Gisa Kriemhild

Gisa was glad that most of her pain was within, only the blood on her lip revealing something more. She kept her head turned just right so he couldn't see it. She sighed as he asked, knowing Naer must have asked him to be kinder. She stayed against her horse, holding the creature and falling into her taunting mask and tone while she pretended to look at a bird in the tree. The birds were acting odd, happy.... must be naer. The idea the forest might appreciate her work didn't occur to her really as she answered Ark in a rather taunting tone.

"You can tell Naer I am fine my dear. Feel free to go now" She answered with a deep chuckle. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, wishing he would leave. Standing straight and tall was becoming more difficult by the minute as her energy focused on pulling her muscles tight instead of healing. She would not show the elf weakness, hed only either worry naer or something equally foolish.

He arched an eyebrow at her tone, and watched her body language rather then listening to her voice for once. Was she leaning against her horse? Hiding her face? Licking his lips, he moved forward to stand even closer to her."For some reason, I just don't believe that." Reaching out, he held out his arm to offer her support, though it galled him that he was actually doing so.

He glanced at away from her slightly at the sight of the forest seeming to change. It was different then before ... "Did the dark spirit have anything to do with the forest?" He wondered if those creatures Soph had been confronting earlier had been a product of it. If so, then he might actually have to force himself to feel grateful to Gisa for the disappearance of that danger.

Gisa Kriemhild

"A little, it had invaded a bit...... whose worrying and grossing do you think got me to do something? And what's with standing so close, you miss my kiss?" She taunted as she reached out to pat his held out arm with her free hand, ignoring the implied offer. She kept her other arm draped to cover the mark of silver blood on the mare and her head turned to hide the blood. It took so much strength to stand straight and leave only one arm on the mare, but she did it. She hated forced concern and it made her want to sigh. She knew he was just doing it for naer.... Naer seemed able to make them both be foolish didn't he?

The tension of course was just keeping her bleeding and the only reason she cared was because Naer might find out. He would feel guilt and blame himself. It only took her a moment to put her hand back on her mare, expecting that he would have shrugged it off even if she hadn't. She wasn't sure why he was trying so hard when they both knew he was doing it for Naer's sake and would be perfectly happy if she died....

Arkerril sighed at her words. Now how was he supposed to answer to that? With the truth, he supposed. "I want to apologize for that. It was wrong of me." And he didn't say that simply because Naer had talked to him quite strongly about what had happened. Ark truly did feel some guilt about the whole affair. Besides, if he didn't apologize then, Soph would figure out he felt guilty and force him to do so in a much more embarrassing situation.

He shrugged off her arm with a irritation. It wasn't really the time for taunting and teasing, as Gisa was wont to do. It made him feel odd and uncomfortable every time the woman did that.

Gisa Kriemhild

.......others have done far worse, don't worry about it." She answered after a long pause, surprised by his sincerity. She glanced away again, staring up at the foliage as if somehow it would hold the answer to how to escape this. She couldn't help but lean on the horse again, ever so slightly, just as one would if casually studying the leaves. She didn't understand why he had to be so stubborn, He was clearly irritated when she behaved as she liked but he wouldn't just go. Still she might have managed to keep it back if not for a tiny cough.

"The birds really are pretty here" She said casually as she felt the cough coming and then tried to hide the smattering of silver blood on her palm by holding her hand just so then lowering it just as carefully. Still she feared a drop might slide down her fingers and do the ground but she couldn't do much to hide it. Against the blackness of the horse's fur it would be even more obvious then the ground. She cleared her throat slightly as if that was all she had meant to do in the first place, wondering when he'd give up. If he could just go....if she could just lay down and heal.....lord her head was getting swimmy or was the breeze just picking up? She wasn't sure..

Nenet's tail gained more speed as Lia giggled and hugged her, Mouth opening into a wolfish smile. She liked her, and for that, Nenet was grateful. Her ears picked up the trilling of birds saying hello to someone, and she turned her head to look at the elf who'd just walked into the clearing. It was the one who had thrown the punch back at the stables, and her ears tilted back a bit. Though, he seemed calmer, now. Her ears tilted back up, and her head to one side.

