October giggled at Kasumi. "She is quite energetic." October said as she started to fly towards Kasumi. She turned to Kaito and held out her hand again. "Come on, you must be hungry. Lets get you some berries or something."

Andre had cooled a little, knowing that stressing and being angry wouldn't do him or Tzip much good. He knew that he needed a clear head to be able to fight at his fullest. He followed Keith into the cave after the large demon took a step inside. Andre nodded to Keith, fighting off the shiver that wanted to roll down his back at the sound of his cold voice. Keith was quite frightening himself. Andre didn't like the way the cave felt as he entered it, he glanced over at Bard who had entered after he. He got a nod from the other man, Andre knew that he felt the strangness in the cave as well. As the three men walked further into the cave, Andre thought he heard his name being called. Then he heard the scream, it echoed off the walls of the cave, he knew it was Tzip. "We need to hurry!" Andre hissed, trying to keep his cool.

Bard felt his skin break out in goosbumps at the sound of Keith's voice. He shivered more as he entered the cave. There was a wrongness about this place. A darkness lays withing it's deep caves, something that was evil. Bard followed the other two men as they walked deeper into the cave. When he heard the scream, he knew that it was it had to be Tzip. "Easy, Andre. Rushing in when unprepared isn't going to save anyone." He said after Andre hissed.

Lin woke up, she was laying under a tree. She remembered what Bard told her to do, she jumped up and said "I'm up!". She walked around camp, she was looking for everyone. 'Oh no...did they all leave? Uh oh...' Lin ran around camp, she was looking for October at the moment. "October! Where are you!" she yelled.

Keith heard the scream. He recognized it, but did not know from where. It struck something deep within him,and frayed his nerves. He knew at some point in time, he had heard this scream before. He pressed on, his step only quickening. It was then that he saw her. He could see her clear as day. Eliza sat on one of the stones, brushing out her long hair. Her red eyes looked up at him, and her outfit she was wearing match her beautifully. Keith could have sworn he left her at the camp. He paused, looking at the girl.

"I... No. This is not real." His voice grow angry. The more emotional Keith got, the more of a loose cannon he was bound to become. It was his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. He knew if he back too emotionally compromised, he would be no help. He ignored the illusion and pressed on. Short after they got deeper in the cave. Tzipporah stood in front of the group. Keith looked to Andre. "Be care," he warned, "she might not be real."

The real Tzipporah had woken up in a place she did not recognize. There was a small light. Moving to it, she realized it was an image. She could see the three men inside the cave, and the illusion they had reached. "No..." She mumbled, "Go back." She knew they were in danger, but had no idea what from. Something was here to destroy her forest and her friends, and she feared she would have to be the one to watch.

Since Afanassii was not accustomed to foraging, it had taken some time for him to find some fruits he was certain were fit for consumption.

It was clearly dark by the time he made his way back to Ari, but he had picked 4 shiny red apples and some blackberries so he carried his head rather high, proud of his find.

When at last he reached her, he smiled to see her asleep once again. "Either these woods are unusually tiring or she is just exhausted" he thought to himself.

Figuring that she didn't need her sleep now quite as much as she might have before, he didn't take too great of care to keep quiet this time around as he pulled off his travel sack and set the fruit on a nearby cloth.

Hearing a noise next to her Ari snapped awake and looked around blinking the sleep out of her eyes and imeediately relaxed when she say Nassii had returned with food. I can't believe I fell asleep again. Air sighed at herself and then smiled at Nassii moving to stand she stretched raising her arms above her head and then bending nearly completely backwards before standing straight and smiling walking over to Nassii's side. "Did you have much luck?" Ari asked just before looking down. "OH they look Delicious! It has been a while since I have had apples." Ari croutched next to the pile of food and smiled up at him. "Did you enjoy your walk in the darkness?"

He sighed. "The walk was nice, though I fear I don't have the best skill for finding fruits." He blushed, a bit embarrassed at having to admit one of his flaws. "I am enjoying the dark quite a bit."

He took a seat next to Ari and picked up a handful of berries to munch on. Of course, there was meat cooking somewhere in the forest nearby and that smell drew his attention at first, but he was aware that most elves at little or no meat and so they were different creatures from himself. Still, berries were a fond food of his and he had no trouble eating them if the food was also agreeable to the company he kept.

He smiled at his new acquaintance. "This forest is not so bad, I think."

October flinched and truned to face Lin. "Hi Lin, Im over here." October said and waved at her.

