Subject: RPG Ghosts of the forest
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 20:49:35 PST
From: "Stana Herald" <happydoodl@hotmail.com>

   The three stopped at the edge of the woods, and looked to the North
West. It was dark so they really coulsn't see anything but their minds
managed to fill in the blanks nicely enough.
    Rashka met them at their official start. She seemed even smaller
than ever, but she placed her withered hand on Stana's chest and smiled.
    "Fear is acceptable with control, child. I give you your heart,
follow where it leads you, for that is the strongest guide you will ever
need."
    Then she moved to Sullam. The two shared a look in the night and she
touched his breast as well.
    "I give you _MY_ heart, Sullam. Always."
    Then Clip.
    "I give you your mistakes, learn from them."
    The group paused and then Sullam led them out into the darkness.

     They travelled most of the night and into the morning, stopping
often for rest or for food. Stana, despite her unease, felt only a
memory of her earlier knee pain and was happy enough that way.
     Around noon, Sullam estimated they made it about ten miles or so,
and he called a stop for an afternoon rest. Stana sank to the ground
with a sigh and was soon dozing.
     Sullam nudged her gently and reminded her that she needed to eat,
but the girl only agreed and turned over, falling back asleep. The man
shrugged and went to go gather her lunch himself.
     Clip stood off from the two, his every muscle tensed and betraying
his impatience to go on. He barely acknowledged the other's prescence
before growling out-
     "We're wasting time."
     "Look at the girl." The other responded "she can go no faster. We'd
be better off using this time to rest up ourselves."
      Clip flickered his glance to the unconscious Stana and said
nothing.

      "Hey." Sullam said quietly, toeing her. "Stace? Think you can get
up?"
      "MMMmmmmph." she replied, burrowing her head in her arms. After a
moment, her point being made, she raised her head and shielded her eyes
against the sun. "Time to go again?"
      "No. Time to eat." he handed her a makeshift plate and some
edibles. She looked at it like it was alive.
      "Thanks." Stana said. "I should have did this myself."
      "No worries, sister." he answered. "Try and stretch out the pain
afterwards. In a few days you'll get better."
      "I know I am holding you up." she answered, chastened.
      He didn't deny it but instead said "You can only do what you can."
He moved on.

      Sullam lifted his head from the ground. The three looked at the
rotting forest in front of them and Stana couldn't hold back a shudder
at the darkened trees.
      "This is it then?" she asked. "Clip's Alicorn?"
      Clip jerked violently, eyes flashing.
      "He dares...." he rasped.
      "Mortals dare many things." Sullam replied. "Perverting your horn
is merely a means to an end."
      "The princess?"
      "Will be next Stacey. Yes. We have to press on."

      By the time it was dusk Stana wasn't even thinking anymore. One
foot went in front of the other...over and over again. She didn't even
hear Sullam call a final stop, she just kept going until he grabbed
ahold of her.
      "We're done now." he told the dazed girl. It looked like she had
shut off thought a few hours back and was operating like a zombie. "Sit
over there and I will get a fire going. You're going to hurt in the
morning but I can make you something that will edge the pain."
      "Thanks. I think." She sat down and as soon as she did daggers
flooded into her legs and arms. Stana gasped and held herself rigid as
her entire body screamed out all at once.
       Sullam glanced quickly over, hearing her settle, but was unable
to do anything until he got a fire going. It would be dark soon.
       As quickly as he could he got the camp set up. It was another
hour before he managed to seat himself next to the fire for first watch.
       Stana soon joined him.
       "You ought to rest as best you can." he told her. "Tomorrow won't
be any easier."
       "I'm not sleepy Sullam. Could we jsut talk?"
       "Sure. About what?"
       Oh she hated that question! She wanted to talk about _anything_
that would sill the unnatural deadly silence around them.
       "Tell me about yourself?"
       He sat for a moment thinking, then shook his head.
      "That's a topic for another time I think. When the forest isn't
listening with malevolent intent."
      "Listening with-" she broke off when a feeling of alarm rushed
through her. Sullam leapt to his feet in the same instant as the fire
spluttered and nearly died.
      Stana shrieked as the entire forest seemed to erupt with shadows
and light. The trees howled and swayed violently, nearly toppling
themselves.
      She covered her ears and got up, as a wind shved her back to the
ground. Stana cowered there as phantasmic images howled around them.
Through it all she saw Clip at the other edge of the glen, glowing
brightly , and Sullam, standing tall in the forces that whirled around
him.
      With a word and a sharp cutting motion, he slashed his hand down
to the ground. The earth around them trembled groaned.
  The sound was heartrending and she sobbed, wanting it to stop. It was
as if the whole forest was writing in pain ane death. The cold reached
out to touch her with icy fingers and she cried out, pulling away.
  Sullam heard the sound, felt the energy swirling around the camp, and
knew that this was an attack launched at the group by the sorceror.
Rashka had taught him what to do.
  He spoke the words she had told him, commandingly. The air around him
glittered and hesitated.
  Brightness exploded around him, burning away the shadows and
overpowering the light. Stana threw back her hand to cover her eyes and
even Clip was lost in it.
  She felt a shadow coming over her and fought-and lost.