The day was calm. The sun sat in the middle of the sky, and there was a cool breeze out. In the woods, all seemed peaceful, and not even the birds made noise. All that did make any noise was a single deer. It walked, tall and calm, not knowing that in reality this peace was just a facade for the danger that lurked in the tall grass.
The deer stood, silent in the tall grass. It could be seen, but it could not see what was hunting it. H'tes had been waiting for the chance. He was in his demonic form, and prepared to pounce the deer. His red eyes watched closely, but he was low to the ground and completely still so the deer would not notice him yet. He was prepared to take this deer out. It was a cruel world, but H'tes needed to feed, and that was one thing this demon form was good for.
The deer moved closer to H'tes position, and began to graze on the grass. It's neck was exposed to H'tes, who took his chance. He pounced the deer, his fangs digging into the deer's throat. His claws dug into the deer's skin, making sure he would not be flung off, and his tail wrapped around the legs to make it fall. The beast struggled, but H'tes kept his grip. This was a struggle of life and death, and H'tes would win it. He might be weaker then every intelligent creature out there, but out here with a deer he was higher on the food chain. His fangs held at the throat to slowly suffocate the creature. It was the best method of death he had for the poor deer, and it guaranteed that it would not escape, unless there was an interruption.
Unfortunately for H'tes, just such a thing was about to happen.

Re-visiting the site of the infamous "Pebble Hunt" brought the memories of the past year flooding through Stella's mind. The memory of the time she had whacked Nath with her staff caused her to laugh briefly, her feet stepping lightly on the mossy ground as she walked. Spring made the tree's and leaves a lovely color, and Stella couldn't help but admire the sun shone through the tree's, casting sparkling refracted rainbows every now and then. Truly - Nature was at it's best today. Peaceful as it was, Stella couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed. This journey through the small wood was taking longer then she has planned, an the sooner she reached the grass lands, the sooner she would be put at ease.

Soon she has reached a small clearing, any shadows she had been walking in displaying as the light shone down upon her head. Stella supposed that to anyone looking, she would appear a little odd - definitely not your average teenage girl. Her silvery blond hair - like her skin, gave off the soft, sparkling glow, illuminating her no matter how dark the surroundings where. Her eyes, filled with wonder at the beauty, simplicity that Nature was offering up was wide, her ashen face taking in ever spetical, dispite her obvious displeasure at being late to reach her schedule.

Up ahead, shielded in a patch of especially dense tree's was a figure, crouched low of the ground. Stella figuring she was not alone, began a slow skin like prance over, humming a small tune she had heard in the spring festival as she went. When she was close enough - yet to far to see the figure clearly - she called out, her musical voice raising above the rustle of leaves. A beam of light broke free of the tree's, casting her in an almost spotlight, her glow sparkling ominously.

"Hell-" Her voice cut off in a gasp. In front of her, crouched over a disgruntled deer, was a demon, its retched tail wrapped around the poor creature, it's fangs deer within the neck, draining life force slowly. Fumbling frantically, Stella withdrew her Holy Barbed staff, holding it in front of her, her Winters Embrace flapping about her waist as the breeze picked up slightly. Stella disliked fighting - yet, she knew she could no move idly by while this.... disgusting spectacle took place. Mustering her courage, Stella took a slight step towards the beast.

"STOP IT!!" She screamed, watching as one of the deers legs kicked and quivered frantically, trying to free it's self of the death grip. Stella was no Physic, yet even she knew that this poor creature had no life left in it to stand more of this. Opening her mouth, Stella waited for the beast to react to her intrusion, hoping that it would release the creature and come for her. She was ready to do what she must to help the deer, no matter the cost.

