Chapter Three: Trials Toward the Desert

The centaur turned to Lopiena and his eyes brightened. "Oh! You know Tinnur? Yes, of course I will. I was just heading back home anyway." He reached forward and shook each of their hands. "Thank you again. All of you. If you ever come back through to Nevcairn please stop by and see me. My name is Brizer. I will repay your kindness with a meal fit for kings." He smiled warmly before turning and heading back the way they'd come, limping slowly.

"Travel safely, friend!" Cirro called to him as he disappeared. He turned to Lopiena who pondered about the source of the spell. "Yes... that has me quite concerned as well."

"I've never seen a bear that strong." Ashwyn said with a frown.

"My suspicion," Zane began. "Is that it was more than one spell. I know of a spell that provides the recipient of tough skin, but that wouldn't cause the glowing eyes and rage. That sounds more like a ..." he trailed off.

Ashwyn raised a brow. "Like a what?"

Zane had his thinking face on. "No.... it couldn't be..." He dropped his bag and started digging through it.

Ashwyn knelt next to him as he furiously dug through his bag. "Zane what is it?"

"I have to check something." He said, his voice had a tinge of panic to it. He finally pulled out a large book and he began flipping through it. Finally he stopped on a page and read for a moment. His eyes widened and he slammed the book closed. "He's still here!" He gasped and jumped up.

Ashwyn tensed. "What do you mean? Who's still here?"

"The spell. The spell has to be one called Dominate Monster or something similar. But the only way it works is if the caster is in the area!" Zane explained as he spun in a circle looking around.

Ashwyn's expression changed from curious to determined. She pulled out her silvered dagger and held it in line with her arm. "I'll find him." She said and disappeared into the forest again.

Watching the young centaur...what was his name again, Brazier?... limp away, Lo frowns slightly. It had taken them days to get here, and that’s without a leg in a splint...and he's traveling alone, apparently without weapons...it's just not safe, but they can't spare the time to escort him home. Lo is about to ask Cirro if the fairies can keep an eye on him when Zane starts flipping through his books. It's always fascinating to watch someone with great familiarity with a subject search with such purpose; Lopiena herself has a book of herbs so worn by much use she'd left it behind just so it wouldn't crumble to dust in her pack.

At Zane's description of the spell and the fact that the caster is still in the area, Lo takes in a sharp breath and her eyes widen. "That means Bri...Bra...whatever his name is...is in danger!" Having a sudden horrible mental image of the young centaur with glowing red eyes attacking them, she looks from Sigurd to Cirro. "We have to go get him, make sure he's safe!" Grabbing her staff, she takes one step in the direction the young centaur had taken but hesitates. Splitting the party is never a good idea...looking back at Sigurd, she stops. "Unless we shouldn't? I don't..." visibly torn between concern for the centaur's safety and her own, she waits for direction from Sigurd. She trusts him, and after the night in the dungeon Lo is less likely to run off on her own.

Sigurd smirked at the Centaur's reaction to his empty threat then returned his attention back to the bear. Bear meat was always good... but an enchanted bear? better not. With Zane's revelation of the nature of the spell, he felt sorry for the bear now, it didn't need to die under someone else's control... Too late to worry about that now, there was going to be a hunt.

When Ashwyn took off into the forest he growled, she wasn't going to find him before he did! Taking a step forward he was stopped by Lopiena's question. "Get on.. if we find the caster we save the centaur." he said before shifting into his full dire wolf form. Sigurd didn't wait long for Cirro and Lopiena to get comfortable before he grabbed Zane in his jaws and took off after Ashwyn, trying to catch the scent of the man, or woman who cast the spell.

Ashwyn was already stalking through the forest when Sigurd barreled through with two people on his back and... Was that Zane in his mouth? She shook her head and smirked. She didn't rejoin them though. Sure Sigurd could probably sniff her out if he wanted to, but she also wasn't trying to hide from him.

She knew that so long as she was in a forest she would only be seen if she wanted to  be, so she wanted to use that to her advantage. She traveled a similar path to Sigurd and the others but stayed apart from them, keeping her sharp eyes open and searching for any clues.

