Lilith’s silver eyes traveled over the great darkness that was nearly suffocating. Her eyes could barely penetrate and it was a good thing for she did not want to see the evil that lie around the forsaken lake. She wondered what had drawn her to such a place but now was not the time to ponder. She held her golden spear close and it emitted the faintest of light that only she could see. It was a purely good weapon and it healed the battered but was vicious towards all that would try to harm her. She knew if things got rough, she could call her familiar. Jasper was a spotted umbra and had the ability to send images through Lilith’s mind. She was a loyal creature and hardly seemed to age. She nearly started to call Jasper when a rustling noise stopped her. She wouldn’t be afraid for she had enough knowledge of the magicks and plenty of weapons in her large bag. She stood perfectly still waiting for whoever or whatever to show itself. She breathed deeply and scanned the imposing hill beside the lake.

She cried out when something rammed straight into her and she fell over. When the thing started to lick her, she knew it was harmless. She had dropped her spear and could barely make out what was on top of her. “Jasper?” As if the creature were able to understand, a mental image flashed in front of her of the beautiful umbra. “I didn’t call you girl. Where did you come from?” Lilith wished the umbra could speak to her, but knowing very well that it couldn’t, she gently pushed the large cat-like creature off her. Jasper obeyed and stepped back a little so the tiny faerie could get up. “You know, you nearly broke all my bones! You are much too big to be jumping on me!” Jasper’s ears flattened and she hung her head down. “Aww don’t give me that look.” Lilith began to pet her ferociously. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t feel so lonely now.” Still, it worried her that the umbra had not been summoned. Not by her at least…

Zero must have been nearby to hear voices speak. He couldnt see much but he managed to get through things. Zero tried to make out the voices and where they have been coming from. He stood silent for a little while longer to see if the voices he heard were coming from behind him. He stood there and began to hear voices again. Zero followed those voices until he reached the person that he had heard talking. He picked up his pace and had began to sprint his way. He pushed his way out of branches and bushes and came to a stopping point. There Zero was hiding behind a large tree and saw two figures. A tiny faerie and an animal. Zero couldnt make out what kind of animal it had been but it looked more like a feline. An umbra is what it could have been. He scanned them for a while and to make sure they were no threat to Zero. Not much of a threat as he watched them a little longer.

Zero didnt mean to startle any one so he calmly made his way towards both of the beings. He walked a little slower than usual, he didnt know what the umbra would have done and what not. But he approached them and spoke,Excuse me..... He began to stop, the girl looked worried about something. Zero didnt say anything just yet. He waited to see if the girl would have anything to say just around at this moment. Zero probably felt lost out in the hills but other than that he could have just flown his way out of there. He couldnt stand dark places. They were so annoying but for some reason he had always ended up in them no matter what the case was.

(OOC:I hope this is long enough...if not let me know so I can expand the length of my post.)

Lilith turned at the voice. The speaker seemed gentile enough and his voice was soothing as if he meant peace. “Hello! I didn’t think I would meet anyone…good out in these parts.” She wanted to make sure she knew what she was saying so she opened her ‘third eye’ and explored his alignment with a spell she knew of. Ah yes, she was right. She relaxed a little in his presence and motioned for the umbra to stand down. Jasper didn’t growl at him like she did most people. Lilith took that as a good sign and trusted her instincts. “This is a dreadful little place and I’m not sure why I am here.” She quirked her eyebrow in hopes that this being would explain to her why he was there. She didn’t want to trust anyone in a place like this too quickly, but then she was here herself. She wondered if she were imagining the sort of unease the man was giving off. Lilith figured she was just nervous and thought no more of it.

