The Driad's domain (Mr.Man,Graceful_sheik)

OoC: Ermkays, there's a twist in this battle...a creature may randomly cast a spell so that your character is immobilised inwardly so they cannot use magic for a period of 20 seconds. The driad is a guardian of the forest, but is also very protective of his territory. Your character should take sides with the driad at first. Should be phun with a capital P.

BiC:

Ahavalin the vampire had surprised himself numerous times since his transformation from a cursed vampire to a healed nosferatu. The confused being had participated in many things- He had taken part in a flying contest, eaten normal food and actually talked to humans. He had inwardly punished himself for acting so inferior, but then he realised that he was basically a human again and that he had every right to do these things.

Today he had decided to take a leisurely stroll through a conveniently placed forest, one that appeared as an obstacle between a passage of two large and virtually unscaleable mountains. The most useful ability about his turning was that he could grow wings when he transcended into lumens form, and he had ashamedly over-used his ability. Today he realised that he needed to keep up with training and that he probably should walk instead of taking to the skies.

As he entered this particular forest he had felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle; he was being watched. He even thought he saw something speed from the cover of a single tree to another as he walked along. Ahavalin knew better than to ignore this, and he kept his right hand loosely gripped onto Foul fang, his trusty dagger, in case of a surprise attack.

Every step he took along a neat dirt path was unnerving. His senses were highly refined, and he swore that something was right behind him at some point, only to realise shortly after turning around that his invisible adversary was just as cunning as he.

Something flickered out of the corner of his eye. Ahavalin's dagger was out in a flash and light grey wings had emerged from his back. His hair turned white and his already refined senses grew in ability again. He could smell it now- it was the smell of a human, almost; but something disturbingly different. Unnoticeable prints on trees were now visible, and he could see something in the distance. He squinted to notice that it was a girl, and he ran forward.

As he neared the broken tree stump that the child was seated on he realised that she was crying. Ahavalin knelt down in front of her, his facial expression blank but his eyes chocked with sadness.

"Child...are you hurt?"

The girl looked up at Ahavalin to reveal her tear-stained face. She had bright blue eyes and her long brown hair was frazzled and untidy. She sniffed and a tear fell onto the ragged dress she wore.

"My mummy's not here...and I have a hurt, see?"

The girl lifted her arm to show a bloody scratch; probably brought about by a tree branch she had run past. Ahavalin knew he could heal it, but it might seem somewhat scary to her, so he explained it.

"I have special stuff in my mouth that can make hurts better. Would you like me to use it?"

The girl nodded and attempted a smile. "Thanks mister."

Ahavalin tenderly held the girls arm, and then he put his head forward and licked it. The girl watched in amazement as the wound quickly healed over and the blood disappeared. However, Ahavalin had taken his share of reward.

I haven't had blood since my transformation...

Ahavalin secretly felt somewhat ashamed for draining the girl of her blood, but he had done a good deed and left the argument inside his head at that. The youth looked inquisitively at Ahavalin.

was that magic?

Ahavalin grinned and shrugged." Yes, it is. Would you like to see a few more tricks?"

Though his preferred outcome was that the child would in fact want to see more, but it turned out the opposite of what he had hoped. The girl glared at the vampire, and spoke again. This time her words were deep, strange and unearthly; not of a small girl's at all.

" my mummy said magic was bad...You must be bad too. '

The girl suddenly vanished and more voices echoed through the forest.

"Burn their sun! Burn the light!"

"Burn their magic..."

"TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE IT AWAY!"

Ahavalin readied himself as a large human shaped figured hurtled out of the trees right at him.

OoC: I'm slightly CJ-less at the mo but I told you I'd post today so here you go. Oh one thing isn't Driad spelt Dryad, as in with a y.

