Laila growled at the male when he had found her, treating him like any feral animal would, growling even more at him as she backed away from him some, her stomach growling even more as she glared at the male. Though the rabbit she had been hunting, showed up behind the partial vampire, she crouched low to the ground before darting forward, catching the thing before she killed it. Spiting the limp rabbit into her hand before she stood up to her full height, looking at the male with her light blue eyes.

"Food." she said to him as she held the rabbit out, the brown fur already being stained red for its' blood, her tail curled around her, she found him suspicious, although she had been the one spying on him. When he moved towards her, her ears would lay back on her head as she would growl at him like an untrusting wild animal, barring her teeth at him, showing her sharp canines.

(Triquetra: not sure if you saved the rp or not >3>)

Horus jumped as the woman who saved his life turned tail and ran, eyes blinking rapidly at her sudden and rather fast movement. His ears twitched at the sounds coming from the woods and, following the woman's lead, turned and ran. He could not even tell if he was following her to be honest. He hadn't exactly seen where she had entered the woods. He moved through the foliage expertly, clawed feet gripping dirt and stone in a mad dash for freedom. His speed seemed doubled at the small bursts of wind magic he could manage in his current state.

After about two minutes of mad dashing and weaving, he stopped, huffing loudly through his nose, nostrils flaring as he attempted to catch his breath. He lifted his head, ears twitching as he scanned the area. He didn't know in what section of the forest this was. He could hear the light gurgle of a rive nearby, but as far as he knew, he had never been here. And he gulped lightly, looking about with uncertainty.

It took a bit before he heard voices, but he did hear them. They were quiet and a little ways off. And so he moved, moving through the brush as swiftly and silently as he could, being sure not to make any noise that would alert whoever this was to his presence. He could only make out two voices, one annoyed and the other short and curt, littered with growls. He sighed under his breath, stopping as he reconsidered approaching, mind wandering back to the female who had saved his life, wondering if she had managed to get away before the villagers had arrived.

Iliaya wasn't wet, he hadn't even touched the water. He had jumped over the river and over the half vampire. He stood there facing the half vampire, his heart pounding in his chest. For a few moments he had been completely oblivious to the creature behind him. He had landed between the half vampire and the fox, though the fox seemed to have not noticed him at all either. That was fine, Iliaya watched the half vampire, then looked to the fox for a few moments before he turned and rushed off in a seemingly random direction. Aya hadn't run far at all before he bumped into something, or someone. Colliding with them rather hard, he bounced off the other and landed on the ground on his ass. Lime green eyes blinked as he peered at the person he had bumped into. His nose wrinkled slightly at the scent of blood and he stared at the fae creature before him. A creature that had obviously been through a lot.

Horus let out a yell as something barreled into him from the direction the voices had come from. And they hit him rather hard, causing him to fall. His back slammed against the ground and he hissed, laying there as his still tender stumps twitched beneath him. Finally, he sat up, turning to look at the man who had crashed into him.

The wind fae eyed the fairy almost curiously, lifting an eyebrow as he looked him over. Seeing a fairy this deep in the forest was strange. They tended not to venture outside of their grottoes, lest they become prey for the larger beasts that lived in the forest proper. He narrowed his eyes at the delicate looking man, eyeing him critically, a hint of distrust glinting in crystal blue eyes.

Iliaya watched the other almost as warily as he was being watched. But there was no distrust in Aya's eyes, just fear and hope. Hope that the being before him, wasn't a servant of the one that hunted him. Hope for safety. "I'm sorry." He stood slowly, his lime green eyes not leaving the other. The other didn't really look like he would be a servant to such a horrible person, but then again, one never could tell really. Still it had been shadows and shadow monsters chasing him and the male before him certainly did not look like a shadow monster. Aya's heart still fluttered wildly in his chest, from running and fear.

Surely he was no longer being pursued by such creatures. Maybe. Aya shifted nervously on his feet and offered the other a very tentative smile. "I'm Iliaya. Or Aya, if it pleases you." A moment's hesitation and then he offered his hand to the other. He had noticed the other's wings, or lack of and such a thing made him very sad. No winged creature should ever be without their wings, but Aya tried to hide such things from his eyes and he certainly wasn't going to bring it up in conversation, especially to someone he just met. Still, it made his heart weep.

Horus twitched as the fairy spoke, instinctively curling his lips. He relaxed lightly at the soothing tone, but kept his eyes locked on him. As the fairy stood, Horus attempted to follow. Only for his weakened and nutrient deprived legs to wobble and fail to get him all the way up. He growled, turning to glare at the useless limbs, the bloody, scarred lumps on his back twitching in annoyance.

