Taima's skin twitched and seemed to crawl as he wound his way through the twisted woods. Looking around, he slowly transforms...tense at all times as if thinking that a beast or something worse is going to jump from behind a gnarled tree. These grounds seemed tainted to him body and soul, the druid in him knew this was not a normal forest, but something darker. Hearing the slightest of sounds, he turns and leaps up just a shape runs underneath him. Hanging on to the branch above him, he repositions himself and tries to figure out what it was. Sniffing the air...he deduces a possibility...feline yet not quite... Umbras??? I had heard of them...but not seen one up close...is that what it was? Jumping back down and ready for the next attack, he gets his chance sooner then expected as something charges straight for him. Rolling with the attack, he reaches for the creatures neck as he attempts to roll it over. Breathing heavily, he takes a moment to survey his catch. Yea...an umbra...glad it wasn't something worse. Picking the creature up and staring straight into its eyes, he growls deeply and menacingly. You bite me...I will bite back. Are we clear?! He says this as he stares down the umbra. Hoping that it listens he releases the feline-looking creature. Seeing that it doesn't immediately launch at him as a good sign, Taima continues on.


Walking for what seemed like eternity, Taima sees something amiss. Pausing to sniff the air and survey his surroundings, he realizes what it is and curses to himself. Leaping into the trees, he hopes they hold his weight as well as the ones in Norwood. Gracefully jumping from trunk to trunk he slowly advances on the odd smell. Stopping short all of sudden, he realizations are confirmed...about 100 feet away a pair of lemures are standing seemingly guarding a passage. Damn...and with them are probably the others as well...let's hope the other side doesn't show up. I just wonder if they are here for me or for something else. Devils were not what he needed to see right now...best to try to retreat and hope they have not picked up on his scent. Slowly going backwards, he gets about 300 yards before stopped short by a creature materializing in front of him. The creature points a finger at him and speaks, The Master is wishing to speak with you wolf...come quietly or come in pieces!!! The quasit dropped his finger and tensed up, knowing this will not be easy. The demon knows that if he does not returns with his quarry...he is going to die...or be demoted which was sometimes worse. Come then demon, let's see how well your kind fares...or if you fall as easily as your infernal brethren. Taima launches himself quickly, latching his claws just underneath the creatures chin into its throat and pulls up. Growling loudly, he grins a little as he feels the head separate from the body.


Dropping the head and sniffing, he senses no other infernal or abyssal creature, but knows that the umbras are coming. Not wanting to deal with packs of the creatures, he launches back into the trees and runs quickly. He hopes to either find civilization to hide in or at least a friendly entity. He is in for a long night......

The Gloomwood was a place Shain visited often. Not because he particularly liked it, nor did he ever receive instructions for his work here. For some reason or another, he was often drawn back into its depths at random times, often not even knowing how. Like now. Only yesterday had he been walking along the road when he forgot where he was going. Without thinking, he had stepped into this forest and continued on, his mind elsewhere. Faithfully, Whyverin and Kythrone had followed him, both mentally protesting his movements. However, he had paid them no mind until he was lost in the heart of the dark forest.

White eyes darting to and fro, Shain observed his surroundings. So far when he had entered these woods, some sort of misfortune fell upon him. He had had his back mauled by umbra; he had been attacked by drow numerous times. This forest held nothing but malice for him it appeared. This time Shain was determined to escape anything he forest decided to throw at him. That was why he was sitting in a low branch, knives drawn. Already he had heard the growls of the beasts that roamed the forest, wild umbra in search of prey, whether man, elf, or beast. Kythrone and Whyverin were perched nearby, out of his eyesight. They should be able to warn him if anything came his way.

Shain heard rapid footsteps, the sound of something running his way. His eyes snapping onto the source of the sound, he is surprised to see a wolf like creature running under him, full sprint. Shain’s eyebrows contract in confusion, but only for a moment. UMBRA! Shain’s head burst into pain at the loud psyonic message. Both Whyverin and Kythrone had sent it to him simultaneously, the force of it nearly blinding him. Eyes watering, he dropped to the ground himself, ears picking up the sound of growls and roars. Umbra indeed, a pack of them chasing after the werewolf. And Shain was standing in between them and their target. “Nine hells,” he cursed as he began to run. He heard tow thumps as Whyv and Kythrone landed behind him and began their run as well.

Calling up ahead to the wolf-thing, he tried to get its attention. “What in the Nine Hells did you do to get them this riled?!”

Fara're ran through the forest on all fours. She did not like this dark forest. THe shadows hid many dangers that even her feline eyes could not see. As she ran she saw several cat creatures.

Umbras she thought. The felines did not attack her or even seem to take notice of her at the moment. She figured it was because she was a cat as well and that they must think she was one of them.

But she was not one of them. She did not like the feral beasts and did not trust them in the least. There was no knowing if or when they would attack her. With a great leap she soared into the air into a tree. She spang from branch to branch with the ease of any cat.

She watch the umbras as the moved through the forest. They were hunting. But what were they hunting? She looked a head and saw two figures. One elf...she could not tell at this distance but he looked drow. The other....was a dog.

Great...why do I always run into people like this. A DOG?! she thought to herself.

She glanced back at the umbras. Well...I guess I can't just leave them. I'll see if I can help

She quicked her pace and soon caught up to the two. Her green eyes seemed to glow as the light reflected off of them. "Need a bit of help?" she asked.

