Umbra

The Birth of a Shadow or The Shadow of a Dream
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Before mind pictures of darkness. Darkness with moss.
Where did I come from? I am deeply at loss.
Moss and needles of pine and the leaves of the oak..
I have mind pictures of the sky, of how the wind spoke.

Forest... jungle... wood?
I learned these mouth noises later when I could.
So inadequate these words, of the home of my kin
Better knew the robin's call, the song of the wren

And even more knowing was the owl and the bat
As were the gliding moth and the hungering rat.
Who could sense the forest without the great Gleam
For my after-dusk brothers were it's after-dusk dream.

Born into darkness, life at a nocturnal pace
Of this I am, of this star lighted place
Their pinpoints shown down through the canopy gloom
Under the glow of the great shining white moon

The forest, it protected, provided a home
It fed us, it sheltered, grown up from the loam.
The twisted trunks were the pillars of our living house
From the mightiest bear to the lowliest louse.

Of this I accepted, knowing nothing else more
The trees and the lakes and their lichen green shore
This was the center of my universe, the limit of all
Little did I know that my knowledge was small

One dusk I looked to the bank of an orange glowing lake
There I saw something like me, there must be a mistake
It raised it's furry maned head and blinked in surprise
It rose up, but stopped upon seeing the wary look in my eyes

To shorten my story I merely will say
That I met my friend and mentor that day
I learned much of the world and was never the same
But I am still one with the forest, and I'm certainly not tame

