[Carriac/Shadow]

For the first time, Carriac realized that he was not alone within his head. He felt the presence of the other - a sinister, ominous, palpable evil that forced the elf's consciousness to one side. Carriac could feel his body, was aware of its movement, but was powerless to control it. The intruder was in complete control.

The shadow, whose name was Hellonicus, reveled in its new found control. The will of its host-prison had finally fallen to its influence. It congratulated itself on using the she-elf as the catalyst to finally free itself. It was a bonus that it had enjoyed the process. A pity it hadn't been able to kill the girl. It hadn't counted on her being quite so strong.

A ball of flame exploded not twenty feet to its left as it continued its mad dash into the woods. A large rabbit, the unfortunate recipient of the brunt of the blast, was instantly incinerated, a poignant reminder that said female was still behind it and still very angry. For a moment, Hellonicus considered returning to the trail and changing hosts - taking the body of the she-elf and leaving the shaper behind as she blasted the body of her lover to ashes. A quick assessment of its state ended that line of thought as quickly as it began. Though it was in control of this host, its essence was still entwined with his life force. It was unable to extricate itself from the host. Until it could find a way to free itself completely from its insidious living prison, it was still trapped.

At least now it could bring some of it own powers into play, as well as those of the host.

Hellonicus extended its influence into the area around it. The natural shadows of the forest were powerless to resist it - it was a Shadowlord, after all. The gloom deepened and darkness flooded this area of the wood. The she-elf could still fire blindly, but she would never see it to retaliate.

Effectively cloaked, Hellonicus turned its energies towards expediting its flight. It cursed at the limitations of its physical body which was unable to move from shadow to shadow in instantaneous transport. The Shadowlord could, however, make use of those shadows that connected to each other.

Wrapping itself in shadowy wings, Hellonicus took flight and sped away - towards the cave that imprisoned its brother, towards a hope of freedom and of a return to the domination of Ifreann.

[Traveler]

He groggily picked himself up in time to see Mara raging into the woods after something. He didn't see the fleeing shadow at first. Something inside clicked, and his other senses began to take over. Suddenly the world seemed to slow for a moment. The colors of the things around him grew strange as he began to be able to see the living creatures around him. Sounds were amplified, he could hear the sound of a rabbit fleeing and it sudden cremation. His attention was drawn to an area where there was nothing. Not the lack of living creatures, but what seemed to be a hole. It was like trying to see something at the edge of your vision that disappeared when you looked straight at it.

Suddenly before him he noticed the visage of a small creature trying to get his attention, while off in the distance there was a disturbance in the woods. Trees seemed to be gathering towards them, anger was building.

Mara had to stop...

[Mara]

Mara was slowly growing tired of playing cat and mouse, as with each breathe she took, another innocent creature was turned to ashes before her eyes. Soon her anger faded, as did the man she was chasing. Dropping back down to the earth, letting the flames that licked across her body calm she turned before making her way back to the destroyed wagon. She didn't even care that she was no longer clothed, that her now naked form was walking towards a shadowed figure.

The figure of a startled Traveler. With a deep sigh she stepped up behind him and placed a hand to his arm. "Are you alright? In my haste to escape the confines of the wagon that held me prisoner, I failed to think about your well being. You've done me no harm, but I must ask of you to help me find the one that had caused this form much pain. If you are unwilling to help, I have no course but to destroy you as well."

Her voice carried no remose, no feelings as her red eyes looked into Travelers. She was in Assassin mode and she had no feelings. Standing there, her hand slowly slipping from his arm, she looked around, then down at her bare form.

"I must find clothing. I cannot walk around like this for much longer. It feels....unwise to do so."

Looking back towards Traveler, she held her hand up as a ball of white hot flames appeared. "Are you willing to help me," she asked while spinning the ball in the palm of her hand.

"We've not much time..."

[Traveler]

His head was spinning, one moment they were headed away from danger the next Mara was trying to kill their friend. His otherworldly senses had kicked in and things seemed to move at a snails pace around him. He watched as Mara flamed out and walked towards him. He noticed that she was not dressed with detached amusement. He had sensed that evil was in the area, but that feeling had diminished greatly. He had a vague sense that things were beginning to spin out of control.

Mara's ultimatum came in with a rush. He knew he could avoid her for a while, but saw no need in provoking her wrath. It was obvious that she was not in a state of mind that could be easily dealt with.

"We need to find out what has happened. I feel there is more here than what we can see. I will help you Mara, but you're going to have to trust me. You cannot flame anymore of the creatures in this part of the woods. We are in a sort of sanctuary."

He felt the anger in the trees grow.

