Rykoon harbor is the largest port in Raine Providence and it is the second largest trading hub. The smell of the sea wafts over the bustling city at all times and not too far from here are the mountains that hold the dwarven city of Arkenbar safe. The climate is warm most of the time and snow fall is rare. Only in the peak of winter will it get cold enough for a few flakes every now and then. Despite the hustle and bustle of this city it is also a great place to start a family. A caravan pulled into town around noon and on it was one lone driver. He wore Arabian style clothes, a white shirt, blue pants, an orange and white sash, and sandals. The nice warm weather made it too hot for his normal leather trench coat. He got a few stares for the locals, not for his clothes but for the fact that he just traveled into town on a caravan. The roads were a very dangerous place so it was uncommon to see someone traveling.

He parked his caravan in the inn stables and got a room. Then he headed over to the local tavern to get something for lunch. The tavern he went to had a nice atmosphere. There were of course some shady characters in the corners but the traveler kept his eyes from straying to them as he ordered and waited for his food at the bar.

Rapheal was sitting at the bar when the man in Arabian clothes walked in. As the man walked in Rapheal looked back to see the new arrival. His food came and was set down in front of him and he began eating. As he sat there eating his shrimp ramen, he looked over to the man and asked "Are you new here?" Rapheal took a sip of his green tea and waited for the man to answer.

"Why yes, I am. Have you been here a long time by chance?" He said trying to strike up bar conversation. The bartender set down fried chicken and Icarus could feel the inside of his mouth drool a bit, he loved friend chicken. He held back the urge to dig in though and let Rapheal respond first.

"No I haven't been here long. I am a still new to this land and I heard that there were some animals i have never seen before. So I decided to check this place out." After Rapheal said this he went back to eating his ramen and took a sip of his Green tea. "I suggest the Green tea. If you like hot tea that is." he said as he took another sip of tea.

"I think I will. Have you been here long enough to hear about anything bigger than an animal such as a monster perhaps?" The bartender was cleaning a glass away from them but he was just enough in earshot to hear the word monster. He stopped for a minute looking down at the glass and made a silent gulp before someone calling him snapped him out of it and he hurriedly went over to help the customer. Icarus didn't notice though and took a bite of his chicken while listening to Rapheal.

Rapheal smiled at the question and pulled out a leather bag. He dumped the bag on to the bar and some fangs and claws fell out. "I have been hunting them to make a little extra cash. I am planning on making weapons out of them that or selling them as they are. Some people pay a lot of money for them." Rapheal said. In total there were about three claws and two fangs. He put them back into the bag before the bartender could see. "So I take it you are here to hunt them to? It is hard to hunt them creatures by yourself and I could use some help." Rapheal said hoping the new found friend would take him up on the offer. 

"Well I do sport that as my profession and the help is always appreciated. Also if you need I can fashion some thing out of these materials." Icarus said before taking another bite. The bartender came over to them and asked. "Are ya both really monster hunters? We could use some help here." He talked in a whisper so no one else would hear.

Rapheal smiled at the bartender and said "If it is ok with my friend here, then i would be happy to help." Rapheal said with a smile "If the money is right of course." Rapheal looked at the man next to him and said "I have a plan for them thank you." Rapheal said patting the leather bag on his belt. "How rude of me I completely forgot to introduce my self. I am Rapheal Taym. And you might be?" He asked looking at the man with friendly smile.

"Icarus Nearanather and yes I would like to help as well." The bartender motioned the to come closer. "We've got a problem with a molder beast. It may be a rather strong beast but maybe with two hunters you could stand a chance. We've been having problem along the road to the east. The road goes right next to a forest where many of these live. If you could take it down I'm sure the merchant guild would be most happy, the Two Guys and a Caravan Company would be grateful too." Icarus nodded and said, "I'm down for that, Rapheal?"

"Nice to meet you and of course" Rapheal said as he thought of all the money he could make of these monsters. "But I do have one question my good man how many of these beasts are there?" He asked as he turned to the bartender. Rapheal drank the last of his tea and set the cup down. "May I have another good sir?" HE asked the bartender.

"I only heard of two, but the monster huntin' guild might know of some more." The bartender said still whispering. Then he stood back straight and with a normal voice said, "One more green tea coming right up," Icarus raised his hand and the bartender said, "Make that two." The bartender walked off to get the drinks and Icarus asked Rapheal, "So what are your plans for your materials, if I may ask?" He took another bite of his chicken.

"I will make them in to arrow heads or make them in to a hilt. It all depends on what i can get from other monsters." Rapheal said with a smile. "If you don't mind my asking but what special talents might you have as a monster hunter?" Rapheal asked with genuine curiosity.

"I've trained to be a monster hunter for ten years and add 4 years on top of that of monster hunting on my own. Plus I have a nifty little spell to help if I'm pinned down by something. So what can you do?" Icarus asked right before the bartender came up to them with their drinks.

Rapheal reached over and touched Icarus's drink freezing the tea instantly. "Could you get him another. I am afraid this one has to be on me." Rapheal said with a smile at the bartender. When the bartender walked away to go get another drink for Icarus Rapheal said "I can freeze anything I touch or channel my energy through it making it freeze the next thing it hits. I am an expert marksmen, I never miss a shot. I also have a lot of training with these daggers at my side. I am a forest guide back home so I am really good in a forest and in the mountains too." Rapheal said all of this as if he was stating a fact like the sky is blue or the grass is green. The bartender came back with Icarus's drink and Rapheal handed the bartender the money for both drinks and his meal.

There was a loud crash and flying of food along with accompanying swear words as some kind of ruckus had erupted behind them. A large man covered in his own linguine stood shaking in rage over a boy on the ground rubbing his head in confusion. It had seemed as though the boy fell right out of the wall and onto the table. He leapt up apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry sir, honestly it was an accident! Here take this for your trouble." He quickly fished out a few coins from his pouch and offered them to the man who huffed and begrudgingly snatched them and walked out swearing and picking pasta from his hair. Upon a second glance it was clear that the boy was covered in scratches and cut as if he had just escaped a fight. "Whew that's my big one for a while...gonna be a bit before i can try it again." He said mostly to himself as he stretched his back out much like and old man and sat down beside the two. "Bartender sir? Got anything for a sore head? Maybe some black tea?"