Horus twitched when the fairy introduced himself, offering a hand. Tentatively, cautiously, the wind fae took it, careful to make sure his claws did not pierce the other's skin. He ignored the stare the other gave his back, unconciously flattening the stumps to his back in an attempt to hide this new found shame. "I'm...Horus," he rasped, coughing lightly at his dry throat.

Elizabeth had in fact run in a different direction from the fae. It wasn't until the forest had dimmed enough in it's evening hour that she stopped running again for fear of stepping on, or off of something unseen to the human eye. She breathed heavily and leaned her back against a tree. She was glad to be alone, though only a few hours ago she was saying exactly the opposite. She didn't know of the creatures and things in this forest, and had she not been lured here in a trance, she never would.

Now here she was, alone in a forest bigger than all of the villages she'd ever known combined, and it was getting dark. She didn't know much about survival, but she had seen her brothers and her father build fires on many occasions. She piled up some wood, found a thick branch that had been split in half and went to work on it with a small stick, trying her best to also listen for any approaching forest, things. She hoped a fire would not only keep her warm, but allow her family to find her while keeping beasts away.

She'd been working at the stick for a few minutes when her hand slipped from the stick, slicing through her left palm. She gasped at the unexpected pain and stood quickly, holding the wound to her chest. She was so angry, but wanted to cry at the same time. She was never going to get this fire started. She was never going to make it out of this forest.

Elizabeth continued pressing her hand to herself, afraid to look at the wound. The blood soaked into her bodice and through to the white dress underneath. She was frowning and angry and she used that to her advantage. It was either anger or despair, and she knew that only one of those actually had a chance at keeping her alive tonight.

She looked down at the pile of wood. She couldn't stay here out in the open like this, in the dark, and she clearly couldn't build a fire. She kept her injured hand pressed to her top and grabbed up the flowing white skirt in the other hand. The sun was low enough on the horizon to keep a human from seeing well in so much tree cover so she chose to walk, squinting into the darkness as she searched for signs of life, friendly of course, or a place to sleep hidden until the morning.

No more than six or seven steps from her wood pile, she stepped on something sharp, a thorn probably. Immediately she crumpled to the forest floor, half falling, half sitting to see the damage. The injury wasn't nearly as bad as her hand, but bleeding none the less. It was hopeless after all. She couldn't get anywhere in the forest at this time. She heard noises, voices maybe. Her eyes darted around. Was her mind playing tricks on her? She opened her mouth to yell for help. Only air escaped her. She inhaled sharply and there she was, hyperventilating again.

She was going to die here. Her blood would attract an animal, the wolves she'd met earlier, or an ogre. Tears filled her eyes. No, she wasn't going to give up. She needed to get out of here, she needed to see her family again. She pushed herself off the ground and wiped at tears. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She took a step and pain shot up her leg from the thing she'd stepped on. She reached out with her injured hand to catch herself, smearing blood across the tree trunk. She took another step, and another, leaving a trail of bloodied trees behind her. After a few more steps her foot became numbed. Good, at least she didn't have to focus on that pain any longer.

A few more steps and she realized her leg was beginning to feel numb, and her other leg, too. She clenched her hands. Her fingers were numb... what was happening to her? That thorn... Her legs gave out and she fell to the earth, unable to catch herself on her numbing arms. She blinked hard. Everything was so hazy...

((Lol, I got carried away. Poor Liz. I'm not being very nice to her right now. =/))

GriseldaX

Griselda the fae flitted about with drooping wings above the forest with a sigh. Thunderous winds buffeted her in the skies as she searched for something to alleviate her sorrow. The Grey fairy was a rather emotional creature, feeling all things to the extremes. Now was not an exception. She was uncertain as to where to go, as usual.

It was after all one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong. The world was against her! A small cry left her as tree branches tangled up her limbs, making her tumble head over heels to fall with a thump to the ground. Red and pink locks tumbled around her features, leaving Griselda's delicate face obscured as usual. She heard voices nearby, but was far too melancholy to make the effort to lift her heavy head to peer at the source.

(I don't know where to go, so you guys can decide, or at least help me decide.. Please?)

Iliaya gripped the other's hand firmly but gently and tugged him up and a bit close. Only because Horus seemed so unsteady on his feet moments ago when he tried to get up. He wouldn't let go of Horus until he was sure the man was steady on his feet. Aya was ready to bolt though, keep running until he found his way out of this forest, but this Horus seemed to be worse off than him, Aya couldn't just leave him. "I was looking for the way out. Would you care to join me?" He seemed just a little uncertain as he studied Horus' face, but polite. Iliaya was always polite. Usually. Even when he was running for his own life. On impulse he glanced over his shoulder, there were no signs of pursuit. Yet.

Horus pulled his hand away when his legs stopped wobbling, a little annoyed that the fairy could keep such a firm hold on him. The delicate creatures were more known for their magic than their physical strength and it was almost embarrassing for the fae to be unable to pull away. But he was weak, undernourished from being hung by his wrists and flogged half to death, so supposed there was some excuse for this.