BiC:

The sun was setting on Crécasta as she paced along the worn track. Two snow peaked mountains rose up into the orange skyline, their steep sides looked as though no one would ever be able to scale them. Créa hauled herself over the edge of a low ridge; a massive dark forest came into view. The tall canopy reached into the air around the base of two twin mountains, some of the flanks of the forest climbed the lower-lying regions. The forest caught Créa’s attention. She thought she might be able to find some herbs for some of her potions; she had been running low lately. Turning off the beaten track she began to head towards the forest.

The sun was reaching the end of its cycle when Crécasta arrived at the dense forest. The
stars were beginning to weave their way onto the tapestry of night. The Dúileach could
feel some of the forests energies replenishing her own. Her strength was being increased by the nature around here. Her ancestry had always made her appreciate the beauty of nature. Créa began to walk deeper into the forest keeping an eye out for any plants that may serve her well.

As the warrior woman passed deeper and deeper into the forest she could feel its strength increasing. This forest possessed powers and secrets far beyond those of a normal one.

Créa felt a soft breeze blow across her skin. She pushed past a low hanging branch and walked into a wide circular clearing. Several small silvery plants stood on in the centre, intrigued she walked out towards the delicate plants. Gently she lowered herself onto her bare knees and began to expect the flowers close up. Someone tapped her on her shoulder.

Créa turned her head. A young girl stood behind her, she mustn’t have been older than seven. Her large eyes had an intense silver glow to them.

“What are you doing, miss?”

Créa gave a smile; it was just a curious kid. “Why, I’m just collecting some plants. These are some really beautiful ones that I stumbled across and I couldn’t resist myself. Is there anyway I can help you, hun?”

The small girl’s face lit up at the mention of help. “Yes, miss, I need help. There’s a bad man in the forest, I need your help to get rid of him.”

A look of disgust passed of Créa’s face, she was certain some sick old man was terrorizing this poor innocent girl. Crécasta lifted herself from her knees.

“Take me to where this man is.”

The girl grabbed her hand and began to lead her deep into the forest.

OoC: Sorry about the wait, couldn't get myself into a writing mood. Yup, this is gonna be fun on a bun. ^_^

BiC:

Though the great foliage of the trees looked as though they would blot out the sun, light streamed into the forest unhindered. Tanith walked through the plants, taking the calmness of the area and using it for herself. The forest almost seemed to breath in and out, the knight didn’t have to have any special ability to notice that each leaf held a large amount of energy. This place was alive… and powerful, too.

She stopped beside a tree and placed a hand on it, feeling the pulsating life underneath. I almost wish I were a tree. To be able to concentrate on nothing but living. Hardly anything to worry about. Maybe the occasional lumberjack or fire but other than that there was little that could harm an ancient forest. Suddenly, Tanith pulled Soul Eater from its sheath, hearing some protests from it. The sword throbbed with energy of its own, one that was malevolent, though. It, too, could feel the life of the forest and seemed eager to take some for itself. The woman sighed at it and returned it to the sheath, When can I ever be rid of this weapon?

“Excuse me,” a small voice said from behind the knight. Turning swiftly, and somewhat ready for a battle, she was surprised to see a young girl standing before her. “What are you doing?” the child asked innocently.

Tanith hesitated, “I am just traveling through.”

The girl took a glance at the sheath and sword handle before questioning, “Are you a strong fighter? Someone bad has entered the forest.” There was something strange about this girl. Her hair was brown and wild, like she hadn’t combed for the last few days. She was wearing a simple robe that was also brown and tattered in a few spots. But was most obvious was her green eyes which glow dimly. There was something strangely familiar about the child but what it was Tanith couldn’t say.

“Bad?”

She nodded, “Yes, he can use magic.”

Magic… the knight thought, He cannot be human then. “Okay, take me to him,” she answered.

The child’s fact brightened, “This way!” She ran off deeper into the forest with Tanith right behind her.

Ahavalin closed his eyes, malevolent voices coming at him from every direction. They turned into screeches, and the vampire yelled himself and fell to his knees, cradling his head in his hands...

