It was mid day and Shadow had arrived in this place. He was unfamiliar with this spot in Arda. Upon entering the are he could see elves walking about going form point to another, traders doing what they did best, an archery area where the soldiers of the elven army practiced their shooting skills. Some of the trees had doors on them indicating that some were homes, some were shops, one led to a wide open are with a spectacular sparkling pond with a waterall. one had the emblem of the elf leader, and one had a strange marking but Shadow had no indication of what it was. Gazing at the different things. In the spot with the strange marking on it a being came out motioning for Shadow to follow. "Come traveler, follow me if you wish to know of this place." The figure in which looked like an elf of that area but wasn't went back in. Shadow looked with curiously and went in as well. Inside there was a tablewith two chairs and candles on it, a book shelf full of things from Arda's past, different races, and some with the history of the elves, a bed off in one corner, and a slight sweet smell in the room. Walking up to the table, one book caught Shadow's eye though. Picking it up and upon eaxaming it, the figure came up to him and grabbed it out of his hands. "This book is not meant for you too read. Now please sit, there is much I must tell you about this place if you wish to explore here."

Shadow sat down and was ready to introduce himself. "My name..." The figure cut him off. "I know who you are. Your name is Shadow." Shadow was getting more curious by the minute. "How do you know my name?" "The wind tells of everything. If you just listen to hard enough you can hear what it has to say." The figure sat down across from Shadow and he began to tell of this place. It only took him a about an hour to just about explain the complete area but, there was one more thing to tell. "Now traveler, listen carefully. At the very end of the place there is a great building heavily gaurded. Inside there is an item of great value that the world needs to know about, but the elder elves won't let anone see it. I want you too do something for me. This item I found is actually my property. I found it years ago. The elders won't give it back to me. I would like you to retreve it for me, if you do I will reward you with great knowledge of spells and how to defeat those of Raku's command, and Raku himself." Shadow thought about it for a while. If he did this he could find a way to relinqish Raku of his god like powers and kill him, and he would be hailed as a hero in Arda. Upon further thought Shadow finally gave his answer. "Fine I will do it, but you must promise to give me what you said. Agreed?" Shadow stuck ot his hand to sel the deal. The elf like figure shook it. "Now go and get me this item."

Shadow left the elf figure, and went forth to do what was asked of him. "This will be the beast thing to ever happen. Getting the knowledge too defeat Raku, and save Arda from evil forever."

Green=me
Red=Elf like figure/Dark evil elf

"Stop him! He's an assassin!" Several Elven guards ran after a well-armed man through the whole city. "Oh yeah? Who am I after then?" "One of our Elders!" This man's intentions were found out. The assassin took a corner and ran down the alley. The guards had lost sight of him. Until an arrow flew. It struck the man in the arm and his hiding spot in the shadows was lost. The guards were flustered, not knowing where the arrow came from. One of them just saw the assassin run off with more arrows trailing him. An armoured man then jumped down from the rooftop of which he was hiding on and chased the assassin. His target was in clear view but the assassin didn't have armour encumbering him. The hunter outstretched his arms while still running. "Strengthen!" His speed increased and he soon caught up to the assassin. He quickly put away his bow and tackled his target to the ground. The assassin landed an uppercut to the hunter's jaw and kicked him in the chest, knocking the hunter off him. He grabbed a concealed dagger and threw it at him. It just missed its slowed target but the second one struck the ankle. The assassin fell down and saw the hunter get up and draw a sword. Guards surrounded the two, ensuring the assassin could not escape. The hunter then had his sword point toward the assassin's head. He spun it vertically and drove it through his target's head. He lifted his sword and sheathed it in its proper scabbard. All but a few of the guards left the scene. The remaining guards approached the man.

"We appreciate the help but who are you exactly? And why are you here?" The man smiled. "Bounty Hunter Arcan Zarikon. I'm here for a bounty concerning a dark elf and I thought I'd get myself known around here. Positively of course." The guard nodded. "There can't possibly be a Dark elf within these walls. Our watchers would have seen him enter." "He's definitely here I know but I lost him when I saw that assassin. Got a bit side-tracked I guess." "Alright. Get going. The Elders wouldn't allow a Bounty Hunter in our fair city. Best get moving before someone else reports your presense." Arcan nodded and started picking up his daggers and placed them in the respective slots of his hidden vest. As he turned he saw someone come out of a building. Arcan hid behind a corner, certain that the person was not of Elven blood. He'd track this man and see what he's up to. He didn't look evil but Arcan planned to follow him just in case.

While traveling to his destination, Shadow had heard all the commotion going on in the street. Ignoring the disturbance Shadow had to focus his main attention on his current objective. Shadow had thought about it more and more while he continued down the road, and it made him all the more eager to get the information and knowledge he needed to free Arda. Not noticing the figure behind Shadow just contiued onward in hopes that no one would get in his way.

He was about half way there, the are was more open then in the city and there was more brush around. A group of thives from differetn races ambushed Shadow. "Hey guys it seems we have some one who appears to be lost." The bandit was wearing a leather vest, pants and boots. With a dagger and bow equiped to him. "I can assure you I am not lost. Now let me pass." Shadow conted the bandits and there appeared to be at leat ten too twelve of them. "You can pass when you pay our toll, if you don't pay the toll then we will have to get rough and take it from you." The bandits around Shadow wer getting edgy, they all appeared to be itching to fight. "I will not pay your toll and I can assure you if you fight me you will lose. You may have more ally than I do right now, but your strength can not be comapared to mine." Shadow readied a hand on his sword. "Why you insolent fool. Men attack!" The bandits around Shadow lunged at him and Shadow teleported out of the way as all the bandits crashed into each other. Shadow then reappeared in front of the bandits. "I told you...Now leave me be or you will die." The leader of the bandits got irritated by Shadow.