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Umbra's Story

Moss. Moss and the needles of pine and trees. How much bigger they seemed to me then. Thats all I remember. Where did I come from? I don't know. Who were my parents? I don't know. Did I have parents or was I spawned from the forest itself? I don't know.
Forest... Woods... Jungle? They seem like such inadequate words for such a profusion of life that has lived so long and grown so tall and so wide. The forest shelters. The forest feeds. The forest protects. Is that not what a parent does? Shelters, feeds, protects?
Oh. And hunting. And hiding. These I also remember. I prefered to do this in the night time. When it was cool and the light didn't show your paths so easily. Nocturnal is the word I found describes me. I would climb trees, sneaking eggs out of nests. I would sneak into dens, capturing food. I would silently stalk the young of large beasts and be gone with my meal before the mother found out. This is how I lived. I enjoyed it. I knew nothing else.
Then many many many dusks went by, years I suppose. I remember these times easier. They are not so fuzzy in my mind. I began to circle around creatures, use their tracks to find their homes and my meals. I watched many creatures. Why did they not think of this? Also, were their any animals watching me watching others. I looked around but never found any that did this. Why did no others watch? There were creatures who stalked, but only when hungry. I learned much from them. Watching how they leapt upon their food so silently. I watched the weasle and the coyote and the wolverine. Saw how they fought, saw how they escaped. I started to copy them. Why did they not learn from each other? I learned how to get my food more easily and ofton. I liked the wolverine. So quiet, so small, seemingly. But one time I saw it walk over to a bear eating something it had caught. The bear attacked, but never hit the wolverine, the wolverine seemed to grow. Seemed to become more than it was. It fought quickly and furiously. The bear after a time bloodied with many cuts and gashes ran! I learned then size does not matter. But fast moves, ferocity, all these things would scare away large creatures even if the animals doing it were small. And so I learned. Did other creatures learn? No... very strange. Then one day I went to my pond. I drank from it. So it was mine. When there was no wind I would look into it. Seeing another face. I was above it. It was me. But as if I was in water. Thats funny. I know what humor is now. I didn't then. I just saw myself and saw... myself. Sometimes I would make noises at it, just to see if I would do anything. I don't know why I did. The noises sounded familiar. Like a fuzzy picture in my head. Like when I tried to make pictures of what I had seen many dusks ago. I sort of could. but not really. My reflection just opened it's mouth with me. What else would it do?
But then one day I saw a deer come up to the water to drink. It reached down it's head... and suddenly breathed deep and sprinted off into the woods. It had seen itself in the water... and was afraid. Why was it afraid? How can one be afraid of one's self? I did not understand this. Why did I see patterns in things, recognize things, remember things... but nothing else did? Then one day as I was going back to my pond I saw something. It seemed to suddenly appear in front of my eyes. It looked like me... like my reflection... but it was not in the water! It moved, and sat down on a log. The log I somtimes sharpened my claws on. I went closer, I was so curious. Had my reflection come out and become two of me? Then I saw it was not like me. The same, but not really. It had dark, dark black fur. So black it stood out against the other dark things. And it had strange things on it's back and it's middle. And it was bigger than me. I hissed without meaning to, I was so confused. It suddenly turned to look where I was and it pulled from it's back something... and a light brighter than the big white light giver of after-dusk shone on me. It scared me and I ran into my hometree and lied there, my chest beating hard. What was it? What was it? What was it? I mind-voiced to myself. I peered out of my tree and I saw a shape still moving. I pushed leaves against the hole and went to sleep, but still nervous. I woke up as the great day lighter was shining it's last rays into my tree. I pushed away leaves and noticed I was thirsty. Why was I so thirsty... then I remembered the other night. I peered anxiously to the waters. No one was there. Maybe it had just been a not real fuzzy thought. Those that I had when lying in my tree while the sun was up. Then as I walked I stepped on a dry leaf... and a whole pile of leaves rose up. The creature had been sleeping in them! I must have yelled for it's ears suddenly went up and I went to my tree. I watched it for several dusks. It would not leave. My thirst and hunger grew greater and greater. Then a little after it grew once again dark I decided I did not care what it was. I was too thirsty and my stomach made angry noises of pain and hunger. I went very quietly, my front paws and backpaws felt the ground for any tremors as if anything coming I felt and heard nothing. Then from behind the log two ears popped up. It was hiding! I crept back a little ways. Suddenly it stood... on only it's back legs. No, definetely not alot like me. With it's front paw it graspsed something around it's middle and held it up. It put it's arm back... and the object fell near me. I jumped back startled. I started to run. Then I smelled water. In this object there was water. I picked it up and looked at the creature. He did not move, but his eyes were on me. I looked at this thing. It felt like skin with no fur. I shook it and heard splashing inside. I looked at it and threw it to the ground in anger. A part of it fell off... and water came out. I sprang on it and lapped up the water that came out. I was still thirsty but felt much energy now in me. My hunger suddenly worsened and I sniffed the thing the water was in. It even smelled like an animal. Sort of. I was hungry and did not care so I started to chew upon it. It was hard, but not too hard. Then the creature who I had forgotten gave a cry and in a jump was to me, putting down it's hand to the object. In startlement I reached up and bit him in the frontpaw. He jerked his hand back with the object but made no cry of pain or anger like any other creature would. I scooted slowly back on my stomach, never taking my eyes from it. The strange creature looked at me with eyes I have seen in no other beast. But like my reflection. The same, but different. It then made noises that sounded almost like a beasts but it did not bare it's teeth or show it's claws. The sound was strange, but it had a melody to it. Like a birds. It then reached into it's pocket and pulled out something that made water come from my mouth when I smelt it. And he tossed it to me. In my mouth I caught it and started to chew on it. Always keeping one eye on him though. When I was through he gave me more.

