Sticking to Shadows

[Aracia]

Kaeden had never had problems with intruders on his land in the past, or at least he'd never seen anyone anywhere near his small turf. Though, he was beginning to get the feeling that perhaps he would be better off moving on. His hollow tree and home was quite far from where he stood, about a mile and a half away in fact, but ealier that day, from the safety of the darkest tree shadows and thickest brush, he'd seen a figure walk through the forest. A male, he seemed to be looking for something, or if not simply keeping his eyes pealed.

Kae had never actually traveled in the direction he had at the time he saw this, he never really had a reason too. He in what may be considered the middle of nowhere, not the heart of the forest, but not the edge either. Normally, he only traveled towards the exit or stayed within one-hundred yards of his home if he were only strolling along scavenging for useful objects.

But even though he felt it be better if no one but that who already knew found out where he lived, he had traced his own footsteps back to the same spot that night. Making sure he was alone he sprung quietly out into the open landing on his toes not to make a sound in case some other was around. He found the steps (footprints) of the other and stared them down with curiosity. They were barely there, making it hard to tell what species the being was, surely two-legged, at least at the time, Kaeden saw that earlier. But even with the small scent that was left, he could not make out he exact creature.

Thoughtfully he crouched onto the ground, still looking at the footprints closely for no particular reason left. As said before he had never traveled in the direction, perhaps he would have been considered the intruder this time around if he didn't scurry back to his tree. Still, he wasn't the type to let something drop, honestly anything savage enough to attack him on sight he may have been able to out smart, and other than that, he had the night on his side, but that may not have held out for the whole time. But, then, his speed had always been the thing to save him if he were to get into a fued with whoever this being was, though the chances of that he figured were small, the character had seemed quite civilized by his actions for the few moments that he was in Kaeden's sight.

So, curiosity as usual got the better of him, and he continued further into The Heart of the Forest, his tail flinging from side to side until he found a dark enough shadow near a tree, from where he continued through the darkest places to discover more of what he had ignored for the past three four years it seemed.

[krystalblood]

Krystal slowly awoke from a light sleep she had taken near the heart of the thick Esthmeria Forest. She blinked a few times from late sunlight streaming into her eyes. What had awoken her? Sunlight never woke her up, she had grown used to it. Maybe just a....

Suddenly she blinked sleepily. A shadow moving? Her nerves suddenly electrified through her body. Someone was there! Did it see her!? It was so close, although barely on the edge of her vision. She got up quickly, drawing her nearby sword as she did so.

[Aracia]

Kaeden positioned himself comfortably in the indention of a tree where the shadows of the others kept the darkness around him even as the sun rose. He'd lost track of the time, and had little stealth to assist him on his return to the tree. He sensed someone watching him, which was what triggered his stiff position, he could only hope that if someone was there, he was doing a decent job of hiding himself.

His tail swung slightly though, as he subconsciously moved the muscle in it from side to side ever so slightly. It was the only part of him that moved, though he didn't notice it was doing so. Suddenly he heard the sound of a sword exiting it's scabbard, and turned his head, swearing in a barely hearable whisper to himself. The trees were so think that he did not see a thing, but he knew someone was there, most likely aware he was there also. He thought about darting away, the thought of being killed, threatened, or confronted wasn't exactly thrilling to him, let alone running into anyone with a weapon while he was empty handed. Still, if he were to run, which direction would he do so?

He then reassured the fact that he was perfectly still, his tail stopped swinging and his entire body stiffened to create the illusion he was part of the tree. He could only hope that it actually looked that way, and most of him doubted it did, then again there was always the chance he had already been seen. He listened again, to make sure it wasn't simply his imagination, he heard nothing anymore, but most beings wouldn't have made a lot of racket anyway, there was no telling if someone was anywhere around him or not. He figured his best move was to stay put and hope for the best, he'd never known Esthmeria forest to be the most friendly of places.

[krystalblood]

Krystal stopped and so did the shadow. For a few pressurized moments everything was innocently still. The shadow she had her eyes fixated on wasn't moving but she dared not look elsewhere. Thinking rapidly, she put away her sword and brought out her bow and an arrow. Fitting the two together she eyed down the shaft and stared at the shadow, trying to figure out where a head and body would be if it were a person.

