Shain sat in the lower branches of atree. His claok lay on the ground, along with his fighting knives, his dagger, and his magicaly poisoned dagger. He was basking in the sunlight through the branches. His shoulder length black hair fell forward over his closed, white eyes. His gray skin felt warm. He was doing nothing today. No jobs, no enemies, just Shain and the lake not twenty paces off. he smiled. He had not been so relaxed for a long time. mabye he would go fishing in a little while. He had nothing better to do. He didn't know a thing about fishing, though. He wondered if the other aquantances he had made recently knew anything about fishing. Thinking of one man named kain Dunnarow, Shain burst out in a hearty laugh. Kain didn't know much beyond the making and drinking of saki, a horrid rice wine.

Opening his eyes a bit he peered around. There were plenty of fish jumping about in the lake. It couldn't be that hard. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, Shain popped his neck and jumped down. He just needed a stick and some sort of bait. What did fish eat?

Maroth had been at the lake for some time now. He was there to get a drink like all the other animals that ever came here. For now though he was up in one of the willows trees watching intently. Below near the lake there was a man moving about. Now this may not seem like a problem to most people but for Maroth it was different. He had placed himself as the 'Guardian' of the forest. He had always believed that anyone who entered through the tree line were here to cause trouble. He did not like this one bit, so he always carried a bow with him scarring off anyone who came near. This man to him was no different and within moments of noticing him Maroth, also known as Mataza to the people of Norwood Village, had his bow ready with an arrow already notched in the string. The long dangling leaves of the willow provided great cover. It was very hard to see into, and to see out of it was much easier.


Mataza pulled back on his string, aiming the bow at the man. He always gave his prey a warning first, and if they did not heed it the next shot would be to kill. The intruder began to move towards the lake and Mataza's gaze followed him. As soon as the man jumped in he let his arrow fly. As it flew it gave out a loud whistling sound like all arrows do, before being swallowed up by the water. It landed only a foot away from the man, but the warning was not done. With Mataza's old skills he was able to fire another arrow quickly at that moment. This too also missed, landing in the same area as the other arrow. After it was gone Mataza loaded another arrow but waited for the man's response, hopefully for his own sake it would be to leave.

Shain looked around for a stick to try his lick at fishing. As he did, he thought he heard movement behind him. Suddenly a whistling filled the air. It sparked something in Shain's memory, but he couldn't tell what. Then he saw a flashing form enter the water. An arrow. Another hit on his other side. Shain's eyes narrowed. Who was this person. Shain didn't turn aroun, he didn't even stop his searching. He kept on surching for a stick. perhaps, since they hadn't hit him, they would not shoot him in the back or without warning. or it could be just two absolutly horrible shots. Shain hoped for all of these. Finding a decent stick he headed back to the tree with his possesions. As he reached it, he suddenly droped into a roll and grabbed his dagger. Thowing it in the general dirction of the arrows he snatched up his two fighting knives. He heard the telling sign of another arrow headed his way. Whipping around, his knives flashed roward the streak in thwe air. Shain was able to deflect it and cut it in two.

"Where are!?" he called. He did not like to be attacked. Especially from behind. Out of habit, Shain began to twirl the knives until they began a steady hum. His eyes were narrowed, searching through the trees. "What have i done? If this is your land, I can easily leave." He waited for a response. He knew that these could not be drow, theyused tiny little crossbows. he thought he heard the creak of a bow string. His knives hummed faster, waiting for a response; wheather it be arrow or words.

As Mataza watched the man closely. How could someone miss that?he though when his arrows missed him. He shook his head slowly watching him still. Then he saw him throw a dagger, missing him barely. It wizzed passed his arm, not hitting a branch or the trunk and going out the other side of the tree. He continued to watch him, while his right hand notched another arrow silently, pulling back on the string. "Leave then stranger!" he announced firing another 'warning arrow.' He then moved to another branch over to his right side. This way the man would not be able to find him.

Just to make himself even more safe, he moved over two more branchesm without shaking them, then climbed up higher slowly untill he had gotten a good three feet up. While he sat there, his hand reached back grabbing one of his ten remaining arrows and notched it again. Untill he fired it he would wait to see if this man would follow what he said or attack. If he tried to attack, Mataza's newly notched arrow would find his heart out. Maybe then this man would take his advice. His ears listened closely still waiting for the man, while his eyes did not leave him, bow aimed at his upper chest.