OOC: Didn't realize this was private! :[

H'tes was busy trying to suffacate the creature when he heard it. At first it was a light and interrupted Hello, but he ignored it. But when he heard 'STOP IT!' he looked up, letting go. He had no idea anyone would be in here, and he looked at the person. She looked human, but something was odd about her. Silver hair, a slight glow, and an odd... pureness to her.
But, as H'tes had let go, the deer fought back. A hoof smacked him in the face as he fell off. The deer was quick to get back up and take off running. H'tes knew he wouldn't be able to catch it now. He had waited for hours for that one meal that was now slipping from his grasp.
His gaze went from the now gone creature towards the one who interrupted him. This human (since that is what he thought she was) had interrupted his hunt. One thing he could do properly in this world and she stopped it from happening. He went into a position that said he was about to pounce her. His long and thin black tail with an end like a spear was going from side to side. His eyes, blood red with slitted pupils and black sclera (sclera is the white of your eyes) seemed to be enraged. His four black horns, two larger outer horns and two smaller inner horns, seemed to be mingle with his long black hair in the shadows of the trees, and his black claws were dug into the earth. Aside from those features, and his forked tongue and fangs which she would not be able to see at the moment, he looked rather human, because with his lack of demon blood, whether he was in demon form or not he would still look mostly human, and his still small and childlike body was much less frightening then any full demon. Most humans would only see those demon features, while most demons would only see those human features. He would never win with any crowd in this form.
But H'tes was in a pose he did not usually take: one ready to pounce. He was prepared to jump upon her, to strike her. His own human mind seemed to have given way to demon nature and hunger. Normally, Chris would run if seen by a human. Humans only caused trouble if they caught a glance at his demon form. But sense was not with the young quarter demon right now. He pounced at the woman, making a long jump that he could only do in this demonic form, planning on rapping around her in a similar way to the deer, with the claws in her back, and his fangs at her throat and using the tail to bind the legs.

It was as though the fine weather was messing with her brain. That or she was still recovering from the strange plant she had dared to try earlier. It seemed innocent enough, the soft Petals a light purple colour, their small delicateness appealing to her in the middle of a field surrounded by just dried grass. Stella would not hunt, and dared to draw her weapon at any time to actually attempt to catch one of the beautiful living creatures. In fact - after seeing a Deer hunted a couple of weeks ago - Stella dared not even eat meat, knowing know how these Hunters came about the substance.

Happening on this demon, well, it had made her sick, watching it try to rip it's neck open, even now - faced with her, it did not release the poor, agitated creature, it's eyes spinning wildly in it's sockets, trying desperately to free itself. The creature reared up, using the Demons distracted seconds to make it's pitiful bid for freedom. It's hoof manages to scuff the demon in the head, and Stella watched with mild amusement as it bounded off into the tree's, freedom granted to it. It seemed she no longer had a quarrel with this beast.

Turning her gaze once more down, she parted her lips - readying herself to announce to the Demon that she was glad the beast had been freed, and most likly start her long lecture on what it was doing was wrong. But upon setting her sight on the creature, it appeared it had regained it's composure from the Deer strike. Crouching, almost like a tiger, waiting to the apt moment to strike, it waited, claws burying into the ground, almost in anticipation for the attack. She knew, Stella knew straight away that that was what this was. A preparation, a stance as you will, before the main assault.

Preparing herself, mentally and Physically, Sella waited for the attack, her staff raised in waiting, her breath cought, waiting... Spells racing through her mind, their properties and differnt out comes mulling over. What would be most effective? Choosing a spell - one of her deadliest, and most favourable, Stella voiced the words over and over in her mind, her eyes wide, watching as her arms stood rigid, her form bent slightly as her feet spread farther apart. It was only a matter of time.

Soon the waiting was over, and the creature Pounced. She was ready, though only barely, it's speed in which it flew at her taking her momentarilly by surprise. She had expected a slower attack, though thinking back later, she would realise that this was her first encounter with demons, and so fighting style was new to her completely. Raising the staff, she braced her staff against it as the beast collided with her, and she jumped away agilely, swinging her staff in case it flew any faster. Even her fast reflexes couldn't help her leave totally unscathed, as one of the sharp claws cought her upper arm, creating a deep gash. The blood poured easily over her, and she winced from the sudden stinging pain. Now she was mad.

The spell - voiced over and over in her head was the first she called upon, shouting it, her voice riddled with mix hatred and slight pain. "Solar Wind!" Her arm holding the staff began to vibrate as the power of the Stars began to grant her the cestrial powers she needed to use magic. A fire, glowing hot began to propel itself at the demon, it's fires scolding, it's power immense. The shot sent her sliding backwards, her heels digging in as she fought to remain upright, skidding back now and then. Eventually, the strain to keep the attack power flowing dyed, and she released it, falling to one knee. Dropping the heavy staff, she pulled out her Winter Wand, preparing for some sort of retaliation from the beast. Let the battle begin.

---

((H'tes... I'm so sorry for the dely. I'm not ignoreing you. :cuddle: ))

H'tes was able to strike blood. He licked it from his claws before preparing to attack again. But he saw something that struck him as time to defend. She shouted her spell and it began to come at him. Large flames of Solar Wind spread out at him, burning all that was in her path, and unfortunately, he was in her path at the time. He did not have time to waste.

He had to very quickly summon his own power, calling it out in Black Speech. "To those that fear the flames of hell, thou shalt fear me." he said in his voice that was a mix of the childish human and the terrible demon. But, she would not see what it did immediately.