Icarus was startled by Rapheal's powers and smiled, "Well this is the beginning of a good partnership I see brewing." Icarus payed for his meal before everyone's attention was diverted to the back of the bar. When the ruckus happened Icarus watched, just like everyone else in the tavern, and when the boy ordered Icarus dropped some money down for the boy's drink. "Looks like you used up your coin on the man back there." He said with a smile, "Have it on me," He looked at the boy's scratched up face and asked, "So by your looks you've had better days?" Although worded strangely he thought it put the point across well enough.

"Um well yeah. I was heading west to Rykoon Harbor to get some info about a monster problem when i was blind sided. I guess it was some creature, but i escaped." He stammered a bit, obviously shaken by the attack. "Thanks for the drink by the way. Im Horu." He offered his hand in a friendly manner.

Rapheal smiled at Icarus and then he heard the load commotion and jumped up hand on his dagger ready for a fight. When he saw that it wasn't a monster he sat back down next to Icarus. "You sure are kind to him Icarus." Rapheal said with a smile hoping his new comrade would take it as the joke that was. "are you sure you will be able to handle the monsters on your on?" He asked Horu testing the boys conviction.

Horu winked at Rapheal. "If i know what I'm fighting I can. I have some training that should qualify me as a hunter." He sipped a bit more before continuing. "But surprise attacks are something else I tell ya."

"Nice it's the way I was brought up." Icarus said with a smirk at his friend's joke. "Well if you have some skills we could use them. I'm not sure what you are looking for but we are looking for molder beasts, no joke of a monster from what I hear, and whatever you seek we will be more than happy to help..." Then he turned his head to the side a bit. "Well for a price of course if the contractor is willing." He kept a warm smile about him but behind it lay a very greedy man.

"Molder beasts? That's what i was heading here for. I'm in!" Horu smiled before standing up and spitting in his hand. "Put er there my man. Contracted sealed in a shake." He seemed truly honest and not at all kidding about his motion as if that is how he always did things.

"A contract sealed with saliva." He spit in his hand and grasped Horu's hand firmly and the squelching sound was rather audible. "The name is Icarus Nearanather. You said your name was Horseshoe correct?"

At that moment two people got up from a booth in the corner of tavern and made their way toward Rapheal, Icarus, and Horu. They were both wearing dark traveling cloaks, and the shorter of the two was hiding behind the taller, just poking her head out to see. "From what I can hear, you three are monster hunters." The taller of the two figures said. He removed his hood. "Mind if I join in?"

Horu cocked an eyebrow not sure if he was being made fun of or not. "Um no Ho-ru shirigashi." From which he wipped his hand on his pants and turned to the new comers.

The taller person, turned to face Horu and said "I'm Anthony Dreamseeker, and this is..." he looked to his side and noticed that no one was there. He let out a sigh "March please stop hiding and introduce yourself." She shyly moved out from behind Anthony and softly said "M...my name is Black March, n...nice to meet you all."

"Sorry Horu, I'm bad with names." He said wiping his hand off while listening to the two others. "Nice to meet you both, I am Icarus Nearanather. My it seems like I'm meeting all sorts of comrades here and I haven't even left my seat." He stood up and held out his, now saliva free hand, to the two newcomers. "If you are coming with us then I'll say welcome to you too."

"I have just one question" his face suddenly became very serious. "have either of you met someone named Alastor Dreamseeker before?" March went back to hiding behind Anthony.

Watching the display between Icarus and Horu, Rapheal smiled and sipped at his tea. When the people in the cloaks walked up his hand instinctively went to his dagger. As they spoke about wanting to join the group Rapheal relaxed a little and continued to drink his tea. Rapheal wondered how big the group was going to get before they got started but he just sat there. When the child spoke he looked over and said "I don't approve of putting a child in danger." He went back to drinking his tea and wondered why the strange man wanted to put a little girl in danger.

"I do not know this Alastor Dreamseeker of which you speak." Icarus said to Anthony. Then he walked over and to March said, "Nor have I met a girl as charming as such." His voice was smooth and his voice lithe as he said this while keeping eye contact. "However I'm sure she'll be fine as long as we are there." He regarded the whole group. He smiled and continued. "So unless there are any other people wanting to join us, I say we get going." He walked over to and opened the door outside and then closed quickly afterward. He walked back and sat down, "We will go in the morning."

"March" Anthony said, "Can you go to the inn and rent us a room for the night?" March nodded and left through the door. Anthony sat down by Icarus. "heh good luck getting March to take a fancy to you, I've been trying to get her to fall in love with me for almost a year and no luck." He said. "But even so I'd appreciate you not hitting on her. She doesn't seem to like it and you don't want to make her angry."

"By no means do I wish to make anyone angry, as for fancying me though I don't care, she has a shell that needs to be opened a bit." Icarus made sure she was out of ear shot before he explained.

The now broke Horu sipped the last of his tea deciding to sit next to Rapheal
because he hadn't said much during the deal. He looked side ways awkwardly before striking up a conversation. "So...an unusual hunting party we are forming here huh? Where ya from?"

Rapheal smiled and said "You could say that again." Rapheal looked over to Huro and then to the other members. "I would rather not discuss that right now if you don't mind." Rapheal said with an obvious sound of hurt in his voice but never letting his face betray him he just took another sip of Tea. "I wonder how long this will last and how much we will get paid for it?" He said to no one in particular just as a change of subject from his past and the painful memories. "Just to let you know there is a reason I didn't shake hands." Rapheal said to Horu with a smile.

"Um..ok?" Horu responded, not realizing the oddness of a spit shake. He circled the rim of his drink with his finger in silence. 