Lalita 'lia' Tien

Lia couldn't help but grin at the wagging tail and briefly she buried her face in the soft fur. Fond memories filled her at the sensation when she felt someone draw closer. She glanced up expecting Gisa but saw the soft hearted elf instead. How very odd. Still, technically they had both been hired so if he wanted to stay in her place while she did whatever that was fine. She presumed it had to do with whatever was being done to drive the darkness away. She'd wanted to study it... a pity. Oh well she probably had all the information she could. Slowly she released the wolf and waved at the elf, standing slightly between the two.

"Lookie! the new maid's a shapeshifter. Isn't she cute? I bet she'll be cute in the uniform toooo" She said with her usual bell like laugh. It was such a long innocent sound, perhaps a fairy's laughter was always like that and Lia was close enough really. She wasn't too concerned about gisa yet, the demon didn't seem to like her much anyway. She didn't mind really, the half demon wouldn't open up enough to be fun to study.

It was official, something very odd was going on. "Alright that's it, I am staying right here. Even I know that's not something you'd say normally." He reached out again, and this time put his arm around her very gently. Gisa didn't look like she was doing too well ... Whatever she had done must have been quite painful, and she had done it for Naer. He had picked up on that earlier, but not mentioned it because he would have done exactly the same thing.

Naer scratched the back of his head lightly just as a different bird landed on the top of his head and trilled gently at him. He tilted his head to the side slightly, as if listening to the bird carefully, though his attention quickly moved to Lia as the little bird settled itself down comfortably on his head. As if Naer's hair was a proper nest for the little thing. He gave Lia and Nenet a fleeting smile. "She is, and I'm sure she'll look wonderful in the uniform as well." The sun elf wasn't sure what else to say and he had shifted on his feet slightly when he spoke those words.

The bird resting on his head chirped again and he looked over his shoulder, back the way he had come. Surely Gisa should be coming to meet up with them soon, perhaps she was just making sure there was no lingering darkness hiding in the corners. Naer didn't think there was, he would have felt it when he connected with the forest. His senses flitted through the forest, feeling and sensing out Gisa. She was still near where he left her, and someone else there as well. Naer closed his eyes, to concentrate more on his connection with the forest...It felt like Arkerril. His eyes snapped open. Was Gisa in pain?

Naer bit his bottom lip and turned to face the direction he had come from. He couldn't just leave Lia though, she had to be 'body guarded' and that fell to him since Gisa was preoccupied. Still he couldn't be sure if she was in pain, but it had felt like it. He had seen her through the forests eyes, which wasn't exactly like seeing, it was all sensing and feeling and being able to recognize what one felt and sensed. What if Ark had done something to Gisa? Naer shoved that thought away, Ark wouldn't have. Naer trusted Ark and he trusted Gisa, neither of them would betray his trust like that.

He glanced at Lia, somewhat torn. He wanted to go to Gisa, but he assured himself that she would be alright, Ark was with her, and he would help her if she was in some kind of pain. Then, the only real puzzle was, what could have caused Gisa to be in pain? Perhaps the darkness had attacked her when she attempted to purify it, that was probably it. That thought made Naer feel a little guilty, it was because of his desire to connect with the forest that Gisa had went about banishing the darkness.

A soft sigh passed his lips and he turned back to watch Lia and Nenet.

Gisa Kriemhild

"I say things like that to naer all the time" She said offhandedly with an almost suggestive tone and a chuckle, as if to suggest it wasn't birds she was telling Naer was pretty but something more intimate. Still as he put an arm around her, however, she couldn't help the hiss of pain or the fact she reached out to steady herself with the same palm that held her blood. She gripped his other forearm as if to push it away but it was already too late. She was sure he had heard her hiss and now flecks of her silver blood stained the cloth over his forearm. The bright flecks sparkled in the sunlight and betrayed her. She looked away, her eyes on a distant tree as she finally spoke quietly.

"For demons everything's a trade, a deal... Every breath one takes, every moment out of hell comes at a price. My deal to use holy magic is a little bit of pain in exchange. Naer must not know or he'll just use it as another excuse to guilt himself over something stupid and pointless... If I can just lay down for a minute I'll be fine. If you want to help, go to naer and keep him away from here" She said quietly, her eyes briefly closing. She gripped his forearm and her mare tighter, feeling like the ground would rise up to meet her any moment. Sometimes delay was not her friend. She frowned, feeling a wriggle of discomfort from Naer's place. Could the forest tell him? Normally it treated her as some dead thing, at least.... it had before naer. Surely it would skip over her.

