the beasts in the forest (open)

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien nodded slightly as Samuel stored away the vial.
"I agree, we should go. Derek, understand that Samuel has a broken leg and i'm not in too great a shape myself. Dont rush anything." He called to him.

As they were walking he vaugely wondered where Wompy was. There had been no more explosions in a while, though he can't have left that fast. He glanced around, tightening his hold on his sword. Just in case.

[Derek Corrigan]

Derek nodded noting Samuel's broken leg and Damien's condition. He shook his head also noting that both of them where armed and he wasn't, another reason to be in the front.

Wouldn't it be better if I changed into my true form and...flew out of here? No...no I can't do that right now. They don't fully trust me.

He made a fist with his right hand as he carefully jogged in front of them, stopping every so often to wait for the two to catch up. Finally they made it out of the village, in a meadow. As they finally started walking he looked up at the sky and noticed it was turning night. Derek smiled Ah..perfect. Though how long have we been in that city? Stopping one more time Derek turned around and looked at the other two as they limped up to him.

"A good few hundred yards away from the burning city. We can make camp here, unless you want to continue forwards." He suggested. Taking his pack of his back and setting it down carefully in front of him.

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien nodded slowly. "Sure. Camping here is fine with me, he said, looking around the meadow. He watched Derek carefully and also checked the horizon every so often for Wompy.

He was careful to not show any emotion, though it was hard to hide his caution. He had a hard time removing his hand from his sword, though he did finally and gently felt the wound on his side. It was no longer bleeding, though it was a mess. He hoped he could find a spring to clean it off.

"Samuel, is camping here okay with you? He asked.

[thedookienut]

"Camping here's fine." Samuel replied, leaning against a tree, regaining his strength. He slowly lowered himself to the ground, wincing as he did. The meadow itself was fairly enclosed but, even if Wompy came after them, he'd be able to see them from the edge of the meadow.

He placed his sword close to him, just incase, and gazed up at the sky. He was tierd but he couldn't fall to sleep while Derek was awake. He still didn't trust him.

[Derek Corrigan]

Derek quickly glanced at Samuel sensing the pain he was in. He shook his head again, heading over to another tree he climbed it and sat on a sturdy branch before leaning against the tree trunk itself. "You both can go to sleep, I'll keep watch. I'm just an Apothecary, not going to harm anyone, and I only deal in potions not poisons. Though I suppose that still doesn't give you a right to trust me. Just let it be known, I don't quite trust you, either of you."

Play this smart. You might have a slash across your throat in the morning. He thought to himself, leaning back against the tree trunk more he sighed lightly and let his glaze drift from the two on the ground and stared out into the twilight sky.

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien lay on his back, keeping his sword within grasp and the blade not locked into the scabbard. He made sure Samuel and Derek were both within his sight.

He focused and forced himself to relax, though he did not dare sleep. He feigned sleep by regulating his breathing and closing his eyes almost all the way, keeping them open just enough to see. If Derek did anything during the night he would be ready.

Though on the outside he appeared asleep, inside his thoughts raced.
Who is he? Why is he helping us? He said he doesn't deal with poison..but he could be lying. He ran through a dozen thoughts a second. Even if he had wanted to sleep, he dind't think he could have.

[Derek Corrigan]

Derek was waiting for one of the two to question his intent, who he was, and what he was. Looking down at the ground he noticed his pack was still down there, he sighed lightly and moved around so he could drop down. He did, and he landed without making much of a sound. He knew they both where still awake, maybe watching him at this very moment. He crouched in front of his pack and opened it, back towards the two. As he reached inside he began to feel around for his vial.

Shortly after he pulled out two vials, one seemed to be glowing green, the other was the one he took earlier. He blinked and stared at the glowing vial. ...Yeah, something huge is nearby. He stopped moving, freezing in his place. Listening to the area around him.

A light breeze blew rustling the leaves, crickets chirped. But a noise the stood above all else was a low growling sound. Not the sound a normal animal would make when ready to attack. No, this wasn't something they, Damien and Samuel, were ready to face. He would have to deal with it himself. Only hoping they weren't stupid enough to follow him.

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien listened, hardly breathing as Derek jumped down from the tree and rummaged through his pack. He saw a soft glow, and then saw him freeze.

What is it? Damien wondered. He was aware of something nearby. Something big.

Damn. I guess the day isn't over yet, He thought, and his hand tightened over his sword as he sat up, watching Derek.

"What is it?" He asked before Derek could run off.

[Derek Corrigan]

Derek turned and looked at Damien, giving him a surprised glance.

Either he's obviously never met a Dragon, or has lost a lot of blood. Either way, this could be dangerous for both of them. He thought before shaking his head. "It's a Dragon. Sounds to me like a Red Dragon, but I could be wrong, and...no it's not after either of you."

Derek glanced into the darkness to his right before he dived out of the way. A fireball passed over where Derek once was standing. There was a loud growl, louder then before. Then heavy thuds as a large male red dragon appeared from where the fireball came from.

"Hmm, not so slow are you?" The red dragon said, speaking in the human tongue, his voice sounded old and scratchy, "Just as the rumors said you would be..Talon."