"Hah, a shell to open up? Well, there may be some truth to that, but you really need to have all the facts before jumping to conclusions." Anthony said to Icarus. "Let's just say she's a little bit special. You'll know what I mean when you see us fight." Anthony took off his dark traveling cloak revealing clothes that once must have been very elegant, but had been battered by travel. "Barkeep, a glass of wine please."

"Wine... you even old enough to drink that stuff?" The bartender asked looking Anthony over not thinking he looked old enough at all. Icarus got up and said, "Please keep the conversation going, I have one more thing I must attend to before I turn in." With that he bowed to his new companions and walked out of the tavern walked away into the growing darkness of the night.

Anthony glared at the bar tender. "I'm old enough to risk my life for the sake of a town I simply find along my way aren't I? If I'm old enough to die in battle, surely I'm old enough to drink a glass of wine." As a little extra bargaining chip, Anthony reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. "I believe this agrees with me too." He said handing the piece to the bartender.

"Risking your neck comes at any age you can leave your mum." When Anothony pulled out the gold the bartender's eyes lit up. "Gold makes you old enough though." He said with a big smirk before taking it and walking off to get the wine.

As the bartender wandered off to get the wine, the doors to the bar opened and Black March re-entered the bar. "Um...Anthony," she said "I rented the room." "Good Job" replied Anthony, "Come over here, sit beside me, I just ordered some wine." March glared at him. "You shouldn't drink that," she said quietly "you know what happened last time." "Come on March, it will be different this time I promise." March shook her head and sat quietly beside him as he waited for the bartender to come back.

"I think this is were i will take my leave." Rapheal said when the bartender left. "Horu do you have any money left for a room?" Rapheal asked wondering if he needed to buy the boy a room or not. This will be an interesting hunting party to say the least Rapheal thought as he walked toward the door as March walked in. "I still don't think you should bring her, but she is your girl friend." Rapheal said over his shoulder to Anthony.

The bartender came back and placed the glass of wine in front of Anthony. Anthony picked up the glass and, noticing march opening her mouth to complain, quickly downed the whole glass before she uttered a syllable. She sighed "You really shouldn't have drunk that" she said. "Oh come on, what's the worst that could happen -hicup-" he said. As Rafael left, he said loud enough so he could hear, "she's not my girlfriend, though i wish she was. She's my weapon. I'd be useless without her." Anthony's cheeks were slightly flushed now. He turned to March and rather suddenly gave her a hug. "I don't know why you always wear this cloak everywhere." he laughed as he pulled off her hood and face mask revealing her white hair and the rest of her face. "Anthony" she warned him. "Wow, I'm pretty sure you get lovelier every time I see you" he said. "let's go" she said grabbing Anthony by the arm to make sure he didn't make a complete fool of himself like every time he had any alcohol. Anthony tripped as they were almost out of the bar. He landed on the floor and said "Mm...so sleepy." March told him to get up but he just shook his head. She sighed "Hopeless man." She picked him up and he said "good night March, I love you." and gave her a kiss on the cheek. March blushed a little bit at this, but pulled up her hood. No one could see it but she had a motherly look on her face "Every time" she said as she walked into the night carrying Anthony.

Horu shook his head."I appreciate it Raph, can I call ya Raph?, but I like to sleep in the open air. Prefer grass and a blanket to a bed honestly." He patted his rucksack to indicate the blanket and pillow tied into a tight bundle on the back.

Rapheal said "Okay fine with me just hope you don't get eaten." He walked to the Inn. He got a room and went to bed.

The next morning Icarus was walking to the inn to get everybody and noticed a boy sleeping in an open grass filled area next to the inn. He walked closer to find out it was Horu. "Didn't like the beds?" He asked though not expecting an answer. He nudged Horu with his foot to get him to wake up. "Oi, rise and shine!"

Anthony came rushing out of the inn, but then seeing only Horu and and Icarus he slowed down. "phew. thought I was late, but I guess everyone else is later than me." He laughed and asked Icarus, "So...what kind of business were you taking care of last night?"

"Needed to see how much we get paid. Looks like the merchant guild will pay 50 gold and Two Guys One Caravan is another 50 gold. That will set us up real nice for the next few days. However molder beasts are no joke so I'm sure it'll be accurate compensation." Icarus let out a small laugh and looked down at Horu to see if he was awake yet.

"Well I'm sure March and I can be of great use even if we're not exactly monster hunters." Anthony said grabbing a peculiar shaped black sword at his side and making a couple of fake stabs with it. "I need to expand my imagination a little anyway."

Rapheal jumped down from a tree when everyone was out side. "I was beginning to wonder if I was going to go alone." Rapheal said as he walked over. "If they don't wan us to bring back any thing then we can harvest them and see what we can get for what ever we find." Rapheal said noticing that the girl wasn't there he smiled. "I guess you decided not to bring your girlfriend with us on this adventure." He said as he was getting some jerky out of a pouch at his side. He put it in his mouth and began to chew it.

"I told ya last night didn't I? She's not my girlfriend, and of course I'm bringing her, she's right here." He pointed to the blade in his hand. "This is the Black March. I found her like this is the woods about a year ago. Of course if you prefer, she can take a human form. Come on March." he said and paused "I know, I know we are better prepared like this, but I don't think they'll just take my word for it." He had a disappointed look on his face "...sorry, she's a little angry with me right now"

Horu's half conscious hand reached straight up and seemed to disappear at the wrist and reappear about fifteen feet above his head plucking an apple from the overhead branch. When he drew it back his hand and the apple jumped from their spot to right where his hand should have been. He gave it a polish on his shoulder before taking a bite. "So are we heading out?" He asked to no one in particular.

"Well I don't know about you guys but I'm ready!" Anthony said. "Let's slaughter these molar beasts or whatever they're called." He laughed strapping March to his back. March thought to him by the way, last night, someone was watching us. It's likely that Alastor is making his move, be ready. Got it he thought back his face looked more serious than before, but he hid his concern well.

