The walk up to the rain forest had not been easy - to say the least. Walking through torrential rains, blizzards, and the odd Thunder storm had left Calanon a little worse for wear. The shelter the tree's seemed to offer had been irresistable. But, like all seemingly good things, the Forest had not been better. If Calanon had to describe it simply, it was worse. Just.. worse. For a start, the ground was more liquid then the rains pelting him. How? Who knew, but they where. Soaking his long trousers through, seeping through his shoes like there was no tomorrow. In fact, he could bet he would have been dryer simply jumping into a lake.

With all this rain and over all rubbish wheather, one would think the air would be icy, cold, damp. No. In reality, the air in this forest was muggy, breathing in honey would have been more pleasant. To make matters even better, the air was also infested with more bugs then Calanon had ever seen. Simply walking a couple of feet was serveing a challenge in it's own as he spat out various bugs and bits of wings. He had quite successfully worked out that yes, flys did have bones, and they where indeed, crunchy.

Now, not all was bad. Calanon - now fully ticked off, had one sole haven in this place. Stumbling through a particulary tough patch of foliage (the plants bigger then even himself!); found himself tripping, landing on ground that was not green and squashy like the rest he had crossed. Solid ground? Jumping to his feet, Calanon "wooped" in joy at his discovery, the sound echoing from the tree's as she layed himself on the hardened ground, the large tree above sheltering him from the rain with it's colossal leaves. This was now his new favorite spot in this whole damned forest.

Preparing himself, Calanon layed his leather cloak down benief him, using his other to merely cover his lite sword up from possible attackers. He had to have the upper hand - or course. The air was hot, stifling so, and need of it as a cover was not needed. Water, however was, but supplies where running low, and if anything Calanon would need them for the trek through this damned place to find a way out.

Laying his head down, he listened to the steady patter of the rain droplets as it fell from the sky, colliding with the leaves and making a soft tapping noise. However... unreasonable this place was, Calanon had to admit that laying here under the canopy of leaves, it was very peaceful. Many passers by, who upon talking to Cal and finding his destination, had spoken strange stories of a tribe of vicious humans here. Though he had now been in the woods for at least a couple of hours, Calanon had yet to spot signs of them.

That did not meen they did not exist, however, and thus explains his sudden closeness with his trusted blade, his dagger stashed safely in his boot straps for emergencies. Closing his eyes, Calanon let the steady sound of the rain lull him into a soft slumber. The sun was still setting, but under in the shelter of the tree's, it was already particulary dark. Perfect for his cover.

The rain ran through Arthurs hair as he stood their mouth open in the rain. THe rain here had an odd enriching taste and if one could catch it right, one could drink of it. He was not completely soaked however most of his boyd remained dry due to his armor. Still it would pobably feel nice. Finally Arthur stopped his dawdaling and went on. HE walking through here to get to Talchel. HE had some buisness there with an ld friend.

Arthur however would have liekd to stay here he liekd the smells and thesounds. If not the constant buzzing of insects tha flew about. Ofcourse Arthur had learned a trick to keep them away a certain herb if rubbed over ones face and skin could keep them away. For the rest Arthur was content. This forest was one of the few places that he could truly not worry. Still though it had its dnagers for all its beauty. There was a wild human tribe here and he knew that for fact.

HE had run into a few a month or so back. Needless to say he was alive and they weren't. Arhtur had not relished it but it was his life or theirs. A smell wafted into his draconic nose. It was human but unlike the wild men here, there was no wildness to it. Arthur smield and detransformed and went in the direction of the smell. He wanted to see what this being was up to.

Finally he came upon a canopy of leaves and solid ground and under the leveas was man asleep. Arthur shook his head. THat was obviously stupid of him. Arthur did not say anythign though. HE waited and wanted to see what the mans reaction might be when he awoke.

It had been a couple of hours now since Calanon had at last drifted off to sleep. Though, even in slumber his sharp hearing could still hear the steady drumming of the rain, the soft patting of the forest animals as the moved about around him. Once or twice, he even thought he heard the sound of what he thought to be human footsteps. Of course, it was to tell in this kind of weather. Who ever it had been had long since moved on, and once again Calanon was left in peace.

