Yumi and Alkaia both screamed in a momentary fear, but Yumi was the first to recover grabbing her sword and placing it on Feebles neck glaring at him, standing up. He was staring at her, and for the brief moment, she forgot she wasn't wearing anything and jumped back in the water, "you two are horrible!" she growled and knocked them both upside the head, "I can't believe you would do such a thing!" she grabbed a nearby large leaf and wrapped it around her standing getting out of the spring.

With a growl she walked away and Alkaia quickly followed grabbing their clothes. "stupid men." she sighed rolling her eyes, and moving to get dressed and setting up camp.

"Come on ladies, we were only joining in on the fun. No harm to you. Thorn and I just wanted to relax some too." He looked up with evil eyes at his brother. Thorn smiled for a split second and quickly climbed back down to the edge of the spring.

"You know brother." Thorn said "If you weren't so careless about gawking at the ladies, maybe we could have slipped in quietly and said our hello's. But seeing how it went, that's outta proportion now." Feeble looked down and knew he had messed up.

"Feeble, don't miserable. Get out and dry off." Thorn went over to where Yumi had gotten one of the leafs and pulled one for him. "Here's mother nature at her finest!" He laughed.

Feeble dried off and cleaned off his clothes. Why would of he been so careless.

"Brother, we must follow them" Thorn stood up from sitting on a nearby fallen tree and looked at Feeble. "They seem disturbed now so it'd probably be best if we keep a low profile on your new habits." Feeble frowned.

They both ran along the path in which Alkaia and Yumi were way ahead of. Suddenly, Thorn couldn't help but notice a tremor come about under his feet and it kept getting stronger. Feeble pointed over towards an opening in the trees and saw a shadow moving towards their location. Feeble yelled in fear and started running towards the girls. Thorn stood frozen, watching as the creature came closer. He could see it was nothing more but a black haze, gliding across the broken branches and leafs. Two blue dots glowed from the top, presumably eyes, and it had no feet but the sound it produced was horrifying. Before Thorn could make a movement to flee, it was no sooner in front of him, staring down at him. It was festering with a horrid smell and it made thorn almost pass out. He started to back up. "FEEBLE, FEEBLE, ANYBODY". He yelled loudly towards the path.

He pulled out his blade slowly and while trembling to point it towards the creature, he heard footsteps approach. A godsend he thought!

Yumi and Alkai had all but ignored the boys walking down the path to the camp where they had changed, takling of how they were going to get to their destination when Yumi slowerd to a stop looking around, Alkai did as well looking back, "shades?" Yumi muttered looking around.

"It looks like this may not be a safe haven anymore." Alkai muttered.

Suddenly Thorns voice shouted through the forest and Yumi growled, "find Feeble, I'll get this pathetic thwarp." drawing her legendary sword she started running through the forest.

She had picked up great speed and the sword began to glow a bright light as she got closer to the creature, and started blaringa brighlent light, jumping into the air she slashed through the creature and landed firmly on her feet, squatting almost, remaing there fora brief moment like that before the shades dissappeared into mist and she stood upright. Spinning the sword around and sheathing it.

"You have to be more careful," and not so cowardly she thought to herself and looked around, "let's get moving." turning she started walking again.

Thorn reached out to grab feeble's shaky hand and pulled himself up. He stood straight and saw Yumi shaking her head at him while Alkai was catching up.

"Yumi, thank you very much." Thorn said as he drew what breath he could from his rapid breathing. "I've honestly don't know why a shadowman would attack me. They only appear to frigthen the weak you know? I guess I fit the bill today."

Feeble stared at his brother. "It's been 11 months since the last attack. Why would another come now? Would the horn call upon them?"

"They come in numbers at certain times and with only one, it makes me curious as to why it would show up." He turned his head and looked over at Yumi and Alkai. "They wont' inflict any pain or hurt me physically. They come close and somehow reach into the mind, reading thoughts and memories. It's like they're looking for something. I can only hope that you saving me from one didn't anger any more." His face turned cold. "But seeing how my trustful brother ran away, I'm very glad you both came back."

Yumi was looking around into the darkness of the forest, "Shadowmen are the least fo your worries, that was not a shadowman, it was a shade something far more dangerous though created off the same principle. Only real difference other then strength and power is their ruler.." she said looking down towards the ground.

"Mindsnare, the demon who we are going to kill."

