Encountered

The party continues their journey onward, following Sarale through the dense forest. The trees were filled with life from the wilderness around them. The birds were chirping and flying by in small flocks. Critters were racing through the grass and tree branches. Tunda, taking the rear, was watching the animals playing around them curiously. Karma laughs at Aktlass for getting a pair of squirrels rushing around his shoulders and startling him as he flails around to chase them off, finally making them jump from his arm and race through the trees.

KARMA:(giggles)

"You okay there, hun?"

AKTLASS:(grumbles)

"Damn critters."

Sarale stifles her giggle from the front of the group as she glances back over her shoulder. Her amethyst eyes, now returning to their original lilac hue. Vajor snickers, shifting his weight on the back of his horse. His eyes crinkling at the sides as he looks past Aktlass and Karma at Sarale and winks. She turns on her horse to face forward with a bashful smile. Tunda looked up from his distractions to watch the squirrels race around him. He raises a brow and at the comical reaction as the squirrels leave to another tree.

TUNDA:

"Well, you can't really blame them. You're the same shade of green as a new growth."

AKTLASS:(glares at Tunda)

"quite, you."

TUNDA:(looks away)

"hey. I'm just saying."

Tunda looks away to watch the trees again. Sarale stretches and leans forward on the back of the horse resting her chin on his head. Her eyes scanning the forest as they continue on their path.

SARALE:

"Tunda's right. You are a shade of green that resembles new growth and the trees move of their own accord in this place."

She grows quiet for a moment, her voice more thoughtful.

SARALE:

"I imagine it would be a lovely place under different circumstances."

Sarale sits up as a bird flutters down and lands on her hand, chirping happily.

SARALE:

"Such a pretty bird,"

Sarale coos at the bird, causing it to fluff its feathers before flying off. Vajor adjusts his glasses and watches her before looking out into the forest, his ears twitching at every sound. As the wind rushes through the trees of the woods, tunda catches sight of a lanky humanoid figure jumping between the trees and vanishes again. Holding his composure, he looks around to see if they move again, only to hear them move on the other side. He quickly looks to his other side and sees the figure swing through the trees and vanish again only to reappear behind a different tree as if they were jumping between dimensions. Tunda looks at the others to say something but notices Vajor tipping off his horse. He quickly rushes to him as he falls and grabs him to make him fall on Loonu. Aktlass shakes his head to stay away when he sees Karma out like a light.

AKTLASS:

"Karma!?"

Sarale watches the figure, her stomach rolling as she seats on the back of the dire wolf. She covers her mouth and swallows the saliva pooling there when she hears Aktlass' shout. She turns to look, her eyes going wide and her heart sinking. She jumps off the wolf and rushes to Aktlass.

SARALE:

"are they.."

Sarale swallows, feeling a new wave of nausea overwhelm her as she pushes it back down and reaches up to feel for Karma's pulse.

SARALE:

"they're alive. Just asleep. They should be fine."

Sarale then goes to Tunda and Vajor, her eyebrows furrowed as she checks over Vajor.

SARALE:

"same. Alive, just sleeping."

She pulls on Vajor trying to wake him up and off Loonu so he doesn't crush her, but stops when she can't budge him.

SARALE:

"fuck. Come on wake up!"

She slaps him hard on the forehead and he jolts awake with a yelp.

VAJOR:

"What tha hell?!"

Vajor looks around in confusion.

VAJOR:

"what tha hell just happened? And why did ya hit me?"

His voice laced with annoyance as he glared at Sarale.

SARALE:

"I-I.. I'm sorry I panicked!… I!"

Sarale's eyes fill with fear and uncertainty as she looks between him and Tunda. She shakes her head and turns to walk back to the wolf.

Vajor hops off Loonu, his ears flat.

VAJOR:

"dove, I-"

Sarale shakes her head.

SARALE:

"no, it's okay. Don't apologize, you didn't do anything wrong. We should keep moving. The sooner we get out of here, the better."