"Don't be silly." Ari said as she picked up one of the apples and taking out her dagger began to quarter it up. "This is a great find." Grinning she took a bit of the apple and hummed slightly as it tasted wonderful. "The dark is quite nice actually." Ari smiled as she slowly ate the apple savoring the taste. "This would taste wonderful with some pork." Ari mused out loud as she finished the apple off licking the juice from her finger and wiping her blade clean on the bottom of her shirt. "I would have to agree." Ari said smiling as she faced Nassi to talk with him and admire his good looks. "These woods don't seem to bad. Tho next time I will have to forage for the fruit." Ari smiled and plucked up one of the berries and popped it into her mouth enjoying the flavor and smiling at Nassii. "Thank you for bringing back the food."

Afanassii smiled and looked at her fondly. When first he met her, she was standoffish, reserved and perhaps even a bit paranoid. Seeing her quite talkative now nearly made his heart melt. It seems she was beginning to trust him a little, and someone's trust was always a precious gift to him.

"Not a problem at all, my lady. Is there anything else I can do to help you and your friends?" He looked around to see if they were still the only few in the area. "I'm afraid I have no pork to provide, but little October did mention a roasted boar back at the camp I met her near. Perhaps I can take us there to join her and her friends?"

Lin looked up and saw October. She smiled and said "Oh thank goodness your okay! I didn't know where you were! I also don't know where the others went off too! Do you know where they are?".

Ari blushed a little at the My lady comment but managed to not flush bright red. "I am not sure what else we can do at the moment besides wait for Wispers to return or Delimant to wake up." Ari sighed a little as she thought about the boar that would be roasting at the camp, her mouth nearly watered. "Tho I am starting to think that being in the camp with others might not be such a bad idea." Ari looked at Nassii and smiled. "They seemed friendly right? And you will be there as well?"

October shook her head. "No I dont acctually." She said with a frown.

Lin sighed and said "Oh well....they'll come back soon.". Lin waved good bye too October and walked off, she wanted to go into the woods but she didn't want to get lost. Lin sat at her 'emo tree' and started to draw on the ground with a stick.

"Of course!" he answered, lightly touching her back with one hand. "I don't blame you for asking, I wouldn't want to necessarily be around a group of new people without someone I trusted around."

He shook his head for a second, kept his smile but turned away. He wondered if he was assuming too much of her, if indeed she did hold any trust for him.

"I met Miss October and an Angel lady as well as a silent male companion of theirs. They all seem quite amicable and offered to share their camp and dinner. It seems that having safety in numbers was a priority of theirs as well..."

Ari nodded and blushed a bit as he rested a hand on her back. Smiling she looked at him as he turned away a bit. "That is it exactly. Being around a large group of people without someone you trust is a little unnearving." Ari looked down at her hands and smiled more, his hand on her back a comfort rather than a threat. "Safety in numbers does have it's advantages as well. And it might make living a bit easier as well, what with collecting food or fire wood and such."

Ari blushed a little more as she thought of having Nassii as company for a while her hands figeting with the bottom of her top. "Plus it would be nice to have company." Ari said thinking of Nassii.

Ari's behavior amused Nassii and his eyes began to glow again as a smile spread across his face. He tried to hide it though, but his hunting instincts were beginning to kick in, as often was the case if he received an impression that someone might be interested in him more than usual.

"How long do you believe your friend will be sleeping yet? I don't believe it's wise to leave while he's passed out." He cleared his throat and looked down at her friend, using it as an excuse to regain his composure.

Ari couldn't help but stare as Nassii's eyes glowed and she returned his smile. Beautiful. Was all she could think before looking over at Del and shaking her head a little bit. "I am not sure. Maybe his use of magic has made him more tired than normal." Ari glanced at Nassii again smiling and thankful that she managed to met someone so kind in this new place. "But I agree, it isn't smart to leave when he is sleeping. And I wouldn't be able to carry him to get him to this camp I am sure." Ari laughed a little at this. Tilting her head slightly Ari smiled and before thinking spoke. "Do your eyes always glow like that?"

Andre froze when Keith started talking to what looked to be Eliza. He could see the illusion and he knew it was merely one. Andre could resist those types of spells because of his race. His kind used those spells often and had developed a kind of immunity to them. To Andre they appeared somewhat transluent, like a ghost. He was glad that Keith was able to break away from it. He glanced over at Bard who seemed to be uneffected as well, so far. Andre froze for a moment when he saw Tzip. When Keith spoke to him, he knew that she wasn't really there, but it unnerved him to see her standing there smiling at him. He growled at the illusion and branished one of his double simictars at it. "Begone image of magic! Your tricks will not work here." He said as he brought up his blade and then sliced downward at the image of Tzip with one well practiced swing. The image of her burst and was gone, Andre put his weapon away and continued on after Keith. "Let's keep our heads clear of thoughts that may bring on more illusions. Whatever is here can see into our minds. It can see what we hold dear and will use it to destory us." Andre said, his voice low and dangerous. He was on the hunt now, this thing was going to die at his hands, no matter what.