His dreams, like the many others he had, where of his father, the disgusting Dark Elf who loved spilling blood than his own family. Honour... respect. They meant everything to him from his fellow warriors, yet from his own family they meant little. The dreams where always the same, the same memory overlapping in his head. Strangely, these dreams where forgotten come morning, distant memories, some shots in the back of his mind waiting to be discovered.

Of course, dreaming was all well and good, but Calanon was never fully asleep. He never had peaceful night - surrendering himself over to rest filled nights. He was always semi-awake, always listening. Even now his father had spies out looking for him, Dark Assassins trained to hunt him down, bring him before his father at any cost. His life had never been the same since that day at the alter...

Suddenly, a sound far off caught his attention. Calanon, now fully awake, stayed still, listening for sounds. From the sudden decrease in Vibrations, Cal knew the intruder was close. His hand under the cloak grasped the hilt of his blade tightly. In his mind, he replayed over his tactics. He knew, of course, from the sound of the footsteps and such, that this person was much larger then himself, physical strength not being one of Cals greatest skills.

With a sudden leap, Cal was off the ground in one fluent movement, jumping back a couple of feet away from the intruder, but still under the canopy of the large tree, and on top of the stable, hardened ground. His cloak had come up with him. Grasping it firmly, he stared at the new face. His hair was long and blond, eyes a piercing blue. He was older then Cal in appearance - but from the looks of things, he was merely human, placing him in his possible 20's, early 30's. It was hard to determine is race for sure, the smells of damp and hot, stuffy foliage masking any other scents, but Calanon just assumed from his seemingly ordinary appearance he was.

"You there! State your business!" Calanon - the strange, untrusting guy that he was, automatically was paranoid of this guy. Was he yet another assassin Cal would be forced to slay? Or simply a mere traveller like himself, seeking shelter from the heavy rain, and slight hail? There was only one was to find out. Holding his stance, Calanon waited upon his answer, risking to drop is weapon once to slip his cloak back on. It had been such a peaceful day ~ too.

Arthur did not move his hand to his sword when the man awoke. He expected the man to be suprised. The man was for immediately he sprang up and he could see hsi hand on the hilt of a blade. Arthur watched calmly he could sense the motive of the man was a bit of suprise, and waiting. The man obviosuly was a little worried that Arthur was going to attack. Arthur only smiled and studied the man asked his buisness.


The man was shorter than he was by at least a foot. By the way he held his hand to the sword Arthru coudl tell he could use it. Coal dark hair covered his ears but not his face. It was elven by the look but a bit darker. THe man was lean and was obviously quick. The rest of him seemed ready posied on the edge of attack. Arthur said," Be at ease, if I had meant to harm you, it would have already been done". Arthur gave the man an assurign smiled.

HE then said," Not very wise to sleep out in the open in this forest, much danger lies here, by the look though you could probably handle yourself". Arthur paused a bit and said," Still I had wanetd to harm you, I could have, so ease your hand". Arthur smield and stood straight. HE then said," My buisness, I go to Talche'el, I have buisness there, when I saw you lying there, I thought you might be in trouble". Arthur took another glance at the mans sword and then said," Obviously I was mistaken, my name is Arthur, you have no need to fear of me, only those who serve evil need fear me".

The man - for all he was worth, merely seemed to be unimpressed with Calanon's reaction. Usually, Calanon was never a man of many words. Why did humans always have to full each second of their time with mere chatter? Was sitting back, enjoying ones companey, good health and surroundings not enough? At this moment in time, Calanon was slightly irked then usual. The strange humid heat was making him uncomfortable. It was bad enough this guy before him was possibly an assain - but what's more, was he was being attacked while he was half-tired, grouchy, hot and over all iritated. This was certainly not his day.

What's more, while Calanon waited upon the mans reply, he found himself thinking through various situations in which to escape. First - there was the obvious. Quick smack to the face with the hilt of his sword, then take off through the tree's. Another, which had to be his overall much loved, was simply running. The old "What’s that!"; then taking off at full speed into the distance. Sure - it would be hard to run under such strange lands, the horrid squashy ground making it none the easier - but Cal was fast. He could do it... right?