Meanwhile, Sigurd would be having trouble sniffing anything different out. He'd smell the forest, of course, and various animals, and his teammates. But nothing distinct. Nothing thay didn't seem like it belonged.

Ashwyn decided to get some higher ground, so she climed up one of the larger trees. The underbrush of the forest was quite high so she climbed until she was just hidden by the leaves but could still see the forest floor clearly. Her eyes darted around the area trying to spot something while she sat perfectly still.

Watching Sigurd for direction, Lopiena looks at him dumbly at his words. Get...on? Surely he can't mean...when he shifts and looks at her her eyes widen. Apparently he does. Taking a step forward, she suddenly realizes her staff might cause him harm...for a brief moment she considers leaving it behind, but no she might need it. Flipping it behind her so the silver is resting on her shoulder blade, Lo runs to Sigurd and mounts him by grabbing his armor with one hand and pulling herself up onto his shoulders. Keeping her body between him and the silver in her staff, she finally does what she'd wanted to do since he'd first shifted into his full dire wolf form...leaning forward, she curls one arm into the thick ruff of fur on his neck to hold on. It's as soft as it looks! Careful not to choke him, she readies herself for his running. When Cirro mounts up behind her and holds onto her waist, she can't help but grin...and feeling Sigurd's strong muscles bunch up between her legs as he runs pulls a deep throated laugh from a place she didn't know she had. Running through the forest pressed between two men...and to think just a few days ago she was destined to live out her days alone and loveless! Freedom is exhilarating!

As they race through the forest, Lo keeps her eyes open for anything strange in the trees. In good lighting, she can spot a hummingbird 50 feet away...in the thick of trees, the lighting is too dim for that kind of detail, but even so she should be able to spot something human sized in the branches. If the caster is a fairy, though...no chance.

(Perception roll 12; passive is 13. Meh.)

Sigurd slowed his pace, he was losing Ashwyn's sent which means she wasn't on the ground anymore. He raised his head to the sky and picked her up again. 'clever girl' he thought to himself. Jerking his head back he flung Zane in an arch to hopefully land somewhere on his back, Lopiena would catch him... probably... he put his head back to the ground and started smelling. Many animals had passed through this forest, the scent of blood from the bear still thick, that would draw scavengers. But nothing out of the ordinary... it was strange, he could feel something wasn't right... but this was the first time his nose failed him.

Zane squealed when Sigurd threw him and managed to grasp onto his fur but... he was facing backwards. He bit his tongue to keep from screaming and instead he lay flat, holding around Sigurd's middle and squeezing his eyes closed in fear.

Cirro had his arms around Lopiena, grasping harder than he would have preferred but he'd never exactly ridden on a giant wolf creature either. He preferred to travel by flight rather than animal. He tried not to let his uneasiness shine through but he had a feeling Lo would be able to tell by the way he grasped her. There was also the fact that he was holding onto a beautiful woman and he tried to ignore the scent of her hair as he held onto her back....

---

Meanwhile, Ashwyn was slowly and quietly traversing the higher branches, looking around to try and spot something unusual. She circled all around the area until she was over the cave where the bear had been when she thought she saw something.

She she looked up at the peak of the cave and she thought she saw a strange wave. Similar to the affect when one stares through rising heat. She blinked several times but the image didn't fade. She glanced backwards to where she could hear Sigurd moving through the forest and considered signalling him but she was afraid Zane's squeals would make whatever that was disappear. So instead she worked her way around to get a closer look at whatever that wave figure was.

As she circled and got a better angle on the figure, it changed from transparent to a faintly purple color. And for a moment, only a moment, she thought she saw a humanoid arm appear. It was hard to tell, since it was only there for a moment, but it appeared slender and quite feminine, but otherwise normal. No distinguishing marks at all. Then the transparent wave figure vanished all together. Ashwyn remained very still for a long moment but the figure never returned. She frowned but began to climb back down from the trees. She climbed to the top of the cave and looked around the area where the figure was. Still not seeing anything she sighed. Standing upright she placed her fingers in her mouth and let out a sharp whistle to signal the others back.

