Waiting for a mouse. Or rat.

[Scabrous]

Not but a sliver of sunlight punctured the ever-growing, impenetrable, thick foliage of the age-old trees of mystic beings that were everywhere around the Dark Forest. It was so magical and dark that anyone with the slightest touch of magic, upon entrance into the Forest, would feel a surge like a great flood through his or her veins. The magic had been lurking forever, stealing from any unfortunate magical being to fall slain amongst the trees. Their blood would dribble down into the earth; the trees would soak it up like a sponge and draw their wicked power from it. They cannot feed off the light of the sun, except the forever scorched and dead leaves on the top of the great statues of wood. Their power is drawn from the wickedness of the evil deeds they do, just to survive.

In the middle of a shadow clearing, which is more of just a dark splotch with trees a few inches apart then normal, something else was also trying to survive. He was not human, at least not all the way; skin of a rich olive brown, like natural camouflage in any foliage; hair, like a tuff of dead moss; Ears that were long and pointed, sticking straight out like rich green twigs with moss inside of them. His attire was lacking slightly, yet still he had a worn brown tunic, as if woven from dirt; and ripped pants to match. He looked like a normal human in proportion, except he was small. Short as a child.

Only two things didn’t look like they were made from earth; his eyes and teeth. Firstly his teeth, in a perpetual smile, flashing off like a lighthouse. He could not keep his brown lips over them for long. They would always show sooner or later, in times of fear or joy. And secondly his eyes, like windows into a world of magic. Flashing orbs of bright green, if earthly life force was trapped within. Nothing was hidden from those flashing eyes.

The man, or half-elf as we now know for the elaborate description, was stalking around the woods. A strand of ivy attempted to curl around his leg only to find it’s self in a hundred pieces. If you watched him, you would see a blur and the ivy minced without a muscle moved from the half-elf. In essence, nothing did move, not but a quick flex. The muscles movement would, miraculously, flick the two, solid metal blades on his back, so wonderfully conceded no one could find them even though they are two feet long, each. They would be thrown up into the air, they’re curved ridged blades streaking, and fall down onto the ivy. There minute seriated razor blades would then chop the poor plant into a hundred pieces, just by falling. The blades would then defy the laws of gravity by bouncing off the earth and shooting up into the air, only to spin and slide perfectly back into his back sheaths in a blink of an eye.

Now the only way you could know this would be if you had eyes of an eagle and could take a million frames per second. Then study them one by one, at by this time, you would have died because the half-elf would have killed you already.

Smiling down at the shredded plant, the half-elf, with only a two-foot head start, ran up a tree and sat down on a branch. Why did he go here? Sure, they’re the most adventure then anywhere, but no helpless merchants with money that they had cheated people out for such money, would be walking through. It was people like this half-elf who made this forest like that. And he sure did like it. The tree was about fifteen feet of the ground. Anyone looking up, might barely be able to spot the glimmer of his smile.

[Malachy]

Malachy had finally gotten far enough, and knew enough to fend for himself. He had spent been nearly 3 months with a group of wondering rangers. From then he learned many useful hunter-ggatherer skills. All of which had come in very hady during the week he had left their encampment.

He had payed the good people back with a few lessons in swordsmanship and even some simple magic so that flint and steel wheren't as needed for fire. Now, malachy was allone and heading towards the kindom of Avaren, where he could hopefully find a place for himself. The forest was quiet. and the half-eleves pointed ears, and sharp eyes where open for signs of either food or danger.

The trees where rather close to gether. Malachy had his showt bow in one hand, ready for use, and his long sword in the other, hacking at vines and branches that where in his way.

Eventually he came apon athe tiniest of clearings, at his feet was a pile of already shreaded vines. The cuts in them where strait, meaning thay had been cut, and by the fact that he had just cut through the other side of the path that was being made, the thiong that had done the cutting was still around.

He sheathed his sword,, as it was mor of an ecumberanceto fight with in this thick foliage. and grabbed an arrow from the quiver that waas strapped next to the sword sheath. He noched it on the boow and hels it with his thumb agabnst the man shapf to the bow's body. he wasn't going to use it unless he had to but he wanted it ready in case he needed it. He turned his his free hand up right and cupped it as if to hold water, and their was a flash as a small sphere of orange fire appeared in his hand. he heldit up as to reveal where he was and to show he was meant no threat as he spoke. "Who's there? I know there's some one around theirs no use in holding me in suspence." He said in an almost comical yet bored sort of way.