"I'll show you!" The head bandit pulled out his dagger and charged at Shadow and slashed in the front of him. Shadow just took a step back. "Too slow...I gave you a fair warning." Not noticing it but the bandit did hit Shadow a line of blood shwoed up on his chest. "I didn't miss." The bandit had a strange ability to convert his mana energy into a slash wich can be thrown from any type of blade. Shadow looked at the cut. "Alright you have just sealed your fate. You should have just let me leave like I asked you too, but you are too stubborn to listen." Shadow pulled out his sword and charged at the bandit, he swung his sword but the bandit was too slow too dodge it and his body was cut diagonally in half. The other bandits were shocked that their leader was dead and they too attacked at Shadow.

As they attacked Shadow opened his wings from around his body and flew into the air. The were in one spot and Shadow launched a fireball, incinerating their bodies the fireball created a scorch mark on the ground and casued a giant dust cloud to rise which could be see from the city. It was now more tha likely that the elf gaurds were going to investigate this incident. Shadow had to quickly continue and get away from the scene.

Kitsu sat casually on the roof, or rather the large flat tree branch, a few feet above the floor. Nobody would think to look up to try and spot her so she just sat there with her tail hanging down behind her and munching happily on a strangly baked piece of bread she'd swiped when the owner wasn't looking, she could still hear his grumbling even after 20 minutes and it gave her a fit of the giggles.
If you laugh that much you're going to fall off,
Kitsu looked up into mid air, still with her mouth full.
"mm, mmhnn mhhp mmh bmmlmph," she said.
Excuse me?
Kitsu swallowed hard and gapsed before repeating:
"I can keep my balance," she replied "I just....Whao!"

She toppled over backwards and off the branch, coming to a halt at the floor in a heap.
You were saying?
"Aw! Not that's just not fair!" Kitsu yelled out loud "Ashi! You pushed me didn't you!"
Exactly how can I push you? I've got no solid form right now
"I don't care!" Kitsu replied out-loud "Whatever you did, you did it on purpose!"

She was about to continue her obsessive rambling when she heard the impact of the large fireball nearby, she instantly stopped and sat up, looking round and smelling burning.
"That had better not be somebodies kitchen," she remarked "I kinda like elf bread, and I want some more!"
She got up and wandered over to where the noise had come from. Once she reached it she noticed Shadow standing nearby the singe, she stopped and stared in suprise.
"There's something you don't see every day..." she muttered "Que?"
She looked down and noticed one of the charred corpses, and the small puch on the back of the belt that was still monstly intact.
"Ooh!" She immediatly ducked down and pulled it off, checking the contense and noticing the small coins inside "all right!" She yelled, completely forgetting that Shadow was there "No idea how much these are worth but I bet it's real lucky!

Kitsu, pull yourself together, you're embarrasing me...
"Que?"
Kitsu stopped and looked up, suddenly remembering that Shadow was there.
"Oops," she muttered "err, you never saw that right?" She pointed at the corpse and the puch in her hand.

Shadow looked at Kitsu. "err, you never saw that right?" Shadow smiled. "Hey what ever floats your boat. I really don't care. I mean no disrespect though but don't get in my way of my current mission or I will have to move you from my path." Shadow casually began to walk torwards his destination once more.

A few hundred yards down the road eleves could be heard hollering and at each other giving commands and so forth. "Damn...didn't think they would get here this quickly." Looking to Kitsu. "Kitsu...it would be wise for you to hide or something. If those elves see you there and the dead corpses...well I'll just say their law system is guilty if evidence points to you." Shadow turned and began to run down the road. Disreagarding the cut on his chest Shadow had blood dripping and leaving a little trail but not really noticable enough for the elves to see. The soil quickly absorbed the blood. "I wonder what this item is that this elf wants. If it worth this much maybe I can learn to use it as well." saying to himself.

Kitsu looked up at Shadow, and felt her curiosity peak rapidly.
"Aw take it easy," she sadi smiling "I'd never get caught anyway."[COLOR] With that she felt a fit of giggles coming on, one of the many things that sparked them off was people warning her about being caught [COLOR=white]"and even if I was," she added "As....Que?"
She looked round to see that Shadow had gone, leaving a trail of blood behind him, however Kitsu didn't notice it.

"Well, how rude," she muttered standing up "how could anybody walk out on a person when they're talking."
She wandered up and down between the charred corpses for a bit, seeing if they had anything worth nicking, while she was going about she didn't notice one of them behind her begin to move, and stand up with great diffuculty. It seemed as though Shadow didn't quite get them all.

He staggered forwards, drawing a dagger and lashed at Kitsu, she looked about just in time to see him and threw herself backwards, the man missed but ran for her again. This time Kitsu struck first, only it wasn't Kitsu, in a moment her eyes had become red, and hair had darkened and her entire exression was that of a dark confidence. She drew her demonic blade and slashed off the man's arm, he yelled and staggered back. Ashi grabbed him by the collor and slammed him into the wall.
"Looks like you won't be sneaking up on little girls for a while," she said smirking.
"N-n-no," the man replied.