Tunda looks back into the woods to find a face as pale as paper with rose colored lips, night blue blank eyes with icy sky blue irises staring back at him as if trying to read his intentions. the face tilts to the side with a curious expression. it was gentle and calm as a body appeared under the face. The tall figure leans against a tree patiently.

TUNDA:(mutters)

"... please. let us pass. we just want to get to town."

Vajor looks between Tunda and the face, his stance shifting to protect Tunda if the need arises. Sarale stops, turns at Tunda's words, and stares at the face. The eyes themselves seemed so familiar and yet she couldn't recall where. Her brows furrowed in confusion and she winces, pressing the heel of her palm into her temple as the shadow tightens it's grip around her. Sarale tenses up, her expression one of discomfort as she squeezes her eyes shut. the face grimaces at her in disdain and vanishes in the shadows of the trees.

FAE:(*echoed*)

"*... if you can... find your way. you are my guests...* It doesn't matter to me. pass and take the demons with you."

Karma wakes to the echoing voice and quickly looks around dizzily to find everyone in fear and looking into the forest. karma follows their gazes, but doesn't see what everyone was looking at. They only hear the echoes of two voices: one felt hostile while the other didn't. Karma struggles to keep their eyes open when they look into the forest and falls onto Aktlass to hold onto him tiredly. Aktlass looks down at Karma who was struggling to stay awake. He holds them close protectively as he looks back at the forest only to find the fact he saw gone. Aktlass' drowsiness subsided as soon as he looked away, his guard dropped instantly and he didn't understand why, but he felt no hostility in the words spoken.

Vajor's eyes widen and he blinks at the fear he felt coil inside him, the face vanishing from view as soon as his did. He glances over at Sarale who was now looking around and hugging herself, a slight tremor running through her. She was pale and her expression pained as the dire wolf nuzzles her side and whimpers. She reaches for him stroking his fur and speaking in a gentle tone, 

SARALE:

"shh~ it's okay."

Tunda keeps his eyes on the face and notices it relax with a huff before entering the forest and leaving, taking one last glance at him with a playful smile and a whispered thanks as a hand dangles the map Tunda sent out. the figure completely vanishes into a distant tree. Tunda sits back on Loonu and relaxes with a sigh as he blinks out the fear that settled in his stomach with the nausea. he looks at the group and grimaces in pain seeing everyone's discomfort. he looks into the forest and sees a trail of flowering light that led to an opening in the distance. his eyes widen with hope in his heart.

A little yellow chickadee lands on his shoulder and startles him, distracting him from the light trail ahead of him.

TUNDA:

"Geh! Wh-what?"

He stutters. The chickadee flies off after the trail and lands in the opening chirping and dancing while fluffing its feathers. He watches the bird for a while before getting everyone's attention.

TUNDA:

"Hey... is everyone alright?"

VAJOR:

"Aye, just a little rattled. I don't think dove's doin' too well though." 

SARALE:(softy)

"I'm fine,"

Sarale hugs herself and winces. Karma and Aktlass watch them from their horse while Aktlass pats Karmas back to help them relax. Tunda looks at Sarale and dismounts and kneels in front of Sarale to take her shoulders, looking her in the face to make sure she sees him.

TUNDA:

"Are you sure?"

SARALE:

"I- hey! (*sigh*) okay fine and yes they are.. I get them often enough to know how to push through the pain. This one's just.. worse."

Vajor chuckles, "well, you can rest while we travel, honestly if Tunda hadn't suggested it I was going to." 

Sarale looks up at him and shakes her head with a smile before looking at Tunda.

SARALE:

"Okay, I get it. I won't argue."

She mounts the horse with Vajor's help and he climbs up behind her.

SARALE:

"Just let me know if you need a break, okay? We're a team."

Tunda hops back onto Loonu.

TUNDA:(scoffs)

"hah. Say that when you're actually feeling better. I got this this time."

Tunda looks back at the area the chickadee landed to find it still there, staring back at him. He stares back and smirks then moves ahead.

SARALE:

"all of you tell me the same thing, so follow your own words and let us help you when you need it."