Suddenly before him stood the guardian of the woods. He turned to her and gave a small bow. "Lady, a great evil has fallen upon us and left us in dire need. One of our group has been taken. My friend here has tried to defend herself, and has, I'm afraid, damaged some of the surroundings."

"I have felt the Evil leave the protection of the woods, I can hear the cries of my friends. You will have to leave immediately." Anger seemed to seethe beneath her calm exterior. She had taken the form of a maiden and was breathtakingly beautiful to behold. Traveler's normal senses returned and gasped to see the raw beauty of her once again.

"We will leave my lady. We ask for something more. My friend is in need of covering. Her clothes has been destroyed."

There was a moment of uneasy silence before she replied, "This is all I can do." She pointed behind Traveler. There was a full outfit of finely woven clothes. They were green in color and shimmered in the sunlight. There were knee length boots that laced up the side and a soft leather belt. When Mara put them on they hung loosely for a moment, but seemed to fit to her form when she moved, it was a breathtaking effect.

Traveler turned with thanks on his lips, but the guardian had left. He walked to the ruined wagon and began to pick things out that would be useful. He found most of his things and packed some provisions. while packing he kept having the feeling something was trying to get his attention, but when he turned there was nothing to be seen. He had all but forgotten the small figure that stood before him moments ago.

"Well, looks like we had better leave while we can. What are we going to do with the mules?

[Moiran]

There was an explosion - Oh how that brought back memories! - and then the vibrant energy cage that held him trapped in the small wagon was gone. Moiran could hardly believe it. He was free!

How could it have happened? The gnome's quick mind replayed the events that had just occurred. Carriac - or whatever it was that was possessing the shaper, Moiran had been able to see the dark aura that oozed from the elf during the struggle between him and Mara - had ruptured the floor of the wagon and Mara had fallen through. Then Mara had extricated herself and blown the entire wagon to smithereens. That should not have been possible! The explosion should have been contained by the anti-flame warding encompassing the entire cart.

Then it hit him. Carriac had disturbed the warding on the underside of the wagon. The continuity of the wards had been breeched and the resulting explosion had been too powerful for the weakened magic to contain. That would also explain why Traveler and the mules had been spared. There was still sufficient power in the wards to dampen the effects of the blast. Lucky for them, or the explosion would surely have killed them all.

A sharp tug brought Moiran out of his musings. He looked to the source and discovered a small portal opening not far from where he stood. He watched as the portal grew in size and strength, the intensity of the pull being almost to strong to resist. In a moment, Moiran saw a conduit open behind the mystic doorway and the alchemist knew instinctively where it led. Glorious music filled his soul and he saw the face of the Divine. He was pulled towards that glorious light....

Moiran stopped suddenly, halted in his movement by force of will. He had earned an eternal rest, that much was obvious. But could he take it, knowing that his friends were in such dire straights?

That thought caught him off-guard. Friends? Those three his friends? They didn't even really like him! Still, the gnome couldn't help but admit a certain attachment for the three persons who had come so recently into his life - well, his "after-life." Perhaps it was curiosity more than true friendship. Moiran had to admit to himself a burning need to find out what would happen to those three, perhaps to even play a role in their journeys of self-discovery.

His mind made up before he knew it, Moiran turned from the Divine portal and made his way back towards his chosen companions. The resistance was difficult at first, but lessened the farther he got until the tugging stopped altogether. He turned back to watch the portal close, but rather than a sense of loss, he felt a profound acceptance as if the Divine agreed with his decision.

Smiling, Moiran floated over to where Traveler was packing his bags. He spoke to him several times, but the man just didn't seem to notice him.

"Stupid, stupid!" Moiran muttered angrily. "Just what do I have to do to get you to notice me?" It was true. The elves didn't seem to have much trouble seeing him. What was this guy's problem?

Moiran focused all his energy on willing himself visible. He didn't know if it was working or not, but he had to try again. Mara still looked angry and he wasn't sure whether the elf maid was capable of hurting him, or not. He HAD to deal with Traveler.

Taking a deep breath, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Pay attention to me!!" all the while praying that Traveler would learn to see what was right in front of him.

[Traveler] As he was making ready to leave something was beginning to tug at the edge of his awareness. Not fully aware of it yet, he heard someone yell. He turned to look and saw Mara staring in his direction, looking up like she was staring at the tree tops.

"What is it? Do you see something?"

[Mara]

She stayed still while waiting for Traveler. The lady of the forest did not seemed to pleased that she had destroyed a few of her 'friends', but at that moment she could have cared less in the matter. She was lucky that she had not burnt down the whole forest. Hearing Traveler asking her for a set of clothes to cover her naked form, she turned when the goddess pointed. Stepping over to the outfit, she quickly dressed, finding the fabric smooth to the touch and not as scratchy as her other clothes had been. Lacing the boots up, she ran her hands along the calves of her legs and smiled.

