She didnt know how long they had been wandering, it was hard to tell here. They had been heading to Norwood Lake to sit and have a picnic together. Unfortunatly they had taken a wrong turn into the stinking, muddy marsh they were now in. They had been away from Imythess for so long they didnt remember where to go anymore. That fact that troubled Tari greatly, more than she had been willing to admit.

Her foot got stuck in mud again, unbalanced she fell hard in the sucking mud. She was covered in mud that smelt like rotten eggs. Angry as she was she still got up and continued to struggle forward. She looked at her companion, who was no better off than she was, stuggling. she shook her head as she looked at his mud caked wings, she knew they wouldnt be able to fly out of there, not till his feathers dried. She sighed wearly, not thinking they would make it out without help.

"Annatar, i think we need to find some firmer ground my friend." Wasnt that the truth, she thought. Tentativly she smelled her mud caked tunic. She wrinkled her nose in discust. "Its going to take weeks to get this discusting, rotten egg smell off of us. ECK! All I want is a nice hot shower someplace that doesnt smell like this."

Tears of frustration fell down her face as she feel yet again in the mud. She was strong but she had been through a trying period emotionally. Her side hurt from a wound, not yet completly healed, that she had obtained on her way back to Imythess. Angry with her situation she threw a culmp of mud into the marsh and screamed out the frustration.

It wouldn't take too long for a smell even worse than the the pungent stench of the marsh to reach Tari's nose. Vernon was on the move partolling his domain, making sure that there were no clues that Munwitherwix wasn't gone. He wanted to make sure she was out of the way, then the marsh would be with out a doubt solely his. Normally he would have bee able to smell Tari before she would be able to smell him, yet that would be before she fell in the marsh's much several times and masked her scent. Her gryphon, however was more graceful with his four legs and hadn't effectively masked his scent. Vernon at first assumed it was just a gryphon passing by, till the smell persisted. Vernon was curious, he couldn't see much of a reason why a lone gryphon, or a pack of grypons for that matter, would stay that long near the marsh. Maybe the creature was wounded and fell into the marsh's murky waters and was unable to get out. Easy prey to be assured. And easy was oh so nice to take advantage of.

As Vernon advanced toward his target he paused occasionaly to see what he could hear of his target which was still to far away to see. He couldn't be entirely sure but there only seemed to be two of them moving about. Or maybe it was just one trying to move and trash it's wings. Sounds could onften be just as inconclusive as smells.

It wasn't until he saw the two making their progession through the marsh that he figured out what he was dealing with. He was taken back by the sight of the elf, merely because it was so delightyfully surpising to see the marsh rob an elf of her grace so well. He flitted from tree to tree eager to greet his new guests, but still unsure of what sort of reception he should give them. "If you wanted wanted to get the marsh all over you you should have made your way towards and area where the water was a bit deeper," Vernon snickered when he came to rest in a tree in front of her, knowing full well that getting wet in the marshy waters was not anywhere related to any of her goals.

Frustration didnt serve her well and she knew it. Gripping Annatars feathers she pushed and pulled herself up. Angry at the pulling of his feathers Annatar snipped at her hand. Im sorry but i couldnt get up on my own you! Sighing she looked down at the state of herself. Never had she felt so helpless. She didnt know where she was, she was soaked, muddy and smelly. Worst yet, her legs were tiered from having to pull her feet out of the mud. Annatar Im so tiered. Tiered of being lost, tiered of being muddy and definatly tiered of smelling like rotten eggs.

A sneering voice floated from the marsh. A figure seemed to materialize almost in front of her., leaning against a tree.

"If you wanted wanted to get the marsh all over you you should have made your way towards and area where the water was a bit deeper."

She was alarmed and angry at the very rude, oversized rat. Angry enough without the rudeness she lashed out at the stranger. Exscuse me sir, but i didnt ask for your opinion nor for your sneers. I am lost, muddy and i smell like rotten eggs. So if you dont intend to assist me then please leave me to my embarassment. I have never felt so humiliated in my life and your just adding to it.

Vernon wasn't expecting the out burst, but was pleased when he heard it. It was most amusing hear such words from one in such a delightful position as hers. The act itself was stupid for an overabundance of reasons. What's more it only invited Vernon to harass her more. Yes, there was a good bit of fun to be had with her and her bird friend and she couldn't say she had it coming at her.

Vernon laid down on the sturdy branch, content that there wasn't anything she or her partner would be able to do about his prescence before he could get a chance to react. "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. This is no way to speak to Master of the marshes which you visit, nor is it a greastly wise way to speak to the one most elgible to help you and well..." Vernon snickered before putting a hand to his right ear and a few seconds later putting his left hand to his left ear. "The only one who can help you."

