if he wishes to spare himself a fate worse than death..." Gilashi tossed the monster against the tree where Iori was, simple as tossing a rag doll, and with almost blinding speed was crouched over top the dazed creature sneering. "Where did they take it? Where is the body? Back to your master?" The beast whimpering, nodded hesitantly. Standing back up, Gilashi walked around the tree, seeing the drag marks. He turned around and smiled softly at Avalon.

"It seems we don't need him to lead us; the brutes left a trail, and their scent is still fresh." Gilashi had seen and heard Avalons apologies to the creatures and he shook his head gesturing to the scattered bodies. "Do not pity them, at first they may have been human, but if they are created from a dead body...They have no soul, no trace of their humanity anymore. But, I respect your kindness..." Turning to the beast, tracing a claw along its head, Gilashi laughed watching the beast shrink away in fear. "Do what you want with this one then...I shall spare him my hand, and you can decide its fate." He walked to the trail the body being dragged had made, and he shouted over his shoulder. "Either way hurry, we may be able to keep your friends body from being warped by some... Necromancer" Gilashi shuddered, his brother Xariss once again springing to his mind.

[ParisArkw]

((Hey guys, I am sorry, but I think I will have to step back from the RP! I can only access the internet a few days a week, and am already so far behind.))

[Avalon Silvasti]

The creature looked at Avalon with fear in it's eyes as Gilashi walked away. She locked eyes with the creature for a brief moment that trembled on the forest floor. "Gilashi!" she called after him. "I have an idea. It may appear daft but i have to try it." She turned and knelt before the creature that shied away from her like a beaten dog. "Don't be afraid of me." She smiled gently at the creature as it blinked it's large yellow eyes at her. Avalon looked back at Gilashi with a nervous expression that was laced with curiosity, her breathing quickened a bit. She turned her gaze back at the creature. "I have a few questions. Do you understand?" She asked the creature knowing that she must have sounded insane as she waited for the creature to formulate some sort of an answer. Slowly the creature nodded at her. Avalon's eyes widened as it had appeared to answer her, shock appeared on her face as she whirled her head to catch a look at Gilashi. "Gilashi, it understood! Did you see that?!" She turned her attention back to the creature in front of her. "Did you ever venture to the village over the ridge and howl on the outskirts?" Avalon asked pointing in the direction of the ridge. Again the creature nodded slowly at Avalon whom smiled gently back at it. "Why did you do that?" Avalon asked knowing that it's responses were pretty limited to nods and grunts but the creature did something that sent chills down Avalon's spine. It took it's hand like paw and pointed it's index finger to where it's heart was and then extended it's pointed finger to Avalon's chest, where her heart is. "You were in love... Oh by the Gods, you were human." She stated instead of putting it as a question. The creature closed it's eyes and turned slightly from her. That was all the confirmation she needed. "Were the others?" She asked gesturing to the fallen creatures surrounding them. The creature snarled and shook it's head as the form of the answer no. "Is there away to change you back?" The creature shrugged as if it didn't know. Avalon smiled gently at the creature again. She stood and walked up to Gilashi.

"Thank you for sparring this one. It's not like the others." She looked Gilashi in the eyes. "I can tell it understands me and it was truly once human. You can see the soul in it's eyes. I've never heard of this before..." She shook her head puzzled at the situation. "If they were using corpses they must have found a way to do it when they were alive and" She turned to the creature, "It was the end result. What do you make of this?" She waited for Gilashi's take on the situation. The creature inched foreward as if it was asking for acceptance from the two. It looked longingly at Avalon as if it was begging her not to leave it alone, begging to come with them.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi stood, leaning against the tree, his arms crossed as he watched Avalon try and communicate with the creature. He had no pity for it whatsoever, and as she shouted about it understanding he chuckled lightly. "Big deal, we knew that already..." He smiled and shook his head, keeping a keen eye on the monster to make sure it didn't try and sneaky moves against Avalon. But when it indicated it howling at the outskirts, a final plaintive wail of lost love, Gilashi silently gasped. He choked on his own breath, having felt the same pain. Even when all humanity is taken, love somehow seems to remain in the spirit. Shocked further still, Gilashi felt a small drop of moisture fall from his eye, a tear. He quickly wiped it away; denying its existence as he listened to the rest of Avalons makeshift interrogation.