Horus blinked at the fairy's question, looking in the direction the lighter-blooded man glanced. He felt himself tense and his once-wings rustled uncomfortably. "Y-yes...need to get somewhere...safe," he rasped, sending a sharp glance behind him. "But not...that way. Too...dangerous."

Iliaya's wings twitched slightly. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for Horus and surely the other needed food and rest, and probably a lot of water. "Danger seems to be everywhere." He mused lightly, looking a bit thoughtful. "But there is a river just a little bit behind me, perhaps if we follow it, it would lead us out of this place." Iliaya also hoped that it would lead them to food, though he had no weapons to aid in hunting he dared to hope some berries or fruit bearing trees might grow close to the water. It was probably a stupid idea. His words had been spoken a little uncertainly, leaving room for suggestion from his new found friend.

Griselda lifted her head to peer trough a curtain of rose red locks. The fae crawled forward stealthily to try and see whose voices she heard. Two male fae ... A light hiss escaped her lips before she could stop herself. Griselda stayed away from other people as a general rule, but especially from others of the supernatural persuasion. Quickly, the woman scampered away on all fours with her wings tucked tightly against her back. Getting away was her top priority.

With such concentration on the threat behind, she failed to notice the danger before her. With pulled back lips, to reveal sharp teeth and fangs, she crouched before the human woman she'd stumbled upon. What manner of place was this forest? All Griselda wished was for solitude, and yet here lay more people then she cared to see even from a distance. Roughly, she pushed the woman away from her path. It was then that the scent of copper blood reached her nose, making even Griselda pause. True, she liked company not, but leaving a person to die lay ill within her heart.

Her hands moved over the woman's still body to halt at her feet. There it was, a poisonous thorn. Without a care for pain, the fae pulled it out and muttered a harsh spell. Now at least the woman had a chance if she was smart.

Horus continued to twitch lightly, looking about him rapidly. He jerked at the other's voice again, turning to glance at him with wide and blinking eyes. "River..." he blinked, looking up and behind the fairy. His ears twitched as they picked up the sounds of rushing water again. He felt his throat tighten at the sound. He would have rushed there earlier had his adrenaline not him to become a cautious wreck.

Finally, though, instinct took hold and, without even so much as a confirmation, he ran, tripping and stumbling in a desperate attempt to get to the life saving mass of flowing water. And when he got there, he immediately fell to his hands and knees and dunked his head into the ice-cold liquid, sucking in mouthfuls to simply quench this initial thirst. He only removed his head when his vision was starting to blur and fade, sucking in air as desperately as he had gulped down that water. He sat for a moment before lowering just his lips this time, still desperate for water, but sated enough to take it much slower this time. He barely even noticed the two figures a little ways down stream, water-crazed mind to busy focusing on the life saving nectar it was currently forcing him to swallow.

((Sorry - been busy on my side! Also, Papillon, I'll add your character to the list in the morning. :) ))

Caoimhe removed her arm from the bag to watch the appropriate usage of the spyglass, her wheels obviously turning. She shoved the bag at him and grabbed the glass once again. She held it over a small red and beautifully fragrant flower that immediately appeared at least ten times it's size under the magnifier. She could see the very bits of pollen that would be used to create more beautiful red flowers. Her eyes brightened and she smiled before stuffing the handle of the glass into the waste of her hemp skirt. She would gladly accept the trade, as unfair to the man as it actually was.

Being the part nymph part elf that she was, she'd been outcast at a very young age. Not by her mother, but by her father and his village and the rest of the Elven race as far as she knew. It was highly frowned upon for an elf to mate outside of his own race. It was far more frowned upon for an elf to disown his children, no matter the race. Her father's punishment was having to wed her mother and raise the child that caused him so much shame.

She'd been picked on by elves her own age and cast out by her elders. She was often left out of hunts and activities and games... When she found or was given treasures by her mother, she was often bullied for them and they were stolen away from her. By the time Caoimhe was old enough to understand the dangers of the forest, she ran away, learning the hard way how to hunt and survive the harsh and unforgiving land of Uumea.

Though she would seem almost childish in her actions, it came from many years of being alone. The spyglass treasure reminded her of the treasures she'd once been able to call her own, until they were stolen from her. Nowadays, no one would steal from Caoimhe or she would end them. Brought up in so much hatred had caused something dark to grow inside of her, though it was never seen by anyone who lived to tell about it. When someone showed any sort of hatred at all, the darkness inside Caoimhe would switch on and her eyes would darken to a deep red color. Anything she did after that point was out of her control and wouldn't be remembered when it was over.