She reached down to pet Jasper and realized the Umbra was gone. “Why that’s weird…She never leaves without me telling her to…” Lilith tried to ignore the disquiet that was beginning to bubble in her stomach. Scanning the fog around, she saw no sign of her familiar. She smiled shakily towards the man. “Maybe she just went for a drink of water.” There was something about the lake that disturbed Lilith. The feeling of utter…silence. Yes, that’s what it was. It was so quiet. No birds sang, no crickets chirped, it was as if the place were dead. She took a few steps towards the lake and noticed a sort of ripple that started at the middle of the lake and came towards them. “I don…don’t…like this…”, she stuttered. “Jasper! JASPER!” Her words came out frantic as she realized so was no longer in control of herself. She knew the man must think her delirious, but Jasper was her only family. She couldn’t stand to lose her…

Zero stood there in the darkness, he didnt notice the umbra that was just there, disappear. It was odd but Zero looked around. He looked at the girl and noticed she was concerned. Zero did feel a little awkward at first but he was determined to help out the girl in any way possible. This is probably what had her worried, the umbra did things without a single command being said to her. He did learn that the umbra's name was Jasper. Zero didnt really know what to do. He couldnt really remember if he was in this kind of situation. He made his way to the girl for a quick introduction before they took any action. May I know your name real quick? My name is Zero. Do you have any idea to where your umbra might have tooken off to? The place around them was creepy and possibly anything could have happened just now. Zero had decided to illuminate the place with fire. He took his index finger and pointed to his left hand. Sparks flew out of his index finger and what had appeared on his left hand was a ball of fire sitting there hovering. It had only lit up his surroundings. But at least it made things a little more clear to see. He looked at the black lake, who knew what was in there.

Zero looked around him, he hoped to find Jasper but he knew it wouldnt be that easy. It was up to the faerie, it was her desicion on what they do. Do you know what went wrong? You dont think she could have just abandoned you, right? He began to walk around and tried to avoid getting near the lake. He had never really seen water as dark as the water in the lake. Still no sign on the umbra, Zero walked back to the girl and stuck with her. He would help find her umbra. But a place as creepy as this, something bad could have happened to her umbra. But Zero tried to not be negative about the situation.

“Oh I’m sorry. Of course you should know my name. I am the faerie Lilith.” Normally she would have curtseyed but now didn’t seem to be the time. “My Umbra would never desert me…she is of the loyalist breed of creatures.” The ball of fire made the darkness not seem so…invading. She felt like she could breath again and this she did deeply. She wanted to cast Far-Sight, but it would do little in darkness so extreme. She also had a spell of light, but did not see the need of mentioning it. She wondered if they should split up to search for Jasper. The only reason the Umbra wouldn’t answer to her summon would be if she were captured. “It seems so eerie out here.” That was a complete understatement. She knew she was delaying because the place frightened her. She puffed up her chest and swelled with bravado in hopes it would rub off onto Zero. “Well I suppose we should go forward then.” She gathered herself and began to walk forward without looking to see if Zero would follow her.

At first, she could hardly see past the fog. The air was thick with what seemed to be noxious fog and she could hardly breath. Then it suddenly cleared away and she stood in a circle of light. It seemed so out of place that Lilith hardly believed what she was seeing. The light was coming from a house! Why anyone would want to live in such a place bewildered her. She knew they ought to be cautious, but she was thinking only of the years she had spent sleeping under the comfort of her very own watch cat. A different smell wafted towards her and it seemed to be apples and cinnamon. It reminded her of a story but she couldn’t quite grasp what. She left all caution in the darkness and walked hurriedly towards the door...

(Hansel and Gretel anyone?... :P I'd like to go a more cheerful way with this if you want...)

Zero followed Lilith from every step she took. They had both noticed a house and it seemed to be as if Lilith wanted to continue onwards. Zero was able to make out the smell that had been drifting off. Zero looked at the house and but he wasnt feeling so comfortable being at a place like this, especially when he is in an environment as darkened. He began to wonder who had been living in the house. Who would have wanted to choose to live in a place where it seemed to be dark for almost all day? The lake had already creeped Zero out, but incase anything had ever happened, Zero placed a firm grip on the hilt of his sword as it remained in its sheath. Zero wasnt sure if anyone was home, he grabbed one of his sheaths and held it up towards the door and tapped on the door to see if anyone would answer. This was probably the place Lilith's umbra had gone to. No one had answered the door yet but perhaps they had stepped out for a bit.