Derek winced slightly and turned, he was now laying on the ground propped up on his arm staring at the Red Dragon. "Rumors are never real. For you have the wrong people, and why are you away from your native lands?!" Derek shouted his voice slightly changed.

"No...I have the right person. I've heard the tales of a new species. I'm also surprised you haven't killed these two weak Humans." The Red Dragon growled again and stared at Derek, ignoring the other two Humans, who haven't moved yet. "Well now Talon. Show them what you really are."

Derek gave a low growl towards the Red Dragon as a Shadowy haze began forming around him. "Never...use that name." Derek said, his voice sounding exactly like a dragons. The Red Dragon gave a growl and took a step back noticing Derek beginning to chance. "So the tales are true. You are what they call a Shadow Dragon."

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien felt a jolt of surprised fear jet through him.
"Samuel..."He warned cautiously. He knew samuel couldn't be asleep. Damien stood, picking up his sword, which he knew would be useless against the dragon. But he wouldn't go down without a fight.

Despite his almost paralysing fear, Damien stood his ground, watching Derek. "What did that overgrown lizard just say you are?" He growled. A shadow dragon? That couldn't be possible. Derek looked human enough. He clenched his fists around the sword hilt to stop his hands from shaking.
"Derek...if that is what your name is...what the hell is going on?!" He almost shouted. He fought the urge to run away.
It might be true. Derek's voice had changed. Dramatically. He now sounded just like the red dragon's.

[thedookienut]

Samuel swallowed hard, pushing himself to his feet. He'd neither seen or believed dragons exsisted before. They had always lived far from his homeland and there they were just tales. He limped forwards, mostly with stupid curiosisty.

"Dragon...?" He muttered, shuffling in line with Damien. "It can't be can it?" He asked, watching Derek. His whole body froze suddenly. "Shadow what?" He shouted, gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckled were going white.

"What is exactly going on and why, if you don't mind me asking, haven't you killed us yet. That dragon thinks you should have." He yelled, determind for an answer.

[Derek Corrigan]

The Red Dragon growled at Damien's insult and looked towards him."Overgrown maybe, but far wiser then normal lizards." Shifting his glaze back towards the spot Derek previously occupied the Red Dragon seemed stunned. "Indeed, quick and smart." The Dragon shifted his head around looking, taking two steps towards Damien. "Where...are you.." he said, ignoring Damien.

There was a loud growl, with heavy steps in the darkness. "Leave. If you wish to fight we'll do so at another time." It was another dragon's voice.

"I never wished to fight...I wanted to see if the tales where true, and they are." The Red Dragon looked to his left, where the voice was coming from and gave lighter growl then turned back towards Damien. "You'll need to lure him out into the light, he won't risk changing back. Until he's near the next town." The Red Dragon turned and proceeded off in the direction he came. Knowing full well the humans weren't going to proceed to follow him. He called into the darkness before disappearing. "If you wish to fight at a later time Talon, we will do so."

Sitting in the darkness, watching still, Derek snarled at the other Dragon as it left. Now I have to explain this.

Derek proceeded into the light and glared at both of them, He wasn't in Human form. More or less, they had another Dragon towering over them. It was a Black Dragon with a light haze around his body. He laid down the best he could in the tight spot and looked in front of him, lowing his head so he could see Samuel and Damien.

"A Shadow Dragon." He said looking at Samuel, who just now moved. "That other Dragon heard rumors of me killing humans such as yourselves. However those a Dragon slayers that came after me." Peering back towards Damien he spoke up again. "Yes, Derek is my name, however that's what I go by as a Human. Talon Darlath is my actual name. If you wish to know the rest, lower your weapons. I know both of you are to weak to fight." He snarled at the swords they both carried, one sword was dull and the other was sharp.

Knowing neither could do much damage to his outer scales. Aside from this, he was actually ready for a fight. Only reason he's so close right now is so he could use his breath weapon in one shot.

[WolfEnchantress]

Damien listened to the exchnge between the dragon and Derek, then watched the massive red dragon. He turned to the direction Derek had spoken from.

Seeing him, he nearly choked in surprise. He took a atep back, stumbled, and fell, dropping his sword.
"What the hell?!" He roared, his mouth suddenly dry. "You...You're.." He couldn't get the right words out.

"A dragon? But how?" He wasn't sure he really wanted to know the answer. It didn't really matter. The dragon would probably eat them eventually. It seemed a dragonlike thing to do, they all ate people in the stories, so why not in real life?

[Derek Corrigan]

"I'm not just any Dragon. I've acquired the ability to shape-shift into a Human, without any flaws. Besides this scar on my left cheek." He said before continuing. "I'm what others refer to as a Wyrm. A Shape-shifter, much like what you know as a Changeling, however I was born a Dragon and learned how to shape-shift, and was outcast by doing so."

He glared at Damien before speaking yet again. "Don't worry. I prefer normal animals over Humans. Also, what that other Dragon said is true, I won't change back until We made it closer to another town. So your stuck with a Dragon until then."

[wompy]

Wompy was bored,he wondered where his master was. Taking out a his maces he began to smash the wall