Many men of the city rarely learn the truths that boys from the forest villages and farms learn at a very young age. The reason being that boys from the wild regions are often forced into situations where they must face down natural elements; and they can choose one of two ways to go about reacting to them: they can choose the path of knowledge and understanding or fear and power. Those who choose to interact with their environment by fear and power rarely observe the real truths in play in the world. They also foster a delusion that fear and power supersede Nature and her ancient forces – which were and ever have existed even before evil was even given a name. And although it is possible for evil to corrupt and pollute the purity of nature, it is unforgivable and impossible for it to convert that which is good into that which is evil without a willing subject. This leaves only the races of sentient beings capable of true evil; possessing within them the will to choose to perpetuate the most reprehensible acts. Mishka's enormous paws dug into the forest undergrowth in search of the scent she followed. The creature's body bore clear signs where she had been tormented into servitude; the corruption of her natural instincts had led her to carry out the every bidding of her master. She lifted her claw to the end of snout and let a low growl. Her instincts would have her upon her quarry within the moon's next cycle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catalin and Kiln had planned to stop at their Southern Settlement for only a short while, but Fate would show she had woven a different path. For when they arrived they noticed a profound difference in the buildings and land immediately surrounding the shrine. They had known the shrine was connected to ancient powers; this was one of the primary reasons they had chosen it for the epicenter of their Southern Settlement. But there was something different now, like an enhanced serenity and reverence that commanded awe. Catalin set his pack down and helped the Lady Lafayne from the noble steed which had carried her past the ettin patrols, rat camps, and orcs they had encountered on the journey. He began to show her to their temporary sleeping quarters when he encountered a man he'd not seen in the forests before. "Hail villagers, I hope you don't mind but I took it upon myself to tend to the area while you were away on your quest," the man had an air of nobility about him, yet he didn't appear pompous. He was also not averse to hard labor, for the grounds about the shrine had never gleamed with such brilliance. It seemed that even the four marble columns protruding from the sacred pool had been polished. Catalin was surprised that he had no will to draw his bow or blade against this man. With all that had transpired in the last several months, it should have been an immediate reflex by now, but the presence around him forbade that he even consider shedding blood here. Still wary, he took a step in front of the Lady and extended his hand to the strange laborer, "I am Catalin, and this here is my trusted comrade Kiln and the maiden is in our care." "Oh please," Lafayne bemoaned the constant hovering she received from men, "you act as though the Lady's name is a commodity to be bartered and sheltered. And what more that she is incapable of tending to her own introductions," she had seized the man's attention and curtsied, "I am the Lady Lafayne of Trinsic." She looked to Catalin with an unspoken gesture that seemed to say "that is how a thing is done." "And I am Sir Orrin, First Knight of Paws," with cordial regard he took Lafayne's hand with a kiss. Catalin tried to blink the shock from his eyes at the man's introduction; First Knight of Paws? Catalin was merely seeking to resettle the lands of his forefathers. So far his pursuit for a peaceful and quiet life beyond the reaches of the city theater had found only danger and very little peace. "And how, may I ask, has Paws come to patron your blade Master Knight? If I am not mistaken we've no means to pay the knight's wages," Catalin explained with humble candor. "My blade is my own to offer; it is no longer bound to any crown or nor shall it serve in any crusade except that of my own choosing," Sir Orrin's timbre was solemn, "you will find very few knights such as myself who have lived long enough to fulfill their duty to their crown and receive retirement. And as far as wages are concerned, the only payment I shall accept is that you give me watch over this pond that I have spent the last month constructing." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The fire cackled as it let its final embers emit a dim glow. In the safety of such numbers, and with the added protection of four walls, the group had left no one at watch - no one awake to see the massive figure that crept into the clearing. No one was awake to see the two glowing eyes set high upon a massive and gaping maw that fixed upon the structure where Catalin and his company rested. No one was awake to see the searing blue flash that sent this would be assailant back into the forest of hidden shadows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catalin stretched, greeting the morning's light through the windows. The trail to Trinsic was only a half day from the Southern Settlement. He sat up from his bed roll and twisted his torso; smiling with a grunt when his spine cracked and crinkled out the toils of slumber. He turned to rouse the others but saw Sir Orrin's place empty. Stepping outside he saw Sir Orrin examining the pillar. "A bit early to polish the...," Catalin stopped his witty comment when he noticed that the knight was clearly not cleaning. He was examining the four trailing lines; deep gashes that had been swiped into the northwest pillar that held the shrine's platform. A clear path of destruction led back into the forest, a small ten year sapling lay hewn in twain with clear markings of bite marks where the bark had given way to a massive maw.