Over a period of many dusks he managed to... to... what was that word I learned... ummm... oh. He tamed me. I realized this creature did not mean to harm me. It was a creature that used thought and even looked like me! Not exactly but very close. One day a great bear was sniffing at my home where I had kept some of the meat and I hissed at it. It bellowed at me and started to run at me. Then all of a sudden the other thinking creature pullsed something that reflected the red moon and hit the bear with it. The bear bellowed even louder as blood leaked from many holes in it's sides. The thinking creature that looked like me then picked me up and ran with me on it's two hindlegs untill we were far from my home tree. This did not matter, I found another one and stayed by this strange brave creature. It would put it's hindpaw on my head and ruffle my hair and give me meat it had. Then one day it made a loud noise that it used when it wanted me. I ran to it and it showed it's teeth... but not like the bear or wolf did. Like it was friendly. It started pointing it's front paw toe at things and would make a strange noise. I looked at him in confusion but he continued. Just for fun I tried to copy him. It said it again and I tried harder to repeat him. Then it seemed as if a white light went off in my head. It made these sound noises to tell me things! What wonders this creature could do! For more settings and rising of the moons than I could count he showed me the names of things and taught me to tell what I mind voiced so that he also knew what I thought until I grew taller and stronger. Many hunts we went on and he named things and taught me much as we went on. I soon learned to talk.
Then one day he told me that he wished to go far. Farther than we had ever before and go look at new things. I begged to go with him and with a smile that showed me he had already gussed my response he nodded and said I would come and never leave his side.
We ventured for many many many dawns and dusks, almost ten years said my mentor. Many things we saw. He didn't go ofton into the wood, but around it. Searching the borders of my great forest. Going far south to were the water was salty and vast. Never had I seen something so big. The forest I had thought was the largest thing that existed. This thing called an ocean.. it was bigger! And many many big creatures swam in it. Creatures like in my pond but nearly as big as me! Rivers and lakes we crossed, many wild creatures attacked us and them we slew and ate. All this time I was being taught, trained, being readied for something I came to think. For hours we would meditate, him saying this would help to calm me. For any sudden movements or noises caused me to be instantly on guard and several times I nearly attacked Batlh as he suddenly appeared beside me in that strange way he had. He taught me Southern and Tradespeak. The two languages he said our race used the most ofton. He said I still spoke with a bit of hiss and growling to my words, but that I still spoke fine. For some reason he taught me something he called the One True Tongue very scarcely. This I learned with ease for it sounded alot like the sounds of the creatures in the wild and of the semi-speech I used to use. But he asked me not to dwell on that language but on the other two. I asked him why and in reply he told me I would know in time.
He would have me lift large stones and hold them out for as long as I could. He would have me run, jump, and do something he called acrobatics. He said this would train my body and teach me to control it. He would have me count rings around tree stumps blasted by light from the sky. He would put rocks of various colored patterns in strings and have me look at them and close my eyes and tell him what color and texture each was till my memory was sharp and more meditation over and over. He said all this trained my mind as well.

Then one day he stopped by a small river in this very lightly wooded land near the ocean. The area about was spongy with moss and lichens and very comfortable to lie in or walk upon. He told me I would now learn of the Higher Arts. Upon asking what they were he suddenly starts making strange sounds and waving his arms about in bewildering gestures and then without a sound vanished before my eyes. My heart started to pound but remmebering my exercises I forced it to slow and I called out to him. A voice sounded from directly in front of me saying, "Do not be startled, I am still here." And I heard a leaf crack as if something stepped upon it. A moment later he suddenly faded back into being in front of my eyes! I stared at him, my large, night-time eyes wide. He smiled gently and said "You will learn also to do this in time, but not quite yet. Not till I have told you a story..."
He told me of the old days of something called The Breaking. Of how the Kiisici and Rowan mages were at war and they used something called magic, which he said was part of the Higher Arts. He told of how selfishly and uncaringly they builded up their great magics to cause pure destruction to the other. And how they nearly destroyed all the land and ruined most of the world. Also causing to be called into creation, the Black Blood. The Black Blood was of raw magic, uncontrollably growing and chaotic. He then went on to tell how others had used magic for evil, causing something called The Great Fatigue and he told me that some actually brought forth the Black Blood into the land from casting magics with no restraint, no self control. I began to have a feeling of loathing for magic and all those who used it and looked at my mentor with fear and confusion and told him my thoughts. I feared he would grow angry but instead he smiled proudly at me. He told me that indeed those who were like that that casted were evil and dangerous people and deserved death. But if trained, constrained, a being of self control and a love for the world and people were to use it magic could be used for the good and was not dangerous. This is why I learned that he had taught me to control every thought that I thought and to do things with compassion and restraint. He taught me for a bit on the lore of magic and why certain magics conflicted because of their nature and told me to NEVER try to cast spells of different types together and among other things of like type. He then had me try my first spell, showing me exactly the motions and thoughts to think and to not let anything else enter upon my mind or distract me. He had me repeat these over and over till I was falling from weariness. Then he would allow me to rest and to relax the next day and he would tell me stories and more language lessons. Then one day I felt I had come to know the spell inside and out... a great booming thunder filled the sky and I dropped to a crouch in alarm. My mentor smiled and clapped me on my shoulder and said I had successfully completed my first spell. I looked to the sky and saw nothing but stars and asked how I had brought forth thunder. He told me I had not but made myself and him think they had heard thunder. He explained to me illusions and how they worked. He then had me try spells of all types so that I would know the basics of each type. He had me wait weeks between each casting of a different type of spell so that there would be no backlash of magics.