"In anycase I don't see why you're so angry. I was just trying to help. The waters of the marsh are after all known to be a cure for stupidity, a cure that you so far seem to need," Vernon explained in a more polite tone as his tail swished from side to side behind him. It could indeed be said that the marsh was a cure for stupidity, if of cousre you considered death such a cure.

Tari glared at the rat as he seemed to make himself comfortable. Yet another slap in the face to Tari. It was a sign that he didnt think they were dangerious. Shed show him, if she could ever get out of the marsh that is.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. This is no way to speak to Master of the marshes which you visit, nor is it a greastly wise way to speak to the one most elgible to help you and well..."/b] He held his hand to his ear in a mocking manner. Clearly trying to push buttons. [b] "The only one who can help you."

Master of the marshes or not you have no right to mock me, kick me while im down so to speak, when it is clear that I am as far down as i can get at the moment. I find you rude and disrespectful. This outburst was probably going to get her introuble but she didnt care at that point.

"In anycase I don't see why you're so angry. I was just trying to help. The waters of the marsh are after all known to be a cure for stupidity, a cure that you so far seem to need" Though his remark was polite her cheeks burned in anger.

I will have you know that I am far from being stupid. I resent your statement and demand that you appologise for it imediatly. You dont know me well enough to ridicule me. If what she had said before didnt get her into trouble this one surely would. Annatar screached in agreement but didnt move. Neither one of them dared to move for fear of falling and making fools of themselves.

Vernon was amused, her denial only seemed to prove him further right. She certainly had to be a bold soul for sure, after all she and her feathered friend were practically sitting ducks. It was only after her demand of an apology that he burst out into laughter and he certainly didn't need to make it intentional. It was hard to take that sort of thing serious when the speaker was muddy, apparently unarmed, and practically stuck.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. To think you would try about respect to me, when you are the only one who has been disrespect in our whole encounter. What's more it's worse for a guest to disrespect a host, than it is for a host to disrespect an uninvited guest," Vernon snickered in reply.

"As for the question of your stupidity, I shall prove, though I can't do quite nearly as well as you already have," Vernon snickered as his hand browsed past his crossbow at his side and to the slingshot in his pocket. He took it out as well as one normal bullet and one acidic bullet.

"After all," Vernon said as he loaded the green acidic bullet and aimed at the elf. "It takes a genius level of wit to get lost in the first place," Vernon finished before turning his aim to a tree limb behind her. He fired and the bullet hit the trunk of the tree slightly above he limb and green acid spashed outwards, not near Vernon's uninvited playmates. The limb creaked loadly as the acid quickly ate it's way though it and within seconds the thin limb came crashing down between Tari and her gryphon and not to great a distance from the bird's beak. As expected the crash brough it's own muddy splash adding even further insult.

As he laughed at her, her face turned bright red in anger. she had never been so insulted in all her life. Then again, she was used to being showered with praise so it was to be exspected.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. To think you would try about respect to me, when you are the only one who has been disrespect in our whole encounter. What's more it's worse for a guest to disrespect a host, than it is for a host to disrespect an uninvited guest" Her face turned even more red accenting her vibrant blue birth marks. This time it was a red of embarassment. She had been rude this she knew but in her situation she thought it would have been exspected. When he mentioned about her stupidity yet again the embarassment turned back to anger. She breathed deeply composing herself. All sign of fear, anger, or other wise left her smooth face.

Her eyes opened wider as he pulled out a weapon. Annatar shreiked, alarmed. She was not unarmed but it had never crossed her mind that this rat could be dangerious. Her bow was across her back, along with the qwiver of arrows, under her cloak, nicly masking them. Still as composed as possible she watched with caution as to what the rat was going to do. When he shot at the tree limb, above and behind them she watched the acid eat through the limb. As it fell in the mud she sheilded her face with her arm, turning away. Mud covered her. She hadnt thought that she could get anymore muddy than she already was. She shook the mud off her, splashing Annatar in the face. He grumbled in anger but had attention focused on the now armed rat.

I apreciate the shower you just gave us as well as this lovly tree branch on which to walk upon. It was very considerate of you to think of us so kindly. The sarcasm was thick but she knew what he was doing. At least she thought she knew.

Amusing indeed. If only she could say those words without the unmistakable sarcasm, Vernon might have decided to take it easier on her. Her answer caught him off gaurd. Prehaps hadn't imagined what would have happened if she was trageted rather than the limb or if she jus so chanced to be under the limb. No, that wasn't it, tha reacted quite nicely when he pullled out a weapon, despite the fact that seemed not but a slingshot and a few stones to be launched She was simply refusing to show that she was intimidated. Vernon's tail lazily moved behind him as thought of how best to harass his visitors into being compliant.