I dont think anyone is going to answer....do you just want to go ahead and step in. Maybe your umbra is some where nearby.... Zero waited on a response from Lilith. He didnt want to enter the house but they probably would have had to do so anyways. He looked at Lilith, she herself was probably expecting something. He looked around and figured there was no need for his fire to illuminate the place around them since they were at a house. Other than that the place was foggy and he really couldnt see nothing more than a few feet away from them.

(OCC:I hope this works..... :unsure: If it doesnt then let me know, and I will try to work something out.)

Lilith waited by Zero to see if anyone would answer his knock. Lilith noticed that she heard animal noises here. Sounds she’d never heard before. While it was creepy, it seemed to be comforting at the same time. She supposed it was just the knowledge that they weren’t alone. When no one answered the knock, Lilith slowly put her hand on the knob and began to turn. Before she could open the door, someone pulled it out hard on the other side and she went tumbling in. A scream caught in her throat and she hit her head on the wooden floorboard. Black spots swam in her vision and for a moment she thought she might pass out. She acknowledged a hand on her arm trying to pull her to her feet. “Whaa..” She massaged her head with the hand not occupied. The light in the room was nearly blinding and she closed her eyes trying to block it out. “Please…the light…” The light went out and was replaced by candlelight. She figured there must be more than one person in the house because someone was helping her find a seat.

Opening her eyes, she blinked in the face of a small, greenish creature. She gasped. It was an elf! She knew that some elves liked darkness and she wondered why she hadn’t thought of that. Her hand reached for her bag but it had slid across the floor. So she sat there, unarmed except for her spells, and waited for someone to speak. A husky voice soothed her anxieties as it spoke, “You must be Lilith. Your wonderful Umbra communicated with us. We are telepathic and therefore were able to communicate with her.” Lilith glanced around but didn’t see the Umbra. “Ah, you search for her now. Well don’t be alarmed. She’s sleeping quietly in the back bedroom. It would appear that she encountered one of our traps. We healed her but the potion we gave her also put her to sleep. Marvlyn and I can never be too careful when it comes to strangers around here. I do hope you understand that we didn’t mean you or your pet any harm. I am Statasia by the way.” The small faerie took all of this in. “Of course I don’t blame you. I was distraught when my familiar didn’t come to me when called. I’m glad you have taken care of her. This is my newly acquired friend, Zero.” She waved her hand in the direction she thought he’d be standing by now.

The surface of the lake suddenly surged, a giant burst of water thst rose in a wave from the exact center of the water. However, the crashing water made no sound as it made the lake erupt into a multitude of small waves and ripples. From the center emerged a massive beast. The creature's leathery wings beat strong and steady as it climbed into the night sky, cutting its course against the still air. The dragon took to the sky and spread its wings, hanging over the now-motionless water, pure black scales glittering. The creature dipped its head, drews its wings in close and dived. Unfurling its wings in the last second, it beat them almost imperceptibl to keeps itself a breath above the water and gliding forward. Dangling front talons, it burshed across the surface of the lake towards the misty shores. Barely visible among the black scales and leathery wings, a thin figure was perched in between the spikes on the dragon's back. Both the dragons huge, black orbs and the figure's golden eyes cut through the mist like it wasnt even there, easily spotting the two people near the lake. Mixing with the shadows and the mist, pair, mount and rider, watched as they talked before starting to look for something, before coming up to the house near the lake.

Seele slid from the demnic mount, whispering quietly as his feet touched the ground. The dragon nodded its huge, horned head and immediately began to shrink. Soon it was only as large as an elephant, then a horse, then a dog, then so small it could fit into the elve's hand. It curled up, magic running along the almost invisible scales, until it became a single band of darkness like a ring. Smiling, Seele slipped the ring on his finger. He knew he could call on the aid of his pet whenever he needed it.

The tall elf silently glided up the hill, a tattered cloak swirled around is body, hiding any weapons or armor.He came up silently behind Zero, his quiet whisper cutting through the misty air. "Hello, there... what brings you to darkness's domain?" The pointed hat cast shadows that hid almost all of the elve's face, leaving only his glowing gold eyes and light blue hair visible over the darkness of the cloak.