The mans voice - deep, calm, cut through the sound of the rain, just loud enough to be heard. "Be at ease, if I had meant to harm you, it would have already been done". His smile. Calanon frowned. Did this man honestly think he was so easy to kill? For one ting ~ Calanon had heard his approach. If he had wanted, he could had escaped long before the man had even noticed his sleeping form. Obviously, he had not realised that Cal had been in full control. He was trained, after all.

"Not very wise to sleep out in the open in this forest, much danger lies here, by the look though you could probably handle yourself". Respect at last! Cal nodded once to show his acceptance of the latter. However - he had not been aware the forest was so popular. No wait, it wasn't. The chance of an accounted such as these where 1:50, unlikely in the least. No. If anything, the man's intentions here where more suspicious.

"Still I had wanetd to harm you, I could have, so ease your hand". Calanon was shocked at the command. He ease up when it was this man intruding him? Obviously he thought Calanon a fool - something he most definitely was not. His hand never did shaken as he faced the man with a hard, set expression. His question had yet to be answered. More idle chat. These humans obviously where foolish. Did they honestly think time was so worthless to be spent chatting about irrelevant things? Their life span was not half of his, yet they went about as if they had all the time in the world. He pitied that.

"My buisness, I go to Talche'el, I have business there, when I saw you lying there, I thought you might be in trouble. Obviously I was mistaken, my name is Arthur, you have no need to fear of me, only those who serve evil need fear me". Answers! Calanon let out an audible sigh, releasing his death grip on his blade, sheaving it once again. Just a traveller, like himself. He smiled at the man warmly, holding out his hand in a friendly gesture, showing respect. "Nice to meet you Arthur. I am Calanon. Sorry for the hostility. Thought you was somebody else."

Calanon kept his words brief, almost to the point. No point dilly-dawdling with useless subjects, words that meant nothing but to fill in gaps. Lowering himself back down on the ground, Calanon couldn't help but sigh in relief. No assassins. Now - THAT was a nice change. "Feel free to rest here." He murmured, just audible above the rain. Once again he laid back down, returning to his sleeping position, thought he intended not to sleep this night - still half suspicious. Of course, this Arthur would not know that.

The man did not ease the blade till Arthru answered the question. He was obviously very cautious that was good. Caution saved lives always had always will. Arthur had suspceted the man might have either run or atatcked if he had proven unfriendly or not answered. The man obviously had soemone after him or was used to beign attacked. Arthur could sympathize he was sued to such as well.

Finally the man spoke and Arthur nodded at tyhe mans name and the assent to rest here. HE would not sleep though not here not in the open. Even with the assention to rest he did was not going to release caution. If the man was suspcious Arthur was porbably at least two times so but probably more lenient on things. Arthur sat down in the canopy the rain out of his hair. The man went back to sleep or seemed to. The breathign seemed to even. Arthru shook his head the man had a right to be cautious but as Arthur said he could have killed him if he wanted to.

Arthur might not have been able to sneak up on him from the groundbut from the air he could. THe man did not know that Arthur was a half-dragon. HE would let the man pretend however. Arthur removed the sword from his side and the shield as they were digging into him. He however kept the dagger. HE however out his back against a tree and closed his eyes and began to listen for what not even he kenw. SOemtiems it was good just to listen.

Shade looked up the bluff or rocks and the steep climb it would take to reach the forest. It would have been simple for him to fly to it, but that would take all the fun out of the whole journey. The local townsfolk in the city some miles behind and under him had told him of the challenging forest and its strange inhabitants. Shade had pried as much out of the townsfolk as he felt he needed. They had told him about the challenge of making it to the forest, of surviving the forest itself, and of the barbarian-like humans that inhabited the forest. From what the towns people had told him anyone who lived in these forest would have to be either mad or incredibly vicious. He wasn't the former and the latter didn't suit him.