If Sigurd climbed to the top of the cave with Ashwyn he would likely pick up the scent of a human female but he wouldn't recognize it.

Lopiena was about to ask Sigurd to toss Zane up onto his back...the scent of the gnome is probably messing with whatever he's trying to identiy...when Zane is suddenly in the air. Unprepared, Lo has a split second to consider dropping her staff or letting go of Sigurd (and probably falling off herself) when Zane lands however awkwardly onto Sigurd's back. Well whatever works! Still grinning, she looks back to check on him. Zane is quite understandably pale, but then again so is Cirro...probably never ridden a giant dire wolf searching for a dangerous magic user before! Carefully keeping the silver part of her staff pressed against her back, Lo readjusts the wooden side a little higher so Zane and Cirro could grab a handhold if so desired. Not that she minds Cirro holding onto her waist, and his nice tight grip is...well. Perhaps she's enjoying this a little too much. Leaning forward into the thick fur on Sigurd's neck, Lopiena laughs again, softer this time.

Still watching the trees for anything unusual, Lopiena starts mentally replaying what had happened. The trees had gotten thicker, so water was nearby; it had gotten cold and rainy, but still no sign of groundwater; they'd heard a scream and responded to it. The bear was clearly under a spell; the centaur was badly wounded; Sigurd had quickly dispatched the bear while they'd helped the centaur; everything was pretty normal but...something isn't right. Why did the bear start attacking just as they were approaching the area? Coincidence, or intentional? Maybe this magic user knew they would be passing through and used the bespelled bear and wounded centaur to draw them in...but to what purpose? There's just something strange going on.

Sigurd's nose was close to ground as he tried to pick up anything... Getting nothing was frustrating for the blonde wolf. When Ashwyn whistled, his head snapped up and his ears locked on the direction it came from. Stealth wasn't needed so Sigurd wasn't concerned with the sound of his large paws thudding into the ground. He made his way up to the top of the cave by leaping between the trunks of two trees before landing gracefully, though heavily at Ashwyn's side.

The moment he landed the scent of a woman filled his nose and his fur bristled, a quiet growl vibrated his whole body as it escaped his lips.

Ashwyn turned at the sound of Sigurd barreling through the forest. She smiled as he emerged and lept up to her. When he growled she nodded.

"You smell it, don't you?" She asked him, carefully reaching up and rubbing his head. Pip jumped from her shoulder onto his head and snuggled down on it.

She looked up at the others. "I saw... something. A portal maybe? Or some kind of concealment spell? I'm not sure. But I know I saw a woman's arm. Only for a moment. But... it's gone now." She frowned.

Zane, shaking, slid off of Sigurd and fell to the ground. He barely heard what Ashwyn was saying as he tried to recover.

Cirro carefully released Lopiena and slid off of Sigurd as well.

Although Lopiena didn't hear Ashwyn's whistle, Sigurd's head snapping up is a clear signal. Holding on tighter and leaning into him, she allows her body to move along with his powerful leaps without too much jarring. The final leap onto the top of the cave is amazing! Seeing the ground come away from Sigurd's huge paws as the rocky outcropping rises to meet them...they may as well be flying! The heavy landing is a little jarring, but nothing can wipe the huge grin off her face. When she finally releases his fur and slides off, Lo suddenly discovers her legs aren't responding the way they should be. She lands in a heap and rolls onto her staff in a fit of giggles. Trying to regain some composure, she rolls back up into a kneeling position...probably can't stand for a little while, so this will have to work for now. Looking up at Sigurd and Ashwyn...they're having a serious conversaion about a woman? Maybe? Eh, too much wind in her ears still. At a break in the talking she grins at both of them. After all, Ashwyn allowed her to mount and ride her mate...ahem. "Thank you. That was the most fun I have ever had." A quick glance at Zane and Cirro...they seem to disagree with her assessment, but too bad for them. She did get the best spot up against his muscular neck, so maybe further back wasn't as fun?

Still grinning, Lo finally tries to stand back up. Leaning heavily on her staff, she manages to get her legs back underneath and somewhat upright. Swaying slightly, she looks between Sigurd and Ashwyn again. "Sooo...what was it?"