"Naer is feeling discomfort, go find out why if you care about him. If it's me tell him I fell and twisted my ankle then hit my jaw but with my demonic healing will be fine momentarily,..... please." She said quietly, unable to believe that the forest would care that she was hurt. She felt her knees quiver slightly but she ignored it and just leaned more heavily on the mare as she closed her eyes. She knew she was nearly pleading with him but the longer she fought the more ripped up her insides became, she was running out of time.

A uniform? She didn't mind, as long as the clothing was comfortable. She could choose to shift without clothing, though she'd have to take the new ones off before shifting back. She didn't want to ruin them, as had happened the first time. She blushed a little under her fur, head dropping and paw covering her face for just a second. She returned her sight to the elf, just in time to watch a bird take a liking to him.

Nenet's grin returned at the antics of the bird, giving a quiet laughing bark when it settled on the elf's head. She then quickly averted her eyes, stretching her front paws and arching her back. The soft loam felt good, and she almost hummed. Standing up, she trotted over and delicately sniffed, lowering her body to show that she meant no harm. It didn't occur to her that he might not be able to read wolf body language, she just wanted to say hello now that he wasn't angry.

Naerlodir was still somewhat distracted. Worrying over the well being of his friend, and wanting to go make sure she was alright. He trusted Ark though, and the forest would tell him if things were serious enough to really warrant his attention. Still he could not help but to worry. The approach of Nenet helped to ease his mind somewhat. Gisa would be fine, he was certain. He should be focusing on the things right here, right in front of him. Of course he couldn't stop that part of him that worried for his friend. He could however, force a smile at the wolf and reach out to pet her gently. It was nice to feel her fur beneath his fingers and his touch was a soft one, his fingers light and he touched her almost reverently.

Arkerril rolled his golden eyes at that, and eased his hold upon hearing her hiss. He found himself nodding as she spoke about the exchanges she made in order to work magic as she did. It made sense, but what a price to pay! He was glad to be as he was. Such worries belonged not to him. But it did give Gisa an advantage when it came to healing, and so he believed her when she said being left alone would do her a world of good.

Even so he heard Soph, repeating time and again how good it was for injured people to have someone around. Arkerril was quite torn, but he did want to go and see Naer and at the same time it would help her relax. "I'll go, but send a message to me if things don't improve. I might have to go and wake Sophronia from her sleep." Gently the elf moved his arm away, all the while making sure that Gisa was steady enough to stand upon her own. Once that was done, he plucked a dagger from his boot and cut both his sleeves from his shirt. There was blood there, and it wouldn't have done any good for Naer to see that. The material disappeared quickly into the pouch at his waist.

With a final nod for her, he walked away while following the dark mare she had said would lead him to Naer. Hopefully he got there in time to intercept the sun elf, otherwise it would only cause even more worry to the half-demon. Arkerril was a little shocked at himself, actually thinking about how things would affect Gisa. After a little while he reached the group and smiled upon seeing Naer with the wolf creature.

"This seems more like a picnic then a hunting party," said the desert elf to announce his presence. There was a small smile upon his lips that he simply couldn't hide. Now to distract everyone from Gisa's plight long enough for her to heal ...

Nenet's eyes closed at the touch and she leaned in, a hum deep in her chest. She could understand the bird's settling down, his touch felt good. She sighed again, sitting and waving her tail slowly back and forth. It was so comforting, just to be touched again, in this form. She'd been wandering alone for so many years, she'd forgotten how it was...

Her eyes snapped open hen another voice rang out, fur standing on end and a tiny wisp of fire sprouting from the tip of her horn. She managed to keep that small, and put it out almost as quickly as it happened, while flattening her ears and lowering her head again. She hadn't been paying attention, and had been snuck up on again. Twice in one day, now.

Gisa Kriemhild

"Thank you....." was all she muttered softly as he left and she leaned into her horse. She closed her eyes, giving in to the pain. Once he had left she slid to the ground, the mare sliding with her. She laid across the mare's back slightly and shivered as the pain slid through her. She coughed up a few more times, the blood spattering on the ground as she simply let herself melt into the mare's back. For a moment she simply let herself give in fully and she simply breathed in the mare's scent. It was the same strange scent as her own, the strange wild flowers and rain storm mixed together that attracted some prey, human prey.