Shade recalled his first thoughts when he saw the climb some time ago. It was only a few feet meters high and he had figured it would take him all of ten minutes to climb. Now halfway up, resting on a small ledge looking down and up. He felt that it wasn't the best idea to have underestimated this climb. He smiled and sighed in relief then continued his arduous climb.

Shade stood and grabbed a hold of a loose stone. When he pulled to check how stable it was it came free of the cliff wall. He placed it down on the ground almost reverently and grabbed another spot on the cliff wall.

It took him several tries before he found a secure enough handhold to continue his climb. When he did begin again his hands ached once more, he had caught a very precarious handhold on his way up. It had caused a few loose rocks above him to fall, one of them landed on his right hand. He grimaced through exhilarating climb and after some minutes of difficulty he finally reached the topped.

Shade turned around and awed at the view, it was magnificent. Then it started raining and thundering all at once. As if the world rejected the beautiful of the view. Shade shrugged as if the rain didn't matter, but in fact it made the next stretch harder. The long tantalizing walk to the forests edge. Shade looked down at the ground and followed a line of grass until he saw a long narrow path that lead from below to this spot. Shade laughed at the site of a walkable path, that made his climb seem ridiculous now.

Shade looked at the forest again and this time spotted a rustling of leaves as someone disappeared into the forest. He smiled at the courage of the person who had entered before him and set off hoping to catch the person and join up with him or them as he investigated the forest. After slipping several times and bruising his knee he finally reached the edge of the forest where the person, or persons, had entered.

Shade followed the path the math had carved in the forest, not harming anymore of the forest. He loved the sights he saw, as he always did when he was in a forest. Trees and bushes taller then him, and he was no small man. He felt his wings being clipped by the outgrowth and pulled them in tight and continued on. Soon he saw where the stranger was. He was having a conversation with another man when he arrived.

He walked into the clearing in much the same ragged manner the man was. He smiled at the two. "Sorry to intrude but I was told of a dangerous forest and vicious dwellers. You aren't the vicious people are you?" Shade asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice

Laying upon the hardened ground, it was now hard to believe the strange journey he had just travelled. For a start - to him it felt some what.. dreamlike, the treacherous journey, the bad whether and the even worse terrain. How far had he come today to end up here? Here... a place he did not even truly know where. Sure, it was a Rainforest, the rain and forest surroundings told him that much clear enough. But it was the where about of this place.

The stranger had told him he was heading to Talche'el, the land of the so called Naga. Odd. Calanon was heading their also, but he guessed for a completely difference reason. He was merely going for the adventure, to see the abandoned city, see the brightly laid bricks of once great, ancient buildings, walk the floor of the elder civilisation. But most of all - He wanted to see the golden pyramid, Trace his hands along the golden orange bricks. Briefly, he wondered if Arthur knew what awaited him there, the murderous races of Naga, werewolves and other such creatures.

It may do well to inform him, but at this moment in time, Calanon was simply enjoying the quiet, the sounds of Nature calling, the flutter of the birds as they called to one another, high pitch keening to his over-sensitive ears. To anyone simply looking at him - Calanon looked to be a regular Elf, pointy ears, fair skin. However, his darkened eyes and hair suggested otherwise, usually raising suspicion. It was obvious, however, that this man had yet to work out if flaws. Calanon truly did pity Humans.

Calanon's ears, still alert for the sign of yet more intruders, and possible Assassins and Rainforest Locals, picked up the sound if footsteps. Whoever was approaching already knew they where there, and from the sounds of things was following a exact trail. It appeared Arthur had been followed. Sitting up, Calanon turned his attention towards where the New comer would arise from. He doubted is Arthur had yet heard him.

Soon, he came through the wall of foliage. If anything, he looked as ravaged as Calanon had felt walking through the thick grass land, and even denser floor. The first thing Calanon noted was the red hair, spiked. It was an odd look, and he had certainly never seen anything like it before. Next - was his eyes. The colour was not overly surprising - heck, he had seen pink eyes before. What interested him was the strange glow, the shining to them. Just what was this guy?