TUNDA:

"Come on then. I think I see a good path ahead."

The dire wolf trots up beside Vajor and Sarale's horse as they follow after Tunda. Aktlass sighs and he urges his horse on to follow them still holding Karma close, who is now in an odd state of shock as they hold onto his arm for the comfort of his presence. Sarale leans back against Vajor's chest and flinches at a sharp pain in her skull before pressing her thumbs gently into her eyes to try and relieve the pressure. When it doesn't work she sighs and gets comfortable on the horse. 

Vajor smiles down at her before shifting the reins to one hand and wrapping his arm around her middle.

VAJOR:

"get some rest dove. It'll be okay."

Sarale sighs and closes her eyes with a nod as she tries to ignore the shadows grip coiling around her. Its whispered words, ones only she could hear, were daggers in her skull.

The party makes it to the opening the chickadee lands and Tunda looks around to check the surroundings and sees hints of worn tracks. It was a different trail than what he was used to seeing but it led somewhere they could go. He looks at the sky and checks the sun's location, then scans the rest of the trail to see how far it may go. it didn't seem to lead to town but there seemed to be something downhill. The chickadee lands on his shoulder for a moment and flies towards the downhill.

TUNDA:

"... let's head this way. It looks like a gathering area there. It can't be a bandit camp since we're on a trail."

Vajor nods, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing against Sarale's armored stomach.

VAJOR:

"we'll follow yer lead."

Tunda led the group down the trail for a while and it seemed that they had been traveling all day, with the sun now ready to set in the distance.

TUNDA:

"... we better rest up for the night. it might take us a bit to get to the end of this trail."

KARMA:

"Are we not gonna find a new camp?"

TUNDA:

"No. it's too dangerous to try for another one of those with a wanderlust fae watching us. We can rest on this trail since it seems abandoned. has been for a year looks like... it's odd that I haven't seen this trail before, but so long as we get somewhere we should be fine after. for now let's set up camp here with what we got from the last place."

Tunda dismounts from Loonu and pulls a body from his bag of holding to give her, letting her eat it with joy. Sarale shifts to slide off the horse then stretches her sore muscles.

SARALE:(groan)

"ugh, it feels good to stretch."

The dire wolf yips happily and she scratches his ears before helping set up camp. Vajor assists in the task as he starts prepping food for the group. Karma and Aktlass dismount and Karma stumbles off, getting their foot caught in the stirrup. Aktlass reaches to catch Karma but misses their hand as their head hits the ground with a yelp. their foot was now stuck. Aktlass quickly unhooks their foot from the stirrup and lets Karma's leg fall. Karma rolls to their side holding their head from the pain. Aktlass kneels next to them and pulls them into his lap as he sits cross-legged to give them support.

AKTLASS:(worried)

"Karma?"

KARMA:

"I'm fine..."

karma says as they pull their hand away from their head only to see a pale lavender color stain their hand.

KARMA:

"... oh. I'm bleeding..."

AKTLASS:(shouts)

"WHAT!?"

Sarale's eyes widen and she rushes to Karma's side.

SARALE:

"Are you okay? Here let me see."

She reaches for Karma's head and the cut begins to heal, stopping the bleeding and easing their headache. Once finished Sarale yawns and smiles.

SARALE:

"How does that feel?"

Karma looks at Sarale.

KARMA:(tiredly)

"... sleepy... why am I so tired? I feel like I haven't slept in days..."

Tunda rushes to them and looks at their eyes. the brightness was going dim as if their mana was getting drained.

TUNDA:

"It must be because of the wanderlust fae... *why...?* I'll get a tent set up quickly. Keep them awake."

Aktlass watches Tunda as he leaves to quickly get a tent set up. Once he was done he beckoned them over.

TUNDA:

"Come and lay them down here. So they can rest."

AKTLASS:(annoyed)

"Is this done by that thing we saw earlier?"

TUNDA:

"The wanderlust fae, yes. I don't think karma is mentally strong enough to handle his power that covers this forest."