"Oh? What's the matter? Have the uninvited guests not yet warmed up to their host? Or have the poor untelligent souls simply lost all hope in finding their way again?" Vernon said feigning compassion in a mocking half snicker as he idley rolled the remaining bullet between his clawed fingers. Prehaps it was time for the guests to meet the pets, no he'd leave that as an option for when she decided to completely unresponsive. Still he probably wouldn't even follow through with that thanks to the big scary gryphon, though his wolf would be able to keep them entertained.

Stepping gracfully on the fallin limb, Tari positioned herself inconspicuiously in a position to quickly get her bow, aim and shoot if nessisary. To everyone but Annatar it would seem just like a comfortable, much needed, way of standing on the thin limb without falling off. AShe stood nimbally, staring cooly at the rat.

"Oh? What's the matter? Have the uninvited guests not yet warmed up to their host? Or have the poor untelligent souls simply lost all hope in finding their way again?" She was unable to hide her bitter laughter at his comment. My friend, I am probably one of the most intellegent people you may have meet. But how could i expect a socially inept rat, such as yourself to understand high intellegence when you see it. She said "friend" only because she was angry and she needed a way of channeling her anger. Unfortunatly her anger always tended to come out in her tounge.

She chanced a look at Annatar. His wings were nearly dry. Just a few more minutes and they would be dry enough to fly, or fight if need be.

That certainly drew the line, one could not play with someone too ignorant to be afraid. Now he was merely pondering between roughing her up and killing her. Maybe he could get by with killing just the gryhon. In the end it would likely depend upon on how much effeort he needed to kill them. One thing was for sure, he couldn't have them leaving in any sort of easy pace. "Oh? I'm sure then that you have some highly intelligent reason for being in the marshes and disrespecting it's kind master. I'm sure you only lied to me when you said you were lost so that I might be dumb to your plans," Vernon replied as he brought himself to his feet and placed the bullet and slingshot back in his backpack.

"Elsewise there's a fair chance I've met rocks smarter than you," Vernon snickered as his body vanished into a greenish fog that expand outwards from him. The toxic fog wasn't a full potency, but it's toxin was strong enough for them to notice it mildly hindering their breathing as well as keep them from doing anything too aerobic like flying or anything esle that would have them breathing hard. Now he just needed to conjure something to something to occupy the birdie while he had his way with the elf.

With one hand he opened his backpack and with the other he reaced for his crossbow. With his visiblity gone, he listened for Tari's movements as he prepared for his attack.

The space between Tari's shoulder blades iched with antisipation. She knew something bad was going to happen thanks to her quick tounge and she didnt think there was any getting out of this one.

"Oh? I'm sure then that you have some highly intelligent reason for being in the marshes and disrespecting it's kind master. I'm sure you only lied to me when you said you were lost so that I might be dumb to your plans" SHe looked at him in shock and nearly screamed at him. What would I have planed in a stinking, muddy place such as this? Honesly you cant think that one! Annatar snaped at her as if saying, "Shut your mouth, your going to get us in even more trouble than we already are in!" She couldnt agree more with that. Things seemed to be going better when he put up his weapon but that seemed to be a wrong accumption as he bashed her again. "Elsewise there's a fair chance I've met rocks smarter than you" Red crept up her face again.

Quite suddenly a greenish fog enveloped them. She knew it was a form of magic. Caution was the best at the moment. She crouched down on the branch and silently drew her bow and aimed in the last spot she had saw the rat. Upon her second breath she felt a tightening in her chest. Cautiosly she slowed her breathing and concentrated on listening for a movement. She heard Annatar panting in panic. he would pass out soon if he didnt calm down but not wanting to give away her possition she didnt tell him to calm down. He would be OK after the toxic fog passed.

A bow sting tightening? He doubted she would be one to wander around unarmed especially with that sort of attitude. Still she brobably couldn't effectively hit what she couldn't effectively see, while this was hardly true Vernon. Not only gifted with sensitive ears, but also with the power of a bat's echolocation. He'd need the later to pinpoint Tari's location as her pet's panting did an effective job of hiding her breath. He'd give the bird something to be excited about in a minute, but not from where he stood. He was in not mood to test the girl's hearing like that.

Vernon leapt to tree's trunk, which was thankfully wide enough to sheild him from Tari's arrows while he was behind it, and caught on with his claws. Not one hundred percent fool proof, but it was the best covered he'd get, which was just as well seeing as the elf and gryphon had practically none. Sleathfuly he leaned over to one side aiming the crossbow where he thought they had been with one hand, holding on to the tree with the other, and poking out his head so he could get a good aim. After emiting a few sonic waves, he learned that he was quite off his aim. That darned panicing gryphon was truely geting to be a nuiscence now, might as well make sure the same hold true for both parties.