"A bit loose fitting, but they will do in a pinch."

She followed Traveler after the goddess told them to leave, her eyes slowly narrowing, her full red lips parted to reply, but thought different. "What has been done would not change the present," she thought to herself, watching Traveler as he gathered what provision were left after the wagon exploded. She spotted the small gnome floating over Traveler's head, screaming in the mans ear for all that he was worth. Shaking her head she stepped up and sighed.

"I do not believe that he thinks you are real. Perhaps if you find a way to become a bit more...solid, he would be able to see you thus hearing you at the same time."

Getting a look from the Gnome, Mara smiled and tapped Traveler on the shoulder. "I believe there is someone here that is trying to catch your attention, if you would hold still long enough. As for the mules....We could eat them!"

Both Mules looked up after hearing that, their ears shot forward and they started baying.

"It would be quieter...."

[Moiran]

By this time, Moiran was really mad. Hopping mad. In a rage, boiling mad. What was this guy, thick-headed?

Mara's simple statement pulled him back to reality and he ceased his yelling at Traveler, only to forget his previous fears and turn his rant on her.

"Solid? SOLID?!? I'm a GHOST, a DISEMBODIED SPIRIT, an APPARITION, a MATTER-LESS BEING! How in the bloody FREAKING world do you expect me to become SOLID?!"

To emphasize his point, the gnome thrust his semi-transparent hand right through Traveler's head.

"SEE! Even HIS thick skull can't stop my hand from going right through! Got any more bright ideas, PEA-BRAIN?"

[Mara]

For just a few seconds Mara started to giggle. It was a softer side of her, one that rarely came while she was in assassin mode, but it slipped out nonetheless. After catching herself giggling her face went back to the hard look she had carried before, though the corner of her right lip was still curled up just a tad.

"If you are finished..." before stepping up closer. "What I meant to say was that perhaps you could be less ghost like and add a bit more color to your...self. I've seen specters in the past that were a lot more...stranger looking than you and they showed me more promise than you have. Now if you are finished with your ghostly display of anger, why don't you channel that anger and try to work out a compromise. There must be something in that...mind of yours. Some incantation or spell that can make you visible. Isn't there a book or something that you...ghost like creatures go by? Perhaps you missed that chapter on becoming solid."

All this time she was looking up, not giving any thought to Traveler watching her, surely thinking her mad for speaking to thin air.

[Traveler]

He just stood there looking at Mara scream at thin air. ~She's lost her mind, the strain of what she is has finally snapped her mind!~ Then things started progressing rapidly.

With Mara talking to the air above his head and the guardians warning that they needed to leave the woods, Traveler decided to slip into Hunt mode and check out their best way out of the protected woods. That's when he heard a buzz that seemed to be answering Mara. He turned his head and much to his surprise he saw a small shape darting about. He had to listen very carefully to make out words, but they weren't making any sense.

He looked back and forth, but then dark shapes from the woods began moving towards them and he decided it would be best if they move to a safer location. luckily for them the path they were on paralleled the road out of town. It was just a few yards through the protective woods they were in.

"Mara, We need to leave this area, Now!"

He pointed to a spot near them where the woods thinned a bit, "There! we can make it through the woods to a road there." He was afraid she would abject because it was in the opposite direction where they had to go to find Carriac.

[Mara]

Startled by the sound of Travelers warning, Mara glanced around, the blade of flame growing with every beat of her heart. She too saw the shadows slowly flowing towards them, remembering the guardians warning. Ignoring the ghost gnome, she turned and started to head in the direction that Carriac took, only to stop and look back.

"The one we seek went this way. Going that way will only take us away from our pray."

Pray was a harsh word, but at that time Mara was set on finding and destroying the one that had caused her so much pain. She would have bedded down with the shape shifter if he would have asked, but he had forced his way, and she was not happy.

[Traveler]

Traveler didn't wait for a reply, he just ran to the spot and yelled, "Coming?"

[Mara]

Glancing back and seeing that the shadows had now blocked her only means of hunting Carriac down, she turned back and started following Traveler, all the while warning what would happen if he lead her astray.

" Being friends to the one that has hurt this form should not weight heavy on your shoulders.

He has forced his hand and now must be stopped and dealt with. If you have any feeling for this man, you had better show mercy for him when the time comes that we meet back up with him. He will explain his actions, and if I feel that he is lying, I will not hesitate to turn him into ash. If you are a true friend you must speak to him. I hold your word as strong as I hold my own, but if you step in my way I have no choice but to drop you as well."