I had noticed during this time that he had seemed to grow a bit distracted. He was always murmering to himself and seemed eager for me to finish my studies. After scores of full moons he announced we would move on and forget magic for a bit. To this I complied for it was wearying. We again set out and soon came to where the forest bordered the ocean and fresh water lakes were numerous into the woods. We would rest for a few days beside these and he would have me pretend he was a fox or a deer and come after him. But he warned me to keep my claws sheathed. For hours we would play though he as well said we were training. After a bit I soon found him to be slower than I thought and I could swipe him ofton, though he did it much more. He would smile and urge me on with everytime I managed to get him.
We then came to a long, long bit of forest where there was no water but the ocean that was always around us and the air grew slightly cooler it seemed to me and he told me we were heading north. Then the forest seemed to give way to grass. Grass that grew as far as the eye could see. Then after a few days I saw a twinkling ahead of us. I sighed for though I loved the wind and smells of the ocean, I detested the spray of salt always getting within my fur and hair. As we got near to it I saw that it smelled not of the ocean.. but of like my pond. It was a giant freshwater lake that we had come to. We eagerly drank for we had been sparingly with his canteen. My mentor flung himself into the grass and smiled, falling into a deep sleep. I kept watch over him for a few hours and he awoke from his nap. He then sighed and asked me to sit beside him. He then told me we were near a town. I asked him what a town was and was it dangerous. He smiled and laughed a little and told me that within it were many many more of our kind. I was shocked for I had long forgotten that he had once told me of others like myself. He then said that he would teach me about mysrra and why we were what we were. We spent many weeks doing this. He told me of our enslavement to the Rowans and our escape to the Rainsong Plains of which we were close to. And of the Lady. He told us about the ways and how most mysrra thought. I grew to love and appreciate my race and our heritage. It also went along with all I had thought for many years and with what Batlh had taught me. He taught me of honor and tried to teach me something called 'manners'. Honor I understood, but manners? Politeness? It seemed mainly time consuming and unnatural. To be courteous yes, treat all mysrra with respect, yes. But if you could not tell your true mind or perform neccessary functions such as burping... this confused me but I attempted to learn as he wished. He taught me of all the other species and how I should be wary of them all, but his advice was unneeded for me, and he knew it. He then sighed and began to tell me something that seemed to pain him. He told me of how he had not really meant to ever visit my home but that he had fleed there. Because of an evil mysrra named Dev and his human friend Rowe. He told of how his father had been chased after by them for many years because of something his grandfather had done. And had come after him and then his son Batlh. They had threatened him with death and had indeed attacked him ofton. They had threatened his friends and any who was friendly towards him. For this reason he had fled and come to meditate and be surrounded by life of the forest.
After a long while of eating fish and drinking from the lake he announced that he had taught me all he could and that I must go out and experience what I later learned to call laughingly, 'the civilized world'. But first he said he must go back to check on some things before allowing me to come with him. Apprehensive he seemed. So I bid goodbye to him and lived once again off the land and by myself. It felt a little lonely after so many years with Batlh, but I enjoyed myself. Then after a few months I saw Batlh traveling down the length of the lake and I ran towards him. He had a large smile on his face and a sense of peace about him that I had never seen before. He told me of how he had silently visited all the cities and met with old aquaintances and read many town boards. He had found out that Dev had been killed by a pack of evil mages and Rowe had been missing for a long time and Gwenyth, one of their followers, as well. But still, he told me, there were many evil and murderous people still roaming the land. I asked him eagerly of when we could go to visit the Holy City he talked of so ofton and he smiled broadly and said that he was ready to go now. And with that we set off again.