"Didn't think so," Ashi smiled and leaned closer, whispering in his ear "I don't even think you'll be sneaking up on anybody, ever again."[COLOR]
The man's eyes widened as he realized what Ashi was about to do, then rolled up into his head as he slumped to the ground.
[COLOR=purple]"Hm, not as satisfying when it's not drawn out," she sighed "Oh well."
She looked up and noticed the trail of blood that Shadow had left.
"Well now, let's see what our little friend is searching for," she laughed, Kitsu found amusement in thievery, Ashi found amusement in torment.

Shadow had been following the path he was on for some time now. Hopeing that no one knew that he was the one for that destruction a little while back. "Ok...time too see if I can see the building I need to get into." Shadow unfolded his wings and flew up into the air. Scanning his surroundings for any buildings in sight. A bit farther down he could see a building with two things moving forom side too side. "That must be it. The palce isn't too heavily gaurded. Unless they rely on magical traps." Shadow landed back on the ground and continued his walk. He did not fly becuase that would give away his position and he could not let that happen. It took only a matter of a few minutes to arrive at his destination, but now that he is there he must think of a strategy to get in and around the spell traps to get the item. He also did not know if Kitsu had followed him or not but if she did she might be of some help.

(sorry 3:17 in the morning really tired.)

Kitsu wandered out from the alley as though the entire incident with Ashi had never happened, it was something that happened practically everyday for her and she'd grown used to it very quickely. She looked down at the trail of blood Shadow had left behind, she knelt down to examine it.
"Ouch! That looks like it hurt," she muttered "how can he still be walking after that?"
She followed the trail for a while, not really having much else to do and not knowing what waited for her if she did find Shadow again.

Kitsu,
"Huh?"
Look up!
Kitsu looked up, and her jaw dropped slightly when she saw Shadow flying above them, searching.
"What's he looking for," Kitsu wandered aloud.

(i had landed on the ground and traveled a bit down the road so you couldn't have seen me in the air unless you were right behind me. you don't need to edit it just continue the posts. i had to point that out.)

Shadow was a bit down the road, when he looked back and saw that Kitsu was following him indeed. Calling up the energy Shadow teleported back right in front of her. "Kitsu...If you plan on following me at least try to keep up. I Have no time to help stragglers." Shadow turned around and began to walk the other way. "Try too keep up if you can." He began to walk down the road, he then decided to look at the cut that was made on his chest. Putting a hand into his vest and pulling it out to check the blood. The cut was actually deeper then he thought it was. "That's not good. If I never checked the cut I would have died." Shadow stopped walking and sat down under a tree. He slowly removed his vest to see the cut and how bad it was. Upon removal of his vest the cut started at his right shoulder and ended at the left side of his hip. "I need to sit and heal myself Kitsu." Summonig up whatever mana he had left and held a hand over his wound. "Helios." A glow emitted from his hand and the cut on Shadow's chest began to slowly close.

(I was going to edit it later, but you posted too quick)

Kitsu blinked up at him, from her point of view he seemed to be rather ignorant of himself, and was also beginning to get on her nerves.
"I'm not following you!" She complained "Ashi just told me to look up that's all, happy?"
She sighed and sat down, curling her tail into a ball.
"I'm surprised you didn't notice that thing," she said nodding at the large cut right across his chest "I mean, it's not the sort of thing you miss is it?"

Apparantly, he does.
"I noticed that," Kitsu replied out loud, looking up into thin air "I'm not as stupid as you think I am!"
Well excuse me for trying to have a conversation,
"Oh butt out,"
Kitsu breathed out heavily, however she ignored what Shadow was doing and began humming to herself brightly.

Yoro came rushing down the road, running from several chickens.
"I was hungry for eggs! Let it go already!" he yelled. He came to a path with several dead people and blood. There was nowhere else to go, and these chickens had talons! He rushed down the path, then after plenty of running, came to a great open area, perfect to fly away from the evil chickens.

He leapt up, then yelled out, "Fly!" He grew wings and grinned as he was too high up to be caught by the stupid chickens now. He flew off, then when safe, dropped to the ground. "Wow, a palace!" He saw two moving things. "Ouch, those would look painful to get hit with!"

He began walking. For several minutes, everything was just peachy!
After a while, he came to someone under a tree, along with another person with cat-like features.

"Isn't that that Kitsu person?" he asked. He walked over to them.

Arcan had been following the winged man and the cat girl for a little while now. He had heard every conversation and had seen every action. He was itching to get into some himself but he had to keep low, at least until he knew what he was after. He heard some people coming up from behind. They looked Elven enough, but there was something a bit strange. "Damn, he brought friends. Kill this one quietly and don't attract attention." Arcan realised that was an order. The Elven men drew swords and slowly advanced on the hunter. "So its noise you don't want huh? Here's some noise!" He was yelling a bit and conjured a fireball. In the light he saw that the men who had confronted him had skin too different to be an Elf. Similar but not the same. Dark elves. Someone must've hired them. Whoever did seems to have a connection with that man. Better lure them away.