"There will be more, this is not a safe place for us anymore."Yumi cut off, "do you have any stuff at the camp site?" she asked looking at Feeble and Thorn, "if not, it's best we press on now."

"We don't have alot packed, only a few items and a tent for two. Didn't think we needed more." Feeble shrugged at Yumi. "Only went to hunt game for a day! Meat supply was running short so we figured we'd contribute what we could to the town."

Thorn popped open the backpack and pulled out a large green canvass tent, a set of tin cups and plates, cutting knife, knitted fur blanket, bottle of 'Loars's Wonder Scent', bottle of wheat grain and a box of matches. Thorn grew a look of concern when he reached the bottom. "So where's the gun powder feeble?" His smile slowly turned to a frown. "Must've left it at the shooting range when we left."

Feeble looked back at Yumi with a smile!

"Lets try to press on with what we have and we can decide later when it's safe to hold camp. The animals are watching us with grave concern and I fear that were slipping closer into madness. The forest holds many surprises, but none that we can predict right now." He clicked shut the backpack. "Lets follow this path and continue on."

The four treaded onward and ventured further into the forest. The girls seemed anxious and kept quiet. Occasionally they would stray off and glide amongst the fallen oaks that lay from past storms. Other times the brothers would stray off and walk low under the trees. Both had their weapons close to their side, ready for any lingering surprises but nothing came. Soon an opening in the woods gave through and they found themselves walking high uptop a hillside, viewing over a valley below. Evening was approaching and the grass started to accumlate dew for the nightfall. Black smoke rolled over a distant mountain side up ahead.

Yumi stood on the hilltop and looked out at the black smoke, rolling high into the sky, "Alkai, that isn't..." she trailed off and looked over at her, sadness in her eyes once again.

"It seems the villans are moving faster then we assumed. If our assumption is correct, and it always has been that right there is the hidden Elf village of the elders. A secret shrine to those who have fallen and those elders who created our kind, our priests are there, and they have no weapons."

"Easy prey..." Yumi muttered softly. "we muct go see if there are any survivors."

"It'll be dangerous at this time, night is falling, I bet they are setting camp there. Shades will be scowering the area, it's best if we stay away for now."

Yumi looked around, "over there..." she pointed to a large brush that seemed to be hollowed out in the center, "we can stay there for the night, no fire, just sleep, rest, eat what food we can without cooking." alkai nodde in agreement and started walking first, leading the way wiht Yumi right behind her.

(My deepest apologizes for not posting on here in over two months. 14344 baby )

Thorn and Feeble nodded in agreement. "Lets rest until dawn, then we pack out things and head out towards the elf village."

They followed the two girls over to newly found area and discovered a fairly open spot in the brush,. They watched as the girls pieced their campsite together, neatly and organized. Thorn grunted in disbelief. "You'd think they'd be quick and easy, and not take their time at it." Feeble instantly bursted out laughing and fell on the ground, rolling back and forth. Thorn scratched his head, watching his brother as he laughed his ass off. "What the hell is so funny brother? You lost your mind?" After a minute, and after the girls had already raised any eyebrow, Feeble finally caught his breath and stood up. "That's what she said......" Feeble immediately lost it again and fell to the ground laughing. "That joke never gets old brother....hahahaha" Thorn turned away and tapped his foot, *why me* he thought, *I'm gonna kill whoever told him that line*

After the laughing session, they finally broke ground and started. The ground was nice and loose, good enough to maintain a tent with four posts they thought. Feeble instantly undid his backpack and brought out a green matted sheet, four poles and some rope. He neatly placed them out before thorn. Thorn shook his head and started to help put it together. They found a sturdy tree limb to hand the sheet, pushed either corner pole into the dirt and roped it down for security. After a half hour of construction, they tent was made and they both broke out their sleeping bags to make for a quiet night's rest.

Yumi and Alkai looked at one another sighing, "hardly funny." Alkai muttered and Yumi chuckled slightly.

They moved and set up their own tents, making a small hardly noticable fire, just for warmth and hopefully to cook something on. Be it small or not. Yumi and Alkai looked at one another, as if telepathically talkign to one another, "I'll go" Yumi said standing and Alkai nodded movign to attend the fire.

"Be safe, I'll return shortly."

"Maybe you should take one of them along with you, they do have a better sense of smell then us." Alkai said and Yumi nodded softly.

"Which one of you two want to go hunting with me?"