Vernon aimed steadily for what he made out to be one of the gryphon's wings. No permanent damage to be done there, but the poor would likely do a good job of crying out in pain if it was already panicing and after that it wouldn't take long for the poor thing to pass out. Hopefully the creature crying out would also distract Tari from her own aim. Vernon fired, hoping or the best or at least in Annatar's case, the worst. The resounding snap of the crossbow betrayed his attempt at being silent and pointed out where he was shooting from.

Tari slowed her breathing even more as a wave of dizziness swept over her. She shook her head trying to clear it. She yelled at herself Stop focusing on yourself before you get you and Annatar killed you idiot! Foucusing she closed her eyes to better listen. She heard everything, Annatar's heavy breathing, the sucking sound of the mud around her feet, and the surrounding sounds of the marsh animals. Annatar's breathing was shallower and coming more rapidly with each passing minute. She was concerned about him but couldnt focus on that now, she had to consentrate. With each exhaled breath she drowned out the sounds that didnt matter to the situation untill all she could hear was the sound of her own shallow breathing and the blood pounding in her head.

Then she heard it, the sound of nails scraping on tree bark. She reacted on instinct and released the arrow at the source of the sound. She heard her arrow hit the tree, going in deep. She knew that she didnt hit him but perhaps that one shot would throw him off enough. All she could do was hope that they would get out of the fight alive.

Instinct told her to crouch and roll. Doing this she rolled away from Annatar and hoped to confuse her advasary. As she finished her roll she brought her bow back up to the position and aim she had before. Hopefully the rat hadnt moved but that was one thing she was going to have to chance. Then she heard it the snap of a sling. She fired at the sound just as Annatar let out a piercing screach. He had been hit by something. Painic went through Tari but she knew she couldnt let it control her. A tear of pain for her compainion welled in her eye. Had she Hit the Rat? Bitterly she hoped she did.

As Vernon had feared, the first chance she took to hit him had come very close to hitting him, though that was before he gave himself the freedom to move around and confuse her. It was most pleasing to know that his first shot had been more succesful than hers. Vernon withdrew back behind the safety of the tree, pleased that his bolt had hit his mark. It made such a great impression to have such a succesful first shot, but that was to be expected from the master of his domain.

Now he had to deal with reloading, a bothersome task that was time consuming when trying to pull it off with one hand. It certainly wouldn't be safe if his opponent was so fixed in place both by muck and poison. "You know, it's never too late to apologize," Vernon mused aloud as he set his crossbow back in his belt and pulled a bofrom his side pocket.

"However, If you wait too long I won't be so inclinded to give up the chance to have gryphon wings with a side of spoiled rotten elf for dinner," Vernon snickered as reloaded the crossbow. Vernon was amazed at how tastey the dish sounded, though elf always tasted good.

After finishing reloading Vernon hastily climbed upward, failing slightly in stealth due to his speed, but not going so fast that he didn't make sure there no limbs to stop his progress. He hadn't moved moved too far, but enough to keep the elf on her toes anticipating his next action. He leaned over again to search again for his targets, still pondering what his new target would be. Maybe warning shot not so far from the wretched elf's side, or prephaps he should just aim for her side. Decesions, decesions....

"You know, it's never too late to apologize. However, If you wait too long I won't be so inclinded to give up the chance to have gryphon wings with a side of spoiled rotten elf for dinner" Spoiled? Her? Hardly! She smiled to herself, a sneer of anger and bitterness, determined not to give away her possiton for anything. Least of all to a rude, smelly rat. He certainly thought highly of himself. Perhaps she would have to really try to wound him in order to get the respect she felt she deserved. It was something she didnt want to do but if she had to then she was willing to do it.

With Annatar wounded her mind was far from being in a homeopathic state. Slowly she breathed out and heard him moving. She closed her eyes and visualized what he was doing. he was climbing, moving to confuse her. Her hearing became more acute when her vision was in compromise and closing her eyes acted in a similar way. She followed the sound with her bow. As he stoped moving she released the arrow hopping her aim was not mortaly wounding, if she hit him.

Before Veron could take advantage of his shot an arrow wizzed past his head. Too close for comfort was an understatement. Vernon pulled back slowly ready to try a new tactic. He needed a little more than himself to distract her, if only he had thought of that before doing something about the stupid gryphon. His rat's would be enough in numbers, not so helpful if she still focused on him. A large snake however could fill that niche without being hindered much by the the terrain below. Vernon whispered arcane words softly and shortly afterwards a snake slithered out of his backpack and land on he marshy ground with plop and began to slither it's way towards her.

Hoping to take advantage of the distraction he lept to a sturdy limb of another tree on the side opposite of where he last peeked out. He'd be out in the open for a bit longer than he wished, but he'd have a better position aganst her in the long run and if push came to shove he could always make his way over to her traveling companion and threaten to kill him or prehaps just use him as a living shield.
(Soorry it took forever )