"Well the forest is two days away if we head out now so lets not waste another second." With that everyone set off to the east on the journey to fight the Molder Beasts in the forest. Everyone piled into Icarus's caravan, some walked every now and then just to stretch their legs or they preferred to walk. After a full day of traveling the sun was nearing the horizon so Icarus pulled over to the side of the road near a forest, although not the particular forest they were looking for. He unstrapped the horses so they could go to the nearby river to get water and lay down to rest and while he tended to that he asked the others to start a fire for food. While taking the horses to the river he thought he saw something dark flying in the sky among the stars but shrugged it off, as long as it left him alone he was fine with it.

While Icarus took the horses to the river, Anthony pulled March, still in sword form off his back. "Alright March lets get a little practice while gathering wood for the fire." he said and walked off to a nearby tree. He closed his eyes took a deep breath and held march up in a battle stance. His eyes snapped open and a slight gust of wind came off of him his eyes bright. He momentarily disappeared and then reappeared seconds later on the other side of the tree. several branches of the tree came crashing down, which he then dragged over to the others. "Anyone got a way to burn this?" he asked as the light faded from his eyes. He sat down seemingly tired. March transformed back into a human. They both looked up as a faint shadow passed across the sky. "Anthony" march whispered "I know. It's not him though. he wouldn't be that conspicuous." he whispered in reply. Then he said to the whole group. "any of you guys got matches or better yet fire magic?"

Rapheal smiled as he watched everyone head to do there tasks. Rapheal begun to set up a place for the fire to be built and if needed to be put out with out a word. "I cannot use fire but quite the opposite. I use ice magic but I am sure I can start a fire with the right kindling." Rapheal said as he picked up some more stuff to clear the area around were the fire would be set. "Be careful not to leave yourself open when you attack just some advice." Rapheal thought of how the shadow benders of his village would exploit that weakness. Rapheal noticed the shadow and took it for a bat but if anyone was looking at him they would notice his hands on his bow and an arrow ready to be drawn. "So your girlfriend decided to come with us after all I just thought you were full of crap when you said she was the sword." Rapheal said with a small smile as he put the bow on his shoulder again. He pulled out his dagger an used its light blue glow for light as he made sure that everything was secure and set near the site just in case of bandits.

Anthony sighed too tired to argue that March wasn't technically his girlfriend. "you know what, I might as well stop trying to correct you." he said. "Hey March, can you wake me up when dinner is ready?" She nodded. Anthony laid down with his head in her lap and was almost instantly asleep.

Horu came back this time, one arm full of sticks and limbs, the other with five fish. "Found a stream bank there, fish are easy, they always swim forward when startled and a well placed hole shoots them right into your hands." He sat down and expertly whipped out his daggers skinning the fish and gutting them in a surprisingly fast motion. With that he threaded the bodies onto a few sticks.

Icarus walked back, with his horses, to the campsite and the only reason he found it was because his eyes adjusted to the darkness, "What no fire yet?" He asked as he walked over to the caravan to get out a horse feeders. He filled them with oats and strapped them to the horses so they could eat. "Doesn't anyone know how to make a fire?"

Horu half frowned at the comment. "Well, i guess that would be a problem." His now free hand plunged into the little pouch on his right hip and produced a small sliver of flint. "This is all I have left." He gingerly knelt down to Raph's kindle bed and struck his dagger across the flint in careful motions as not to break his last piece. After a few strikes, a pricked index finger and some solid curse words there were glowing embers in some wood shavings. He hurriedly constructed a bit of a sloppy Tepee around the dyeing glow, obviously it wasn't his strong point.

As the fire got brighter and smoke began to drift from it, Anthony reluctantly opened his eyes and yawned. "Well that wasn't a very long nap. We got any food ready yet?" he asked still lying down. He noticed that the whole group was now present and asked, "so where do you guys come from?"

"All over the place." Icarus said putting the fish up to start cooking by the fire. He looked in the caravan and walked of to Horu. He took out a small strip of cloth and tied it to fire finger. "It'll staunch the bleeding a bit. Don't want monsters coming after the scent of your blood right?" He turned back to the fire to check on the fish and listen to everyone else.

Surprised by the small act of kindness Horu was at a loss for words for once. He looked at it making sure it didn't bleed through. "Well um thanks." He retrieved his now steaming fish from the fire and took a bite from the glistening meat. "A small village a kingdom or so over called Naki, barely big enough to be on a map." he responded to Icarus.

Anthony got up and retrieved two fish from the fire, one for him and one for March. They both started eating like they hadn't seen food in weeks. "How about you Raphael?" Anthony asked, the sound muffled by his full mouth.

Rapheal climbed a tree and pulled out a piece of dried fruit. "I would rather not talk about it if that is fine with everyone." Rapheal said as he began to eat. He pulled out an arrow and notched it in his bow. "I will take first watch it that is alright with everyone." Rapheal said as sat there his jaw the only thing moving. 

"That's fine with me" said Anthony cheerfully as he finished his fish. "I need to get some sleep anyway, that little stunt with the tree limbs earlier got me kinda tired." He yawned. "Doesn't look like March is tired yet though. She's not much for talking, but maybe she'll grow on you." he heard March think you're too friendly with people Anthony, if we want to find him we have to be able to forsake companions in a second. Anthony's mood dampened a little yeah yeah, but I don't like the thought of being like him to catch him. he thought back. "g'night everyone," he pulled out a blanket from his pack, which jingled like it was full of money, wrapped it around himself and fell asleep very quickly.

Horu had his pack rolled up into a pillow, a small blanket lay over him, more for grasping than warmth. his eyes took in the sight above, the massive sky alight with trillions of stars. "Its kinda breath taking." He mumbled his eyes full of wonder.

"I'll take second watch, just be careful there's something big flying around here so don't try it on your own, wake us up too." Icarus told Rapheal before settling down right next to the fire.