Seeing Lopiena unable to stand on her own two feet, Ashwyn walked over and helped her to stand by providing a shoulder to lean against.

"Hmm, shaky legs? Sounds like me after a ride on Sig too." She said with a playful wink.

Both Cirro and Zane turned several shades of red before settling on a deep purple as they both turned away, causing Ashwyn to giggle.

"Anyway, I don't know what it was. All I saw for sure was an arm. Looked female but I suppose it could have been a young man. Looked human but I only saw it for a moment." She said again.

Leaning on Ashwyn for support, Lopiena almost falls over again laughing at Zane's inevitable reaction...and Cirro?  He didn't strike her as the overly stuffy type...then again, she hadn't really given him a chance.  He's probably just embarrassed or modest or both, and honestly who can blame him considering everything they'd all just been through.  Not to mention the fact that men probably felt completely different about what she had experienced...Sigurd could probably smell how much she'd enjoyed that...ahem.  Thinking back to Ashwyn's words earlier this morning, Lo winks back.  "It was worth it. Definitely, definitely worth it."  Sigurd seems to be grinning as well, but he also seems to be much more focused on the task at hand. Right, there's important work to do.  Standing around grinning like an idiot isn't going to solve anything.  Giving herself a little shake...and almost falling over again with a laugh, this is not going well...Lopiena tries again to regain some composure.

"Well we know whoever...or whatever...it is knows some pretty powerful spells. I wouldn't even know how to begin to make a bear do stuff like that, and we definitely didn't see the caster before so there may have been an obscuring spell as well. You said saw an arm? Behind a tree or...?" Puzzled, Lo looks around again and notices Cirro and Zane still with backs turned and ears red.  Sighing, she tries to include them.  "Zane, can you look up whatever spell that was on the bear?  It might be useful to know at least what goes into the spell to give us a clue about the caster.  Also...Cirro?  Do you think the fairies would be willing to keep an eye on our young centaur friend?" She smiles at him a little.  "I know we didn't get off to the best start, but your team can cover the forest much faster than we can."

Ash smirked as Lopiena doubled over in laughter. Cirro and Zane blushing was just sort of a bonus. She wasn't sure when it was that she became so brazen with her humor but found she enjoyed any moment that she could brag about being with Sigurd.

As Lo finally calmed enough to speak, she turned to her. "No, it was more... It's hard to describe. It's like the air up here was... Waving. Like the effect of looking through a wall of heat. And then the arm appeared within that. I thought it might be a portal at first but... There's nothing here now." she walked to the peak of the cave." it was about here." she said.

Zane, clearing his throat and finally pushing himself to his feet, trying - and failing - to force his blush down. "A portal that isn't a portal..." he mumbled. He walked on unsteady legs around the peak, looking in all directions and inspecting the rocks.

Cirro straightened up and brushed the dust off hos clothes as a way of distracting himself from talking. Finally he turned to the others as Lo spoke to him. "Hm? Oh yes, of course. I can send a message straight away." he nodded and turned from them, greatful for the excuse to turn his blushing face away from them. He walked to the foot of a tree and whistled. His whistle sounded just like a bird call. A small sparrow flew down and handled on his outstretched finger. He leaned in and whispered his message to the bird and then let it fly away.

"Hmm...a portal that isn't a portal..." Lopiena echoes Zane's sentiment, then shakes her head. "Not something I'm familiar with." Watching the gnome on his unsteady legs is amusing, and Lo almost offers to get his bag so he can look it up...but her own legs are still unsteady, so no hope of assisting in that manner. Well aren't they a merry bunch. Slowly starting to stretch her legs, Lo tries to convince her body that moving would probably be a good idea pretty soon.

When Cirro calls the sparrow, Lopiena grins at the back of his head. Now that is a spell she recognizes...even though she hasn't learned it on her own yet, it's interesting to note that they may have more in common than she'd previously thought. Perhaps she judged him too harshly, or too soon...Lo is about to apologize but reconsiders. Let him sweat a little longer. She's still not convinced he's going to stick around past the border of Fey Forest, and though she'll probably give him some leeway before they get to that point...well. There is much yet to be seen.