Her mind went back to the first time she found the two mares as she escaped hell. All three of them had been weakened but sharing their powers she had managed to get them all out. Still, those last few yards she felt her strength waning as she pushed all of it into the mares. The scent being the same in the two defiant mares who would accept no others as her own scent when she had failed to save so many friends, had soothed her. It felt like they had been meant for her... as most Nightmares smelled of fire and brimstone. She clutched to the smell, her eyes staying closed as she let go and her two sides let go as well in response until they slowly achieved their usual balance. Her healing would begin and she released a sigh, just melting into the black fur. It would probably take twenty minutes to heal after how hard she fought the elf....

Naer let his fingers run softly through her fur for a few moments longer, looking up only when Arkerril approached them. Clearly the darker elf's approach had startled the wolf and Naer gave her a reassuring pat on the head before he withdrew his hand completely from her and turned all of his attention to Ark. The sun elf moved quickly towards Ark, and when he reached the other, he grabbed him gently by the upper arm and tugged him out of ear shot of the others. Or at least what he hoped would be far enough from them. Even so, Naer's voice was very low. "What has happened to Gisa?" He looked ready to run at a moment's notice, his intention to run to Gisa depending on how Ark answered the question.

His voice was barely a whisper, meant for Naer's ears alone."There's no need to worry, she's resting. She twisted her ankle during the fight with the dark spirit, but with her healing abilities she'll be fine in no time at all." He smiled again, reaching out to give Naer a hug. "Gisa's fine Naer, or I wouldn't have left her alone." Releasing the other man, he continued to smile. It really was pleasant, and warm, in the forest. Going hunting really didn't seem like something they should even contemplate in such a beautiful place, restored by Gisa. She did do good, despite how she tried to hide it...

Naer relaxed, he hadn't even realized he had been so tense. Gisa would be alright, and Naer trusted Ark's words. When the other hugged him Naer leaned into the hug for half a moment, then he was pulling away. The bird that had nestled in Naer's hair chirped lightly, ruffled it's feathers and then pecked him, causing the elf to blink and tilted his head ever so slightly. "I trust you Ark and your words....but can you watch Lia while I go to check on Gisa?" He turned to move away almost as soon as he was finished speaking, and he would go unless the other stopped him.

Reaching out quickly, the elf grabbed hold of Naer's arm with a gently firm grip. "Why don't you stay? We haven't had the chance to speak so often as that, and I have some questions to ask. Like how do you manage to be loved so by animals? I have such a hard time with them sometimes." Arkerril was genuinely curious about that, and it served as such a wonderful, safe, subject to speak of. He didn't know how much time Gisa had wanted, so finding things to distract Naer with was his priority. It was so strange ... He was helping Gisa by spending time with Naer; such a situation he'd never imagined!

Naer frowned ever so slightly when Ark stopped him, but he turned to the other. Shifting on his feet slightly. Gisa would be alright, of that he was certain, still he would have liked to see it for himself. Naer couldn't find it in himself to pull away from Ark, the other wanted to spend time with him. They were friends after all and yet had spent little time together. Naer gave in, giving the other a slight smile. He reached up to the bird in his hair and the little thing stood and hopped onto his hand, gently he held it out to Ark.

"I welcome them with my entire heart, I send my spirit to reach out to them. A part of my soul touches them, but they are free to refuse it if they wish. Right now I am connected with the forest, the trees, the grass, the animals. I can see the way the forest sees and see farther than ever. The trees whisper in my heart and I can understand them because our souls are one right now." It was an ability a lot of elves had, mostly wood and forest elves. But the forest dwelling sun elves that Naer came from also had that ability, always an oddity among his own kind, Naer's ability to connect with a forest, any forest far exceeded that of his sun elf kin. Most could only connect with their home, the Forest of Dawn.

"I'm sure any elf can do it...You just have to send your spirit out to touch the forest. Let your souls meet and meld into one. Though, even not connected to nature, animals are always fond of those who are gentle. They can sense the inner purity of a person and some are drawn to it." He was sure he was explaining things badly, but he was explaining them the only way he knew how. It made sense to his ears, and watched Ark carefully, hoping the other would understand too.