We spent a couple days walking and suddenly in the distance I saw what looked like a mountain... almost, but not really. It was only as tall as the trees but made of stone, but wider than a tree. Much wider. He told me of how it had been built, not grown. I was in no little awe of those who could make such things with their own paws. As we got closer I started to see movement and saw many creatures all like me. Some on great hairy creatures, some on large birds, but most on foot. I shrank away from the sight and went behind Batlh. He looked at me pityingly and took me to a tree with full view of the precedings and told me to wait. I sat in the tree, my eyes filled with the sights and sounds and smells of all the multitude of beings near me. Then I stiffened slightly as I heard a leaf crack beneath the tree. Standing by the trunk was Batlh accompanied by a very large female mysrra. Batlh motioned for me to climb down and I stared at the mysrra with a bit of hesitation. Batlh told me of how she was a guard of the city and would sneak me in for he did not think I was ready to be thrust into a multitide of peope. Not just yet. So they led me to a rocky area on the side of the city in the midst of all the grass and pushed at a stone and a passage way appeared! They led me through a maze of caves, the guard's torchlight flickering off of the wet walls, and soon came to an underground lake. We passed around this, being sure not to slip and came to a passageway that went straight up. On the sides of the wall were handholds. I grasped these and fell a few times, for they were slick with moisture, before I made it up. I appeared at the top and two more guards looked at me and nodded. Batlh and the three guards made a wall around me and took me up to the walking way atop the walls in full view of the city. For a few weeks I stood atop the walls watching, studying. Batlh would bring me food and water and point out certain things to me. Also while in the city a kindly old mysrra named Zoffrey would occasionally come to speak with me. Though all that were not Batlh made me nervous I used my training and was able to calm myself, for I knew no mysrra would harm me. He taught me in greater detail than Batlh had in the way of the Four Paths and of the Lady. I would listen enthralled for hours listening to his tales.
Batlh would for sometimes weeks at a time disapear and come back with no explanation. But more ofton he would take me out of Dalara and show me all the towns and forests and plains of Edra. He showed me the home of the goblin's where mud stuck and stank to your fur to warm, lush Verdant isles. I saw many great and awe inspiring things. I saw the victims of robbery in Banzar, the occasional murder of Forest Heart, the bickering of goblins, the studies of Bramans, the whittlers and loggers of Pineview. I once even think I saw an Atlasian swinging in a tree top. We walked the length and breadth of Edra until I knew it by heart and could have walked it with my eyes closed. Ofton Batlh would visit long time friends. I knew that they would not harm me but I prefered to stay hidden when we met with people and Batlh encouraged it. I think I was never seen. Even the huge Kien Kardagon, Batlh's long time human friend and comrade did not see me. I watched from the shadows as he met the beautiful mysrra, Seamaire, whom had heard stories of him and his deeds. Many times I would remain behind in the shadows as he helped her around and she followed him as if in awe of his company. She as well never saw me.
One day came a notice on the boards of a Tournament of fighters and Batlh thinking it would be educational for me had me come. I followed him to Pineview where we awaited for the gathering of warriors to go to the arena hidden deep within the woods. Batlh bid me look around and that I did, as he slept and rested himself for the battle. As I was watching the sawmill at work from behind an eave I suddenly heard Batlh shout. I ran past the startled loggers and to the tent by which Batlh had slept. A human with jet black hair was within attacking him! Batlh easily avoided each blow and then stood up to take him. The human suddenly bolted out of the cabin and ran behind a shop and was lost to view. Batlh came running out, spears drawn and claws extended and asked which way he went. We both set out in the direction but found him not. We snuck into the clearing to ask the whittlers and loggers there if they had seen anyone but they had not been watching. Then we saw lying beside a log was a human