Rapheal looked at him and nodded. As the other fell asleep he started to relax. He looked up to the sky at the moon and stars "One day I will avenge you, all of you." Rapheal said as a tear fell and hit the ground underneath him. As it got late and the fire completely gone Rapheal jumped down from his tree. Rapheal walked around the caravan to make sure nothing was missing. As he finished he walked up to were Icarus laid and tapped him with his foot "It is your turn to take watch." Rapheal said just loud enough for him to here.

Icarus turned up and looked at him. "Okay I'll get up for school." He mumbled as he pushed himself up. When he was standing his self awareness kicked in and he said. "Have a good sleep." He grabbed his weapons from the caravan and climbed up the tree Rapheal was in. He listened to his surroundings while he watched the stars move across the sky.

The almost silent flying of an owl whispered by, then the faint sound of claws scraping bark. Whatever had been flying around the area had landed, not very far from the group sleeping. Even though the fire had almost died, the gentle light from the embers was enough to glance off the pupils of a stalking beast. It was odd that it was close enough to pounce, but it was moving so stealthily that it had reached what was left of the fire. Glancing down at it, the feline like creature suddenly sensed eyes and looked up sharply at Icarus.

When Icarus got up in the tree Rapheal went to the river to get a drink of water. When the creature landed he was already to far away to hear it as he approached the stream. Rapheal bent down and got a drink of water then washed his face. When he was finished he proceeded back to the camp.

Icarus heard faint sounds that just barely reached his ears. As the beast grew closer he looked over right in time to lock eyes with the beast. Hmm... big cat or something worse? He asked himself with a smile as he kept locked eyes with the creature. His bow was at his feet so his silently grabbed it, the movements obscured by the angle he was at to the beast. However to knock the arrow and fire would take the half second the beast would need to attack, he would have to wait for it to move first.

In the darkness it was impossible to tell what it exactly it was, but when the giant wings unfurled and pushed itself up and away from the camp, the embers had flared from the force. A hood covered its head, complete with goggles, and a harness with a pack on its back. It was a fast glance, however, as the beast was fighting its way through the canopy to get back into the sky beyond.

"Whoa." Icarus said as the wings unfurled. Before it even started taking off though he let an arrow fly straight for its head right in between the eyes although he didn't see the goggles. He kept firing shots quickly right at the same spot as it was slowly rising hoping to get it before its wings lifted it up above the trees. If an arrow did hit it would probably hit the goggles and not quite kill but at least knock out the creature but in the darkness he couldn't tell what it was so he thought the goggle were it's actual eyes.

An arrow glanced it across the metal clasp in the middle of the goggles, dazing the creature, but not enough for it to stop rising. The last arrow however hit it square in the shoulder and a feminine yowl pierced through the air. Managing to get a small distance between itself and the small camp, the creature crashed back down through the canopy, slamming hard into the earth and roots below.

All the uproar woke Anthony and March up. The two of them quickly jumped up and March turned into her sword form. "What the hell is going on out here?" he yelled as he sprinted over to where the creature had fallen to the ground. He couldn't see Icarus so he was just hoping everyone was okay.

Icarus jumped to the ground and ran over to the horse. "Guard the camp." With that her ran off toward where the creature fell. He figured the others would wake up but just in time to see him run off in at all. On the way he dropped his bow and took out his sword and shield, he knew a fight was ahead.

Not quite. The creature groaned quietly, one paw twitched, then went still. It was out cold, from both the glancing blow to the face and the long arrow that stuck out of one of its shoulders. Its crash landing created a small opening in the branches, and starlight shone down on its prone form. Right as Icarus joined Anthony the form abruptly shifted and shrank, revealing a thin woman naked beneath a harness, a hood and goggles covering her face. Her skin practically glowed in the light of the celestial stars.

Anthony stood there dumbfounded for a moment and, realizing the situation cautiously approached the girl. Anthony, now right beside her, knelt down and nudged her shoulder. "Hey. you alright?" he asked softly.

Horu seemed to drop from a hole behind the trio, his daggers held reverse and twitchy ready to strike. "What...just happened?" He asked his eyes darting around then settling on the girl.

Rapheal got back to the campsite and noticed that everyone was gone. He let the arrow in his bow get a slight charge and wait for some one to return. "None of them better sneak up on me or I will turn them in to a pillar of ice." Rapheal said with a grim look. As he sat and waited for something to happen.

When Icarus saw her he blushed a bit and looked away. He took off his shift and threw it on he to cover her so he wouldn't feel awkward looking at her. He took hold of his sword once more and looked around the forest waiting for the creature. He heard of creatures turning into monsters, but at the moment she was unconscious. Seeing nothing move he sheathed his sword carefully picked her up. "Come on, lets get back to the camp. We'll get the fire going and I've got some clothes in my caravan we can cover her in." He said starting to make his way back hoping the others would walk with him to make sure nothing came at them on the way back.

When Rapheal heard the approach of the others he drew back an arrow and called out, "Who is there?" The arrow glowing a bright blue as he waited for a response. His eyes looking for movement and his ears listened for the faintest noise.

"Dont worry, it's just us, though we've picked up an unexpected guest." He walked in supporting the unconscious girl. He walked over to where the fire's embers still faintly glowed and put some small twigs on it trying to get the fire started again. "March" he said "you should clean her wounds." March changed into human form and went over to her pack and brought out a bottle of alcohol and a rag along with some bandages and set to cleaning the arrow wound from the girls shoulder.

The newcomer's pack dropped from her prone body, as if the leather straps slipped through her arms. On closer inspection of her, a pair of very small off white wings with accents of cinnamon and silver sprouted from her shoulder blades. Her legs from the knees down were covered in fine downy fur and ended in golden paws. If there were any in the group aware of sphinxes, they would expect to see her furred ears once they removed her hood.

Icarus noted the strange body parts but all sorts of people existed so he just took note. He was not familiar with sphinxes as he had never met one before. While March attended to her wounds he fetched some clothes from the caravan. It might be a bit big for her but it was better than nothing. "I'm going to get my stuff and she dropped something back there, I'll get that too." He unsheathed his sword and walked through the forest to get his bow and her pack.

