Drizza had been stumbling on these hills for several days. It was dark, misty and very difficult to see more than a few feet away. How the drow stumbled here still remains a mystery. Panting hard from running the last several kilometers, Drizza took out a canteenful of water. The cool liquid flowed into her mouth, giving her a sense of refreshment. Perhaps she could summon her dragon to fly here out, but it seems though her firey dragon despised cold, misty places such as these. Z'ress was too small to ride, and Drizza was just about to give up in reaching her destination. She had been by these hills several times, and those times were not very pleasant. A frog was croaking loudly as she refilled her canteen by the river. Realizing the water was murky and dirty, the drow immediately poured all of the contents from her canteen out and back into the river. Hearing a noise from the reeds there, Drizza suddenly became tense. Though she had heard many ethereal noises here, that it made the drow more cautious than she has ever been. Drizza had never met a spirit of any kind and hopes that she will never have to face such an encounter. Holding the hilts of her swords tightly, Drizza moved towards the reeds.

Feiori splashed cold water onto his face, then shook his head rather dog-like. His bandana was on the ground beside him, and he stared at it thoughtfully for a moment. Wearing it would make him an easy target, as the red colourationwasn't ahrd to miss, even in this fog. Although if he pocketed it, no one would notice him, and being lost did have its downsides. He was almost out of food for one thing, and he wasn't sure if this water was fit to drink. He wiped his hands off on his cloak, picked up his bandana, and tied it around his head. Feiori then stood, and drew his sword. Not being able to see more than three feet in any given direction was unsettling. Might as well be ready for whatever was hiding just out of view. He held it loosley by his side as he walked, straining his ears for any signs of approaching enemies.

How long he had been walking was a mystery, but he guessed by now the sun would have set, for Medri poked his head curiously out of Feioris pocket. "Finally you're awake..." Feiori was nothing if not greatful for the small creature, as it might be his only way out of this mess. The little bat glared at him"Its not my fault I'm nocturnal." Feiori sighed and rolled his eyes. The two never normally got along. It's just the way they were.
"Do you think you could possibly be helpful for a change?" Medri yawned, and crawled out of the pocket, then spread his wings and started fluttering around Feioris head. "I'll take that as a yes..." He muttered, as he reached up and caght the bat one handed. "I need you to fly straight up, and tell me if I'm almost out of this fog." Medri nodded, and Feiori tossed him into the air, and shortly the bat disappeared from view.

It wasn't untill almost half an hour later when Medri returned from his 'mission'"Feiori, where are you?" Medri came plummeting towards the earth, and swooped upwards the second before he was going to hit the ground.
"Im right here.. Medri just follow my voice" Medri, having ears designed for intensive listening, had no problem relocating the man. "Well? What did you see?" Medri flew in closer, and landed messily onto Feioris front, his claws clinging to the fabric.
"It goes on forever... but I think i saw someone else. Better be careful...
"Uhh... how far away was this person?"
"Not far at all." Medri replied with a smirk. Now it was Feioris turn to glare.
"You want me to get hurt don't you?"
"You got it." Medri scuttled back down into Feioris pocket, which was now pinned shut.
"Stupid bat..." Feiori muttered.

A frog hopped out of the reeds and Drizza let out a sigh of relief. She had spotted a fairly large pack of orcs the other day and was afraid that they chose this particular spot as their resting place as well. Deciding that she should continue on, Drizza sat up and began to walk back into the dense fog. Z'ress accompanied her though he wasn't much of a help. As the drow was walking, Drizza caught sight of a very faint figure up in the sky. It looked like a winged creature but because it seemed to far away and was marred by the fog, Drizza couldn't tell. The walk began to grow very long and torturous, the surroundings never changing, just the fog and some small dark figures in the distance. Drizza grew tired of walking, walking to where she did not know.