with jet black hair. Batlh took a flying leap upon him and started to puncture him with blows of the spear when the man started screaming for help and started gibbering. He asked why we were attacking him and what had he done and bid Batlh to stop. Batlh took a step away from the man and eyed him suspiciously and told him of the attempted murder on himself. The human said he had never met us before and though he had the characteristics of Batlh's attacker we could not be sure. Batlh had been awoken from a sound slumber and I had only a fleeting glance. Bat;h continued to eye him suspicously but retired his spear and retracted his claws. The human smiled in relief and thanked Batlh for his mercy and told us his name was Jeff and he would be hosting the Gladiator Tournaments. Batlh nodded but did not give back his own name, or mine, for I had again remained in the brush. Then glancing back untrustingly Batlh head up the river, with me trailing behind. We went to Forest Heart and looked about the shops and stores and went to the pond for a drink when Batlh met another long time friend of his. Groll the goblin. He was unusually comprehensive and clean for a goblin. One thing I did not understand though is how he would talk to himself. He would argue points that he has himself made. Then he would seem to turn into another person. He would talk slow and dumb and his posture would change. Then he would tell himself to stop it and he would be normal. I think it must have been a joke. I do not understand goblins. They talked and discussed the upcoming event and Groll told of a few techniques to certain weapons that he had tried out and I listened to them attentively. Then as the sun started to come out Batlh and Groll left Forest Heart, refreshed themselves at the river and started for the Tournament with me following quietly. As we approached it Batlh bid Groll go on, he would be there shortly. Then Batlh made a few strange motions and I faded from all living eyes and followed Batlh. Near the tournament we came upon another long time human friend of Batlh's whom he had thought dead for he had heard no word about or from her. There was a woman in the woods with her swords, slashing at the air and practising swings and stabs. "Akasha!" He yelled and she stopped suddenly and smiled and ran up to him. For a long while they talked of old times and such and then a great horn rang out. Akasha and Batlh stood up and headed for the tournament for that was the sign for all to gather. I snuck in invisibly. Many had come to challenge each other. Kien Kardigan was there as well, his great axe, the Thunderblade, attached to his back. I climbed up the gladiator steps and watched from a safe but viewable distance. The first competitors was Kien Kardagon and someone whoes name I had not caught. Kien took many mighty sweeps with his thunderblade, some connecting and drawing blood, but his competitor though dealing blows with not nearly so much stength seem to have great skil with the sword and found openings everywhere. Kien still fought on until his arms were so badly damaged from swords thrusts that he fell to his knees and surrendered. Many battled, many won. Some died to mighty blows so hard put they could not be avoided. Then it was announced that Batlh should fight. Being the only mysrra about most looked curiously at him but I cheered. A few rose their heads to see who had done this but saw me not atop the walls. Then the battle started. Batlh dealt a few swift blows with bluring speed, drawing first blood. Easily he dodged his competitors sword and then Jeff stood up and left the room. Suddenly a mid-night blackness spread across the arena.
Your own hand in front of your eyes could not be seen. There was a sound of confusion from Batlh which was suddenly cut short. Then just as suddenly the room filled once more with light and there lay Batlh, a giant discolored bruise atop his head. His competitor sheathed his sword and Jeff, who had just walked in, announced him the winner of the bout. I was filled with outrage but could say nothing. No one ever found out what caused the blackness. Some say it was magic, others say Jeff had planned this in revenge upon Batlh and had the torches blown out in the midst of his fight. But what really happened that day will always be a mystery. Me and Kien stayed many hours after the tournament was over, keeping watch over him before finally with a sigh Kien walked off. After a day or so he finally opened his eyes and groaned, clutching his head. I helped him to his feet and staggered with him to Dalara for him to rest.