Rapheal's eyes narrowed at the girl. "I bet she is a shape shifter." Rapheal said with a menacing growl. "I don't like Shape shifters you can never tell when they are lying." Rapheal had an arrow pointed at the girl just in case she decided to go nuts, he would freeze her to the ground.

"Sword chicks and harpy girls, whos normal anymore?" Horu asked staring into the fire while flipping his dagger more to have it at the ready than for fun. The glint from the steel danced across the ground as it twirled.

"You guys seem awfully suspicious of this girl." Said Anthony "I've never once had a bad experience meeting strange girls in forests." He laughed hoping to lighten the mood. The fire was now burning brightly. "As far as I know she didn't attack anyone. so why all the hostility?"

"I have." Rapheal said to Anthony's comment on meeting girls in the forest. "She might not have had the chance to. If she is deemed alright by everyone then I will not shoot her." Rapheal said still worried that the girl in front of him was a true shape changer and what she would change into next. Rapheal took a couple steps back so when the girl awoke the arrow would not be the first thing she saw, but probably the second.

Icarus arrived behind Rapheal and put his hand on his shoulder. "Lower your bow... I started this by accident and I will take responsibility to end this if I must." He put her pack down by her and knelt down by her head to make sure she was okay. He carefully moved her hood trying not to wake her. He would say it was to check for head wounds but he really did want to see how her face looked.

In the dim light her short cropped hair was a dark brown, her ears a slightly lighter shade of gold with delicate black tips. Feline ears. Light gray feathers hung from the base of the ears as well. She had a round pretty face, and a slender frame tinged with the same feathers of her ears. They trailed down her spine and ended in a short lynx tail that had a good bunch of the feathers at the tip. This unknown woman was a sphinx, and when they are injured, they naturally fade into their human forms, for the damage is much less.

March finished bandaging up the girls wounds and took note of her interesting features. She remembered seeing a few people like her before over 100 years ago. She whispered to herself "sphinx" and then walked over to Anthony and sat down waiting for the girl to awaken "so what is she?" asked Anthony quietly. "she's a sphinx, but that doesn't mean she isn't dangerous. You should be more careful about who you trust." she replied.

Rapheal lowered his bow but the arrow still glowed with an erie blue light. "I still don't trust it." Rapheal said still not knowing that the girl was a sphinx and not a shape shifter. Rapheal slowly backed away to the tree that he was stationed in during his watch. Rapheal pulled out some dried chopped fruit and ate a bit.

"Okay excitement is over for the night." Icarus said looking up at the moon. "Still a good couple hours of sleep and then we'll move out. "It's still my watch." Icarus looked at the Sphinx once more and then turned to everyone else. "I'll keep watch on everyone, if she isn't a threat I'll apologize, if she is than an arrow to the eye usually does the trick." He smiled, "Good enough?"

Anthony lay down to try to go to sleep again, but it eluded him. After a couple of minutes, and not feeling at all tired he went over to sit by Icarus. "This has got to be the oddest group I've ever seen." he laughed, "I hope she's okay though," he nodded in the direction of the sphinx.

It was at that moment that she moaned quietly, coming to. She had quite a headache, and sat up, holding her head while her other hand kept the fabric that lay over her to her breasts. Realizing that there were two humans very near her, the sphinx tilted her head to look at them, her golden eyes glinting of light from the fire. "What happened? I don't remember how I got here..."

Rapheal watched the girl as she moved. The eerie dull glow of the arrow is all that could be seen of him when he reached the top of the tree's branches that could support him. "I will go to sleep up here once I know the area is safe." Rapheal said to Icarus. If someone looked carefully they could see his eyes shining off the glow of the arrow and his hand on the arrow ready to through it at her if she made a move to hurt someone.

Icarus nodded to Rapheal and knelt down to the girl. "There was a mishap and some accidents occurred but you're safe now." His expression was a much more soothing and caring one than when he was trying to calm down everyone to stop all the commotion. "Look, just lay back down and get some rest okay? You had quite a fall and we don't want you getting anymore injured. Don't worry I'm watching over ya." He finished with a big smile and unless she gave any indication of wanting to talk more he would stand back up. 

Horu glanced back his interest peaked, her voice, it had made her seem more human than before. His daggers vanished, stashed away in his pouch. "Hey Icarus I'll take half a watch for her tonight if that's okay with you. Everyone needs sleep."

She winced at her arm, carefully bandaged and showing some fresh blood, then flicked her ears to everyone trying to sleep. Carefully, she reached into her pack with her good arm and withdrew a plain off white shift, square cut with a fringe of iridescent beading along the edges. "If you could..." the sphinx glanced back to Icarus, "Help me up, and to a private place where I can change?" She dangled the dress in front of her.

"Heh! you seem awfully eager to spend some time with her Horu. You plan on putting your moves on this sphinx here?" Alastor joked and then realized it was rather rude to refer to her as this sphinx. "Sorry about that, but I don't know what your name is. could you please tell us?" he said nicely.

Rapheal rolled his eyes not that anyone could see. Rapheal decided that if even if she was dangerous she should have to make noise to get to him which would wake him up if he went to sleep. So on that note Rapheal leaned up against the tree after putting up the arrow. He let his hand rest on his dagger for just in case emergencies. Once Rapheal got comfortable he went to sleep.

"Ah yes, my caravan is private. Horu the offer is appreciated but there is only another couple hours at that and I can sleep on the way to the forest." He said with a smile. He helped the sphinx to the caravan and then walked back to the fire. He looked around the forest and up in the sky and not a creature was stirring; that was just how he liked it.

"No, just being kind to someone that's not trying to kill us is all." Horu shrugged off Alastor's jest, though it did have a certain twinge to it. He honestly couldn't deny to himself he did have a weak spot for most females.

The sphinx emerged from the wagon's covered bed, a slight sound of bells ringing pleasantly. She came forward into the light of the fire then, clothed in a cute ivory dress with a shimmery lace sash, with gold bangles over her furred ankles. Her bandaged arm was kept still at her side, but the other held out her dress in a curtsy to the group. "My name is Glasica... and I thank you for your kindness. I have no memory of how I got here, but I assure you, if I was under mine own control, I would never harm you." Glasica smiled, with only faintly pronounced teeth and small dimples. "So I hope that rests any malice towards me," Her gold eyes flashed to Rapheal.