He clenched his flaming fist and the flame went out. He then gripped his bow and nocked a normal arrow into it. He fired and reloaded quite quickly. His rate of fire kept the men back at a certain distance but they were moving forward nonetheless. Soon Arcan and the armoured men were in the open. At the corner of his eye did Arcan see the man and the cat-girl, along with someone else approaching them. His arrow fire slowed accidentally and one of the men charged. He raised his claymore and struck it down. Arcan just saw it and side-stepped. He launched a barbed arrow into the attacking Dark Elf. It drove its way through the armour and slightly pierced the skin. He instinctively swung his sword to the side, knocking Arcan's bow out of his hand. He turned to the smiling man. "Big mistake." He quickly drew his longsword and stabbed the man's chest with a spin. It was parried by the claymore and the man slashed at Arcan's head. The other attackers seem to be behind cover. Their leader was whispering to the claymore wielder. "Get out of there now before others see you!" Arcan's sword blocked the attack. He pushed it to the side and struck his assailant's neck with a counter slash. His head fell to the ground with the body. Arcan swiped his bow off the ground and fired a few flaming arrows at the group. "Try hiding in that!"

Shadow had been sitting for some time now healing the laceration on his chest. The healing of this woudl most definitly leave a scar with all the others he has on his chest. "No I didn't miss it Kitsu. My body has accustomed itself to pain like this. So I barely feel it when I am hit." Almost finished with the healing process and Shadow had sweat coming down off his face. He had never kept the heal spell going so long before. This would certainly make him weak and he would have to fight the strain of wanting to pass out.

All that was left was a quarter of the cut when a slight clank of metal was heard. Shadow instantly stood and from being so weak he almost fell to the side. "Kitsu we are being followed." Stopping the process of the healing, Shadow put his vest back on and readied his sword for battle even though he could barely stand. He walked back the road a bit and a warrior and dark elves were fighting. "What is going on here. I try too do one thing for someone and then everyone shows up to get it as well." Shadow was leaning on his sword for support to keep standing. "Kitsu please tell me how many are there...I can't see straight until I recover some strength."

Seeing as he was passed without being noted of, Yoro looked in the direction of Shadow as he walked back to the road. "What was that about?" asked Yoro. He decided to follow, and assist if there is any evil left to be crushed. Yoro saw several dark elves and a warrior, whacking each other in the heads with heavy blades. He rushed in beside the warrior. "Hey, need a hand?" he asked. "Well, I'll help anyway."

Yoro grabbed his Bone-Hilted Dagger and stabbed one in the arm. He pulled back on the weapon and punched it in the head with his fist, knocking it off balance. He performed a sweep kick, bringing the dark elf to the ground on his back, where he then stabbed him and defeated him.

Yoro then leapt onto another one's shoulders and kicked it back, flipping with the speed against his feet and pulling the weapon down his chest, creating a scar, which allowed it to hurt... a lot. The dark elf soon fell. Yoro turned his attention to Shadow to tell he was struggling.

"Maybe this will help a bit! Minor Heal!!" Yoro cast a spell to bring some healing to him, and then got tackled from behind by a dark elf.

The quiet area soon became a fight scene. A couple of the attacking Dark Elves were dead. One death by Arcan's blade and another by a young teenager. The winged man and the cat-girl weren't involved in the battle for now but sooner or later they would. Arcan knew it. The entire Dark Elf group was now out of hiding and they had an assortment of weapons. One had a masterly crafted crossbow with rather powerful enchanted steel bolts that did ice damage. The glowing heads showed their power. One had a steel mace and heavy armour while another had a katana of sorts. Where he got it Arcan didn't care. The last of them was apparently a mage and tactician of the group. The katana wielder was their leader. "All of you, get out of here! I'll hold them off!" The mace wielder swung at Arcan's torso. He jumped back and felt a solid kick in his spine. He hit the ground and saw he was quickly surrounded. He couldn't see the kid but he assumed he was also surrounded. A crossbow bolt was launched and struck next the Arcan's head. He rolled out of the way as two more bolts went flying. They all hit the ground and Arcan got up on his feet. He had his longsword drawn and confronted the mace wielder. Instead of attacking he outstretched his arms. "Strengthen."

He felt a jolt of power rush through him and saw his enemy swing his mace at his head. Arcan ducked and leg sweeped him. The Dark Elf fell down and felt a stomp on his back. Arcan had his foot on him and his bow with a barbed arrow loaded aimed at his hand. He released the arrow and it drove right though steel, flesh and earth, pinning the man's left arm down. More of Arcan's arrows flew and struck the man's other hand and knee joints. Before Arcan could finish him off a lightning ball came flying at him. He dived to the side and saw the ball strike the mage's pinned down ally, killing him outright. Arcan released a barbed arrow into the crossbowman's chest. It didn't hit the armour but intsead struck his weapon. A bolt was discharged and flew into Arcan's left elbow joint as the crossbow recoiled into the man's torso. He lost his grip on his crossbow and it slipped from his hands. He had more than one bolt loaded using a cartridge of sorts and the next bolt flew as the weapon hit the ground. It struck a wall behind Arcan and he saw its icy effects take place, freezing a small portion of the wall. He then felt the magic of the bolt in his arm and couldn't feel it any longer. The bolt had pierced his own armour but only minorly wounded his arm. Arcan conjured a fireball and touched it against his wounded limb. The cold in his arm was gone but it felt numb. He pulled the bolt out and tossed it aside, its magic exhausted. His hand was still carrying the fireball and the heat had slightly melted it. He finally launched it at the remaining Dark Elves and bolted behind a wall.