AKTLASS:

"don't you have something in that potion pouch of yours to help?"

TUNDA:

"They won't help. this isn't a spell that damages the mind."

AKTLASS:

"THEN WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO THEM?!"

TUNDA:

"Don't! ... Shout... we are all getting affected by it. Some of us are worse than others. Karma is probably taking it worse than the rest of us, but it's not actually harming anyone. If nothing else, we may just suffer from the lack of rest... which could be dangerous on its own. I just pray he lets us rest properly. If not... We may all end up suffering from insomnia later."

AKTLASS:

"you spoke to him. I heard you ask to be left alone. Why is Karma still affected??"

TUNDA:

"I don't know!? you heard his words! *take the demon and leave!* whatever is happening, is because of some existence that's with us. Karma is probably that existence because their a tiefling."

Aktlass rushes Tunda out of the tent and forces him to the ground, pinning Tunda under his weight and forcing a grunt of pain out of him.

AKTLASS:

"what the fuck does that mean?"

Tunda sees the impatience and fury in Aktlass' eyes as he struggles to speak from getting the wind knocked out of him.

Sarale holds Karma gently and rubs their back before looking over at the men. 

SARALE:

"Both of you stop, NOW! Fighting like this isn't helping anyone and as far as we know he's talking about me. I'm sure at this point we all know about that, and if you didn't Tunda, then now you do, I'm the vessel of a demon. Plus, Tieflings aren't demons, their devils and I'm sure that wanderlust fae knows that. He's not stupid, whoever he is, and he's already tearing us apart. We need to stick together, which means no fighting, regardless of how much you dislike each other. If not for anyone other than Karma. They need you, both of you. Aktlass as their mate and Tunda as their brother. So get over it and work together. After we're done, you can go back to hating each other. I don't care. Just stop, please."

Her gaze was eerily cold, the outer rim of her eyes shadowy, giving her a menacing look. Vajor's ears flatten when he looks over at her and the dire wolf whimpers, backing away with his tail tucked between his legs. Vajor sighs as he walks over to the men.

VAJOR:

"She's right. Ya both should stop fightin', yer only gonna regret it later."

Aktlass jumps away from Tunda and Karma rushes to him to take his waist in their arms, startling him and making him back off with a pained expression. Karma was about to collapse. He holds them up with a hug and steps away from Tunda to give him room. Tunda gasps for air and rolls over holding his chest from the pain. As he sits he looks at Karma and notices the look they gave him. It wasn't a good sight to see.

TUNDA:

"... Karma. I just want to know why the fae is doing this. Sarale is right to say she could be the cause too, but you and her are the ones most affected by this. I'm just worried you'll get hurt because of this."

KARMA:

"... You are trying to help us, right?"

Tunda noticed Karma's tone and it visibly broke his heart.

TUNDA:

"... Of course. I can't let my baby brother get hurt like this."

Karma smiles softly and makes Aktlass walk them back to the tent. Aktlass gives him one last glare before closing the tent. Tunda slouches with a heavy sigh. Sarale watches Aktlass and Karma enter the tent and sighs as she stands and walks to Tunda.

SARALE:

"Hey, I'm sorry if that sounded harsh. I just wanted him to back off. I know you're trying to help. I'm sorry, I know this isn't easy for you."

She touches his shoulder and looks down. She looked defeated and sad more than anything else. The darkness in her eyes spider-webbing to the center. 

SARALE:

"We'll make it through this. I trust you."

VAJOR:(smiles)

"So do I. Yer not alone and if ya need us fer anythin' just ask." The dire wolf wags his tail and whimpers as he rushes us to Tunda and licks at his face.

Tunda looks at Sarale for a long moment as he scratches the dire wolf's ears. 

TUNDA:

"You need To go to bed too. You don't look good."

The dire wolf leans into his touch and pants happily as Sarale smiles at him.

SARALE:

"I know, I'll try."

She stands and offers him her hand to help him stand before heading to a separate tent and going inside. 

Vajor goes back to the food.