And then it stopped. Ahavalin sighed and hung his head, his right hand painfully releasing Foulfang's hilt. Through the small ordeal he had not drawn it, but kept it right in place. There was no telling what the enemy possessed.

Ahavalin's keen senses soon picked up something. He could hear two things approaching- though there were another two accompanying them. The crossroads between the forest paths were inconveniently located- an attack by an enemy would be easy.

As his thoughts deepened, he felt his breath stop abruptly. What had happened to the child? She had been sitting upon a tree stump and then...

Ahavalin clenched his fists. He had been fooled. Perhaps his age was catching up with him. He grinned unsteadily at his private little joke. How could a vampire become old? Quite honestly, he surprised himself sometimes.

His hand shifted to Foulfang's hilt again as he heard the four beings approaching. Ahavalin closed his eyes, relying on smell and hearing as his eyes. become one.

The sound of stumbling announced that someone had entered the clearing. He could mentally sense great power emanating from it- and the aromas flowing from her defined her as a woman. Ahavalin opened his eyes to see a fairly young woman, dressed in black with a red coat flowing around her. Her hair was brownish-red, and a large sword hung from her back.

“You will pay for your misdeeds, creature. Your kind is all the same."

Ahavalin smiled, revealing his sharpened teeth. Much to his surprise the woman did not recoil, but seemed even angrier by this.

"What do you think to prove? I have rid this land of many of your kind, and you are no exception."

Ahavalin's response to this was unexpected. A flash of grey light filled the clearing, and feathered black wings sprouted from Ahavalin's back. His hair turned pearly-white, and he threw off his cloak to reveal a full black body-suit.

"I think you just might have to make that exception."

OoC: Ok, Jay, I'm just going to have Créa kind of know Ahavalin. We can make them have a brief introduction/conversation in Take to the Sky. By the way you need to reply to that, Riku's_Girl editted her post ages ago.

BiC:

The small silver-eyed girl raced through the foliage dragging Crécasta behind. Vines and low branches whipped across her body with speed as they tore towards some unknown objective. “Where is this girl leading me...?” Suddenly a bright light exploded forth from some unknown object only a hundred metres ahead. Créa could feel the forest’s discomfort.

Quickly, the nimble woman released the young girl’s hand and raced forward towards the disturbance. She uncorked one of her healing potions as she approached and took in a quick swig of its golden contents. She felt its powers flowing through her body rejuvenating her weariness.

Suddenly she felt herself stepping into a large clearing...

“I think you just might have to make that exception.”

A shining figure was floating radiating light across the clearing. His shark-white hair fell down apon the shoulder of his long black tunic, a cruel looking dagger hung from his side, a pair of small dark wings were protruding from his back. “I know that man...” Créa looked up into Ahavalin’s violet eyes.

“Ahavalin! What the hell are you doing terrorizing this forest!?” Crécasta waved her arms about in front of her, finally the illuminae nosferatu became aware of her presence. Out of the corner of her eye, Créa spotted another woman. A massive sword held between her hands.

“Créa, I don’t have time for your antics right now. This place is trying to destroy me, as is this woman.” Ahavalin turned his attention back onto his assailant.

The warrior woman looked over at the newcomer, her eyes shining with a piercing blue. “Are you with me or it?” She motioned towards Ahavalin.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” Créa gazed up at Ahavalin’s floating form.

“Ahavalin, if you don’t give me answers I’m with her. If you give me the wrong answers I’m with her. If you give me the right answer I’m probably still going to be with her. So what will it be?” Crécasta lowered herself into a strong fighting position, her eyes glimmering slightly.

OoC: Woo for shortness and lack of CJ's.

OoC: I hope I didn't screw up your characters too badly.

BiC:

Taking a hint from the newcomer’s battle stance, Tanith returned her attention to the vampire, “I seems you are outnumber.”

“I do hate that,” he muttered, his white hair blowing in the slight wind. Tanith had never seen a vampire able to use light magic before, she believed that as dark creatures they could only use something allied with that.

