Sweet Dreams and Beautiful Nightmares
 

The night air was cold, a sign of the upcoming winter and yet there was no snow as of yet. It was just as well, considered the individual travelling along the road, it wasn't as though snow would slow down her prey, merely herself.

Looking ahead she saw a city standing proud and tall. A few strands of white hair fell in front of her gaze and she brushed them aside in annoyance. It was rather unusual, her hair, there were two streaks of white right in the front and yet the rest of it was dark, normal, plain, black. Most of the time she got chased out of villages, accused of being a dark witch-fair enough considering the fact that many people tended to die around her.

No, their deaths weren't her fault, not exactly. It was the creature she pursued, it was hungry and it hadn't eaten in quite some time.

Continuing down the path she tugged the hood of her cloak up around her face to hide her hair and wrapped around herself a bit tighter against the cold. She approached the gates to the city and called out to be allowed inside.

Making his way through the thick woods he cursed under his breath as it seems like every branch he passes seems to reach out and grab his cloths and face. Taking a minute to pull his cape free for the hundredth time he looks up at the tightly packed canopy and cursed again.

The tree tops were to tight for him to see a clear view of the sky. He knew it was night through, he could feel it in the damp air. Getting to dark to really see anything he finds a good sized branch and brakes it free from the tree. He pulls a roll of cloth from a pouch hanging from his belt and begins to wrap it around the narrow end of the branch.

After a few minutes he's made himself a good torch and after soaking it with a bottle of oil that was also in his pouch and then lights it. Normally he wouldn't dare take this kind of risk and give his location away to his prey but he knew that if his target was anywhere near him he wouldn't still be standing let alone breathing. But he had to see, he wasn't sure if he was walking in circles.

He straightened his clothes, though he wasn't really sure why he was still stuck in the woods. And at this rate would need a new cape by the time he finally made it out of the woods.

To anyone who might have been close they would quickly notice the 6 foot 5 inches man, who had a well built muscular body from years of exercise and weapons practice. All but the collar of his white shirt was was hidden by black leather which was all under a long black hooded cape that hung down to his heels.

ooc: some references to give you a better idea of what im talking about clothes and the cape

The guards at the gate were being difficult and sticking to the rules. No one could come in or out after dark, it wasn't safe they said.

Rolling her eyes, the girl turned away, she would have to wait until daybreak to get in. Honestly, what could they hope to fear from a mere woman of 5'7? Okay, so maybe they couldn't see her custom armor beneath her cloak, and the sword at her side was pretty thin and well hidden, maybe they had a point. That didn't make any less annoying.

Walking away she headed to the edge of the forest, hoping for a little shelter among the tree-line. It wasn't the safest place but she hardly expected to sleep that night anyway.

Settling down she made herself a small fire for warmth and sat back against a tree with her sword at her side. She closed her eyes and let her ears stay sharp for any sounds of danger.

Continuing to try to find his way he felt like he was only getting himself more and more lost. With a frustrated sigh he decides that all he can do now is try to make a fire, find something to eat and then either try again or try to find somewhere safe to rest for the night and try again at day break. But that hinged on whether or not day break could in fact cut through the thick and over grown tree tops.

Finding a bored out hole in a tree he managed to rest his torch in the hole and then set to work gathering fallen branches. He cleared away debris he made a small fire pit and then set a fire using his torch. With that done he went off with his torch trying to find something to eat.

A twig snapped and her eyes flew open, her hand grasped the handle of her sword and she stood, whirling towards the sound in silence. Her eyes scanned the area closely and she stepped forward with care, each step placed cautiously so as not to alert who or whatever it was that was out there.

After a moment of silence she hesitated, breathing deeply, "... okay girl... you're just losing your mind now" she whispered to herself, "not enough sleep this week. It'll be fine once you get into the-AAAAHHH" her startled cry echoed through the forest as something appeared in the dark, far too close to her. She swung her sword in it's direction but it was gone as soon as it had appeared.

"Holey frog guts" she hissed, her eyes and ears now alert in panic. The beast was here, so close so soon?

He stops dead in his tracks when he thinks he can hear the sound of a female screaming. Not knowing which direction the scream came from he strains his ears trying to listen and wait to see if he can hear it again. Just as he started to think it was all in his head and he started to move again the scream came again. Only this time it sounded more like a shriek and but this time it was followed but the sound of a birds wings flapping.