Sigurd sat heavily on the ground exhaling loudly to signify his annoyance, Watching Lopiena try to walk was amusing for him, until the scent of her... excitement and then Ashwyn's comment made his ears fold back in subtle embarrassment. His tail thudded softly against the stone as he pushed back his bestial nature when it came to such smells.

He watched Cirro wander over to a tree and call down a bird. Sigurd rolled his eyes, he had hoped that the fairy man would shrink and vanish back to the hell hole that spawned him. Turning to Ashwyn he lowered his head and nuzzled his way under her arm careful not to disturb the sleeping fox on his head. sniffing her to see if any of the woman's scent stuck to Ashwyn, Sigurd snorted to try and clear his nose, the only scent that was strong now was Lopiena.

Ashwyn smiled as Sigurd nuzzled under her arm. She idly scratched behind his ears, careful not to disturb Pip, as she watched the others move about. When he snorted she looked over at him. "Hm? You alright?" She asked carefully picking up the pup from his head. While her connection to animals worked with him and she would be able to get a basic gist of what he wanted /needed, she still couldn't have a conversation with him.

Finally more or less back on her own two feet, Lo looks over at Ashwyn and Sigurd. She's still in a good mood, but based on some of the body language she can pick up she doesn't expect that to happen agan any time soon.  No question about that anyway; she'd been more than surprised that Sigurd had offered such a gift in the first place. Riding on anyone's back should only be done when permitted; she'd refused to ride horses on numerous occasions for that very reason and been mocked for it.  She didn't care.  After the first dozen or so times turned into the first hundred or so times treating abused horses, it was a sensitive subject.

Looking around the rocky outcropping, Lo finds a place where there are enough footholds and handholds that she can climb down.  None too gracefully of course, but at least she manages to set foot on the ground without breaking something.  Zane's pack is still open, and though he'd taken care to keep the books protected from the rain the covers are starting to get damp.  Closing Zane's pack with intent to bring it to him, Lo hesitates and looks at the small cave protected by the rocks.  It's really too bad about the bear; this time of year cubs were inevitable, and though the young centaur had said the bear was male you just never know.  Cautiously approaching the cave opening from the side, Lo tries to look into the cave with as little of her body in front of the cave as possible. It's hard to see inside, and the dim lighting just doesn't penetrate very far past the first foot or so.  Well...a little light can't hurt...much...hmm.  Reaching into the air as if plucking a flower, Lo softly muters the incantation in Druidic.  "Fire."  Turning her hand upright, she opens her fingers to reveal the blossom of flame resting there. Staying cautiously to one side of the cave, Lo slowly starts illuminating the darker recesses of the cave.

(Druidic cantrip Produce Flame: bright light for 10 ft plus dim light additional 10 ft)

Shifting back to his human form Sigurd adjusted himself "I'm fine." He said with a soft smile. He watched Lopiena skitter down the side of their plateau and sighed yes... Let's go into the cave... He looked to Ashwyn and gave pip a gentle scratch behind the ear. "Into the depths of the unknown?" He asked as he walked to the edge of the rocky outcropping poised to just leap down.

Ashwyn smirked a bit at Sigurd's comment and followed him to the edge of the cave.

The cave itself could hardly be called a cave. It was more of an outcropping of rocks. The flame revealed that it didn't go very deep and the furthest corner had a noticible divit in the dirt where the bear slept. Various small animal bones littered the floor of the area but otherwise nothing spectacular was inside.

Ashwyn stretched her back and turned back towards the entrance, looking around. "I suggest we move on. We're not doing anyone any good sitting around here. Whatever was here is gone now."

Zane had just finished climbing down from the cave and landed with a thump on the ground, which put him off balance and he landed on his rear. "Yes. I agree. We don't have that much daylight left. It would be wise for us to find a suitable place to make camp. I don't think the cave of a once possessed bear is wise."

Cirro had walked over to the fallen bear and placed a hand on it's head. He closed his eyes and muttered words in sylvan as he blessed the bear, sending it's spirit on to the afterlife.