It doesn’t matter, the female decided, No matter what weapon he uses, I have to kill him. For the sake of others he might attack. She held Soul Eater tightly in her hand and awaited someone to make the first move. The vampire hunter hardly ever make the first attack, at least the first physical attack.

Ahavalin, or what the other woman called him, drew his own weapon, a dagger adorned with bones and a small skull. A cruel looking weapon which the knight found befitting for a vampire. “Créa,” he said suddenly, addressing the newcomer, “I came into this forest and found a small girl that was hurt. All I did was heal her and tell her that I could use magic. It seems I angered the whole forest with that statement.”

“Why would we believe and vampire? I cannot see one of your kind helping a child,” Tanith shook her head, “Never in my knowledge of vampires.” Then she turned to the Dúileach, “You must help me take down this vampire.”

She appeared a little apprehensive at the knight’s plea. “Ahavalin, you didn’t seem like a bad person when we first met. But, you have attacked a ancient forest and that is not something easily overlooked.” Créa raised her hands, armed with her own wicked looking weapon.

“You see, people do not fall for your tricks so easily,” Tanith stated, “I won’t let you escape!” With that statement, she conjured five souls from her katana and sent them streaking towards the vampire. Ahavalin seemed a little surprised and didn’t dodge the spectral attack, though he barely had to as the souls did little damage to his pure form. However, another effect was added when the souls returned the bloody weapon. The whole forest seemed to shake and grow darker as whispers started to sound.

“Magic...”

“More magic...”

“Stop the magic-users!”

“What?” the knight asked, surprised by the disembodied voices. I knew this forest had power but this is... menacing, she thought as indiscernible voices continued to protest angrily. Suddenly, a raspy and harsh voice rose above the others carrying malice and hate.

“Leave... Now...”

Ahavalin was ready this time. The menacing voices echoed around the clearing, causing both Tanith to look around, searching for the source of the sound, but there was none. Crécasta seemed mildly disturbed and looked back at the floating figure of Ahavalin.

"What have you done to this forest to make it so?"

The nosferatu drew out his dagger, stroking the blade apprehensively. “I have done nothing to harm these woods...But it seems like that little girl thought otherwise."

Crécasta eyed him strangely, and then noticed something. The girl wasn't there. Tanith noticed it also, and recognized it instantly.

"That girl was not human."

Ahavalin nodded, ignoring the bone-chilling screams emanating from the forest. His calm thoughts were broken as a tree abruptly bended one of its branches and bent down to pick up Tanith.

The warrior screamed as the branch lifted itself up and tightened its grip on her. Ahavalin saw her face turning white as the branch squeezed against her lungs. The vampire launched himself into the air, his black feathery wings fluttering madly. He slashed multiple times at the branch gripping Tanith, and heard a shout from below.

"No, Ahavalin! The forest has been provoked! Don't attack the tree further, I think I can reason with the forest spirits..."

Ahavalin grimaced and attempted to loosen the grip on the branch using his hands. He reached out and as soon as he touched it he heard a low rumble and a thin branch flew out of nowhere to whip his face mercilessly. The vampire groaned but continued tying to prise the branch away from Tanith's body.

There was a crunch and the tree released its grip on Tanith. A shrill shriek escaped from her lips as she plummeted to wards the ground.

Ahavalin's wings were faster. He zoomed underneath her to scoop her from the air and deposit her safely on the ground, leaving her with a very disturbed expression. She turned back to look at the trees and saw that the rest were behaving in a similar fashion.

"What is behind this?"

Crécasta frowned and looked behind her to see something unusual.

It was the girl.

There was something terribly different about her though. Her eyes were green and her teeth were sharpened to points, forming fangs. Her hands were clasped together, resting comfortably on her lap. Her general appearance was very frightening.

"We don't like you..."

OoC: Ok, sorry this took so long and that it's short but I've spiced things up a bit.

