Chapter Ya : Moving Shadows

It was at night, and they were parted. The traveler moved silently through the forest, his weight on his toes, slightly leaning forward, shifting through shadows. Rarely did the light of the Moon that some called the Hunter struck his bare torso, he had walked these woods some time now, and knew where the Darkness fell first. The traveler halted, pressed his right heel into the soil, closing his eyes, but no longer in pain. The incision had healed perfectly, as he had trusted. The small metal pin sticking just a little out of his heel bothered him no longer. When he closed his eyes, he could simple feel her better. All three of her. And all was well, over there. But here not.
There were lights in these parts, coming and going at Random\'s Will, apparently. But maybe not so. The traveller took a deep breath, lifted his head, looked up without opening his eyes. Little Red shone bright. And others, but lower. He could smell things, new things cold and magic, but one other thing as well, new, warm, alive. His movements slowed, but just a little, as he circled a small hill, crouched behind a pile of Peat. He took the thing that was crafted, which amazed him still. It was a twig that started as one, but ended in two. The wood had been fresh when he found it, it\'s end splintered and torn, by savages, perhaps. But he could not see the tree manhandled, and apologise for it. Nor could he know the thing that had done that, ignorance is bliss. But it was an entirely new sort of twig, and that alone delighted him. He showed it Yndra, and she played some time with it as well. She took it with her, at the times they parted, and when she returned it from het pack it was something new again. A string braided of hair, twings and something thin that shone gold/white/silverish. In the middle a leather cup, soft and furry. Alive recently, alive still. And a swift killer of WaterRabbits. The traveler reached in one of the leather sachets on his belt. Magic grew stronger, light shone bright, illuminating a crouching figure. New, warm, alive.
And shy.
The traveler turned and sped silently away, got swallowed by the forest, avoiding branches that could hardly be seen and leaves flustered in his passing.

[WaterRabbits : Evolutionaty Mistake or Godsend. They nest on islands but have to run  to shore on big flat feet to mate with males (TreeRabbits). They have good warm pelts, but if they stop in midrun it will soak up water and they will drown miderably. Stish hunt them by sticking their tail up. In winter the TreeRabbits have to go to the island if they get the urge, but their Pelts arent half as good, so that\'s a bummer]

Originally posted by zaphar
Zaphar crouched contemplating his goal up ahead. A glowing blue vortice hovered in the green shadows of the forest. Soon he would be entering it. The Grey Hills Council had been worried for months concerning these vortices. Enkidukai had been disappearing with startling frequency. Most thought that these were the reason. They sprang up with no warning leaving as quickly as they came. No one could predict where they led, how they got here, or even why. The best Mages of the council had been unsuccessful in unraveling their secrets. Thats why he was here. The council had just enough tolerance for their troubleshooter to keep him around for just such occasions. Zaphar\'s devil may care attitude rubbed many council members the wrong way. No one should make the mistake of thinking he wasn\'t serious though. He was always serious. He just found that a cheery mischievious outlook disarmed the opponent and aided in misdirection.

The Vortice up ahead glowed bluishly and Zaphar turned his attention to the matter at hand. ?I better enter before that thing disappears.? The council was sending Zaphar in the hopes he could scout out where the Vortice led and if possible bring word back. ?Here goes he thought,? and jumped through the blue glow in front of him.

To be continued...

Had he seen a movement in the greenish darkness, motion of a dark shape he thought had been rocks? The light of the Vortice was not to be trusted, things did vanish, some of the Grey were insulted all to quickly.
Zaphar stood motionless a brief moment, thinking fast. He allowed his eyes to adjust to the light and saw a faint blue glint in the same instant he remembered a soft but sharp sound. He crouched again, reached for the shining fragment.
A pebble, magically reflecting, no, absorbing and radiating some of the Vortice Power. The air was silent, cool, and still. As if nothing moved here as of yet. As his eyes got fully adjusted to the light that shone behind him more and more pebbles adapted some of the light, and some of his Vitality or something as well. But just a little, and he could rest later, when he was dead or in the Void. He picked up two handfull of them and disappeared in the shadows. Little specks of blue trailed his steps. He might bring word back after all, and stories to tell, perhaps.