"Sorry to intrude but I was told of a dangerous forest and vicious dwellers. You aren't the vicious people are you?" He did not mind the sarcasm marred into his tone, but still felt some what uncomfortable. He always had, around new people, but for obvious reasons. Trust was never something Calanon was so great at. Once again, another thing he had his lovely father to thank for. "No." Calanon answered at length, still studying the man. "We are not. But I think it's only fair we ask the same of you..." He trailed off, not knowing that mans name, nor caring to give his own away so soon.

Even know his hand was resting on the hilt of his sword, his defensive stance much like the one he had used when he had first met Arthur. With any luck, this man was not a Assassin. If so, it would raise many questions, probably from Arthur, who he would most likely have to kill to keep from talking. He did not particularly like killing, so for the moment, he would keep from doing just that. So long as this man proved to be no threat, that was.

Arthur sat there for along while listening to the sounds that buffeted him. He was fit to wonder though about the strange man lying on the ground. Arthru was not a man without curiosity. One could say that was one of his worst flaws. One Arthur did not consdier to be a flaw anyway. He had no doubt in his mind that the man did not trust him. THe thign that bothered him was what the man was doing here. Few came through here mostly cause of the Naga. Obviosuly the man was hiding something and Arthur did want to know what.

He however kept his eyes shut and listened. HE to soon heard footsteps what the man did not know was beneath his hair lie pointed ears like himself. Arthur had the acute hearing of an dragon which was more acute that that of an elves. He however did not move. He sensed that Calanon moved and put his hand on his sword. Obviously he had heard. Arthur opened his eyes and watched in the direction of the footsteps.

His hand moved toward his sword as well. Finally the strangest man Arthur had ever seen appeared. Pink eyes and ornage hair that was an oddity. The wings though clearly told what the man was. HE had obviously tried to fold them from the constant tugging of the limps but Arthur could see a hint of it. If the man wasn't an angel or at least half Arthur would eat his boot. The man spoke and Calanon answered and Arthru smiled. Arthur then said," As my companion said we are not those vicous men, the question is are you, and if not why disturb us, eh".

Shade did a quick eye scan of the two men. One was half dragon and the other was an elf. Obviously neither was human, and neither was he. The two appeared to be just as ragged as he, the forest seemed to be worse then he had thought. He sighed and let his wings fold out so they could see he wasn't human either. He smiled at the two. "I'm Shade, an Archangel. Pleased to meet you both." Shade said

Shade looks around a bit and absorbs the sounds of the forest. It was raining but the large leaves over head covered them, interesting growth pattern. It suggested trees and plants that could absorb large amounts of water and not wither, which feel perfectly into the surroundings. It was a pointlessly simple connection to make for some, but he felt that in order to understand this new world he would have to start slowly.

He made another connection, if the undergrowth was dangerous then what kind of animals, not including the humans, lived here? They'd have to have large front teeth, and large back ones. If they could shred through these gargantuan leaves then they'd needed teeth to do it. And the animals that feed on them would have to have larger teeth to outmatch the prey. Shade almost cringed at that but then he thought about the humans that survived here. That made his rethinking why he was here. He shrugged as he continued to take in the forest surrounding.

The plants and animals were already being digested. Now the structure of the forest, everything was large, and if what he couldn't see he figured it was crouched ready to pounce. He did a quick scan to ensure they weren't being stalked as he spoke. He relaxed upon seeing nothing but rain, green leaves, and deadly dangerous terrain greet his scanning gaze. He saw some winds rustle from the thunderstorm raging over head.

He continued to think about this unique forest. The forest, like all others he visited introduced him to new and different things. He liked the feeling of being a student of the forest. It showed him new things no matter where he went. He was indeed happy when he faced his comrades again.

The scan and registering took all of the time it took the men to respond to him, him to respond to the men and him to move forward. He knew he'd have to think more and focus more if he wanted to retain it but at least he had gotten the process started. That was what mattered the most, beginning it he could come back to it later when it wouldn't kill him.

He walked over to the two and bowed to each in turn then extended one hand to each. His short-term scan had worked gotten him in a really good mood. That showed through a smile on his face, despite the hard conditions that he had faced to get here. He hoped that these folks shared his enthusiasm in searching these strange woods. "Pleased to meet you." Shade said