(Writer's block)

Shain watched in a silence that was only disterbed by the humming of his knives. Peering into the surrounding forest. he heard the statement to leave. Shain growled. He wasn't going to leave, not after an attempt had been made on his life. He had only made the comment hopeing that he would be able to parley with his attacker. As he continued to look for his unseen assalant, he realized that the woods were very shadowed. Shain began to grin. Sheathing his weapons and slowly retreating to the shadows, he cast his Cloak of Darkness. He was suddenly invisble to all but the most keen of eyes. He would find the man like this. Stalking stealthly, he began to move through the shadows toward the place he had seen the arrows come from. Thanks to him being an assassin, he could move through the forest floor without making the slitest sound. He would leav his knives sheathed until he was near to the attacker.

Shain began to wonder what it was. Shain had met a number of different people lately. One that popped out was Sava, a dragon that disguied herself as a human. Shain hoped that this was not another dragon, though he doubted it. Dragons were not ussualy attacking unseen from what he knew. Even in their human form, they could easily overpower what they would call lesser races.

As Shain looked through the trees, he caught a shape in the upper branches of one. Slowly, he raised his head and found himself looking at an elf with a drawn bow. Thankfully it was not aimed at him. That would have been bad. Shain silently began to clime the tree. Branch by branch, he made his way to the figure, until he was on the one right below him. Slowly, he drew his knives. thinking about the chance he had been given, he threw one right besid the elve's head. He still had his enchanted one with him. He would keep that his secret. "That was for your warnings. I have one left. Would you rather talk, or do you jump to the conclusion that I must die?"

Mataza watched carefully from his hiding place, his eyes never leaving the man below. Then when he thought at last he would leave, he disappeared. He was gone, as if he was never there. Normally a man would be frightened at the fact that this had happen. Maybe believe some sort of demon pulled him into some other world. Mataza had the knowledge of such spells though, he had even seen this one casted before. Unfortunately he didn't have anything to counter it, only being able to hid in his tree and listen carefully.

When he least expected it, a dagger passed his head. He took a quick glance at it, it was stuck inside of the tree near him. He had a grin upon his face, not visible for he had a green cloth that he wore which covered his nose and down. His gaze followed the path of the thrown dagger, to the point of a branch. He kept his sight there while he listened to the man's words. He was no fool, but he would not catch him. He made a small salute to the man, before hooking his legs around the branch he was once sitting on, letting his body swing. At this point he was upside down, facing away from the man. His quick motion did not end from there though. At the exact moment he was vertical from the ground he let his legs unhook, allowing him to fall. Fortunately for him there were no branches below the one he had been letting him have a smooth fall. As soon as he popped out of the lower branches of the willow he did a half summersault. The result of these movements allowed him to fall to the ground in a crouched position.


Mataza took a quick glance up at the tree before darting off into the forest, surrounding the lake. He did not care if the man was following him, but he ran on anyway. Leaving the lake behind for now, until another day.


(left the area)

(This is User's alt account. ^_^ )

Uramo watched from the shadows surrounding the famous Norwood lake. The man that Shain had chased off ran past him,not noticing the pure evil lurking just a few feet off. Uramo let him go, because he wasmore interested in Shain. Being that Uramo and Kona shared a very slight mental connection, Uramo had reasoned that Shain knew Kona somehow, and could possibly lead him to his target.

Stepping from the shadows, and materializing from what seemd to be thin air, Uramo, still not a complete human imitation, was on the other side of the lake. Peering into it, what would seem curious to others, he could see the fish and various other... creatures in the murky waters.

Walking around the edge of the lake, Uramo flitted in and out of appearance, as he blended in with the shadows that the trees cast around the lake. "Excuse me good sir." he said, trying to get Shain's attention. His voice was singular in tone and pitch, without any hint of the wavers and hesitations, the increases in power and other things that showed a true human emotion.

Shain watched as the elf fled. he thought that he would hace more courage. Oh well. Shain was back to a peacefull day. As he began to head back toward his tree, he heard someone address him. Turning around, he saw that odd man that resembled Kona. "Hello your self. What you doing here?"