He sighs and laughs as he lets himself relax. At the urging of his grumbling belly he quickly returns to hunting for something to eat. He pulls a small dagger from inside his boot and readies himself to stab whatever animal he sees first.

After what seemed like an hour he finally treks back to the small fire he made carrying a died rabbit by its ears. By the time he got back to the small fire pit the dried wood he had started the fire with was almost gone. He quickly built it back up and then set to work clearing the rabbit.

A few minutes later he was watching the rabbit slowly start to cook over the open flame. He could only imagine how lost he was and how far he had traveled. Why he decided to get off his horse or leave the safety of the trail had now escaped him. He was sure that his horse had wondered off by now and headed back home. He also figured that if his horse did head back home that there might be a search party looking for him by now, maybe. Of course on the other hand he also imagined that he was probably only a foot in away direction away from the path and if there was a party out looking for him he would never hear the end of this.

He sighed and licked his lips as he poked at the rabbit checking to see how much longer until it's done. He would either have to continue to try to find his way or find a safe spot to climb up in a tree. He thought to himself as he looked around at the trees that surrounded him.

Emerald eyes shot back and forth, trying to keep everything around her in her sights as she walking backwards in circles. The beast dodged in and out of the darkness, trying to find an opening but she kept her guard up steadily.

In an attempt to get rid of the light, the shadowy creature kicked the embers of the fire, sending them spraying across the open area. It didn't take long to start catching fare outside the pit the girl had made. On the bright side (pun intended), the increased amount of light drove the beast away for now. On the other hand, a forest fire was quickly beginning to spread. Due to the dry air and nature of the fall, there was a lot of fuel on the ground.

Cursing, she backed away as the fire hastily cut off her exit from the forest and instead it forced her to go deeper within as the blaze advanced.

Finishing his meal he picked up his sword, which was laying across his lap. After making up another torch he kicked dirt over the fire and after making sure it was really out he continued on his way. Not knowing what else to do he tried to follow the direction that the wind was coming from. He figured at some point it would lead him out of the woods even if it was days away from where he started from.

Making her way through the forest she searched for way to escape the inevitable fire that spread behind her. Searching around, she spotted a light ahead and for a moment she feared it had already surrounded her-until she realized it was a single moving flame.

Glancing back the way she had come, she couldn't yet see the forest fire but if someone else was out here then they needed to know immediately or risk getting caught in it. "Hey!" she called out, heading towards the light, trying to catch their attention.

Hearing someone yell followed by the sound of footsteps running towards him he quickly pulled his sword and aimed at who or whatever was running towards him. "Who ever you are I suggest you find another mark. I promise you I am I well skilled swordsmen!" he calls out hoping who ever it was would take his warning and back down.

The girl came to a stop before him and batted at his sword with her gloved hand, "Please. If I wanted to fight you would I fool enough to announce my presence before even approaching? I'm trying to tell you that the forest has caught fire and you're heading straight towards it."

In her haste, her hood had fallen off to reveal her strange hair, emerald eyes and soft features. She wore an armored corset and while her chain-mail tunic only came below her hips, she did have a short, light brown dress beneath that reached down to her knees. The rest of her legs were covered by a pair of tight, blackish pants that tucked into a pair of practical, dark brown boots. This was not the attire of your average maiden.

"So don't just stand there" She stated curtly as she continued passed him, "we've got to get far enough back so we might be able to loop around it and back to the city."

Quickly taking note that the person was female he quickly puts his sword away. "Forgive me Madam I failed to realize that your voice was female and not male." He looked at where she had come from and could see the sight glow of a fire. He picked his torch back up and followed after her.

"Oh how flattering" she replied sarcastically, "Just keep moving. I'm afraid I don't know this forest terribly well but there has to be a way to make our way around the blaze." she paused, taking a moment to check the direction of the wind and altering her course accordingly to make sure they didn't get caught in the fire.

"I also suggest keeping your eyes on the dark" the women added, "there's something else currently residing in these woods, and it's far more dangerous than that forest fire."

"I did not mean to offend you Madam. Please follow me this way. I made a path while trying to find my way through here." he said and started to lead her back the way he came. "I know I came out here looking for the beast that's been terrorizing the local villages."

She paused, looking back at him curiously, "You came alone?" she asked as she began to follow him, "you are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I'm also guessing that you have not yet actually seen the beast, considering the fact you are still alive."

