The Woodlands

is head, came into focus. The sky suggested that it was early morning, which was

lised it was a mighty centaur standin

little nymph friend was still fast a

efore he saw the cen

was a foreigner in the Woodlands,"

t her arrow in his direction even though he was moving. She was much more

ou no harm," Dacen explaine

k, causing him to sit down aga

should do the Goddess'

h: a being especially designed to do the Goddess' work. She has given me no foreboding ome

e," the centaur thunde

other creature in the Woodla

r was not

ago. If she disapproved of me being his escort, she wou

ngly lowered her bow. Her

your hands should you be wrong,"

rt the morning," Dacen said

watched him with an uncertain look. After looking through the book last night he was no longer so sure that the centa

ay rather than ride the mag

cked an

hole ordeal, which is what the centaur an

eem explained. "You were acting strange an

mys

ed, and blood rus

ned man

r a single momen

really want to for

ey, then I'm willing to sa

thing in order to perform his magic. First his memory, then his spirit, until he eventu

f of the day and then rode for the second half?" the fore

. That sou

walk all day to make my st

ride a

aughed while pic

" he murmured u

Just don't wear yourself out this time," Neem r

e nymph as he threw the

lustrations in the book still remained present in Neem

with you, Dacen,"

is companion's sorrowful expression.

ight I looked at all the pi

that suggested he knew wher

e warlock's apprentice is

t meet him for myself before I make j

se pictures? They are

ext for them if you could read,

ure of the blue fellow bur

n had to thin

e one about steali

ng thei

beings they feast on they al

s horr

d meet a vampire before

preferred if his 'wish' nev

rging in their direction-a large beast, a creature large eno

s way," Neem said more t

a ce

thing muc

ore kicking the golem hor

rt of every tree in the surrounding area and could sense all that they could. He he

manner due to the fact his spirit

e hood over his head to hide his horns. "

The golem horse then broke into a thundering gallop. The trees and the

aked. "A vampire i

by this given that the river was too deep, even for their mount, but Dacen stuck his hand out and the water parted to reveal the muddy terrain below. The nymph was in utter shock as they c

t!" Neem

des of the river. The mysterious rider did not seem remotely shocked that Dacen was able to

omable pain in his side. Looking down, the arrow had pierced him

mph was expecting him to wear a sympathetic expression upon seeing his in

owled in a voice f

iced the horned man conjuring up a ball of

y leapt off as the beast hurdled itself into the Nacta River. At the same t

er bank and removed his hood, revealing h

e sounded enthused, but the malicious element was present. "Clearly you're n

he looked down at his little ny

forest spirit?" he called b

unter," he said

r out of its fur. It now bared a hairless red spot below its neck, where the fireba

t of harming yo

that you were

gh-much like Dacen's awkw

re not from these lands. Wh

I'm merely passing through

s mount. "Well, it was a true pleasure meeting you. Perhap

d quite honestly. "And if I do... I'll kil

re let ou

d you," he said in a si

pire rode off. As soon as he was out of

in a shaky tone as he held the

horned man replied as he rummaged through h

passed the f

Dacen warned him. "First we

not going

bit," Dac

is fists as Dacen took hold of the arrow-

. "Now I see why you

uckle was cut off when he

spered. "This i

blood to start gushing from the nymph's body. Neem allowed Dacen to firmly press the flowers onto the wound before pla

ng his time to steady his

n debated as he unrave

ked in a revolted manner wh

t worry. Now remov

s remain. They

you to sit up so I can

eeing this, a sad expression spread across Dacen's face to replace the angry one he had worn previ

wrapped the bandage around Neem's lower stomach. "You're d

ous manner before gasping as Dacen tight

to go gather reinforcements and then hunt me down. Luckily, by that point, I will m

re manner since Dacen was still going to be in danger. "But

en looked down in thought for a moment before he made eye contact with Neem. "However, just to be safe

you!" Neem objected. "The bl

o you because

u to the edge of the forest. You don't even think he'l

n sm

liked a little thril

d, but in a

aned as he tried to stand up, clutching his injured

should continue our adventure on horse

able to make it far if they walked

. Blood wolves were one of the fastest mounts.

rder in an abandoned shack. Hopefully the other three had returned fr

sting on the shack porch also implied this conclusion. As Kroven neared the shack, he saw a female vampire feasting on a pixi

id calmly as he dism

while dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief. Her mea

he sat on the old chair across f

ed in a simple manner before holdi

head and waved

"But we must wait for the other's to re

ed a well-gr

she q

being with the shape of a man, but he's not a human. N

what i

ck. His demonstration of power which I saw sugge

gave a smile

power the reason you wer

. I let him go because he is going to cross the border soon and we'll be able

and his Queen?" she asked as she pulled h

he highnesses,

it. Kroven's own blood wolf started to snarl and tried to snatch the pixie's body. Strakha returned to her seat before she co

that he is heading to the Ivy Mountains and if that i

Which is why the others need to return as soon as possible. We

e blood wolves were gnawing on their r

tone. Her blood wolf raised its head. "Find V

ntly dropping its meal, and

hem by dawn," St

a cunning smile. He allowed his words to drift off as he

e her vest. Kroven licked his lips when she removed her red blouse

he asked in a teasing manner

ed greedily as he stood

s the vampire fell back onto it. His lover jo

we'll be wasting too much effort trying

ck until she pushed herself upwards with her arms. He tried to follow h

finally said. "You can hav

to touch. Kroven tried to nip at her, but she qu

nesses a warlock?" she asked. The vampiress did not actuall

't know!"

shoulders and rolled them so that he was now on top. She his

red to demonstrate that she was

plied in a breathless man

s since you've gotten the opp

ike it has

ough his hair in the same m

r deprived lit

wn to her chest. Strakha could be so crue