Taima looks back for the split second he hears other voices as they ask their questions. Looking back a second time, he realizes a pack of umbras are about to overrun him and the person behind him, looking up he sees another cat, bigger though and somewhat humanoid considering it talked to him. Digging his claws into the ground, Taima spins around and leaps, grabbing the man by the collar as he goes into the trees. After dropping him off on a thick branch, he leaps a few trees over and stops...watching the pack run underneath them. Catching his breath, he stands up and surveys the other two. Slowly transforming back to his human self, he thinks about the questions brought before him. You speak of the Nine Hells, it seems fitting to your question, since that is one of the reasons the umbras were following me so. Blood spilled, the hunt was on, for both them and me. Well actually that one was from the Abyss but little difference. Looking over at the cat and breathing deep, he catches the scent of one like him...different breed but still. Help??? Not against the umbras, no help is needed. Against the others that hunt me even as we stand here, help would be greatly appreciated. Looking back at the direction he had ran...he wondered if even now they are tracking him down, or fighting amongst themselves over who let me escape.

Unfortunately his ponderings would soon be brought to life, as seemingly out of nowhere two figures appeared, one on each side of him. They both raised fingers at him and beckoned him to come with one of them. I see they are sending stronger ones out now. Funny how they are working together it seems... A marilith on one side, kyton on the other...either way it looked painful. Thinking quickly and looking at the other two, he launches into action quickly. Transforming quickly, he jumps onto the head of the marilith, he digs his claws in and flips, sending her into the kyton and sends them both tumbling. We have a few precious moments, hopefully the inbred hatred still runs strong and they will be at each other's throats instead of at ours. More will be coming...stronger ones...bigger ones. If you know of anyplace to go for a safe haven, even a temporary one I would greatly appreciate it. If you don't and you wish to split ways now...that is fine as well. Sniffing the air, he sensed it again...the packs were coming back for another round. Looking down at the two sprawling bodies, he wonders if even they stand a chance against the umbras in numbers.

Taima looks intently at the other two, wondering what their answer will be. He is ready to run for now...but he knows the fight is ahead.

Fara're lifts her head and sniffs the air. She bared her teeth and let out a snarl as she smelled enemies. She looked back to her new companions with an intense look in her green eyes.

"I don't think we should remain here. Let us try to find some place where we can at least rest for a while," she said.

She looked to the elf. She knew the canine could keep up with her in the forest, but she was not so sure about him. She knew quite well that she was much faster in her tiger form than her elven form.

"Will you be able to keep up when we are in full sprint through the trees? If not I think I might be strong enough to let you ride on my back." she cocked her head as she examined him. He did not look that heavy, and she was much strong that she looked.

She sniffed the air again. They were getting closer. She tensed her whole body ready to spring if any threat decided to rear its head. Her sharp eyes looked back to the two. A wolf and a dark elf, not her first pick in companions, but now was not the time to be picky.

Her ears moved around picking up any sounds that would warn her of an attack. She wondered why she had even entered this forest, she thought it looked quite dangerous. Then the answer came to her....her curiosity. Once again it had gotten the better of her. Well curiosity was not going to kill this cat!

Avree stalked cautiously through the forest. Her shortbow drawn with an arrow knocked. The female drow had heard the growling of the the umbras. Sensing danger she continued on. I wonder what they could be hunting, she thought. The umbra came into view up ahead, noticing Avree two of the creatures broke free of the pack and made towards her. One circling left, the other right.

This could be bad, the thought crossed her mind. Avree began to cast a spell. Using Faerie Fire she illuminated one of the creatures in a pale flame. Making it easier to see in the forest. The umbra paused in its advance for a moment, seeming as if confused by the magic. Its companion didn't though, continuing its swift pace her direction.

Avree then loosed her arrow, missing slightly, the woman knocked another. She used her concentration focusing on the mark, feeling sure Avree fired. The arrow connected, hitting the creature in the head. Impaling one of the eyes, the umbra dropped.

The other umbra had already began advancing. Still glowing in the pale flames. The cat rushed towards her leadping and striking out at the drow. Falling back into a roll, the cat managed to score a hit on Avree. Slicing a gash in her shoulder. The drow was up instantly, adrenaline pumping. She turned firing her arrow at the umbra. Connecting, the cat attempted another pass.

This time Avree was ready dodging to the side. As the umbra turned about to face Avree once again it caught another arrow, and then a third. Neither scoring a mortal wound. The cat was injured though sensing how dangerous its prey was it turned and began to flee..

Not quickly enough though, for Avree watched as her poisonous spider lept out from the branch of a nearby tree. The poisonous spider landed nimbly on the umbras back, sinking it's fangs into the cats flesh. The poison began to take effect almost instantly on the injured cat. It walked a few more paces then dropped just as the other umbra had.

"So, that's where you been my love." Avree said smiling at her companion. "I was wondering where you had went off to." The spider was only about the size of a fist, but packed a poisonous bite, that would knock a person out in mere minutes. Seconds it seemed to the injured umbra.

Avree then walked towards her companion scooping it up. She then went to the knocked out cat, loosing a point blank shot in the creatures head, she finished it off. I was lucky, she thought. A smile playing across her face, she began to make her way through the forest. Noticing some figures in the trees ahead, she cautiously made her way their direction. From this distance they appeared to be a tiger, a wolf, and an elf.

I wonder if they are the reason the umbra are about, Avree thought..