Ethari walked out of the forest. He sighed, grateful for the chance to escape the cold fog. It was slightly thinning, but the shadows doubled. The trees seemed to reach down at Ethari as he walked through the fog of the swamp. Ethari's boot sunk rapidly into a unseen pile of muck. "Great" Ethari shouted, quickly followed by a loud curse. Ethari unfurled his wings and pushed himself into the air, unsticking his foot from the goo on the swamp floor. The speed of his push off sent him into the canopy of the trees.

Ethari fell down on the ground near the muck with a loud thump. " Ugh" Ethari moaned loudly. This swamp was horrible. As Ethari reached to pull himself he saw a massive skeleton next to him. Ethari quickly stood up and retreated to the back of a tree. What was that pile of bones doing there and why hadn't he noticed it before? He must of upset them when he hit the canopy of the trees. What could have killed that was so large? Ethari gazed into the trees to see exotic birds making a occasional caw.

Ethari shuddered out at the thought of what could have killed the creature. A roc or phoenix? They didn't live out here. Ethari quickly walked towards the direction the swamp ended. He wanted to get out of here, and fast. The shadows seemed to reach out at him, grab at him, consume him. Ethari wasn't normally scared, but this was different. It was dark at night and the canopy blocked out the friendly warming light from the stars. As Ethari turned his boot got stuck in a pit of quick sand again. Ethari rocketed into the sky to avoid being consumed by the quicksand. Yet again he hit the canopy and thumped on the swamp ground. Ethari groaned loudly on the ground of the swamp.

You cannot fly out of this forest said Nesh Psion Spartan. He was sitting on a tree nearby observing a stranger who seemed to be new to the swamp. The branch was wet and it was soaking Nesh's cloak. But the chill of the swamp enticed him to sit still. He looked down at the stranger who was struggling with the quicksand. Dun move, and the quicksand will release you...the trees are cursed...enchanted by the demon who owns the swarm...you can only get out of this land by land...the trees wouldnt permit you to fly away my friend...I am Nesh Psion Spartan and I am a visitor to Arda to complete my mission...what bring you here Mr.?.... said Nesh as he cautiously climbed down the tree...

Up ahead, skylark saw to men talking. Great, she thought, some company. She had been traveling in the forest more days now, living off plants and shrubs."YOu shouldn't be surprised by that skeletonshe said. Skylark had seen much worse in her travelings.There are probably creatures in this land that even the oldest wizard has never seen. What are your names?

[Drygonsky grimaced as dirt splattered on to his newly washed cloak. " Hey, Paek slow down a bit. " He whispered to his Dire Wolf that he was riding. He released all preassure of his heels on the wolf's side, and patted his head. " Stop. " He commanded Paek. He dismounted from where he sat on the wolf's back. " You stay here, I'm going to check something out. I thought I heard noises. " Drygonsky told his mount regretfuly. The thought of leaving the massive wolf scared him a bit.

Yes Master. Paek thought spoke to him.

Drygonsky whipped around angrily, " How many times have I told you not to call me master?" Drygonsky whispered, a tint of anger in his voice.

Sorry Mas-- Dryonsky.

That's better... Drygonsky thought to himself as he crept through the undergowth of the Misty forest, his heart beating faster with each step. All at once he came to a clearing. He hid behind a thick tree, and listened to the conversation. He could only make out bits and pieces. He heard a girls voice. " ... by that ... There are probably... wizard has never... your names? " [/COLOR] from the sound of it, the girl had stumbled across some people. Drygonsky peered out from where he hid, and couldn't help gasping with surprise. Skylark? What is she doing here? Drygonsky thought in amazment. She did say that she was a wanderer not from Lomedor, but the Misty Forest her home? Drygonsky blinked and caught a glimpse of someone sitting on a branch in a tree. He appeared to be where all of the thoughts were being projected from. Drygonsky took a step closer, accidentally stepping on a twig.

CRACK

Drygonsky leaped into the clearing with surprise. " Err... Hi? " Drygonky said, trying to start a conversation and be friendly, hoping the being in the tree wouldn't harm him. Hearing the nervousness in his voice, Paek came galloping towards him. Drygonsky put a hnd on his head and murmered reassuring words to calm him down. He sighed, feeling much safer with the Dire Wolf by his side. He heard a shriek above the high foliage, and looked up. Felix squeezed his small body through an even smaller hole, and came crashing down, miraculously gaining controll and landing perfectly on Drygonsky's head. Drygonsky laughed nervously. " It's okay guys. I'm fine. " Drygonsky murmered, turning his gaze back to the others in the forest clearing.