Ashwyn watched him for a moment before turning to the forest edge to get her bearings again. After a quick look around she found the direction they'd been headed before. She stood at the forest edge looking out at the others. "Zane's right. The dead bear will only draw scavengers to us. We should get away from it before we make camp. We should still be able to get a few hours of walking in before we have to stop."

Once the cave is revealed to be just the dwelling of a now dead bear, Lopiena closes her hand again, extinguishing the flame. Still concerned about who would cast such a spell on a forest creature...and why...well, there's nothing to do for it now. She'll just have to watch out for the strange phenomenon Ashwyn had described.

Hearing Zane land and unbalance, Lo helps him up with a grin. "Good to see you're ok, Zane. Thanks for your help figuring out that spell." As Zane goes to his pack, Lo returns to her own. Without the wooden stiffeners it's shapeless and limp...and uncomfortable. Shifting her pack around several times, she finally settles on something livable for now but a good pine or larch with nice straight branches will have to be found soon. That's the problem with dual functioning equipment; you only ever have one of the two things you might need. Oh well...for now.

Watching Cirro bless the bear, Lo nods slightly to herself. There's a lot about this fairy that she still wants to find out, but whatever his true intentions are is still to be seen...but he seems nice. Keeping her thoughts to herself, Lo joins Ashwyn as she checks for directions. Placing a hand on one of the trees, she tries to sense for anything out of the ordinary. There should be water nearby...though it very well may be just groundwater. Looking up at Ashwyn, she smiles. "Ready whenever you are."

Sigurd jumped down and landed with a loud thud accompanied by the shifting of metal plates. He looked around the small cave and sighed "The next time we face an enchanted animal tell me." He truly felt bad for killing it.

Turning to Lopiena, he watches her fiddle with her pack. "Wouldn't if have been much easier to use sticks for the splint and saved your back the pain?" he asked. "Considering we're surrounded by sticks..." smirking he walked towards Ashwyn and put a hand on her shoulder "lead the way or stealthy one"

Ashwyn raised a brow at Sigurd. "The glowing red eyes weren't a hint?" she asked him as he approached. When he spoke again she smirked and turned into the forest.

Cirro finished his blessing and rose. He sighed and turned just as Zane was securing his pack on his back and following the others. He caught up to him.

"You're quite educated in spells." he observed.

Zane nodded. "Oh, yes. Thank you. I do try. I've always found magic fascinating. So many things to learn."

Cirro nodded. "That's true. I feel as though I've only brushed the surface of what cleric magic can do."

Zane nodded. "it takes many years to master it. I've studied with clerica before. Interesting folk."

---

As the walked, Ashwyn glanced at Sigurd. "I'm sorry for just running off. I'm used to working alone. Working with a group... Well, I guess my instincts still kick in when trouble starts."

Looking up when Sigurd lands and comments on the bear, Lo smiles at him sadly. "There was really nothing we could have done for it. The spell was making it vicious, and if we hadn't done something more creatures would have been hurt. I'm just glad that there are no cubs. We would be responsible for their lives if there were."

Shifting her pack again, she smirks at him regarding the plentiful sticks in the area. "Yes but. I had the splints for that very purpose, and finding exactly the right size and shape is difficult in the field...to say nothing of splinters and other issues." She smiles again and lowers her voice to the point that no one would hear but him, and maybe Ashwyn. "Besides, I wanted to make a point for Mr. No Gear over there." Winking at Sigurd, she shifts her pack again and readies herself for the next part of their journey.

As they walk along and Cirro approaches Zane, Lopiena takes up the last place and smiles. Finally, a chance to listen to a conversation without having to force words out. Maybe she can learn something about him by the way he talks to Zane.

"We would have had to kill the cubs. They wouldn't have been able to survive had we killed their mother. So it's lucky either way" he said to Lopiena softly.

Sigurd rest his hand on Ashwyn's head and ruffled her hair gently "get used to it, I don't think any of us are going anywhere.." he glanced to Cirro and Zane "for a long while.."

Turning to Lopiena again he smiled "well, you keep at it, and have an eye for maybe some better sticks for your pack. we have a long way to go and comfort is important for travel.