[Scabrous]

Scabro knew someone was coming before even they knew they were coming. As soon as the leaf that crinkled underfoot, well, crinkled, Scabrous jumped to his feet, both swords at the ready. Looking around through the thick leaves, the superhuman remembered that he could hear a leaf crinkle two hundred feet away. That was the exact detail of his skill and still he forgot. Deciding to instead lie back down where he was on the branch, the half-elf waited.

Crinkle. Crinkle. Crinkle. Crinkle. Each step his opponent made, made a louder and louder crinkle. By knowing the exact distance that he first heard the first crinkle, and the amount of crinkles since then, and how loud a crinkle was right underneath him, and how loud the first crinkle was, and how fast the crinkles were, and how much of the persons foot crinkled, Scabro concluded the man was, in order, going to arrive in two minutes and twenty-seven seconds, his weight, height, built, half-elf, archer and swordsman, scared, lazy, lost, trying to get somewhere, name is Malachy, traveled three months with a group of wondering Rangers, size nine shoe, and a few other details.

Wanting an adventure and not an easy kill, Scabrous stood up, waved his hands around, made a bunch of wild noised, and shone his teeth brightly. When the half-elf entered the clearing, Scabro felt quite proud of his accurate description. The other elf looked down at Scabrous’s handy work on the poor vine. Scabro was impressed of the elf. He actually guessed that Scabro was around somewhere. Last person he tried to get the attention of, walked right into him and still didn’t notice. What did a master of disguise have to do to get noticed around here?

The half-elf sheathed his sword, which looked like a toy compared to Scabro’s, and pulled out a arrow. Scabro considered his choices and soon found out which one was most fun. Anyway he went, he couldn’t kill himself, but his top ten options all got the other half-elf killed. He wasn’t sure if the elf deserved to die or not, but no harm in finding out first.

Jumping up, Scabro did seven flips in the air, not a single sound though, and landed silently right behind the man. Standing there for a second, as if invisible, Scabro soon decided to move right next to the man. Reaching out his hand, he grabbed the arrow. His intention was to yank the arrow from the elf’s bow, stick it in his mouth, and munch on is well cross-eyed, belching “Moooooooooooo!”

If the half-elf was just as the same as everyone else he had meet, he would not even know what hit him. Scabro had done the same thing to the last traveler, and the man barely even noticed. The poor woodland hunter was left with a arrowless bow and the funny idea that they’re cows around the Dark Forest.

[Malachy]

(ooc: let me be the judge of what I do or do not hear or see.)

The blond was not oblivious of the other creature that was within his vicinity. The small ball of flame he was holding was not being used in a conventional way, neither as a light source or a weapon. Malachy knew that something else, that owned a blade, was near by. Meaning that it was intelligent. As a Half-elf the dim light of the surrounding forest was easy for him to see through with out the fire.

So, knowing this,one might ask why he had conjured the fire orb in the first place? Well the answer lies not in the light but in the shadow it creates. If anything moved it would be mad known by it's shadow.and since there was no immediate response Malachy only had to wait, and he soon saw a shadowy silhouette fall from tree. Malachy's I noticed where it had landed and watched his arrow out of the corner of his eyes.

A hand appeared about to grab the arrow from his hand. The Half-elf grinned and the fire in his had vanished, but it was not put out, the fire was merely moved. He channeled the energy to his other arm and then through the arrow. The arrow was a blazing, but not burning, twig. The flame consumed neither the bow the arrow or the caser, but the hand that was trying to grab the arrow would be another matter.

[Scabrous]

Scabro had barely noticed the small floating orb. It was elementary magic that Scabrous had never been taught, but he had no need for it. The simple tricks of fire, light, and others were something that most every magic worker, mage, magician, witch, or just plain old warrior with a gift, know how to do. Who ever was they’re mentor or wherever they learned to cast they’re spells, they where taught the spells. It was like the test if you were magical or not. One person one tried to test him, the man, a loner magician who Scabro had saved the life of, created the floating orb with a snap of his fingers, it floated up and followed the loner’s hand, when he passed it to Scabro, the half-elf put his hand under it, and nothing happened. Finally after many tries, Scabro reached out and grabbed the orb. If anyone else tried to do this, they would get scorched, that or the orb would run away, but Scabro was faster. When the orb touched the elf’s hand, the energy supercharged it to like a bomb. It exploded and knocked out everything within a six-foot radius. The loner and Scabro woke up a day later to find his horse had been stolen. The wondering mage was furious and sent a trail of magic after him. He easily dodged all of them and from then on, Scabro avoided such orbs.