"Would you please let me out? I'm hungry and it smells bad in here."
"Well you're out of luck. There aren't any bugs so would you please be quiet." Feioris stomach growled. "And besides, so am I but theres no use in complaining." He added. A shadowed figure swam into view, and Feiori ducked behind some tall grass. "Medri, when you were flying, did whatever you saw see you?"
"Probably... why?" Feiori swore quietly, and drew his sword. "Whats the matter?"Medri asked, gasping for breath now that his head was out of the pocket.
"I think you just led it straight to us..."
"Don't blame me, you're the one tha-" Feiori closed his hand around the bats muzzle, and shoved him back down. As he crouched behind the reeds, he could hear the creatures footsteps drawing nearer.

Drizza was walking through the mist, hearing a very faint voice. It stopped so suddenly it made the drow wonder if she was going crazy. She kept walking, the fog blurring everything in site. She was bored of walking through the same scenery over and over again, and not knowing if she had reached the end of the fog. The black figure had disappeared and Drizza did not know what else she could do. Her feet were sore, but she suddenly saw some black objects in the distance. They looked like nothing, but everything in the fog looked insignificant and Drizza walked cautiously over. They were just reeds. The drow was suddenly overtaken by anger and picked up some rocks and whipped it at the reeds.

"I hate this fog!" Drizza shouted angrily.

Feiori, too intent on watching what he thought was a possible enemy, didn't even notice the rock that came flying at him just after he heard a shout on the other side of the reeds. The rock whizzed past his head, and he stood up angrily, only to find himself face to face with a she-drow. Startled, he backed away from her, and right into a deep puddle of freezing cold water. He leapt out of it, and back onto dry land. Feiori shivered slightly, now that the water had seeped through his pants. Medri came shooting out of his pocket, his fur soaked through. "ARE YOU CRAZY???" Medri began darting around in frantic circles, oblivious to the stranger. Feiori paid no attention to him however, and held his sword in front of him, preparing for battle if necessary.

Drizza was shocked at the subtle movement thre reeds were making. It was several more moments before she realized that there was someone behind them. "Sorry sir!" Drizza called, hoping for forgiveness. She didn't see the figure loomed behind the reeds but did not feel any embarassment. People should not be hiding behind reeds like that thought Drizza shaking her head. The mist clouded everyone's vision and so one would assume there was nothing behind such a dark mass anyhow. She walked over but saw the man armed. Drizza drew her blades as well, fearing a battle. A bat was flying around frantically, and Drizza realized the dark winged figure she had seen earlier was the bat.

Feiori sheathed his sword. "I don't want to fight you. I just... thought you were something else." He turned away, embarrassed. No one had ever called him 'sir' before, and he wasn't quite sure he liked it. Too formal. Medri had landed on one of the reeds, and began preening the water out of his fur. Feiori turned back to her, and noting by the obvious look of frustration, she was lost. Medri lit from the reed, and began flying around the strangers head. "If i was no help to you, maybe she will be." Feiori nodded.
"Are... you lost?"

"Lost would be an exaggeration" Drizza said with a thoughtful smile "it would be more like I have temporarily lost my way." The man sheatlhed his sword and Drizza also shealthed her, for the man posed no harm anymore. The bat was flying around her face, and Drizza had to say that this bat was indeed perculiar and annoying. She had the urge to swat it away but decided not too.

"Are you?" Drizza said, offering her hand, "Drizza." Somehow, she felt comfortable giving her name to this complete stranger though she often would not. Perhaps it was the cirrcumstance they had met, but Drizza felt as if she could trust this stranger.

Feiori took her hand and shook it, happy she was so open to him. "I'm Feiori, and that useless waste of fur flying about your head is Medri." He let go of her hand, and stared out at the fog surrounding them. With introductions out of the way, now they might be able to work out how to get out of the mist. "Any ideas?" He glanced at her, then turned his gaze to the sky, thinking.

"Bats, interesting creatures they are. I haven't seen many" Drizza said, watching the small creature flutter about. Drizza had no idea how to get out of the fog, because she tried most of them and they all failed. She sat down on a rock and took a long refreshing drink from her canteen. The sun's light could not be seen anywhere, for the fog had stopped almost any sort of light source from being a guide.