BiC:

Crécasta ears were throbbing, the blood pulsating heavily against her earlobes as the malevolent voices hammered through her head. Her senses were dulled by the intensity of the screams; she had never seen a forest so upset.

Through the screams she heard something behind her, shuffling in the background. Slowly, she turned her head. Through her dim hazel eyes she saw the young girl, different now. She seemed monstrous, deformed and corrupt. The girl, no the creature, spoke.

“We don’t like you...” A harsh voice bellowed from her tiny lungs shattering the other voices into silence. “We don’t like your magics.”

Slowly the thing began to rise to its feet. Its hands held up before its face. Energy began to radiate from its outstretched palms.

Créa recognized the energy that flowed from the creature. “A god spirit? Here... Wait, shi-!”

Créa took control of the situation reacting immediately. She screamed out warnings to the other two.

“Down! Down! Now!”

The young girl’s hands thrust forward. Vines and branches erupted from the sodden earth. Whips and cords flung about the air, snatching out at everything and anything, the trees themselves flailed about mercilessly trying with all their might to crush the intruders.

Left and right the agile women dodged. Carefully weaving her way through the forming maze back towards her allies. Several metres from her Ahavalin and Tanith were struggling to survive. She called out to the two as they battled against the forest.

“It’s the girl! She has control over the entire forest!” Just as the words reached the others a massive wall of foliage erupted from the ground cutting Créa off from the other two. The forest began to settle again, the assault stopped. For now.

OoC:Alrighty a massive maze has just formed in the forest! Have fun with it! + There's now a potential upgrade for Créa in this battle, yay!

The wall of plants cut off Tanith from the other two. Though she was slightly worried about the girl, Créa, she was happy to be away from the vampire, Ahavalin. I can’t believe I was fighting alongside a vampire, the knight grumbled distastefully. Still, this forest could probably kill them all separately, which it seemed it was trying to do now. “Hey, are either of you two near me?” she called out. A few seconds passed with not replies. Is this forest cutting off our speaking to each other? the female wondered. Things seemed to be getting worse every second. Brandishing her sword, she tried to cut through the leafy wall. But with each chopped off leaf came two more. She finally stopped after it seemed that the wall had grown slightly larger from her attacks. It seems I will have to go through the maze, she decided.

The knight supposed she should be thankful that the power of the maze cut off the outside sounds for she probably would have never heard a rustling behind her. Wielding Soul Eater, she turned to see vines snaking their way through the leafy walls. They were bright green and covered in sharp thorns. The plants were not fast, however, and Tanith easily avoided them by walking the opposite direction. I wonder if maybe they are wanting me to head this way, she pondered. It didn’t make much difference as trying to fight the vines would probably be deadly. If they regenerated like the wall, she would be facing hundreds of them before long and they would literarily tear her to shreds.

“Bad person,” a whispery voice stated. Rounding a corner, the female saw a whirlwind of cherry blossom petals. In the middle was a small orb that was glowing a faint green.

A forest spirit, Tanith knew and held her bloody sword in a ready position.

The petals began to take a feminine shape, “We do not like your magic.” It’s voice was a whisper like wind and somewhat difficult to hear, “Magic causes pain. Magic kills us. Why have you come to cause more pain?”

The question surprised the knight, “But I didn’t come to hurt you. The girl, she led me here.”

“But you were already in the forest. Murder...”

“No,” she replied, more forcefully than she usually was, “I was going to the towns on the other side of this place. I was just traveling through. I have no desire to do harm.”

“You use magic. I can sense evil in that sword. You cannot live,” the spirit replied. It held out a silhouetted hand, the petals swirling to denote the shape. They suddenly stopped moving and seemed to harden. Then they rushed forward at her. The petals were too small to be individual targets so all Tanith could do was cover her head with her gauntlets. The pink petals flew by, sharp as razors and making small cuts into her clothing, luckily doing no harm. But instead of returning to the spirit, they continued to circle her, each pass by becoming deeper cuts.