His unexpected attack would buy him little time but it was all he needed. He then slowly spun his arms in front of him then touched his wounded arm with a blue-glowing hand. "Halous." The glowing soon covered his arm and the injuries were gone, leaving a scar where the bolt hit. Yet another one for the record anyway. He was grateful for the new spell he acquired recently. It took a lot out of him but it did the job a lot faster. He grabbed his bow and loaded a barbed arrow into it. He then walked back to the battle and readied his bow. Arcan remembered the winged man was injured. He'd help him when he would get the chance.

"Hyaah!" Kitsu backed away as she noticed the fight breaking out "I can't count so many people moving!" She complained.
Kitsu!
Kitsu looked up and nodded. She stood up and sprinted behind a building and out of sight from the rest.

One of the Dark Elves hid out of sight in the shadows, armed with a crossbow. He loaded it stealthily and raised it to point at Arcan's head. He narrowed his eyes and prepared to fire, his fingers began to move towards the trigger when they were cut short as something sharp, cold and metal pierced through his back, he coughed and craned his neck to look round and saw Ashi holding the other end of the dagger currently imbedded in a vital area. Ashi looked up at him with an evil smile.
"Didn't expect that, did you?" She said softly.
She relished the fear in the elf's eyes bfore pulling the dagger out and letting him crumple to the ground, she wiped the dagger off, she dispised killing unless it was extremely neccissary for her to do so.

She looked up as the rest of the elves surrounded the two people attempting to fight them, Ashi drew her own blade, a demonic sword reforged to fit her fightint style. She held it backwards in her left hand and stepped out into view, waiting for the first idiot to try and attack her. She looked up and saw the katana wielding drow looking in her direction and moving forwards.
"Have it your way," she shrugged.
She elf ran at her, brandishing the weapon, Ashi ducked down and brought her blade round in a diagonal pattern, deflecting the blow, she then carried round but thrust her weapon backwards aiming for a stab, the elf leapt out of the way and raised his blade again. Ashi smiled widened.
"Not bad," she admitted "let's see if you can keep up."

Shadow was standing there when he had some minor healing doen but wasn't enough to heal the rest of the cut. With out being able to really do anything a bolt was wizzing torwards Shadow and just in time Shadow was able to dodge it. Falling to the ground with a thud. Shadow got back up and took cover by a tree. He then thought to himself. "What am I doing...why am I hiding like a coward. I should still fight even though I am weak." Without notticing the fight was over and Shadow came out from cover. "Why are those dark elves following us?" Shadow put his sword away. He has regained some strength and was able to walk straight and see straight. He walked over to the ones who killed the dark elves. "Thank you for what you have done. If it wasn't for you I would have more than likly be dead if they caught up with me." Shadow extended a hand in thank and in greeting.

Ashi ducked and deflected another strike at her critical areas before rolling out of the way, she was beginning to have fun with this elf, the poor fool. He circled her with his blade raised, poised to strike when she least expected it.
"Come on," she tempted him "come and get me!"
She noticed the elf's eye twitch, he was keeping his mind focused, not giving in to her taunting lest it prove costly.
He's good!
"Shut up and let me concentrate," Ashi muttered back.
She looked back up at the elf, circling around him as well, the two of them rotating around an invisible circle.

"What's the matter," Ashi said, letting her words dig into his brain, getting right under his skin and tormenting his sub-consious mind "are you afraid of a little girl? Afraid I might hurt you? Afraid you can't win?"
She could see his mind slowly ticking behind his dark skin, a bead iof sweat on his brow, he was trying to block it out but her words were slowly sinking in. She watched him greedily, taking in the torment that was tearing at the back of his mind. He cracked, he charged at Ashi just in the way she wanted him to. In his torment he mad a mistake, he allowed Ashi to slip behind him and soon found her blade across his throat.
"Looks like your fear were right," she said "you can't defeat a poor, young, little girl."
She pressed the blade hard, waited and then drew it across, slitting his throat. The limp form fell to hte ground, broken in body and mind. Ashi chuckled.
"Best fun I've had in days," she muttered.

Shoving the sharp end of the dagger through the elf's stomach, Yoro killed it and stood. "Thank you for what you have done. If it wasn't for you I would have more than likly be dead if they caught up with me," said a voice. Yoro turned to see Shadow extending a hand to him.

"Sure, it's kind of fun anyway," said Yoro, taking it in a split second of hesitation. "Oh, excuse me for a moment," he added, turning and stabbing one in the neck, making his death imminent.

"I'll try to back them up a little!" he said. "Fly!" Wings grew from his back as he took off into the air. "Wow, there's a lot of them!"

"Maybe the Shadow Arrow could actually hurt them..." thought Yoro. He got his bow out and fired a Shadow Arrow at one of them. It took the hit and knocked over several of his friends. "Score 181: Yoro!"

"Hahaha. This should prove interesting." Caim had noticed the battle and ran in to join. He was still in his human form, although if need be he already was ready to transform. He was not going to help either the dark elves or the group of people fighting them. He was a third party.

Unshealthing his blood sword, Caim easily hacked his way through a few dark elves. He then reconized one of the people. So, Shadow's here too. Heh, this will be fun indeed!

One of the elves then cut his shoulder. It seems the ones I cut through were just the weaklings... Ah well. This shall be a bloodfest!

Caim backed out of their formation, and took a defensive stance. "Come on then! Try to get me!"