One night, a few weeks after the tournament, while Batlh slept, I was looking up at the stars and the constellations Zoffrey had taught me when I heard a loud growl. In the midst of our city was a goblin! He was attacking a couple night-time scholars from the library! I bristled in anger and at that time Batlh awoke. I pointed to the library and he instantly understood. He muttered a few words and disapeared before my eyes. His voice out of nothingness commanded me to stay still and I heard the echo of footsteps on the stone stairs as he descended. I watched as the greenish skinned goblin lied down and started to eat some fallen food. I then heard Batlh voice faintly, telling him to leave now. The goblin looked around, grinned a stupid grin and went back to eating. Then suddenly a scratch formed across the goblin's head and a trickle ofblood started down. The goblin jumped to his feet and drew two huge, wickedly spiked clubs from his baldric and looked about snarling. Blow after blow of Batlh's invisible weapons smote the goblin, bruises and gashes appeared all over his body. The goblin then seemed to go wild and swiped at the air all around him, not aiming for anything. I then heard a slight hiss of pain from Batlh and though the blows still came they had slowed down considerably. The entrie body of the goblin was nothing but red welts and his arms were gashed with so many holes that he could barely lift his weapon, but still he hurled his clubs through the air. Then I heard a snapping sound and a cry of anguish. Batlh's attack stopped. The goblin collapsed to the ground breathing hard and then started to laugh. A long, trailing laugh of idiocy and hatred. 'You not so tough you pet!' he called out. "You no match fer Krull. You coward. COWARD!!!" and he started to laugh again. By this time the guards had awoke and were rushing to the library. Hearing them coming the goblin gathered up his clubs and meat and ran to a wall and clambered up and over it. A thud in the distance and the sound of running feet in the grass insued. Then suddenly Batlh appeared beside me, his arms hung lose at his sides. I looked at them and gasped. Both arms had been broken during the fight from the random thrashing of the goblin's clubs. He had forgotten his spears in his haste to get down there and had attacked him unarmed. One had a hole nearly through it and the other had been snapped. I gave a loud cry and two guards and Zoffrey came running. Zoffrey reached into his bag and pulled out some herbs and a salve and put them to the hole in Batlh's right arm and covered with banadages. He then put a stick to Batlh mouth and Batlh clenched his teeth to it and nodded. Zoffrey grabbed hold of his left arm and with a quick twist set it back into place. Batlh's face contorted for a moment in the pain, his tail snapping a guard. Then he relaxed and Zoffrey put it into a leather sling lathered with pungent oils. Batlh then whispered for me to follow and while Zofrey and the guards were talking we slipped down the stairs and out through the gate. We tracked Krull's tracks through the woods and up into Forest Heart. From there we heard he had set off to the north. We followed foot prints and broken twigs and leaves and we thought we had lost the trail when we saw footprints within the sands of the road for we had come to a great desert. We tracked these all the way up to Graveston, the human mining town. Batlh had me stay hidden behind a dune as he ventured into the city. After but a little time he came back out and said he had found Krull in the mines, attacking the snake-demons that dwelled in there with his friend Moag. I started towards the town in anger when Batlh told me to come back and full of confusion I followed him into the mountains around the great sands and for hours climbed up and down and through the rocky hillass till we broke forth into a land of grass and forest. He led me to a small pathway leading betwen the mountains and into a deep, sweeping valley. Lush growths and springs were all about the area, enclosed within steep mounains. We stayed there till his arms were whole. He then told me he would deal with Krull and his companions by himself and that I was to stay here for the next three full moons of Galemon. If he had not returned by then I could come looking for him. I then finally spoke my mind and asked why he wished me always to say out of all confrontations. He sighed wearily and sat down heavily beside me. He then told me what I had been wondering for years and why he had chosen me to train. "I want you to take my place if ever I am to be slain and not resuced." he said. "I have been training you to be my heir and succeeder. I want you to be a Shadow of the Wood." I asked him what a Shadow of the Wood was and he told me of how his father had had an idea of bringing peace to the land and yet have more flexibility than the Crescent Claw of Dalara. We were to go on and weed out evil from the world. Murders, thieves, sadists, and those who casted magic with no reguard for the consequences were our target. We would try to bring information to the world about the mysrra way of life and why we wished only to be left alone within our holy gates and in our wanderings. To bring down those who had evil plans and were gathering supporters and strength. And the Shadows of the Woods would be indpendent. If we angered those who were powerful no blame would be put upon any other mysrra. We would learn the ways of survival, to be independent, to survive. We would be as rangers but with a greater purpose. It was a proud thing to be a Shadow of the Woods he told me with passion. I was in awe of his words and invigorated by his speech. "And that is why I have hidden you from even my closest friends." he said. "There are those who would wish me dead for disrupting their plans of conquest and any whom would help me. My friends are tustworthy but talk can spread among even the most close mouthed. I wished to keep you in secret, to train you up and help me bring this peace and harmony to mysrra and the world. Only the mysrra council and the crescent claw know of your existence. They support us but will take no responsibility for us. We will help all we can, but the Clan must stay uninvolved if we make a mistake. For this you and I are held in the highest regaurd by the Claw. Others, like the Seraphim of the humans, fear us and what we are capable of." He paused and then said, "But time is critical. Remember all that I have taught you and all that you have taught yourself. Be wise and be careful. May I be able to come back and see you again, for I reguard you as my son, if not from the flesh, of the mind." We clasped paws and he walked out of the woods for what was to be the last time.