If I don’t do something I’ll be killed, the knight stated. But she couldn’t attack the petals, they were too small and too many. But the spirit... It floated in front of her, a green soul surrounded by cherry blossoms. The female charged forward, hopefully taking the spirit by surprise. However, the green soul vanished in an instant and the petals dropped to the grassy ground. Where did it go? she wondered, her body still tense for attack.

A lump formed in Ahavalin's throat as plants burst form the ground, vines entangling within each other to form...

A maze.

The vampire groaned and gritted his teeth. If we are seperated, we are much weaker. Not that Tanith likes me much anyway...

Ahavalin was taken aback as a blast of emerald green light filled the clearing, revealing a small green orb bobbing up and down precariously in front of him. The luminae nosferatu stepped back immediately, quickly flipping Foulfang around in his hand, hoping to warn the...thing, or whatever it was, that he meant cause harm if he had to. The ball responded by summoning up an array of rose petals, which then swirled about in the wind...

Standing in front of Ahavalin was a woman, created entirely of petals. The picturesque being did not appeal to the vampire, and he glared at the petal lady with apparent disinterest.

"What are you?"

The petals that formed her hands floated towards Ahavalin, appearing as a gesturing palm. "I am a spirit. I sense magic within you, and lust. Leave now, or beocme one with the soil."

Ahavalin hisses at the thing, causing it to recoil. "You cannot defeat me, petty spirit. Leave us be."

The spirit wavered, and the petals burst apart to float on their own, as if held by invisible strings. "Then die..."

The petals all straightened out perfectly, then zoomed towards the nosferatu. He was ready though- he sped straight through them, slicing many whilst doing so. It was a pointlss attempt- when he sliced one, it would make two. The strange weapons zoomed towards Ahavalin, and he only thought of one thing, looking over to see the green orb flasing sporadically.

The source...but of course...

In a blink of the eye, ahavalin had it grasped in it's hand. With a small clench of his fist, it shattered, the pieces vanishing into thin air. All that remained was a hamrless green essence, which gave out an ethereal sigh before sinking into the ground.

Ahavalin watched in interest as the hedges around him started to wither, their power source having been defeated. They were still alive though, and Ahavalin highly doubted that a blade could slash through them quick enough before they grew back.

Thinking of nothign else to do, he gathered spiritual energy into his hand, ints ghostly white essence glimerring in his palm.

I wonder...

The vampire hurled it at a section of the hedge, making it sink into the branches. After a few seconds, the plant bgean to die- its life having been suckd out of it. Ahavalin mentally congratulated himself before leaping through the gap, hearing it grow back behind him.

OoC: Apologies for the delay.

BiC:

Gigantic walls of ivy rose up beside the lithe women, leaves of green cascading down on top of her dark hair. Vines inched their way out from the sodden floor, crawling up the ivy walls as to add a vicious barrier about the dark green leaves. Soon, Créa’s sight could barely gaze apon the dull, inconspicuous moon, the high walls towering above her. Looking around her small enclosure, Créa concentrated on her thoughts on finding any sign of the god spirit. Something prickled in the back of her mind; she was still somewhere, hiding.

“Iolar, I need you to locate Ahavalin and that women. As soon as we are back together we can go after the girl.” The golden spirit of Iolar, the Sky Deity appeared before her as she spoke the words.

“I shall return soon.” The eagle’s rich voice was carried off apon a gust of air as he launched himself at the ivy wall, his spiritual form easily passing through the leafy structure.

Now I just have to find a way out of here. Broc should be able to help.

A chubby, brownish badger materialized in a swirl of earth, his cheery smile present even in the glum darkness. “Ya called, mam?” Even his voice was filled with a gleeful tone.

“I did, of course. I need a hand with something, combine our spirits, if you would be so kind.”

“Righ’ away, cap’n.” The Earthen Father’s spirit slowly began to shrink, a deep brown light growing out from his now glowing form. Leaping from the ground, he landed against Créa’s chest, his form gradually disappearing into her. A russet light now illuminated Crécasta’s nimble form. She felt the new energy running through her veins. She could feel every vibration running through the earth.