Shadow stood waiting for the rest of the dark elves to fall. His strength had returned almost fully and his mana was just about recharged. There weren't many of the elves left so Shadow pulled out his bow and ice arrows fireing them off one by one picking off the remaining dark elves. There was one drak elf in particular though that was able to move quite fast and dodged all the arrows shot at him. "That's not a good sign." The dark elf began to run in on Shadow with a blade held high ready to strike. Shadow pulled out his sheild and defended knocking the elf back a few steps. Dropping his bow and ice arrows, Shadow pulled out his fantasy sword and was ready to deal with this one. "All right...bring it you dark elf." The dark elf charged again at Shadow with Shadow defending with his sheild the metal clanked together. Pushing the elf back once more Shadow quickly moved and thrust his sword into the elfs gut and out the back with blood bursting out from the exit of the sword. "You brought this upon yourself elf. Now you wil pay the consequence...Flame Blade!" The fantasy sword erupted in flames and in doing so the dark elf began to burn up on the inside and in just a few seconds the elf was dead. Shadow removed his sword and stopped his flame blade spell. He looked around and saw that Kitsu had finished off an elf Yoro had taken out a good group, and noticing a familiar face in the crowd. "Caim is here...oh that is just about as bad as it can get." Shadow prepared for a fight just in case Caim was here too fight whatever may pose a challenge too him.

"Haha! This is filling my bloodlust quite nicely!" Caim had already killed around 5 of the dark elves, when he realized there were not that many left. "Heh. So it's almost over already!"

He then noticed another elf coming towards him. He tried to stab it, but it parried. "Finally a challange!" He tried several more quick stabs, but the elf parried all of them. Both Caim and the elf were trying to outdo each other, if an opening would not appear, they would make one in the other. Caim then tried something else, he quickly dropped down, and tried to use his legs to bring down the elf. The elf jumped up, but Caim quickly uppercut and hacked the elf's arm off, making the elf grimace in pain.

Even without one of it's arms, the elf could still fight, as Caim did not cut off it's sword arm. "Come on then!" Caim yelled at it. The elf scowled, then charged at Caim. The sudden charge caught Caim off guard, and the elf got a slash at his chest.

"Ugh... Well then, time to end this!" Caim went into a berserker rage, hacking away until the elf's guard broke and then still hacking until it was in pieces. Blood streaking down his face, armor, and weapon, Caim ran into the next crowd.

OOC-(sorry for not posting in such a long while. my family is in a bit of chaos and distress at the moment. there is a wedding coming up and have been trying to take care of grandparents and a lot more stuff)

Shadow watched as Caim ran after the rest of the dark elves. "If anyone has any sense right now. That person who is in a berserking rage now is Caim. Definite evil, not too be trusted." Shadow put away his weapons and turned too leave the battle scene. "I am on a quest at the moment. If you wish too follow and help then come with me if not...well it is your decision too do what you wish." Shadow turned and then right in front of him was the leader of the group of dark elves. "What you seek warrior you can not obtain. It is not meant for you nor anyone else but my master." Shadow sighed and then replied. "Really...Well you can tell your master that you have failed in getting what he wants. Now move from my path or perish." The dark elf laughed sinically. "You have not the power too defeat me...it is you who will perish." The dark elf removed a dark blade from it's sheath and charged at Shadow for an attack.

"Come on then! I am Caim, and I challange all of you fools! Who else seeks defeat!" Caim had taken down several dark elves in his rage, but not without suffering injuries himself. He had used Dark Regeneration on the large gash, but still had several small to medium cuts scattered around him. They wern't bad enough to severly hinder them, but they did hurt. He was covered in blood almost fully. His armor and weapon were dripping blood.

A higher-ranked dark elf walked up to him, and a few others formed a circle. This one was wielding a rapier and buckler. "Come on then. I challange you!"

"Hah! Another challange, I see!" They both immediatly charged at each other, their blades deadlocking. This guy's strong.... Very strong. Caim was pushing with all his strength, but they were more or less equal. I still have a suprise for you!"

Caim could still focus his change even in a deadlock, he had grown proficient in that. Then the transformation started. He grew claws, out of specially smithed claw sockets in his armor, wings, again out of a specially crafted armor, his eyes turned green, and his muscles strengthened. The added strength was enough to win the deadlock. Caim then got a slash at the elfs chest, breaking the armor and cutting through the skin, and leaving a sizable gash. He used the elf's temporary weakness to finish him, by hacking off it's head.

The elves encircling Caim started charging towards him. "So, they all seek death!" Caim did a wide sweep, killing or injuring around 4 elves, but the ones at his back got some cuts in his back and wings. Grimacing, Caim flew into the air, then dove down and finished the off-guard elves. "Grunts and peons always seek death...." Scanning the battlefield, Caim saw Shadow and the elf leader fighting. Great. I can finish off whichever one wins. Caim hovered in the air and watched the two.

Arcan saw more of the Dark Elves come out of hiding and fight the small group. Someone else who seemed to know the winged man joined the fight. One wearing armour from head to toe and wielding a large warhammer saw Arcan and charged at him with his hammer above his head. Arcan fired a few arrows at the Dark Elf but they all bounced off the heavy armour. Arcan stood up and put away his bow. He drew his longsword and readied himself. The behemoth of a warrior struck, but instead of a vertical blow he let loose a horizontal strike. Arcan didn't expect this and accidentally jumped into the hammer. He flew into the opposite alley wall and saw the hammer coming down at his head. Arcan rolled to the side and struck the Dark Elf's leg. Instead of cleaving through the greaves his sword shook at contact. This shock startled Arcan and left him open for another hammer strike. The Dark Elf aimed for Arcan's head again but the swing was slower than normal. This gave Arcan ample time to lay back. The head of the hammer swung right past his face. Sick of being on the defensive, Arcan threw a fireball at his foe. The Dark Elf's armour protected the wearer against physical attacks but magic passed right through it. The fireball struck the Dark Elf and threw him into the open.