For awhile I was sad, but the sheer life that existed within the valley rose my spirits and I was happy for many days. Then as I was eating the last of my meal of rabbit I felt my heart leap within my chest and for the space of a beat it seems to stop. I suddenly knew with certainty my mentor, father, friend had died. I rushed out of the forest and mountains and tough I fell with many scrapings and cuts I made it to Graveston. I asked around and the miners told of how a spirit had seemed to descend upon the warriors within the caves and had been hurt, but had been able to fend off the attack of whatever invisible creature had released his wrath. The spirit had suddenly formed into the shape of a mysrra before their eyes and was slowly beaten. Then had come Kien Kardigan and had sweeped up Batlh and ran out of the city. I made my way to Forest Heart and met a cranky old man sitting by the pond who said he had seen a big fella carrying a cat upon his back and had gone towards the church. The cat-person had then passed him a little while later, headed to the southwest of the city. I searched the town crying his name but found naught. I went through the gates and out in the forest looking for him. I still could find no trace of him so followed the river back down to Pineview to ask if any had seen him. I was nearly to it when I heard a rustle, and deep within the brambles was a dark shape. Beside it was the body of Batlh half hidden in the leaves. I gave a cry, but before I could move Batlh's body suddenly seemed to come apart and rise up as if smoke. A chill breeze blew by and his remains were whisked away into the sky. The dark shape gave a harsh laugh and stood and disapeared into the dense forest.
A cold wrath seized me as I drew my hood over my head and I vowed then and there that I would have my revenge on those who had murdered Batlh and I would continue where he had left off.
In that moment the second Shadow of the Woods was born. 


                                           Janda, the 14th of Halax, in the early winter of 258YT

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