VAJOR:(sigh)

"Seems like we're in a tight spot. Aktlass is acting out because of Karma and dove… She doesn't look great. Did ya see her eyes? This mornin' they were almost amethyst, but now… it's like they're goin' black. We need to get outta here quick or we might lose them both. Get some rest, I'll keep watch and come get ya when it's time ta change."

TUNDA:(mutters)

"... I need to find him again... Could you help me out a bit?"

Vajor's ears droop.

VAJOR:

"yeah, I mean, if ya think it'll help. What do ya need me ta do?"

Later that night, the two of them made an odd assortment of sweets and snacks. Treats that could be made with the ingredients in the woods without an oven or things that could be chilled with Tunda's magic. His tone becomes uncertain as he speaks.

TUNDA:

"Alright. Now I just need you to place it by the woods and wait during your shift."

VAJOR:

"alright and if he shows up? Come get ya or?"

TUNDA:

"no. Since you made it it's best you get a chat out of him if he wants to chat. If not just say you're giving it to him as thanks for the trail... I'll go rest. Come get me when it's over."

Vajor shifts uncomfortably.

VAJOR:

"I guess if he feels like talkin' I'll ask why Karma and Sarale are being affected tha most. If he even shows up."

Vajor runs a hand through his hair and pulls it free from the messy ponytail.

VAJOR:

"I hope he doesn't put me ta sleep, seems ta have that ability too." 

He starts putting his hair back up and sits next to the fire.

VAJOR:

"get some rest. I'll let ya know when he's here and gone."

TUNDA:

"I know he won't hurt you. But I'm worried about them because of their circumstances."

Tunda started to feel guilty for this thought, but he needed to know something about the fae that haunted them.

TUNDA:

"Just don't give him anything but your thanks. Not even an introduction. I know this might be a lot, but I can't think of anything else right now. Thank you for doing this with me."

Vajor nods as he stares into the fire.

VAJOR:(smiles)

"Yeah, don't mention it. Like Dove said, we're a team. We gotta help each other out. Get some rest, I'll wake ya up in a bit."

Tunda goes into his tent and the camp is silent for most of the night.

It was nearly time for Tunda's shift. Vajor sat by the fire, humming a dwarven tune to himself as he worked a few small chunks of metal. His ears twitching at every sound, one's he recognized as animals and others he didn't. Each time he heard a noise he'd look up at the source and scan the forest. His gaze always lingering over the offerings a little longer than anything else. A second voice starts singing along with him in a soft whisper, as if a fae was finding his way to him from all directions. Vajor's ears flatten to his skull as he stumbles to his feet and drops the metal he'd been working. His words become a stuttered mess as he scans the forest in every direction, his tail tucked between his feet.

VAJOR:

"H-hello? W-we uh left an offering fer ya, as thanks f-fer tha uhm trail."

The voice stops singing and chuckles from the tents direction.

FAE:

"So that really is for me?"

Vajor's head snaps in the direction of the voice and he trips over his feet falling on his ass with an grunt.

As soon as the figure touches the tent, Sarale whimpers inside the tent underneath the voice, her stomach turning as she's hit with a wave of nausea that sends her to the corner of the tent to dry heave. Tears stream down her face as she continues to heave, clutching her stomach in agony. The shadow coiled tightly around her digs its claws into her skull and she winces in pain and crumbles onto her side. She trembles and grows quiet as it feeds on her terror and curls around her throat, silencing her. The veins around her eyes growing darker and the color in her eyes nearly vanishing, giving her the impression of having lilac pupils. She stares blankly at the tent's fabric, tears coating her face as occasional tremors quake through her.