"Perhaps when it is nigthtime, we can use the stars as a guide...if we could see them" Drizza suggested, having to just realized she had never tried using the stars. A wind blew by and the reeds danced in the wind, as Drizza waited for Feiori's opinion.

"Well obviously it is night, otherwise this one would not be awake," Feiori waved his hand in Medris direction. "And as for stars I highly doubt that we will be seeing them anytime soon." He stared at Drizza, as if an escape plan were written on her forehead in a strange language. Afetr a moment or so of awkward silence, he closed his eyes, trying to figure out how long ago it was he entered the mist. Feiori shook his head, devoid of anything to do or say.

Dirzza nodded, what Feiori said made sense. From what limited knowledge Drizza had about bats, they were active at night. She looked up but she couldn't see the blue sky, and wondered how they were going to ever leave the area. The wind was blowing softly, and Drizza enjoyed the breeze, it felt cool and soft...and inspirational.

"Perhaps the wind will lead us out," she suggested again "the wind blows in a straight path, that way we will not stray from the course. That is, until is stops..." Z'ress came prowling by, and sat at Drizza's feet. She stroked her panther's head, while thinking at the same time. They were going to die of starvation when their supplies ran low, as there was nothing that was edible in these areas.

Feiori nodded, then replied, "Or changes directions, which could lead us in circles for days." He picked absent mindedly at a reed, making its seeds cascade into the river, wondering vaugely whether the water was poisened. He shook his head again, and faced the water, suddenly struck with an idea. "Perhaps we could follow the river? After all, this is the only one I've come across, and it must lead out of here."

"I guess we should" Drizza replied, looking to Feiori "and hopefully it would lead us out." The drow seemed hesistant at the idea because the river could possibly lead them deeper in the mist, but it was better than waiting to starve to death. There was little vegetation and Drizza doubted there would be game to hunt.

The drow took several steps forward and wait for Feiori to catch up. It felt a lot better to have some company because it kept the negative thoughts out of her head. She wasn't sure if Feiori was a talker, but Drizza knew that it was either she talked or her head would fill up with thoughts again.

Feiori caught up with Drizza, Medri trailing behind. It seemed the small bat was afraid of Drizzas panther, but he didn't want to be left behind. The fog pressed in on the pair of them, and rather than let the silence distract them he said, "How long do you think you've been here?" He glanced at her, and dispite the fact the the river didn't change no matter how far they walked he watched it as though it did. The water was murky and he thought that his eyes could penetrate it forever and not reach the bottom. Medri sank to Feioris eye level and glared at him. Please remind me why we're travelling with that thing?" Feiori glared back and rather than answer he drew his gaze back to the river. Medri flew into Feioris line of view, and becoming frustrated Feiori seized the little bat from the air and shoved him back into is cloak pocket.

"I do not remember the sun rising," Drizza replied looking into the sky "I think I have forgotten." Truth was, Drizza had been lost for so long, she did not remember the last time she was in a place, unmarred by fog. The wet soil make gurgling noises as Drizza walked along the river with Feiori. She was pretty sure she could trust him, but was ready to leap back if he should draw his weapon.

"How are your supplies?" Drizza asked, noticing her pack had been increasingly lighter the past days. She was worried they would not have food, and the swamp obviously had not sort of vegetation that was edible. Thinking on the brighter side of things, Drizza knew they would not dehydrate.

[B]"This river seems to go on and on."

Suddenly Feiori stopped walking and stuck his arm out to prevent Drizza from taking another step. He crouched down and picked a long reed. He then jabbed it experimentally into the ground in front of them, except, there was no ground. Feiori shivered slightly. They had almost walked straight off the sheer edge of a cliff. He straightened, and stared at Drizza. "Now what? Cross the river?" He shot a furtive glance at the other side of the river. "There's really no telling whats on the other side." Feiori let Medri out of his pocket again, and the bat darted out. "If you do that again I swear I'll-"
"What? Fly away? You'd just be as lost as I am. Would you please see what's on the other side of this wretched river?" Medri snorted and disappeared into the fog. Feiori turned back to the drow. "My supplies are fine if you like old bread and dried meat..." Medri Burst out of the fog, nearly colliding with Feioris head. He landed on Feioris front, digging his claws into his cloak. "It's safe. The cliff is only on this side."
"He says theres no cliff on the other side..."