He looked back at her over his shoulder. "Unless I'm missing something you seem to be alone as well Madam." he said and seeming the glow of the fire getting brighter he picked up his pace.

It took them a few minutes to finally get back to the visible path that ran through the forest. He didn't stop just looked back every few minutes to make sure the strange girl was still following him and check on how close the fire was getting. "Just this way!" he called out to her turning to wait for her to catch up with him as he reached the path and pointed down the path the way he had originally entered the forest.

"I may be alone" She replied, glancing back to ensure the fire was not advancing too quickly, "but at least I know what I'm dealing with. I also happen to know that I'm more brave than a fool." she gave a grin and she hurried to keep up with him.

As they approached the path she paused and looked back again, her eyes scanning the dark as a chill ran up her spine. It felt as though a pair of eyes were watching them and she rather hated the feeling. "... how much farther?" she called as she once again hastened to catch up.

"I haven't see the monster with my own eyes but I know the monster I'm after." he says heading down the path that leads out of the forest. "The beast has been killing every person and animal that crosses its way and has been burning down fields of crops." he says scanning the darkness that surrounds them. "This path is miles long. Unless my steed was scared off it will help us both get out of here faster."

"Which way has it been travelling?" she inquired as she followed him, "and where then, did you leave your stead?" If it was the same beast that they were after then he would say that it had come from the east and has been tearing it's way west and a touch south.

"The first attack I heard about was off in the east. The trail it's been been leaving has it traveling west to south west." He sighs and shakes his head. "I've stayed one step behind it up until now. I was hoping to change that here." he says looking back at her. "If my horse is still here it should be just up ahead a little ways further." he says pointing down the path.

Hearing what sounds like a branch braking in the distance he quickly puts the torch out hoping not draw any more attention then necessary and without the light from the torch it made seeing into the darkened forest. He grips the handle of his sword and looks into the darkness in the direction of the noise as he continues to lead the way down the path.

She frowned, so it was that same beast he was after.

Traveling along the path they made it to where he had left his horse although there was a distinct feeling in the air that they were being watched.

"Okay, we need to get out of here now" the woman stated firmly, "I think it's watching us. Waiting to attack and this is the last place you want to be caught in the dark with it."

"I know." he said climbing up onto his horse and then offered her a hand up. Taking his hand he quickly pulled her up behind him and then nudged the horse into a run.

As the horse started to make some good distance from where they heard whatever was lurking in the darkness it sounded like something huge started to move after them. He nudged the horse faster and whatever was in the woods sounded like it was moving faster to. "I'm not sure we're going to get of this without confronting whatever that is." he says pushing the horse to go faster.

She accepted his hand up on the horse and held on tight as they began to race down the path. Continually looking around as they progressed she tried to track the movements of the creature by sound. Left, right, left, close-too close! Her hand grabbed the handle of her sword as she stared into the woods. For a moment her eyes met the gaze of the beast as it ran alongside them, only a stone's through away. It's eyes were so lifeless and cold, almost seeming to glow with darkness somehow. It was like a black hole in the shape of a four legged monster.

Just as the woman was ready to draw her sword and attack it, the creature dashed forward and blocked their path. It reared up on his back legs, his front ones seeming to morph into clawed hands as it growled fiercely with a sound like broken glass to frighten the horse.

The sudden appearance of the beast scared the horse and caused it to stop suddenly and rear up on its hind legs. The horse attempts to turn and run the other way but because of the momentum that was still pushing the horse and its riders forward it stumbles and falls on its side.

The sudden slip tosses the riders back and away from the horse. With the horse now free of the extra weight it's able to jump up quickly and run off in the other direction.

Not bothering to go after the horse he grabs the handle of his sword and pulls it out as he gets to his feet. "The beast clearly has the upper hand here Missus.!" he calls back over his shoulder and stands his ground against the large beast.

Yelping as she fell the girl quickly rolled away from the horse and into a kneeling position. Her hand as well goes straight for her sword as she eyes the monster before them. "Alright, time for a quick lesson sire. This is creature of shadow, it can move through darkness faster than your eyes can follow but if you listen closely you can hear where it will appear next" she began to circle around the beast to keep it's attention divided. It swiped at her with it's massive claws but she managed to avoid them.
"Secondly, it's capable of morphing slightly. Watch out for a tail, sometimes it grows one with spikes; and thirdly... if it gets you, it'll do worse than eat you. So don't get caught."