The old woman's spirit exits the tent in a panic and fails her arms, pointing inside before pressing her palms together with pleading eyes. Vajor's eyes widen in concern at the sounds in Sarale's tent and he goes to stand, noticing the woman's spirit before looking at the figure on Sarale's tent. His ears flatten and he looks around uncertain of what to do. The figure stops smiling and looks down on the old spirit, who stole his attention. Hearing her words, her cries for help nagging at his ears and making him cringe in annoyance. The figure steps out of the darkness, revealing his dark red hair that flutters behind him as he enters the tent and shoves the old spirit out of his way with a huff. The old woman rushes to Vajor's side and grabs his hands, patting them and nodding with a reassuring smile. Her eyes are kind as she tries to convey hope before looking back at the tent. Vajor sniffles and watches her before looking back at the tent with uncertainty.

Inside, Sarale doesn't react to the figure's presence as the shadow coils tighter around her like a boa and she chokes her breath coming out as a strangled wheeze. It looks up at John and hisses tightening its grip on Sarale. The figure stomps closer and as vines grow from beneath Sarale and quickly snap around her body. Once Sarale was confined with a howl of pain, he grabbed her shoulder with one hand and grabbed the shadow with a glowing white claw. He rips the shadow off of her, shoving her forward with a kick and tearing the shadow off. 

The shadow growls and hisses at the figure clawing at his arm. He glares at it and hisses back before throwing it out of the tent as hard as he could, sending it past the campfire and sniffing it before it hits a tree and vanishes with a screeching cry. The vines unravel from Sarale as he storms out dusting off his arm, letting her collapse to the ground. As soon as the figure steps out the tent, he buckles forward and screams in pain holding his head then races after the shadow into the trees as a frightened mist of white.

Vajor was now left in silence as he watched the figure leave before rushing into the tent to check on Sarale, who was dry heaving and trembling while clutching her stomach in agony. Her face flushed with fever. He pulls her into his lap and pops the cork on his waterskin offering it to her.

VAJOR:

"come on dove, drink."

Vajor looks over at Tunda's tent then back at Sarale.

VAJOR:

"dove, I don't know what ta do. I'm gonna go get Tunda. Please, hang on, it'll be okay."

He looks at the old spirit.

VAJOR:

"can ya stay with her while I go?"

The spirit nods and sits next to Sarale rubbing her back. Vajor rushes to Tunda's tent.

VAJOR:

"Tunda.. hey wake up, Sarale's sick and tha fae just left. It.. didn't go well."

Tunda was sitting up holding his head ready to fall over. vomit was in the corner of the tent near the entrance. his breathing was unsteady as he kept his mouth covered forcing himself to hold his composure. he could barely move his eyes to look at Vajor.

VAJOR:(**)

"shit, shit shit. Uh~ hold on."

He rushes back to Sarale's tent and grabs the waterskin, his heart breaking at the sight of her unfocused eyes, her body trembling, and labored breathing. Vajor makes eye contact with the old woman and rushes back to Tunda offering him the waterskin.

VAJOR:

"Here. What can I do ta help?"

Tunda looks at him and carefully reaches for the waterskin, trembling from his shoulders. Vajor leans forward and presses a large hand to his back gently.

VAJOR:

"Easy, don't force it."

He glances back over his shoulder when he hears Sarale dry heave again, when he looks back at Tunda he looks near tears, his eyes watery and he huffs pulling a tag from his pocket and handing it to Tunda.

VAJOR:

"here, wipe yer face. Do ya need me ta do anythin'?"

Tunda stutters as he wipes mess off his face with the rage. 

TUNDA:

"... the offer...? (*bobs head from sickness*) Sara... go to Sarale... She needs you more right now. I'll live."

Vajor shakes his head as he exits the tent and looks back.

VAJOR:

"He didn't take it, I'll explain later."

Vajor rushes to Sarale's side and gingerly lifts her into his arms once more, resting her against his chest.

VAJOR:

"come on dove. Ya can do this. You have ta. I can't, please, I can't lose ya."

Tears spill over her lashes and he leans forward pressing his lips to her forehead before whispering against her skin.

VAJOR:

"Please don't leave me.. I can't do this without ya." 

Sarale's eyes fill with tears as her nausea starts to fade, her body chilled from the fever and trembling from exhaustion and pain. She snuggles closer to Vajor's chest and whimpers, her voice hoarse and strained.