When Scabro reached out for the arrow, to yank it away from the other elf, the arrow was enclosed in fire. Scabro was intrigued, seeing how it stayed intact. Still following his routine, he stuck the arrow into his mouth. About to imitate the cow, his mouth felt funny, as if it was on fire. Yes. A funny feeling. As his energy flowed from his veins into the orb, as to attack it, the responding magic eat it up only to be shocked more. Soon the result was much like that of a atom bomb. It exploded and knocked out everything within a six-foot radius.

One of Scabrous weaknesses, he never, never, never learns from experience.

((I know this is a little god-mode, but please bare with me. If neither of us is willing to be hurt, then nothing interesting will ever happen. They’re really isn’t any way you can avoid the blast. You can God-mode me, pretending you woke up a day later and I’m still out.))

[Malachy]

Fire, plus magical explosion is a very bad combination. Especially when said combination happens in the middle of forest, filled with flammable shrubbery.When the explosion was of inrtence force combined with extreme heat. the arrow simply shattered and the force knock the Half elves unconscious.

The blond didn't stay that way for very long. He woke suddenly as his lungs began to shriek desperately for oxygen. and as he began to cough in what smelled like the smoke from burning wood he felt a strong radiant heat from all around him/ He opened his eyes and quickly closed then as the wind blew blowing soot and hey at his face. Still coughing, he bet down low and breathed the oxygen that hid beneath the smoke.

He opened his eyes again. It was hell on earth he was surrounded by fire and the once proud forest was turning to ashes as the wind blew and began feeding and moving the fire onward. Malachy had been raised by people of the forest for that past few months. And was not going too allow this to destroy such an important environment, especially when it was partly his fault.

He drew on the energy within and pooled it into the fire heat he had used before but instead of inducing heat he did the opposite. He reduced the heat and created what looked like a blue glass sphere in his hand. It was an ice sphere. He began to focus every bit of power into that orb. But he needed more power. The he saw the other half-elf laying with his face in the dirt. Then he had an idea. He threw the ball of freezing energy and hopped it would react as the fire had in blowing up and undoing the fire.

[Scabrous]

It wasn’t every day that Scabrous got knocked out. The last time that such had happened to him was when he fought a zombie bull troll with just a pocketknife. In the end, he beat the troll, and he woke up an hour later with a headache. To this day he still can remember how he killed the monster, probably talked it to death. That or maybe he… that story is for another time.

All was black. He couldn’t feel a thing. Smoke blew around him, suffocating all life. The trees were being scored with fire, and they’re bark, burning to a crisp. Scabro knew nothing of this, seeing he was in a deep sleep.

The fire explosion was held together with magic. Any creature to first touch the growing fire would be knocked out but shielded by the magic, to have everything else be burnt. Once the magic was stretched thin, the fire would just use it as a moving wall to feed off of until the magical hazard would be free to destroy all. A powerful water, ice, or fire mage would be needed to control such a thing. If the magic around the fire was to be removed, lets say by an amateur trying to pool his or her magic, the result would be of a entire forest left in ashes in about five seconds. But the magic would first pull all the fire inward, towards it source, until it reached the caller of it, before letting the flames loose and wrecking chaos. If at that exact second a secondary blast of ice and water was to explode from the source, it would be able to destroy all the fire in about the time of a quarter of a second. This is exactly what happened.

As the ice-cold orb reached the dark green skin of the half-elf, he was awoken with a start. Yelping and jumping up to his feet, he rolled his eyes when he felt his rogue magic attacking the orb. What happened was a repeat of the first explosion, only this time with ice. Ice-cold crystals exploded with a ‘BoomZ!’ and coated everything smothering the raging fire. The result was two knocked out half-elves, in the middle of a blackened, iced over clearing in the Dark Forest.