The flames engulfed him. He could not escape from them, but nor did it seem he tried to. The grass and trees he was near were also burning, hiding what happened to his own body. Smoke and flamed seemed to hide all that remained of H'tes.

But then, a hand came out of the flames and stepped on the part of the ground not on far. Walking on all fours, H'tes slowly moved out of the fires, his eyes fixed on the girl. But, something was different about him. His black blood that showed from his veins had become brightly colored, like fire flowing through him. Even in his eyes, blood veins in his Sclera (white of human eyes, black for H'tes) were burning like fire as well.

The spell H'tes had used was a very powerful, and very dark spell that made the user gain the power of the flames of hell, for a short time. As a side affect, it made the user immune to fire. But his clothing was burned. His pale skin seemed to also have lightened up from the fires of hell, and he seemed undamaged.

H'tes stayed crouched down on all fours, staring at the girl until he breathed in. Inhaling the air around him, it seemed like he was trying to calm himself down. In truth, he was just getting ready to exhale. As he breathed out, flames shot out of his mouth straight at the girl. This had turned from simply hunting a deer to becoming a fight to the death with a skilled magic user, and H'tes was determined to win. But at the same time, he was wearing himself out from the large use of magic. It was unlikely he'd be ableto use any other spell, but it was also unlikely he'd be able to think of another spell to use. His demon form and his Hellfire were both suppose to be last resorts, but H'tes was already using both.

Stella could feel her energy draining. She had been walking for so long, with little rest, and already her fatigue was down. The Magic had sapped more energy then she should have allowed, and the situation she was in was dangerous. She did not watch him get burned, not wishing to witness the gruesome scene. Instead, she still rested on one knee, one hand on the floor, the other still grasping the wand, her eyes downcast to the floor as she took a brief rest. It was not use, she could feel her consciousness slipping...

Her breathing heavy, she felt her limbs becoming heavy, her body drooping further to the ground. "To those that fear the flames of hell, thou shalt fear me." Most possibly his final words. Sweat dripping from her brow, she listened to the sound of the roaring fire as the dried brush near him cought alight. She would have to put that out. Sighing, she began to struggle to her feet, shakily standing straight and looking ahead, daring to glance at the beast's remains. Staring transfixed, horror crossing her face, she let her mouth fall open in shock, her weak state momentary forgotten.

The creature was rising from the flames, looking unscathed, only his clothes burned by the attack. It seemed... impossible, yet here it was, the creature defying everything she believed. That attack should have finished the creature, but yet it was rising, eyes fixated on her in hatred, Perhaps... perhaps she was weaker then she had thought. It was the only explanation - her attack had been pitiful! She needed to use another, to test this theory. Yet... glancing down, Stella noted her form was shaking madly. Her arm holding the wand was claimed to her side lazily, and refused to rise. Dropping once again to own foot, Stella looked up at the creature, her eyes seeming lost... saddened.

She was slipped into a void she knew she should not travel. Not death... or so she hoped this was not death. The cold, heavy pull on her body was irresistible, a little taster of the enjoyment she could feel is she slipped into the void... the feeling was maddening. Her arm shaking, she layed herself on the floor wearily. Once down, she uttered a light sigh of releif at the feeling. Numbness had spread through her, and her cut no longer stung, just a mild throbbing, but her mind had blacked it out. Her breathing turned softer, lightly as she prepared to slip into slumber - perhaps an eternal one.

Eyes glancing up to the creature, she sent it a pleading look, almost begging it not to let this be her last day in Arda. She felt as though she had almost just arrived. No longer could she look at the creature, as Stella found herself being pulled... deeper and deeper into the void of sleep, and before long she had fully entered. It felt nice, and she slept peacefully on the floor, her weapons forgotten, her fight left. She was open to attack, open to be killed. She was defenceless to everything, specially the creature who moment ago had pounced for her. In the steady slumber, her mind knew they she should not be sleeping, that she should get up - run as far as she could, yet the sleep was so good. Stella had lost consciousness.

H'tes had been ready to breath the flames over her, to kill her. But as she had used too much magic, she looked so... helpless. He hesitated at the look in her eyes, as she dropped down to the ground. Her eyes had told him, begged him not to kill her.

The part demon was at a loss. Inside, two sides of him seemed to emerge. The human part, begging to let her live. The demon part telling him a human who knew his true form was only dangerous. He could not bring himselfto commit cold-bloodied murder like this.