Nenet watched the two elves walk off, ears perked to try to hear their words. Not able to catch any clearly, and not wanting to actively eavesdrop, she got up and wandered back over to Lia, watching her gather various plants. She recognized some of them, but not all. she leaned in and sniffed the ones in front of the woman, being careful to keep her horn pointed away from her. She didn't want to accidentally hurt her, and the tip was sharp enough to pierce.

((Heh, she's getting in the way.))

Lalita 'Lia' Tien

Lia had been ignoring the group, seeming utterly disinterested in the others once they all went on their separate tasks. She only paused as the wolf begin to look at the herbs she was gathering. She laughed softly and shook her head, thinking absently that she really was like a wolf at least in this form. Did her mind change too? She would have to ask her... Then again maybe this was her true form and true mind and the other was the disguise. An interesting idea..... but first.

"Silly, they aren't for eating or playing with yet..." Lia announced in a child like way as she tapped Nenet's nose and gently tried to pull her into a sitting position next to her. Lia was a small woman so it would really only work with Nenet's help but she hoped the other woman would be cooperative. She would then return to her work, thinking absently she only needed a few more minutes to finish her task and then she could go back....

Gisa Kriemhild

Gisa wasn't sure how long time had passed but the wounds had finally healed. She still felt a little sore and weak but that would pass in a few more minutes. Unwilling to wait that long as her other mare seemed to suggest Naer was getting antsy she pulled herself up onto her own. She would be a little stiff but by the time she rode to them would probably have healed completely. She would clean herself fairly quickly using a canteen of water that she added her blood too, so it would not harm her even as she rode. Only once clean did she make her appearance to the two. For half a second she half gave ark an almost grateful smile before it turned to her usual teasing one as she rode up behind Naer.

"You do love your nature don't you" She teased softly as she ruffled his hair. She then stopped and glanced towards the other two women. Well... One was a wolf now. That was interesting. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, figuring the woman smelled the same to her demonic senses so it was alright. The fay woman seemed to know who to avoid even if she was otherwise a strange little thing.

Nenet drew her head back quickly, but not quickly enough to escape Lia trying to move her. She let the woman mover her, figuring she'd at least be out of her way like this. Her eyes continued watching the woman gather, tail wagging. There was a certain happiness and simplicity to being in this form, one that Nenet relished when she had to be in her human form for extended periods. Now she had others to share the feeling with, and that made it better already.

One ear swiveled in the direction of another approaching horse, inwardly glad that she'd caught the sound this time. She listened to the demon's voice, turning her head once to look in her direction. She was merely standing, so Nenet returned her attention to Lia, and the growing amount of herbs she'd collected. She'd have to ask what they were for on the ride back to the inn.

Lalita 'Lia' Tien

"Good Nenet" She said with a giggle as patted her ears. She then turned and returned to her gathering. She would soon have her herbs done and turned to give Nenet a smile. With a little bit of a sly look she turned and began to make a crown of flowers to put on the wolf's head. She seemed to finish it rather quickly before she put it upon the other woman's head. She had to admit she liked playing with the innocent Nenet.

((oh that sucked, my post. >.<))

Naer whirled so fast, the little bird he had been holding flitted from his hands to Ark's head, chittering and tweeting at Naer, as if scolding the sun elf for the unexpected movement. The bird didn't stay upset long and soon it had nestled itself comfortably in Arkerril's hair. When Gisa ruffled his hair, Naer reached out to catch her arm, he stopped himself. It wouldn't do to pull her from her horse, especially after she had already been hurt.

"Are you alright, Ark said you'd twisted your ankle. Was it...was it because I wanted you to cleanse the forest?" He took a step back when he asked that question, pulling back from Gisa and clasping his hands at his chest. If he hadn't asked her to do that, she wouldn't have gotten harmed. Even if she said it wasn't his fault, he knew it was. He should have stayed with her, perhaps he could have helped somehow, prevented her from getting hurt.

Still the peace of the forest was in his heart, and even the added guilt of this could not weigh to heavily on him right now. Gisa was alive and she looked fine, he shook his head and stepped towards her, holding his hand out to her. His posture straightened a bit. "The forest sings it's gratitude in my heart, it thanks you for driving out the darkness." The tree branches above them moved slightly, but there was no breeze, and a few birds flew down to fly in circles around Gisa's head, singing softly to her before they flitted off about their business.