[Malachy]

Something cold and wet slid down the back of Malachy's shirt. and the Sleeping half elf leapted into consciousness and to his feet like lightning. After he jumped around a bit and and shifted his leather shirt he got what ever it was out. Now he had time to look around. but the area was pitch black. Crickets chirped from around them, and as the half elf looked up he saw a single patch of black specked with dots of light. It was night time and as As his deep blue eyes looked around, and adjusted to the darkness, he saw strange silhouettes

The smell of Pines, soil and burnt wood wafted through his nose. He was still in the forest, he remembered, It was too dark for him to see and he knew staying in the dark wasn't safe. He conjured another ball of fire for it's light. And the flickering yellow-orange light revealed a very alien world. The trees where burn and covered in in a clear sheet of ice melting, which was what slid down his shirt and awakened him. One tree had been knocked down recently, and its fall cleared away the branches of other trees, branches that would have otherwise blocked the sky completely.

As he scanned his surroundings his eyes fell on the for of anothe half elf laying in the charred remains of the downed foliage, with that his memory of all the events that had happened earlier returned to him. He sighed and began looking for his bow, which he had dropped in one of the two explosions, he couldn't remember which. Then he sat his fire orb down on a patch of dirt in the new clearing. He expanded it's heat and radiance then went over and dragged the other Half elf over to it. Then he waited for the other to wake.

[Scabrous]

He was out yet again. He had been knocked unconscious two times in a row within five minutes. This was not good. Either he was getting more reckless (if that's possible), or his luck had run out and left a curse or two on his head. He didn't have a headache, seeing the blow was magical, but his energy felt hyper and tired. Like, if it is possible for energy magic to such, his magic was adrenaline filled and had just fought a large battle recently and was in desperate need of recharging.

He was cold. And thawing. It is an odd feeling to thaw. It is like your nerve endings decided to, one by one, work again. Slowly. So by the time your liver no longer feels like a block of ice, your skin feels like it is on fire. Opening his eyes, Scabro was glaring into orange. It was like someone took an orange, the fruit, make it ten times bigger, turned it into glass, and stuck a star into it. Opening his almond shaped eyes a little more, Scabrous realized that the large orange was really a orb of magical fire. The same magical fire that had gotten him knocked out. Twice. In five minutes.

Jumping up, in fear of the fire touching him again, Scabro had accidentally jumped up about ten feet to a low tree branch. He was standing on it. Looking down, he realized how far the ground was away from him. Seeing the other elf, yes the other elf who started this all. Scabro jumped down, slowing his decent with magic. It was like he was being lowered with a invisible rope. Sitting down Indian style, Scabro looked into the fire and blinked a few times.

“That was awesome.”

[Horu]

It was dark and cold, and many creatures stirred silently under their shadowy veils. Why Bahamut Sent his Vasal into the forest, was not exactly answerable, and neither where any of the question asked of the Gods. Still, Horu A paladin on a quest for his master roamed the Dark Forest.

The branches of the monstrous trees where low, and there was no room for him to ride the dark brown Stallion he lead by the reigns, behind him. The Horse sen nervous about the surrounding darkness and Horu didn't blame the faithful Roan. The horse had stronger sences and seemed to know when Danger was afoot. When the horse's nervous grunts got a bit loud Horu looked around surveying his surroundings.

He noticed a flicker of light in the distance. That would be what the horse was worried about. Horu, however, was curious. He focused his mind on the spot and soon there where two other glows. They where auras of two separate beings sitting around the fire, which was the cause of the glow. From the aura he could tell that neither where evil. That was all he needed to know.

He walked twoards the light, ignoring the horse's protest, and as the he got closer he noticed the trees seemed to have changed rather violently. Branches where bent and bark was, but there was no doubt that there had been fire here recently. There was also melting ice. so he could tell why the fire was no longer there.

He was now curious And as he approached the fire glinted of this mirror like armor. as the the people came into sight, he smiled and asked, "do you two mind if I join you?"

[Scabrous]

Scabrous had jumped up and walked around the fire a couple of times, not being able to keep still. Apparently the other Half-elf was not one for talking. A couple of times he tried to start a conversation, only to be meet with either a cat got his tongue, or he icy glair of his companion. He wasn’t actually a companion, more like temporary acquaintance. And it wasn’t really a icy glair, just that any unhappy half-elf looking around in a black, ice speckled forest would look like he, or she was glairing with all the winds of the arctic.