Gilashi sighed, having trouble meeting Avalons eyes at the mention of a soul, suddenly feeling self concious about his. He shrugged and looked back towards the beast, pitying him and ashamed of being so harsh, not knowing it still had a soul. Gilashi turned back and nodded. "This is my theory. Dead bodies were much easier to obtain and put up less of a struggle while being transformed, therefore why the majority of the beasts we faced were not like this one. But, there is a downside to that. As I was battling the mutts, my blade went exceedingly easily through them, much easier then with living flesh. Therefore, to create stronger pets, whoever is responsible must have began using his prior creations to kidnap living subjects to create a monster." Pointing to the survivor, he nodded. "And that is our result, much stronger and fresher, but a soul is still intact. I felt no severance of the souls when I slayed the others, yet there is no doubt he has one. The body has a soul until its death, and upon dying releases it. This is why I believe this is the most likely explanation."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon looked back at the creature who had inched it's way to her side and perched there on it's hind legs like a faithful dog. It looked up at her like it was awaiting command. She looked at Gilashi, "What's the harm in taking it with us?" She reached out with her left arm and touched Gilashi's left shoulder and pulled him in close to her whispering into his ear, her lips so close he could feel them moving only inches away from his ear and her breath warm on his ear, she hoped the creature didn't hear her, "And if it gets out of line you shall have your fun killing it." She smirked with a hint of playful venom in her voice, "I seen your blood lust react, i have a theory of what you are." She half giggled as she pulled away from him and motioned for her new "pet" to join her. The creature rose to it's full height, standing over 6 foot tall on it's two legs and started to follow her. She stopped suddenly and looked back at the creature, "I know you may not be able to recall or be able to convey it but do you have a name." The creature shook it's head, causing Avalon to arch an eyebrow. "I'll call you Lucien. Is that fine?" The creature nodded at her. She turned to Gilashi, "So what you are saying is that they collected the dead to make them soulless killing creatures?" She placed her finger to her lips as she walked following the trail they made carrying off Iori's body. She shuddered at the thought of coming across a creature that had Iori's features and she would be forced to kill him again.... She looked back Gilashi wondering what his story was. "Where did you say you were from?" She asked him without thinking about what she had just said.

[Gilashi]

Gilashi sighed looking at the beast and shrugged. "Sure, let's drag the mutt along. If anything he'll make a good meat shield." As Avalon leaned in Gilashis first instinct was to pull away, but he allowed her the small say she wished to give. Though after he heard, he wished he hadn't. He began torero infuriated at the elf thinking she knew any portion of his being. But, taking a breathe, be managed to slowly calm himself. He followed after Avalon, glad the attention was off him and back on following the trail.

He rolled her eyes as she named the mutt, and walked faster to be side by side, not wanting to be behind the bag of fleas in case he were to try and pull something smart. "Why dontcha buy him a collar while your at it?" he cracked, snickering silently. Gilashi had to keep himself from stumbling in his tracks as the elf asked him, and once again his first instinct was to tell her to keep her nose in her own business. But, she had been kind to Gilashi, and once again, like his she was blonde. He could tell her parts of her story, but he would leave out what he could.

"I was born and raised in a Kingdom, far from here. I have crossed many seas and deserts just to make it this far. It was called Moldavia, and it was lovely. I was a knight there, for quite some time..." Gilashi paused, silently laughing in his mind. It had been centuries, the kingdom of Moldavia was long dead and forgotten. Just as he was supposed to be. "...anyway, I was...well, let's just say my fall from the grace of knighthood has led me here, and that's about it." Gilashi meant to keep as much as he could away from this woman, the less she knew te better.