Icarus bowed and said, "Icarus Nearanather, I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you." He saw her cast a look at Rapheal and said, "Not to worry, he's a good guy for as far as I know him." The fact that he hasn't known any of his new companions too long crossed his mind but he dismissed it and smiled. "I'm sure he'll come around." Icarus sat on the ground in front of the fire pit, the fire inside dieing out slowly. He looked around for anything harmful nearby but he saw nothing so he calmly took out three arrows and placed them, head first, in the ground by his left foot; He held his bow in his lap, in case something did get the slip on them he would be ready to swing around with bow and arrow ready to fire.

Anthony then walked up to the sphinx "I'm Anthony Dreamseeker" he introduced himself, "and that's..." he turned around only to notice that March had turned back into a sword. he sighed. "-honestly I don't know why she's so shy." he said to himself. "That's Black march," he continued, "-she's the one who cleaned your wounds, and no she's not just a sword." he said anticipating the question. "Nice to meet you." he put out his hand for a handshake.

Glasica lightly placed her hand within his, "Charmed." Then withdrew her simple touch, the tiny wings at her back fluttering while she refolded them. While no one else stepped forward to introduce themselves the sphinx knelt delicately next to her pack and pulled out a few blankets, settling them near Icarus. "Something must have happened... I don't believe I attacked you, but I felt curiosity perhaps towards this group..." She laid down at that, slipping under the cloth, "Or the fire attracted me. I know not..." Glasica winced as she bent her hurt arm into a better position. "I guess, we'll figure it out in the morning." With that said she closed her eyes and immediately went to sleep.


There was only a few hours left in the night and they went by silently. When the sun peaked over the horizon to paint the sky pink Icarus started to wake everyone up gently and he started with Glasica. When he woke her up though he asked, "Hey, before everyone else wakes up, could we go for a walk?" He held his hand out to her to help her get up in case she needed it. He needed to know about what happened last night, it had been nagging him all last night.

Her eyes opened quickly, wide awake. She had had a feeling this was going to come up, but she nodded and rose to her feet with his help, dropping her blanket and following him.

They walked a little bit out of ear shot of the others, especially Rapheal who was already suspicious of Glasica and he asked, "So, last night. I wasn't exactly sure why you were in our camp. Not to mention that I had never seen someone like you before, in either form." He said noting all of the animal parts she still had even in her human form. "I shot on impulse, but besides that I want to know why you were in our camp in the middle of the night." He had his hands on his hips, like he was normally talking to someone but his hands were ready to unsheathe his sword just in case.

She smoothed out a wrinkle in her little dress before giggling, "You've never seen a sphinx before?" Glasica's tail fluttered. Then on a more serious note, "I was being honest with you, that I don't remember last night much at all... I remember flying, on some sort of errand... then darkness. I awoke on the ground at your feet and mercy." She smiled again, the familiar dimples from last night reappearing. "I've always been fascinated by fire, and it had been a while since I landed. Normally when I am curious no one notices I'm there."

"No memory of why you were there. Does it have something to do with your errand?" Icarus asked wondering what could have happened. He had a few ideas but he wanted to see if he could narrow it down first.

The sphinx shrugged and refolded her petite wings, "Perhaps. I mostly just wander around exploring the world, got nothing better to do." Glasica chuckled to herself. "What is your group doing?"

Icarus thought to himself for a second and shrugged. He smiled and said, "We are monster hunting. We hunt monsters that cause others frustration or misery. Of course most aren't intelligent enough to understand go away but they understand weapons quite well." He was looking for the right words to use because he was sure Glasica would take offense if he didn't, she had probably been called a monster several times. "You are welcome to come with us of course. You do seem to be a traveler of sorts and it is always nice to travel with company." He held his hand out and bowed, "Would you be willing to join us?"

She smirked, then frowned and put a finger to her lip as if pondering something, "Well that depends really, how much money are you offering?" Glasica then laughed and bent her wrist and hand towards him, "I'm kidding of course! We sphinxes have no form of currency, it is just a hilarious notion! What is wrong with bartering or trading for what you need? You humans are too cute." Glasica laughed again, then winked at him. "Sure, although I obviously appear quite frail in this form I am in fact, a warrior. I will join you, Icarus, but I ask for something in return, bartering for my skills per say." She giggled again, tilting her head at him and blinking slowly.

Icarus noticed she was flirting, but he didn't want to just jump into anything and look like an idiot. He was less formal now and looked her up and down saying, "What exactly do you want for compensation?"

"Oh..." She replied in an innocent voice, "I think you know. But we can deal with that later. Much later." Glasica grinned again. "I'm always in the mood for some... bartering after a good fight. You said there were some monsters nearby?"

Icarus tried to silently gulp but cleared his throat and said in a normal tone. "Yes, a little while to go down the road, some molder beasts, let's go back and get everyone else up too. Molder beasts are not something to be taken lightly and we'll need everyone's help." With that he started to walk back.

Glasica smiled and nodded, following him back to the camp. Her smile however disappeared once she reached the fire, as she had chosen who she wanted what from, and paid the other men no further heed and kept to herself.

Icarus proceeded to wake up whoever else wasn't awake yet and worked on getting ready to leave, mostly working on caravan related chores and left the camp clean up to the others.

Anthony was up by the time the two got back to the camp. "G'morning you two, have a good walk?" he asked as he folded up his blanket and put it into his pack. He then pulled out a couple of oranges peeled them and threw one in the direction of March. She immediately turned from sword to human and caught it. The two of them ate the fruit and then Anthony said "I guess we're ready to go whenever you are."

Horu fell from the sky after seemingly materializing from a hole six feet off the ground. He landed in a crouch, his shirt folded up at his chest like a make shift basket. He looked down and produced an pear from which he smiled the took a big bite some of the juice running down his chin. "Found these in a clearing a bit north."