Arcan got up and swung his sword around. "Flame Blade!" His sword lit on fire as he slashed. As expected the sword passed through the armour and wounded the Dark Elf. His voice was muffled by the helmet but Arcan knew he was screaming. He launched two more fireballs then ended the skirmish with a slash to the neck. The warrior's screaming ended as his head rolled to the side. There's too many. And did that winged man say something about a quest? Three more lightly armoured Dark Elves swung shortswords at Arcan. He jumped back and threw a fireball at them. It was a wild shot and blew up near their feet. "Just when I'm thinking it's over, more pop up!" There's too many of them. Where are they coming from? Arcan heard screams of Elven guards. He ignored his attackers and ran toward the big building. "This battle is just a decoy! Whatever they're after is inside. The guards are dying!"

The dark elf swung at Shadow but he side stepped and the attack missed, but from it the sing sent out a shockwave of energy leaving a slice in the ground that went a few huindred feet past him. "Intresting...this will be a challenge. None the less...you will still loose." Shadow removed his sword once more and his sheild. "Time to end this." Shadow chrged in for a head on attack but then vanished using his teleport and showed up behind him striking the dark elf in the back. Causing a long slice with blood oozing from it. The cut that was just recently made then was instantly healed over like nothing had ever happened. "This might take longer than I thought." The dark elf turned around smiled and retaliated with another attack of his own. Shadow and the dark elf clashed for minutes on end, with the dark elf hardly injured and bruises and cuts on Shadow. "I told you you couldn't win warrior." Shadow was out of breath and was getting tired. The only way he could win was either remove the head of the dark elf or remove the heart. Shadow readied himself for one final strike forming a fireball in his hand and releasing it the dark elf dodged it and when he went to look back at Shadow he was gone. Shadow had teleported behind the elf once again and this time he took an ice arrow and jammed it into the back of the elf's head freezing it. "I win." Shadow took the flat part of his sword and then slammed it into the side of the frozen head shattering it apart with the pieces flying in every direction. The drak elf's body then fell to the ground instantly. "No more of this...Guys if your staying with me we must hurry, and Caim I don't have time to play right now." Shadow kept his weapins out and began to run torwards the building.

Ashi ducked and rolled beneath the swords of three dark elves trying to impale her at the same time and only succeding in jamming their weapons in the tree behind her.
"Aw, do we have to?" She said, in a mock sulking voice "and I was having so much fun..."
She casually pulled out her dagger and rammed it into the back of the nearest drow without a hint of caring on her face.
"Oh well," she sighed.
She raised her blade again and span round, leaping into the air and slashing the back of the two remaining elve's neck's open. They collapsed to the ground, bleeding to death.

She sighed, as their moaning slowly ceased.
"And I could have had so much fun with those two," she sighed "so, Shadow is it? Hm, not a very common name for someone like you."
She stowed her dark blade away again, walking over to him casually.
"So, what's this quest for anyway?" She asked.

"Don't have time to play, eh?" Caim attacked the few elves still brave enough to fight him, slashing through them. Flying in front of Shadow, he raised his sword to him. "Well then," he said, but suddenly lowered his sword, and started laughing. "I shall join you until this is over. Then we'll finish this." He extended his hand. "Is that a deal?"

Shadow looked to Kitsu and explained. "An old elf asked me to get back what is rightfully his. He is paying me a large sum of gold if I succeed in doing so. This building up ahead is where it is being kept under light gaurd but no doubt magical traps inside waiting to be triggered. I don't know what it actually is that I am getting I just know that when I do the old elf will teach me some of the ways to defeat Raku and his minions to make Arda a safer place and he will help me find a way to get my lost memories back and return from where ever it is I cam from." Shadow continued to run forward that is until Caim got in front of them. "I shall join you until this is over. Then we'll finish this." He extended his hand. "Is that a deal?" Shadow was getting irritated by this. "Why do you keep coming after me Caim. Is there some sort of grudge you have against me becuase if so tell me." Shadow waited for a reply but not shaking Caim's hand.

(back at the old elf's hut)
The old elf sat there watching through a crystal ball as everyone fought the dark elves. "These warriors are very strong. Most importantly I am intrested in the one called Shadow. If he was able to defeat my best dark elf then he may indeed be the one I will choose to take with me." The elf in the hut showed his true form. He was indeed a dark elf, the oldest of them all. He began to smile. "The fool though has no idea that I plan on taking over his mind. He is the one I am going to use too destroy this place. Hahahaha!" The old dark elf laughed sinically and continued to watch the out come through a crystal ball.