Shain was slightly corious. The last time he had seen this man, it was in the forest. Lokking toward the lake, he added "Would you like to fish? I've never done t myself, but if you have, your welcome to join." Without waitng for a response, he began to continue toward his tree.

Uramo glanced at the lake, and then back up at Shain. "Fish? I have never heard of such a thing." Uramo had thought a 'fish' was a creature, that lived in waters. Or kinds of waters, knowing the things he did. But, 'to fish' must have met something that had to do with fish. Surely the man couldnt expect him to be a shapeshifter?

Uramo came to the waters edge, and examined it a little closer. He could feel a deep and hungry power in it. No doubt emenating from the monster of lore that was rumored to live inside the Norwood Lake. Uramo had no intentions of finding out whether or not the rumor was so, and stepped away from the edge of the water.

Shain looked at the man carefuly. Never heard of fish? Who in the nine hells raised this guy? "Yes fish. You know, little greatures swimming in the water. they can't breath outside of it." He waited for a response from the odd man. He had edged over to the lakes edge, then quickly backed away. Was he afraid of fish/ Or water perhaps? Shain shook his head. "Never mind. So what are you doing here? Enjoying yourself? Or are you just traveling?" Shain looked at the man, sizing him up. He was definatley the same build as Kona.

As Shain reached the tree, he grabbed both of his daggers, nonenchanted and enchanted. Sheathing them, he looked back toward his new companion. He was well away from the water by now. Fastening his cloak around his neck, he nodded toward the woods. "I'm headin' that way now. Care to join me."

"Travelling, as I always am. Winding my way to Taras, where I suspect I shall find who I am here to see. Then I shall leave, if I am succesful. Or, if it is more beneficial, I will stay. One will only know when the events have taken place, for I do not have the abiity to Scry." answered Uramo.

Uramo walked closer to Shain now, again flitting in and out of appearance in the shadows of the trees around Norwood Lake. "Do you suppose you could direct me to Taras, so I may have a shorter trip?" he asked, and it almost seemed like a rehtorical question due to the lack of enhtusiasm.

Uramo decided he would have to learn to mimic human emotions at best. It would most likely would help him get places quicker.

So, this man was heading toward Taras. "Yes, I do know where that is. I'm heading there myself. It's this way." he said, pointing to the direction he was going to be heading. he once again realized the lack of emotion this man had. It put Shain on edge. Shaking himself out of thought, he began to walk toward the far distnat Taras.

"Still looking for Kona?" he asked. the last time he had met this man, that had been his "quest", to find that other odd man, that this one resembled. He looked behind him to see if he was following.

(Sorry, bad post. I'll try to pick it up next time.)

"Yes." replied Uramo, and simply kept on following Shain. "I suspect him to be in Taras. That is where I last... knew him to be before I got... trapped." he added. Uramo was now on the same side of the lake as Shain. He did not wait for Shain to lead the way, but kept on walking, passing Shain without a sideways glance.

"The information you provided to me is very valuable. I will remember that should we meet again." he said, and kept on his way, now working past a shrub and then disapearing into the woods. Flitting in and out of the shadows, scaring off a few animals that were in his way. I am coming for you, Konahomaru! he thought, and made it a loud one too. At the most basic parts of their minds, Kona and Uramo were exactly the same person, and if Uramo had a powerful enough thought or feeling, Kona would feel it too. Because at the core, they are exactly the same thing. Something that Uramo planned to remedy for his master.

Shan watched in surpprise as the man just walked on by. Meet again?! No. Shain picked up his own pace, catching up with Uramo. "Do you mind if i walk with you. it might get borring by ones self." Besides, shain had an odd feeling about this man. He figured that Kona may need to be warned before he met this man. He continued to walk, despite the lack of an answer yet. beneath his cloak, he fingired the hilts of his fighting knives. he needed to be ready in case of a fitgh.

He watched the woods surrounding him, all the while keeping Uramo on the edge of his sight. Not someone you did not watch, Shain was sure. Shain ran through a list of why this man wanted kona so bad. it could be a grudge, which would end with kona killing this man most likely. Shain thought of ways to forestall the man so he could get ahead.