Soon, after sitting down again after opening his mouth, and deciding other wise, Scabro heard a horse and a man coming. The man was wearing heavy armor, or a heavy pack; he was a skilled and aged fighter, much experience. Walking slowly, yet not stealthily. Scabro made no noise or notion, just sat still, for once, and stared into the fire. When the man broke into the minute clearing, Scabro was greeted with a holy knight of the gods and his horse. His armor was very well made, light, and very highly blessed by the look and sound of it’s clank, or lack there of. Apparently he wanted to join the spectacle of the two half-elves in the odd part of the forest.

“Ah, Great Holy Paladin,” Scabro replied bowing from his odd setting option, “Fell free to join us, and your horse.” Scabro though for a second how the grammar supposed that the horse was his own. Blinking for a second, Scabro continued. “We don’t have any food to offer you, or your horse, seeing that my friend over there made me burn down part of the forest, and made me freeze it again, and not he is making me go crazy of the lack of communication.” Scabrous glared, which is hard for him to do, at the other elf and turned back to the Paladin. “In any case, fell free to join us.” Looking to the stars, Scabro said with stature, “I am Scabrous!”

[Malachy]

The other half elf just rolled his eyes at the other. Part of him was annoyed the other curious. But the clash of the two opposing emotion, seemed to grapple with his humility, something his elven side lacked, something he aimed to perfect. And so he just didn't comment, and decided to let it go.

Moments later the Paladin arrived at their lighted clearing in his glistening armor. Malachy wonder what exactly the material was for it seemed to give of an almost uplifting feeling just be looking at it. It was as if the Armor was a mark or medal of great armor and it attracted his respect.

Speaking of matters of respect; Scab's glare and Introduction reminded him that he hadn't even learn the other elves' name nor had he given his. He suddenly felt a bit guilty. He stood-up and Inclined his head and shoulders in a polite bow. "Salutations, I extend the greeting to both yourself; and my ... uh, friend? I Have yet to introduce my self to both of you, I am Malachy Thunderoak. I too know the way of the blade, as well as the way of the arcane. As He said, we can offer you a fire to share but neither of us have Food, other than what we may find here in the forest." He said now sounding polite he raised back up.
(horu next please)

[Horu]

The Paladin mimicked the other two in bowing in acknowledgment of the other two. "You may call me Horu. I humbly thank you both. I need no food for I have brought my own ration. I will gladly share them, and Draco here," He he said as he gestured to the horse. "Has his on feed, I have him Graze but it seems that the ground is rather barren when it comes to edible plant life." He explained. He had named his horse after the celestial constellation of a dragon. The two Half-Elves could discover that their paladin friend loved dragons, and indeed he worshiped them in a manner of speaking.

Horu walked further into the clearing, leading his horse along. The horse wore a beautifully crafter saddle. It was strapped around the horse comfortably, and beneath the seat of the saddle Was a Thin cloth that was sewn so that it had large pouches hanging along both sides of the muscular quadruped.and and there where also two extras straps and the back of the saddle the where strapped around a cylinder shaped bag, that had its own strap on it so that it could had been carried ion the back of a human.Horu was giving the horse the full load of supplies,as it didn't have Horu's weight burdening him through the forest.

The Back pack, which the pack strapped to the back of the saddle, held a helm that matched Horu's armor, a lantern, a bottle of oil, rope, Flint, Steel, and a bed roll. In the saddlebag, on the animals right was two small sacks of oats, enough for two days travel for the horse, as well as a feed bag for the absence of a trough. In the left saddle bag, Horu had his water-skin and his rations, which were just a hand full o dried fruit, nuts and jerky.

The supplies May had seemed to be much for a man wandering through the woods, but it was only the necessary equipment he need to get by alone in the woods for a few day. He was no skilled ranger, and so had been employing the services of the ones in the local area. After removing part of the bit and bridle, Horu took out and fill a feed back with outs, replaching the feed bag with his shield in the process and fitted it so that it hung on the horse's face. He patted the large animal between the eyes. and the went to untie the backpack. He worked in silence; after removing the bag he pulled out a pouch from the other saddle bag and brought out a small sack of dried fruit. He leaned the pack on a burnt/frozen tree, unclipped the scabbard of his sword from his belt, sat down, and faced the fire.

[Kina]

"The forest is on fire!" Kina shouted as he ran inside. "Hey, who set this, anyway?!?!" he shouted as he leapt over roots, tore through burning vines, hacked through tall grass, and searched for any people.