Drizza stood there for a moment in silence trying to think of the best possible thing to do. If they were to attempt to go around the cliff, it could take days, weeks, especially with the thick fog.

"You have rope? the drow asked, turning to Feiori, "it would be wisest for us to go down the cliff with some rope. Ask your bat if he can fly down to the bottom, if it is too high up I'm afraid we would have to go around it, which could take weeks." The fog had marred everything, their vision and everything else. Drizza could not see the bottom but dropped at rock, hoping to hear the sound of the rock hitting the ground below. The echo was faint, obviously suggesting that they may be very high up. She turned to look at Feiori.

"What do you think? Sounds like we're far up."

Feiori nodded, and glanced at Medri, who sighed exasperatedly and flew cautiously down the side of the cliff. Feiori knew this could take a while. Anything that involved any possible danger always did. He plopped down on the grass, and dug a chunk of bread out of his pocket. He tore a peice off for Drizza and held it up to her, then began slowly tearing chunks off his own peice and eating them. "Hungry? I am." He said with a small smile. He could vaugely sense Medris echo waves, and tried to use them to his own advantage. He peered over the edge of the cliff, and could see the other side in hurried pulses. It made him dizzy. he shook his head and returned to the bread. "Sit down. We might as well rest while we can..."

Drizza nodded and reached into her pack for a loaf of bread and offered half to Feiori. "Want some?" she asked, taking a bite out of the other half. The drow watched as the man walked over to the side of the cliff then walk back.

"Dizzy?" she said with a grin, "not that I am fond of high places myself." Drizza sat in the fog, where everything was shrouded by the mist. She tried to imagine herself in a place with sunny blue skies, but the memory was vague as she had not seen the sun for the longest time. The drow wished her companions could help, but her dragon was too big and it would probably be a big hassle to get him down the cliff. Then the suddeny realization hit her. She had forgotten that she could ride her gryphon.

"Are you afraid of gryphons? If your bat finds it safe to go down, we could just ride my gryphon."

Feiori sighed at the idea of having to ride the drows gryphon. Maybe there's another way... Please let there be another way... He tried to concentrate on Medris sound waves, but he couldn't shake the thought of the gryphon out of his mind. Feiori shook his head slightly. Hurry up you stupid bat... He absent mindedly shoved the half eaten bread into a smaller pocket. JUst the tohught of rocking back and forth hundreds of feet off the ground made him feel sick. He took a deep breath, just as Medri exploded out of the mist in front of them. Feiori gave a start when the bat flew excitedly past his face.
"It's pretty wide at the top, but narrows out the farther down you go. There's a river at the bottom. I followed the river for about twenty spans or so, but it just goes on. I'd say it's safe."
"You also said you wanted me hurt..." Feiori muttered in response to the bats discription. "How narrow does it get?" Medri fluttered his wings in irritation, as if he wanted to fly off again, but answered the question abrupty. Suddenly Feiori had a mental picture of the cliff, and he was soaring downwards. As the bat had said it did eventually narrow out, almost four times Medris wind span. As suddenly as the picture had come it left, and Feiori sat there, blinking. I-I didn't know you c-could do that..." He swallowed deeply, and glanced at Drizza. "A-are you sure y-your g-gryphon can carry both of us?"

"He is more than capable," Drizza replied, curious to why Feiori was so apphrensive to flying on the gryphon. The drow packed away her food and readied herself to fly down the cliff. The fog would be difficult Drizza thought walking towards the edge, hoping to get a look at the bottom. But all she could see was grey empty space, for everything was concealed by the fog.

"Altulth!" Drizza called out to the fog, "Altulth!" She hoped her gryphon had heard her, for she could not imagine how horrible it was to spend more time in the god forbbiding fog. Suddenly, the drow heard the familiar screech of her gryphon, and a smile lit up on the usually glum face.

"Pack your things, we're leaving!"