SARALE:

"I-I-I'm s-sorry."

VAJOR:

"no, ya didn't do anythin' wrong. Just rest, please. Ya need ta rest." 

Sarale nods and her eyes drift shut, but she can't sleep. Her mind clouded and panicked as she tried to understand what she did wrong to anger this fae.

Tunda stays in his tent, his body limp and his head filled with disappointment and anguish, but he won't show it even now while alone. He forces himself to stand and staggers out to see the camp. The offering he had Vajor leave was tipped over and spilled onto the ground. The fire was snuffed out, leaving the camp dark under the moon and making him see nothing but gray blurs around him. He looks out to the forest to see one of the trees dented in as if something slammed into it. Vajor exits the tent holding Sarale close. Her breaths coming out in ragged gasps and her face stained in tears and bile. He sits next to the extinguished fire and wipes her mouth and face with his sleeve.

VAJOR:

"I.. don't know exactly what happened. I just know when he showed up he went inta doves tent. Shortly after I heard her cry out and a gust of wind came from tha tent extinguishing tha fire and denting tha tree. When he came out he seemed like he was in pain, screamed and grabbed his head, then left. When I went ta check on her she was like this."

Sarale takes a shuddered breath and winces before settling with a painful sigh. Tunda looks at Sarale and rushes to her, staggering as he pulls a healing potion from his belt pouch and makes her take it.

TUNDA:(*disgruntled & uncomfortable*)

"drink it. You're probably too disoriented to use any spells on anyone."

Sarale's eyes flutter open and they search around unfocused before finally seeing Tunda, she stares at the potion for a moment and reaches for it. Her movements are lethargic in her current state, and pops the cork wincing at the pain in her ribs before drinking it and gagging. She coughs and covers her mouth, forcing herself to keep it down and curling back into Vajor with a whimper. Vajor nods at Tunda.

VAJOR:

"thanks. How about ya? Are ya gonna be okay?"

TUNDA:

"I'm getting there... she got the worst of it it seems."

Tunda helps Vajor sit Sarale down then sits next to her with a disgruntled sigh. He takes a breath to hold back his nausea and looks back at the offering that was knocked over.

TUNDA:

"I'm guessing he was chased off by something after hurting Sarale... maybe the demon in you did something?"

Sarale's shrug is almost unnoticeable and she stares out into the forest blankly. Her voice is raspy.

SARALE:

"I don't know. I.. he.. and then.. I.. I.."

She curls in on herself as new tears spill from her eyes.

SARALE:

"I don't know. I just.. what's happening to us?"

Vajor rubs her back and looks up at Tunda, a sad frown on his face.

VAJOR:

"It's alright, dove. One step at a time, just tell us what you remember."

Sarale sniffles and pulls her knees into her chest as she tries to stop her tears.

SARALE:

"I-I was trying t-to sleep, a-and I heard him on the tent. I f-felt sick and,"

Sarale pauses and seems to zone out for a moment.

SARALE:(*stuttered breath*)

"Can I tell you two something (*hiccup*) without you thinking I'm crazy?"

TUNDA:

"If you're crazy then we're lunatics... go on and speak."

Tunda tries to reassure Sarale, though failing to reassure himself. Sarale sniffles and hugs her legs tighter.

SARALE:

"There's a uhm… shadow. It follows me and feeds on my fear. It's uhm.. I don't think it can kill me, but the stronger it gets, the stronger She gets. It was.. hurting me and has been the source of my headaches and pain for a long time. When he came in he wrapped me up in some kind of vines? I think and kicked me, while ripping it off. When he left, he screamed, I.. don't think it was because of the shadow. I don't know what it was. I don't know what's happening. I'm glad you two are here."

TUNDA:

"... so he was fighting the demon in you. I'm not completely certain, but he may not like the fact that there's a demon inside you. so he's being hostile and cautious of it. you probably can't sleep because of that shadow right?"