Bard was wary of the images that flashed before Keith and Andre. The dark elf was right, this evil being deep within the cave can see into their minds. Bard knew they were drawing closer to the beast, knew that as they are now it wouldn't be enough. It closed his eyes and prayed to his mother, his guardian Angel, the angel of protection and life. He asked her to give them strength and protection against whatever may be waiting for them. He knew he would have to draw on the power of both his angelic and demonic sides to get through this encounter. "You're right. It can read us, our fears, our weaknesses, and out strengths. We need to be careful." He said as he followed the other two.

Nassii blushed and let some of his long red locks fall into his face. "It's a sign of... emotion... I guess would be the correct way to phrase it." He laughed. "So, I guess you may see it at times."

"Speaking of time - what shall we do to pass ours until your friend awakens or the other returns?"

What the hell was that? She had never gone into a trance like that before. And what was that she had seen. Obviously a great battle where the sword Dream held was featured prominently. Thinking back to the battles she had been in, she mused to herself. Perhaps he was near fighting somewhere close by when I had been fighting once.

Realizing he could have attacked her while she was oblivious her eyes narrowed in thought. After all it only took a second to take advantage of a situation like that and kill or injure the enemy. Why hadn't he? Obviously he was on guard but she had not threatened him which had probably made the difference. Shaking her head slightly again to clear the strange visions in her head she looked at him straight on, with no hint of fear in her gaze. She stayed on guard. After all, she didn't know anything about him.

"Do you plan on attacking me with that sword?," she asked him coldly. She took a step foward to show she wasn't afraid. "Because if you are, then I would have thought you would have done it by now."

Ari smiled as Nassii blushed and grinning sat next to him so that their shoulders were touching. "So then they glow when you are angry or happy? Or do they glow whenever you are feeling a specific emotion, like only if you get really angry or sad or happy?" Ari asked curiously as she stretched her legs out in front of her. "Talking is always an option." Ari smiled and then it grew into almost a childish glee when she thought of her next statement. "Or maybe you have something you can play?"

It wasn't much longer after they saw the illusions what Keith could begin to hear the breathing of a very large creature. His own breathing fell silents to try and listen to what the creature was. Whatever hellish creature this may be, he was not familiar with it. He slowed his pace down, staying at a mere crawl of a step. He then saw something moving in the dark. A long, slimy tentacle crawled along the floor. Keith watched it carefully. The tentacle took no notice, but at least now he knew that they were close.

He continued to move, staying near to the cave walls. At the end of one hallway, a strange red glow came from the darkness. He signaled Andre and Bard to hold position. Carefully, he moved forwards closer to the light. He approached a large opening, but made sure to stay hidden in the shadows. Flagging them over, he looked at the two men, and nodded. It was Andre's call on what to do next.

Tzipporah sat watching as the men moved. She looked around her from time to time, feeling the cold slime crawling down her arms. She shuddered and let out a small gasp, pulling away from it. She had no idea where she was, or why it was so dark, but the stench of where she was become over powering. The walls around her seemed to move, and a loud heavy noise surrounded her. She was afraid, but at least Andre was coming for her.

Dream looked at the Fae girl. He lowered his weapon, but kept it close at hand. "Do not threaten me and I will have no reason to use it." His tone had not changed, nor did his gaze stray away from hers. They were locked in that moment, and until one of them gave, that would remain like this for some time.

Dream finally broke the staring contest. He could still smell the other Fae, as well as the two high elves. "You know.. if you are planning on ambushing me, it will not work. I can tell how many people you have with you..."

The girl before him was gorgeous. He hated the thought that he might need to fight her. Instead, he waited for her to make the next move. It was her choice to attack him. He had shown her that he was not going to attack first.

Relaxing a bit when he lowered his sword, "I did not plan on ambushing you, I had sensed a presence in the forest and came to find out just what it was. Obviously what I sensed was you. The other people I met here. Aparently they have found themselves suddenly in this forest as well as I have. Are you native to these woods or have you found yourself here as well?" She said all this quietly but with the same tone as she had been using with him.

Now being able to see him a little more clearly with dusk turning into night, she realized he was very handsome. Even with the coldness she found herself attracted to him. This would clearly be dangerous. She still knew nothing about him and would not let herself become venerable to his attractiveness. She watched him warily, still on her guard. There was.....something about him.

"Hmmm..." He rocked back on his heels for a moment. "I may just have to wait a little while until I'm sure I can feel comfortable with disclosing the answer." he winked at her.

He raised his eyebrows at the suggestion of playing something and held up his index finger while he walked to his travel bag. He slowly pulled out the slender handle of a scrolled string instrument and nodded at Ari to see if his choice gained her approval.