Rapheal came from the direction of the stream with multiple water-skins full of the crystal clear water. He walked over and put them on the caravan and said "I got us water so we have to make less stops." Rapheal cut his eyes at Glasica making sure that she was always in sight just in case she tried something tricky. "I still don't trust you shape shifter," Rapheal said to her under his breath with an unwavering glare. Rapheal pulled out some jerky and ate a piece and put the rest back.

"I think you misunderstand me, sir. I am not a shape shifter... but a humble sphinx." Glasica replied back to him, her lynx ears folded back, showing her discomfort. Comparing her to a shape shifter! Unheard of.

"I still don't trust you." Rapheal said avoiding something he was going to say as he pulled out a piece of dried fruit and ate it, it looked like a dried strawberry. As he put it away he walked back to the caravan and made sure the extra water-skins were tied down.

"Good... kinda. Let's get going." Icarus said as everyone piled into the caravan. He started the horse down the road and they were back on the road in no time. It took a couple hours and they were there well before noon. When they got to the forest Icarus pulled the caravan into the forest a bit and got out with his weapons. "Everybody, we're here." He said to everyone in the caravan. He got out his bow and took a few steps away from the caravan. His eyes were keen on the foliage but the brush was high and the fact that they were green colored did not help. "Okay, they are green scalled with green spiked on the back, same height as us on all fours, and... if you hear things falling a breaking coming close to you, move. They are deadly when in a charge and it's nearly impossible to stop them." Icarus told everyone as they piled out. "The forest is big but once we find some sort of nest it should be easy to set up a trap, just be careful."

Horu had already vanished into one of his holes warping into the nearest tree. He scanned the area try his best to spot any places that might be fruitful for their hunt.

"Not exactly an easy environment to spot them in huh?" said Anthony noting the green brush. "If we're not careful we'll be the hunted and not the hunters." He pulled March in sword form from his back as he carefully stepped into the foliage.

If anyone turned to look at Glasica, all they would see would be a bloody bandage curled on the ground, and her dress hanging neatly from a peg on one of the wagons. Like Horu, she had already taken it upon herself to disappear into the brush.

Rapheal was already out looking for tracks on the ground. "I know we just got here but I don't think they have been this way as of yet"Rapheal said because he didn't notice any type of tracks, markings, or rubbings that might belong to the molder beast.

"Well, lets go hunting." He said to Rapheal and Anthony noting that Horu and Glasica had disappeared. He walked through the bushes as quietly as possible brushing against it as little as possible. Eventually they came to an area with no grass, it was all stomped away from the countless number of molder beasts that had come there. The tracks seemed to stop here as if this was the end of their hunting ground and they led into the forest more. In the trees not much stood out, the whole forest floor was covered by the tree leaves.

Anthony picked out an especially large bunch of footprints and began following it into the woods. "If I'm not back in a few minutes, it means that there's a molder beast down there." he said to Raphael and Icarus. He made way into the woods listening for any sign of movement in the forest.

Icarus took another step to tell him he was going to join him tracking but his voice was cut short by a loud roar and the crash of bushes underfoot of something large. A deer ran out of the bushes in front of them and shortly after was a large green spiked and scaled creature. It stopped chasing the deer though and turned to the three hunters. Icarus took out his sword and shield and watched the beast closely.

Horu fell from a hole right above the beasts head, landing squarely in its crown. He grinned madly before drawing his daggers and tried to plunge them into the beasts skull.

The beast was stunned but the scales showed themself too hard for the daggers to penetrate. It shook its head and lashed out blindly with claws and swung its tail now only able to see blurry images.

Horu was flung from the beast as he hit the ground and skid a bit before rolling to his feet next to the group. He held his daggers backwards and in a ready stance failing to notice the gash no on his arm. "Any battle plans?"

Anthony held sword form march at the ready. "I see two options here. March might be able to cut that beast, but the better option would be to aim for a weak spot. I see two big weakspots: his eyes. Never met anyone who could survive a sword to the eyes." he took a deep breath and hid eyes lit up like they had when he cut branches for firewood last night. He took a step forward and was gone in a blur only to reappear behind the molder beast pulling his sword backwards trying to stab it in the eye.

The blur infront of him scared the beast so it turned to attack with a tail whip and started to run. March would make contact with his scales and simply be deflected.

Anthony got hit in the chest by the beasts tail and was sent flying into a nearby tree. He held his ribs in pain. Anthony! "I'm fine March, but this is not an easy kill. Even you couldn't pierce those scales. He got up and held March ready to try again. fourteen minutes left.

A yowl from the right caused the beast to pause. Lightning quick, Glasica feinted left, then pounced on the creature's head. In sphinx form, her claws and teeth glowed gold as she bit its ear, spurting blood from its head. Before she could do much more damage however, she was tossed unceremoniously from its back. She shifted her wings, the bandage still around her shoulder, preventing her from a clean landing.

Now blind and bloody the molder beast roared and it echoed through the forest. Then it started to rush towards the cloest person Anthony. Icarus held up his bow to aim for its eyes but his concentration was broke when three much larger molder beasts crashed through the underbrush, one right behind him sending him rolling through the dirt in the middle of the clearing. Despite his head spinning he gritted his teeth on stood back up, albeit shakily. He took out his sword and shield and watched the molder beast carefully. One of the other two found Glasica, it was a bit bigger than her, and the last found itself rushing toward Horu and Rapheal.

Horu's arm vanished as he plunged it through a hole to his left. His right hand plunged into his pouch clipping a roll of razor wire to his dagger. He grinted then flung his dagger through the hole as it reappeared and shot in front of the beast and sank into a tree creating a trip wire between them and the beast.

Anthony carefully sidestepped the approaching molder beast and crept up behind it to finally get a kill shot without alerting it to his presence. he waited until he was right behind it and then used his speed to try and plunge the sword into its eye from behind.

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This is the Experience Project