Carefully, the warrior women placed her hand against the damp earth, feeling it gently with the palm of her hand. Soft vibrates shook against her palm; someone was running nearby. Sniffing the thick air, she began to smell out a suitable patch of earth. Slowly, she lifted herself, facing in the direction she felt the vibrations had originated from.

Walking towards the ivy wall, she placed her hands against the soft earth again.

This should do. What do you think Broc?

T’is a migh’y fine patch of dirt, mam.

Just as the mental conversation ended Créa rose her hand, quickly slamming the tips of her weapon into the ground. Carefully, she caused a thin crack in the surface, then guided the fissure deep beneath the wall, making it reemerge on the other side. Withdrawing her weapons from the earth, she lifted herself to her feet. Lashing out with her right foot, she slammed the weakened earth causing the fissure to expand and form into a small tunnel beneath the earth. Quickly, she dove into the tiny passage.

OoC: Don't forget that Créa has sent Iolar to find your characters.

Several severed vine tips fell to the grassy ground as Tanith rounded another corner. I’m getting nowhere, the knight sighed as she quickly walked down the maze’s corridor. Vines slithered throughout the walls of the labyrinth, almost seeming to just watch her wander around. I wonder... can that forest guardian really see me through those vines? The thought made her even more uneasy and walk faster.

“Foolish human,” a whispery voice stated, “No matter where you go, I will find you.” The green orb once again appeared in front of her and gathered it’s petals. The woman only raised Soul Eater in defense, knowing the spirit wouldn’t listen to anything she said. Once the soul had gathered enough of the cherry blossoms, several flattened into sharp edges and rushed at Tanith. She expected this and dodged to the side to avoid them. Or, at least, tried to dodge. Something tightened itself around her right ankle at the last minute and tripped her. Thankfully, the flowery daggers zoomed over her head as she fell. The red katana slashed through the vine that had grabbed her ankle, the knight not even having to look to know what it had been. However, she did see more petals come at her. Not having time to rise, she raised her gauntlets in front of her face, the attack bouncing harmlessly off.

Thank goodness I have some armor, she thought as she hopped to her feet. The thought didn’t last long, though, as pain shot through her legs. The petals that had first sailed harmlessly over head had doubled back and make neat cuts on both her legs, slightly hindering her mobility. A smile of petals could be faintly seen in the swirling mass. The lady could feel warm blood start to trickle from the wounds. This just keeps getting worse. I need to find away out of this place, she decided. Raising her blade, she pulled out five souls that hovered around her hand. The green soul hovered away from the new attack and petals rushed around it furiously. Praying that this offensive would work, Tanith hurled the spirits at the forest spirit. Petals shot at the orbs but went right through. The souls hit their target and the spirit gave out a soft cry of pain while the cherry blossoms came to a sudden stop around it. Taking this chance, the knight charged up to the spirit and stabbed it with Soul Eater. This time, the spirit let out a louder cry before being absorbed by the bloody katana. Tanith stepped back in disgust with what just happened, I forgot... I... I’m sorry. The knight sighed and started to walk down the path once more until she noticed that the cherry blossoms had congregated around the evil blade. What? she wondered and swung the sword around. The petals stayed swirling around Soul Eater, just like they had around the spirit. Oh, I get it. Even though the forest spirit has been absorbed into Mangeur D'âme, it’s still calling to the petals. She didn’t have much longer to ponder the new ability has a something streaked towards her.

"Ah, you must be the woman,” a rich and powerful voice said. Tanith looked to see a large and graceful eagle spirit circling around her. "Créa sent me to find you and Ahavalin.” he continued, "She is only a little ways down the maze. I believe if you try to continue to your left, you will find her.”

“Thank you,” Tanith said quietly. The spirit nodded and flew off into the maze. My left...