The two men were speechless, she was so angry with them. How could that man possibly be angry because his new boot got a bit of mud on them? SKylark darted up a tree and yelled at the two clueless men. I suggest you leave this forest, walk west and after a few hours you will get out.[COLOR=teal] Skylark jumped off the tree and landed on grass, somewhere she heard something bark, it was a dog, no a wolf. She decidded to let it go, so she went into a sort of cave thing where three trees had fallen against each other. [COLOR=teal] How clueless can explorers be? Well, she knew, she was a wanderer, a great one that is.

Drygonsky saw the girl--Skylark, with the short temper walking towards an opening in the rock's face, where three trees had fallen across the opening. He decided to follow her and watch what she was doing. How does one have an argument with people that aren't even angry, when they weren't even talking to her in the first place? Really short temper... He thought, motioning for Paek to follow, and holding out an arm for Felix to rest on. He peered into the cave and saw Skylark sitting there, sulking and storming.
" Hey Skylark," Drygonsky called into the cave. Her head snapped around, until she was fully watching him, her eyes narrowing to slits. " I just wanted to see what you were doing, okay? No harm meant..." Or done, he thought, as her frown quickly turned to a smile. He noticed her watching him and began to talk again, "So you live here?" he asked, choosing his words carefully.

Skylark sat down in the cave, she wondered, why had she gotten so angry, she usually didn't, maybe it was because I don't anyone else here in misty forest, she thought. Then she hear someone say Hey Skylark Skylark looked up, it was drygonsky, what a pleasure, she narrowed her eyes, determined to make him leave. Then she smiled slowly when Drygonsky asked what she was doing, mentioning that he didn't mean any harm. Skylark sighed and looked down. I'm resting, if you saw I just yelled off those two men.

Drygonsky asked if she lived here, hearing those words, Skylarks heart dropped.

I'll have to tell her, Skylark thought.

Yes, I live here, I've lived hear since I was a child, I think. You see, i don't really remember, when I was small, very small, I just remember, soemone, somthing, a man I think, stabbing my parents. I was hidden in a hollowed tree trunk. I survived, there was a bird, a red and orange bird, tha-that saved me. I've lived hear ever since. Skylark stood up and walked out, she picked a gob of mud and threw it at the nearest tree and watched as Drygonsky cringed.

I wished I had real parents Skylark mumbled

Ethari's mouth hung agape, in shock. He had become stuck in some mud, and was approached by three people, and then they left, with harsh words. He decided to go follow them, and see what the problem was. Cataraza, his dove, was perched on his shoulder, and watched the surrondings, gently nudging his head when a obsticle came in his way.

He approached a cave and heard the two people talking. There was several trees blocking the enterance to the cave. Ethari debated weather he should cut them out of his way, or just fly over. He decided on flying over. Ethari unfolded his wings and glided gently over the trees and found the two people inside the cave, along with a wolf.

Ethari reached his hand on the hilt of his diamond blade, worried if the wolf was one of Ita's followers. He had read up on choas and learned that Ita gave her devoted followers a lupine companion, that would obey them at command. He quickly reached out his will into the cave and sensed if there was any evil present. He didn't detect any in the two people, and his grip on his blade loosened.

Ethari faced the girl who had shouted at him and said "Hello, I'm sorry that I didn't reply, it was fear that stopped me, to tell you the truth. I sensed some evil in that man on the branches, and I was looking for my priest ally." Just as Ethari finished his sentence, Tarkin, his ally who was a priest of Therenody, walked in and said "you called." Ethari smiled at him, glad that he was safe and said, "Yes, I saw a man who could be evil and tried to see if you were safe, which you are. Why don't you introduce yourself to the two here." "Why, I'm Tarkin, and I'm helping Ethari find Balance," he said with a smile.

Skylark looked down, then up again, suddenly, instead of just Drygonsky and Paek, there were three men. In surprise, she hung her mouth open and stuttered," Hi, who, um, well, what are you doing? The man she had seen earlier was there, She still saw the crusty mud on his boot." Don't worry, he's not going to attack you, Drygonsky said. Skylark had also noticed the mans tense body. Is he afraid of everything, she thought.

There was another man there. He had spoken softly and said his name was Tarkin.
" I'm Skylark, and this is Drygonsky. skylark stood up and inspected the two men. They didn't look dangerous, and she suspected they weren't. Come in, Skylkar said as she led thtem into a deep underground cave.

Ethari said polietly "nice to meet you both" His dove perched on his shoudler pecked at his ear, and his newt ran up his leg and onto his other shoulder. " Oh I forgot about you two," Ethari said with a smile. His dove bite his ear playfully and Ethari said, " The feisty dove on my right shoulder is Cataraza, and that playfull newt on my left shoulder is Rahu. There my friends, along with Tarkin here."

Ethari noticed a small twitch on the girl, and was able to figure from it that she was easing up to the situtation. Therendoy had granted him that ablity as bieng a one of her Harbringers of Balance and he used it to his advantage. " Come in," Skylark said. Ethari walked and began to follow her into the cave.