SARALE:(nods*teary eyed*)

"It's like a parasite or an intrusive thought. Constantly telling me how worthless I am.. among other things. It's gotten so strong here. Even when it's gone I can't sleep and I'm so tired. I even tried meditating and it just wouldn't let me."

VAJOR:

"yer not worthless, dove. None of us are. We'll make it through this as a group. All of us. This place is just messin' with our minds."

Tunda's eyes widen a bit with a twitch as he huffs back a chuckle, refusing to respond. Sarale sniffles and hugs her knees tighter.

SARALE:

"Vajor, you should get some sleep. You're going to be exhausted if you don't."

VAJOR:(chuckles)

"Yeah, that's not going to happen. Not with both of you being sick."

Sarale looks up at him and lowers her legs, patting them, "lay your head down at least."

Vajor's ears twitch and he smiles gently, laying his head down on her lap and she starts scratching his head and playing with his hair. His eyes grow heavy and he hums as he fights sleep.

VAJOR:

"yer doin' this on purpose aren't ya?"

SARALE:

"Mhmm."

VAJOR:

"Sneak."

SARALE:

"Go to sleep."

Vajor sighs and Sarale starts to hum a lullaby waiting for Vajor to fall asleep. She looks over at Tunda and smiles.

SARALE:

"Tunda?"

Tunda had already stood up and dusted himself off ready to leave. He looks at Sarale with a blank look.

TUNDA:

"Hm?"

Sarale reaches for his hand, panic in her eyes and her voice quivers.

SARALE:

"where are you going? Please don't leave, are you coming back?"

TUNDA:

"... it's my shift. I'm just gonna look around the camp."

He pats her hand gently then goes to clean up the mess from the offering, then looks into the dark of the forest. He instantly sees a set of displeased blue eyes on them and he drops the offering in panic. He quickly picks it back up and sees the blue eyes watching him in discomfort and curiosity then looks back at Sarale.

Sarale strokes Vajor's hair and stares at the ground blankly and sniffles. A shiver running through her as a breeze whispers through the camp. The eyes continue to watch the camp for a long while without moving.

TUNDA:(nervous stutters)

"... sarale… can you go get something for me from my bag?"

Sarale's eyes snap to Tunda and she nods.

SARALE:

"Yeah, sure, anything you need."

She gently shifts out from under Vajor's head and rests his head down gently causing him to stir and roll over. She holds her breath and watches him, before he goes back to sleep. She tiptoes around him towards Tunda's tent, 

SARALE:

"What do you need me to bring you? Or do you just want me to bring you the bag?"

he doesn't look at her as he speaks.

TUNDA:

"There's a small blue bag I made for you a bit ago. it'll smell like nectar, and lavender honey. it won't be hard to find."

Her voice is small as she responds, going into the tent and disappearing from view.

SARALE:

"Okay."

The eyes look down at him and a voice echoes from all around the forest.

FAE:

"what are you trying to do?"

TUNDA:

"... I want to talk... and maybe get your anger quelled."

FAE:

"you can quell me with amusement."

TUNDA:

"That's why I asked her to get you something nice. It's honey mountain powder. I was told by a fae before that it smelled like the fae realm to them."

FAE:

"Why have her get it?"

TUNDA:

"... I can't have you hurting my friends because of something she can't control... So please, I beg you, take this as an offering from her. I promise you she means you no harm."

the eyes squint curiously and cautiously before the figure steps out and towers over Tunda. The figure was pale like the moon, his long twig-like fingers had blackened nails, his ruby lips slightly parted to show onyx colored teeth. Tunda begins to shiver from head to toe as the figure approaches and changed into what he sees now.

FAE:

"... you think I can be quelled by her with a gift?"

TUNDA:

"...p-please... don't hurt her... That's all I ask. I can keep giving you gifts to please you. I won't ask for protection..."

the figure raises a brow at him then smiles satisfied.

FAE:

"fine. I won't bother you all. you have my fae word, silver eyes. but I won't promise not to interact with you two in particular."

the figure vanishes from his line of sight with a chuckle echoing in the forest.

TUNDA:

"Wait! What does-... what???"