Walking up next to Traveler, the blade now gone, she placed her hand on his and stopped him.

"I do not wish to harm you or the other man. You both have shown me good will, but you must understand. He has taken something from me that I would have given to him of my own free will. But now he must pay for his treachery. But if he has been acting because another is controlling him, I will destroy that person instead.

"It is my right."

Slowly she looked down at her hand resting on Travelers, and sighed. "Do not judge me for what I've become. I did not ask for this, but no one can change fate. Now if you know where this man has gone, take me there, or I will set out on my own."

Slipping her hand from his, she stood there and waited. "What of the mules? Do we take them along, or eat them?"

[Traveler]

Still unsure of the situation he decided to be cautious. They were still to close to the enchanted forest for his liking. The mules were nervous. "I think they'll only slow us down now. Besides, everyone in town is looking for three people using a wagon pulled by mules. If we keep them it would look suspicious. I can't stand the thought of eating them either. Let's let them go. There's plenty of game in the woods to eat." he paused for a moment looking around. "We need to put lots of distance between us, the guardian, and the city," mentally he added and Carriac. For the moment he had forgotten about the little figure Mara had been talking to earlier.

Knowing what he did about Mara he realized she was going to be famished. They were going to need to find food, shortly. Hopefully her mood would change to peaceable.

[Moiran]

They just went on without him! He couldn't believe it. Here he had shared with them his wagon, provided some much needed, timely advice, helped Mara in preparing a requested alchemical draught, and what did he get in return? They destroyed his wagon and then left him and his mules stranded in the forest! A forest that suddenly seemed much less hospitable to the little alchemist. It didn't cross his mind that the wagon had kept him prisoner for some time, or that his little sleeping potion might have precipitated Carriac's strange behavior. He had been wronged and he was hopping mad.

Leave him behind, would they?

He thought not!

"You'll need me before this is through!" He screamed at the pair as they disappeared into the woods. "Mark my words!"

Moiran heard a snort and looked over to the two mules, surprised to find Socks nodding her head vigorously up and down.

"What the...How...You...you understand me?"

Socks snorted and pawed at the ground then nodded twice, a mischievous gleam to the mule's eyes.

"You, too?" he asked the other mule incredulously.

Petunia whinnied - and Moiran was sure the mule was laughing - then she, too, nodded her head.

"Well I'll be a burro's uncle. Will miracles never cease."

He then seemed to realize that he, himself, was something of a miracle - a dead gnome who could talk to mules.

"Well, they're going to need a few miracles before this is through," he told the two equines.

He was the only one who really had any idea what they were up against. He had seen the malevolent aura that had possessed the elf shaper - and he knew its source. They were up against a Shadow... possibly a Shadowlord. Moiran was well studied and he knew the lore.

This was going to be more difficult than they ever imagined.

"Come on, ladies," he told the two mules. "There are a couple of things worth saving in this wreckage. We've got to catch up to those two before they do something stupid."

The mules whinnied their agreement and they worked quickly, eyeing the forest guardians that for some reasons, let them be.

[Mara]

She followed Traveler for a short time, staying silent as she watched for any danger that might have been lurking in the shadows. At last she slowed before stopping, her hand reaching up to his shoulder.

"Traveler? Do you have a sense of direction as to where we are going? You seem to be lost in thought as we travel. Is something bothering you? You may speak freely before me, for you have not caused me harm. I...I will listen, if you care to speak."

Mara's eyes were slowly forming back, the redness fading in and out as she spoke. "Is all well..."

[Traveler]

Noting the change in her eyes, "Yes, I know where we are going. We need to find provisions in the next town ahead. After that, I'm not real sure where to head. We know the general direction he went. Also, after seeing what he did back in the last town, and knowing about his other ability, I think it not impossible to pick up his trail again."

As they walked he picked up on the sound of approaching horses. They did not sound in a hurry, though.

"Someone is behind us. We need to get off the road until they pass. They may or may no be looking from us." The red in Mara's eyes made him add, "we don't need to add to our problems with more dead people.

[Mara]

She had heard the sound of the approaching horses a bit ago, but at that time they had slowed. But now she even felt the earth shaking under her feet.

"I take your words to heart Traveler. You are right, we should let them pass for they are indeed in a great hurry. But if they see us and try to stop us, I will use force, be it deadly or other wise. No one will stand in our way, for our objective now is finding Carriac."

Slipping off the road, she followed Traveler until they were well off the beaten path.

"What about the mules and the ghost..."

(to be continued...)