She watched curiously as the man said a few words that made the dirt on his glasses disappear and the crack repair. He must be a wizard. With that appearance and the ability to do magic, she assumed nothing else. "Why do you travel to the dark region?" she asked curiously and innocently.

~~~*~~~*~~~

It would be some time before the poison was out of Elizabeth's system enough for her to wake and move, and her mind was surrounded in darkness.

She was carrying a basket of eggs towards the cottage her family lived in at the edge of the forest. Like she had on many occasions, Elizabeth was walking just inside the official line of the forest of Uumea that divided the forest from her village. She'd heard many legends and fairy tales about the forest, but they were just that to her, stories.

A sudden terrifying call for help sounded from within the forest that made her drop the basket, cracking the eggs inside. Her heart raced. Had she heard what she thought she'd heard? The shriek for help was heard again. Her youngest brother Todd. Without hesitation and without going for more help, Elizabeth ran into the forest, not even stopping for her shoes or a weapon. It had been early morning, before breakfast. Her family waited for her return with the eggs, her mother preparing bread, her father slicing bacon, her brother Todd milking their female cow... Todd had never wandered into the forest, and he'd never been screaming for help. Elizabeth ran. "Todd, where are you, answer me, Todd!" she screamed with an English accent. "Todd!"

Elizabeth stirred, still laying on the forest floor. She was hot with fever and for a moment her eyes opened the slightest bit. There was someone nearby. The haze overcame her and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

He smiled and looked her over. "I came here to get away from myself and my past" he says placing the bag back over his shoulder. He looked around for a moment and thought to himself about what he should do now. He thought about heading home, that cup of tea still sounded good to him. He also wanted to get in a bit of studying before he turned in for the night. He looked back at the female after a moment, and tilted his head. "What are you doing out here? if it is not to much trouble to ask" he says slowly. He wondered if there were more of her people, or others like her, who were around this forest. He shook his head slightly, like he had thought before the half breed reaces were looked down upon back where he was from.

Iliaya nodded slightly when the other spoke the word 'river'. Though before he could do hardly anything else, Horus had dashed off towards the water. A mad dash. His wings twitched and he turned to follow, though not quite as quickly as Horus had gone. Iliaya didn't feel as if he needed to move that fast, since the river was only a little distance away, surely his new acquaintance would be there. Moments later Aya stepped up next to Horus, thinking only of how hungry Horus must be. How long had it been since the other had last drank or eaten of anything?

Aya regarded Horus with a thoughtful eye, trying to figure out exactly what the other had been through. Certainly a prisoner of some sort, but how long? Slowly Aya sat down next to Horus, and quickly regretted the decision. Aya was exhausted from all the running, and he hadn't rested in a long while, now that he was sitting, resting, he wasn't sure he would want to get back up at all. "I'm sorry that I don't have any food to share with you." He spoke the words quietly and sincerely. Though he still held to the hope that there might be fruit and berries near the river, if they followed it long enough.

Laila growled at the fae as he left, moving away from him, she had noticed him but he had not been the one that she considered a threat. She she may have ignored him but it had purely been for the fact that there had been a bigger threat in her mind. She placed the rabbit back into her mouth, growling at the half vampire, hitting him with her tail before she fled down the river.

After a while, she ran into a couple of males by the river, skidding to a halt as her light blue eyes looked them over, she barred her fangs at them as she kept her ground, looking feral as she growled even more, she wasn't used to people and here she ran into two more, both smelled of Fae and the other was the Fae from before. Once this had registered in her mind, her face relaxed as she slowly did a crawl walk towards them, her tail swishing back and forth as she looked them over.

"What is wrong?" she asked simply in her surprisingly soft voice. Having sat down, looking them over as she held the dead rabbit in her hands, using a bone blade she had made to start cleaning it, and cutting it into strips, her eyes never leaving the males.

Horus panted lightly, smiling for the second time that day. He turned his head, ears twitching in an attempt to cover what little remained of his that wasn't wet from the water streaming from his soaked head. The water felt good on his skin, his ragged stumps soothed as the dried blood began to flake off with the flow. He look to Iliaya, shaking his head lightly. "It's alright...maybe I can catch us some fish," he said, voice no longer ragged and worn.

He was making to stand when a woman rushed at them, skidding to a halt and baring her fangs. He turned at this, the feathery protrusions along his body fluffing up defensively. He lowered himself, razor fangs bared and a low and dangerous growl escaping his throat. When she seemed to relax, the most he did was lower the volume of his growl. Especially since she now had a knife. He was not about to let some fox beast catch him off guard with such a sharp weapon. He ignored her question, opting instead to simply watch her closely and carefully.

][Sorry I haven't posted much. I was trying to give others time to post too so they wouldn't get left behind, but no one else seems to be posting either, then I had unexpected company drop in from out of town and now the infection in my leg that was supposed to be gone seems to be not gone so I probably won't be able to post much or at all for a while.][