Caim withdrew his hand and quickly changed back to human form. "Hmm.... A grudge? It's in the gist of it. I don't hate you, I can work with you if the needs are to do so.... But, everytime we've had a duel, it's been interupted, wether by a crazed phoenix-woman thing, or by some goblins. And I can obviously see you're busy now, so I doubt you'd want a duel, and you could use my fighting abilities in this 'quest' of yours, so I see no reason why we can't join together. Besides, I see you've already made some other friends here.... Although I doubt any of them will turn on you after this. Listen, I have honor, however otherwise you may think. I won't backstab you, I'll see this through, no matter how long this takes. And you don't have much time to stand here and talk with me, those guards won't be lasting much longer as far as I can see. So, I ask again to we have a deal?" Caim reextended his hand.

Ashi looked over at Caim, first with a blank expression but it soon turned into mistrust before settling for amusement.
"Rivals already, hm?" She muttered under her breath "I wonder if........."
What are you thinking?
"You're the one roaming about in there," Ashi replied in a hushed whisper so nobody heard her, unlike Kitsu speaking out loud "you tell me."
Ashi sighed and looked back over to Shadow.

"One question," she said "don't you suppose this reward to be a little too convenient? Those with the knowledge to take down Raku would most likely have used it by now, unless they're not planning to."
Ashi's smug smile appeared on her face, she didn't care if it was true or not, but she loved messing with people's minds rather than killing them, that was too humane.
"Well, if you're planning on risking your neck for it, don't expect me to bale you out, I'm evil and I don't help other people."
And with that the light around her seemed to be sucked into her body, either that or darkness was flowing out of it, and her form transfromed back into Kitsu.

Kitsu shook herself dizzily, switching souls was something she never got used to.
"Oh, she didn't kill anybody did she?" Kitsu asked as soon as she'd recovered, she looked about and saw the dead evles all over the floor Kyaah, never mind." She sighed.

Shadow sighed a bit and then smirked and shook Caim's hand. "Agreed then. But I warn you since the last encounter we had I have gotten much stronger. This body I have now may not seem all that strong now but once I release my full power I become stronger and faster, and I won't hold back anymore not since..." Shadow looked too the sky. "Never mind about that last part." Shadow looked to Kitsu. "Hey oh good it is the real Kitsu this time, are you ok with risking your life to get this item Kitsu. It may not have been used before becuase whoever had it could probably wipe out the entire population of Arda, so maybe that's why it was locked away." Shadow looked to the others as well. "You two are more than welcome to come as well." Turning back around. "Now let us get this device. I have more important matters to attend too." Shadow began to glide across the ground and torwards the building.

(dark elf hut)
The dark elf watched carfully as everyone was close to getting the device the elf needed. After a few seconds the elf began to gather materials. Books, scrolls, potions, and a robe. The elf was preparing a ritual to use the device when he got it. "It is almost time...once I obtain that device I will use it too take control of Shadow's mind and use his powers too do my bidding and thier is no one that can stop me. Hahahahaha." The elf laughed for a bit and then continued his preperations.

Arcan didn't wait for the others to come into the building and so he was already inside. He noticed a lot of blood on the walls, with bodies accompanying it. He tried to ignore the carnage and slowly walked forward. A wounded guard was crouching next to a fellow guard. He saw Arcan and stood up, sword drawn. "Why are you here? Can't you see we don't need any strangers at the moment?" Arcan put away his weapon and raised his hands above his head. "I mean no harm to you. What happened here?" "We fought against a massacre, that's what happened! They came in from every entrance and slaughtered everyone!" "Then why aren't you dead?" "Only a few of us are left. Evereyone else went to some point where the enemy are congregating. I don't know why but there's something they want from here." Arcan leaned slightly to the right and saw a guard in the corner with an axe in the head and several arrows through his heart. "Was that your brother?" The guard sobbed. "That's something I'd rather not talk about. But if you want to follow the others then by all means go to your deathbed! I'm getting out of here to warn the city." Before Arcan could speak the guard ran past him. Ah well. I got some info out of him anyway. Let him run.

Footsteps could be heard near Arcan. He got out of sight and saw a couple of Dark Elves walk past. "This is such a demeaning job. I mean, killing Elves is great and all but why can't we loot the place?" "Because he said so! And don't even think about doing otherwise." The Dark Elves were bickering so much they didn't see Arcan in the corner. I'd better wait here for the others. That winged man would know something I don't.

Shadow was getting irritated by all the interuptions of people trying to stop him. Shadow was coming up onto the building that was holding the device he needed. He got a few feet in front of it when he was abruptly stopped by a barrier and knocked backwards. "What the hell?" Rubbing his face. The two elf gaurds looked at him and walked over. "You why have you come?" Shadow had to get these gaurds away, he couldn't tell them the real reason why he was there otherwise they wouldn't let down the barrier. "I am here to send you a message. The queen as hired me to protect this place. She needs you two back at the palace and front gates to the area. Their is a horde of orcs, ogres and dark elves ready to march in here like they own the place. The queen needs you two back their to help reinforce the area and defend." The elves looked to each other and lowered the barrier to the building. "We understand, listen carefully no one can get through this barrier but those on the inside can get out. This place is to be protected at all costs." Shadow shook his head in agreement. "Understood now go where you are needed. I will protect this place with my life." The two elves gaurding the place lowered the barrier. "The barrier will arise once more once you guys are inside it." after he said that he ran off with the other elf. Once they were out of sight. "Fools don't suspect a thing...now it is time to do what I came here too do." Shadow walked too the door way and looked back. "You guys coming. It is more than likely I will need some help. The device is probably gaurded by some magical totem that comes to life once the device is taken."

(Note:Need two creatures too use for a totem.)