He would have left, but unfortunately, he was out of time too. His magic use was at it's highest, making him already weak, but time on his spell that kept him in his demon form had ended. He cringed in pain, screaming out. His horns went back in, his tail vanished, the hellfire of his blood dissipated and became red and human, his skin returned to normal, his mouth became human. All that was left of the demon were it's eyes, the only part of H'tes demonic being that did not need to be forced out, and was actually morenatural to him then his human eyes. Pain mixed with his worn out use of magic made him fall into unconciousness.

One could not say he had one the fight, since both combatants were now lying on the ground, unconcious. It would be a draw, but that might depend on who woke upfirst. If H'tes awakened first, he would simply leave before she woke again. If the girl woke up first, H'tes could not be sure what she would do. She could be one of those holy types that would not hesitate to kill a part demon while it was down, or she could perhaps show him mercy. Or, she could put him in a cage as a carnival freak for all he knew. It would not matter, for in his unconcious state, he would be helpless.

Her dream had been odd to say the least. In it, Stella was surrounded by multiple demons, all crouched, ready to strike her down with one smooth, swift movement. She crouched low, shaking, shivering in fear, eyes wide open, her fingers clamped over them, staring through the gaps in anticipation and fear. They all rose into the air at once, all falling towards her. Clamping her eyes shut, she felt neither their impact, nor the pain that she thought she would have.

Opening her eyes hesitantly, she found herself in the blackness of space, floating around in the Human Form. She was traveling rather fast, as though being dragged to a certain point. Planets, solar systems whizzed passed her, asteroids barely missing her. It was exhilarating, and reminded her so much of home. Her heart throbbed, and she turned her head, trying to work out where she was being dragged backwards.

She noticed Earth, the brilliant greens and blues. It was dragging her in, and she looked down and noted a rope attached to her, the planet reeling her in. Reeling her home. She watched in horror as the tugging, the pulling was bringing her with blinding speed to the ground, a collision course. Horror stuck through her, as she sailed head first towards the ground. Closing her eyes tightly, she opened them, gasping. She was awake.

The sun had set, and it appeared to be well into the night. Her arms and legs ached, but her energy was strong enough to allow her to rise. The Moon was full, lighting the area her glow did not. It seemed the demon had fled - or so it seemed to Stella. Standing carefully, still rather shaky, she took a couple of unsteady steps. Unknown to her layed the demon, directly in front of her, sending Stella stumbling down. Struggling to climb off the thing on the floor, she twisted so that her glow lit up the bulk.

At first glance Stella thought she had stumbled upon a girl, but on closer inspection noted the familiar marking of a boy - around her age, his long black hair covering most of his face. His eyes where shut - and he seemed to be sleeping. It was hard to guess his age, but Stella believed him between the ages 10-19. She knew herself how looks could be deceiving, herself looked younger then she appeared. Standing once again, she looked down at him once again. He was small - possibly her height.

Standing over him, Stella began to poke him with her foot, carefully trying to wake him, warn him that there was possibly a demon wondering around here, her eyes constantly glancing around, looking for some sign of the beast, lurking in the shadows. If it came for her now, she was defenseless, her weapons still laying some feet away. She should try get them... right now though, she needed to wake this boy, and get him to safety also. "Hey... hey, wake up!" She whispered softly in the moonlight.

She was not the only one to have a dream as they laid down on the ground, unconcious. His dream, however, was set on earth. In a carnival, him in a small cage, shivering in his demon form as humans jeered at him. Completely alone, and exposed for what he was on the inside. Then, holy nights surrounded the cage and stabbed him in it. But he would not die, more be tortured by the pain, crying in his lonesome as the humans all laughed at him. But the dream was interrupted here.

H'tes slowly woke up to the sound of someone. It sounded familiar, like he had heard it before. He very slowly opened his eyes, and met the eyes of the girl he had been fighting. But his eyes were still in their demonic form. He quickly paniced, getting up and backing away in a crouched four-legged position.

He might have been merciful to the still oddly glowing human, but he had no idea if she would be the same. And in panic, with his demonic eyes still showing, she would likely be able to guess that he was the same demon that had attacked her. That and the fact that not much had really changed from his Demon form, except lack of claws, horns, tail, fangs, and snake like tongue, and the black color in his blood.

He started to realise one thing he had forgotten in his sleep: He lacked clothes. Those were burned off in her fire. He blushed and tried to cover himself as best her could. It would certainly be enbarrasing to try to come off as still threatening enough to not be taken down by a human andyet now blushing from having no clothes on. In fact, those were his only clothes. This was going to be a fun night...