With a twang she let it go, the arrow burying itself about in inch to the right of someones head, if it were someone there. It had to be something, no shadow was that thick. "I know you're there!" she shouted, voice muffled by the foilage. "Come out and I won't kill you on the spot."

[Aracia]

As the arrow whipped past his face he stayed completely still, shutting his eyes lightly hoping it wouldn’t strike him. The moment he realized it hadn’t hit him his eyes popped open with fear, though he kept his breath soft and unnoticeable and still, did not move a muscle.

“I know you’re there, Come out and I won't kill you on the spot.”

He cursed a second time when he heard the the female voice, this time a bit louder sacrificing the fact that she may have been lying when she said this. Either way he felt he had a small chance of living, this being didn’t seem very merciful by her words. Whether he shown himself or kept himself hidden, he may not have gotten out alive, and the bow and arrow ruled out his chance of running. Though staying hidden was his worst option most likely, all she had to do was shoot what might have been a tree and he was dead, or badly injured.

So after a few seconds of thought he stepped slowly out from behind the tree, his tail, as usual swinging from side to side and his hands above his head. Though he didn’t stop walking, he kept his way strutting over to the next tree and leaned against it resting his right arm over his left shoulder while the other pulled a leaf off of the tree and nervously rolled it between his fingers. He didn’t know what to say if anything, at that point he felt that she might as well just shot him anyway. But whatever her intentions were he decided his smartest choice was to shut up and do what he was told if he was told anything at all, and wait for an opportunity to lose her.

“So... what?” He asked rather randomly trying not to sound as if he were testing her, which he may have been. This was not his day, and suddenly he felt he should have stayed home the night before.

[krystalblood]

Krystal narrowed her eyes but didn't move her weapon. "What're ya doin here, sneaking up on me?" she eyed his tail with distaste. "A half-breed of some type. pitiful. I would've expected the guards from that last city to be hiring someone more...more..." she groped for a word uselessly and left off.

"Give me one good reason why i shouldn't kill you. I want to give the leader of that city a message to remember me by. And to tell him his assassins suck." she challenged the strangely clad figure.

[Aracia]

Kaeden let out a short laugh and dropped the leaf from his hand hearing what she was suspecting of him. If she was any kind of incredulous this could have been a bad stop from him, but then again, he always found a way out of these kinds of threats. "Assassin?" He questioned, feeling actually a little exhalted considering the other things that some beings claimed he was. Though he had taken on a few assinationjobs in the past, at the moment he didn't consider himself an assassin at all, just the half-demon hermit he was fifty percent of his life.

"Thanks, but no," He added with an innocent and calm look. He'd never been the type to fight for any stupid reason, and hoped he wouldn't be killed by one. He wondered what she meant by 'that city' perhaps she'd knocked off a fruit stand or something, considering city folk made such huge deals of such small things. Though still somehow, he doubted it.

"If that wasn't a ritorical question, then here's a reason, you got it all wrong, guess again," He said in a rather irritated voice sitting on a rock as if he felt he were in no danger of being shot and killed, which he did in fact.

[krystalblood]

Krystal grumbled under her breath, lowering her weapon a bit.

"Leave it to back-stabbing assassins and thieves to deny every bad thing they could've done when their lives are in danger. Or their jobs." she said, loud enough for the half-a to hear. Something suddenly connected in her mind after she had said that.

"Not like I'M one or anything..."

[Aracia]

Kaeden raised an eyebrow hearing her last statement loud and clear, though decided to leave it at an expression considering he was without a doubt at her complete mercy. Now that she lowered her weapon, he figured it would have been the best time to run, though once again, curosity got the best of him and he decided to keep it cool and stick around, perhaps to see how quickly his big mouth could get him shot. For a moment he simply stood there wondering if she was going to leave him to his business, interrogate him some more, or just put him down and end it. "If you don't believe me you might as well shoot me, otherwise, I have a few things I wanted to do today," He finally stated tilting his head and giving her an irritated look. "If it's prove you want then I can't say I have any," He shrugged pulling bark off the tree next tohim boredly.