Quest Into the Heart of the Kierra Doma

[Mirage]

25th of Winter, 513 AV


The day had come. The day Celeste and Anna were to venture into the most dangerous area in all of the Testing Grounds. Riyanna stood naked and bare to the world, her hands on her hips as she looked up at the early morning sky. She smiled broadly, her expression lighter and happier than it had been in several days. Several new scars could be found on her body, yet somehow their presence only increased the good feelings within the Warden. Tierra and Brom stood on either side of Celeste, naked as well. Brom's arms were folded over his chest, while Tierra had two arms around Celeste's shoulders, and one hand gently laid on Brom's.

Riyanna looked down at Celeste, "Well cutie, its about time. Amaryllis will be bringing her apprentice by in less than a bell. Make sure you look presentable, though I doubt that will be a problem for you." She laughed, folding her arms around her waist and looking over the horizon, "You are definitely not ready... but you are more prepared than you were 10 days ago. You have improved so much in such a short time that I... I really believe that if anyone can survive, it is you." Her smile was not quite as big now, "Just... Don't take any unnecessary risks sweetie. Escort the apprentice, and come right back here." She turned and opened her arms to Celeste, inviting a hug before she set off.


One Bell later...

It was a quiet morning, the Embalmer rarely speaking more than a quick answer to any question that she deemed worth responding to. The nuit seemed uncharacteristically tense today, but then there were many things riding on this mission. Sure there were back up plans in place, but still the Embalmer knew she would be set back seasons if Anna were to die now, more so if neither Anna or Celeste returned. Thus it was that their walk to the edge of the prairie was a silent one, only broken just before they reached the meeting spot.

"Remember Annalisa what I have said. This mission must be successful, one way or another, and you are to do whatever it takes to make it happen." She looked at Annalisa, a narrow gaze, "However you may wish to spite me, or see my downfall, for both of our sakes make this mission count. There will be time enough later for other such things. You have no friends, only tools. Remember this."

As they passed over the boarder into the Prairie Amaryllis smiled, extending her arms, "Greetings to you Warden, and to your Initiates. I trust all is ready for the journey today?" Amaryllis looked down at Celeste, her smile broadening slowly, "Oh, and Celeste my dear girl, a pleasure to see you once again. You do me, and my apprentice, a great service. This will not be forgotten." Amaryllis resisted the urge to wink, but such a crass action would do little for her in the end. Best to keep up the airs of politeness for now at least.

Riyanna's own smile faded at the pair appeared, her eyes becoming cool as she responded, "Yes Amaryllis. Everything is prepared."

The Warden stood at an equal hight to Annalisa, perhaps just an inch taller, and she leveled a gaze at the apprentice. Her eyes were golden, slitted like a cats. Her hair was just past her ears, a brilliant electric blue with spikes of bone interlaced in the strands. She made no movement to hide her nakedness, letting all her assets remain free as they were. Her body was athletic, all of her muscles well defined, standing out like an expert body builder, yet somehow she still maintained Excelent curves. Her nails were long, red and ended in points, and her teeth were jagged and numerous, like a sharks as she smiled, "I trust your own apprentice is prepared for the journey as well?"

Amaryllis, for her part, wore her usual robes of peacock feathers, though the headdress this time was larger, the colors bright reds and purples. Her hair was let down, ending in soft curls and each nail was filed and painted in swirling patterns. Her make up and dress was neat and perfect, and her smile white as pearls, "Yes Annalisa has done all the necessary preparations for this journey. I believe that she now prepared to take on whatever the Heartlands might offer."

There was an obvious air of tension between the two women, but Amaryllis hid behind her perfect mask, seeming not to notice it in the slightest.

Brom and Tierra were both looking Anna up and down. Brom stood at Anna's Height, his muscles more defined than usual. His hair was short and spiked, a deep black while his eyes were emerald green. Bone plates sat on her shoulders and over his chest, and over each knuckle was a short bony spike, their intended use obvious. Tierra was here normal height, close to 5'7, 6 arms folded neatly around her. Her hair was long, black with streaks of red. Her eyes were red as well, narrowed in inspection. Long, flowing tattoos of gold marked her entire body. Encircled limbs, tranced around hips and breasts and ended at the tips of each nail. Closer inspection would reveal that they were not tattoos at all, but golden colored scales, backwards facing with pointed ends. LIke the skin of a shark.

OOCAlright I believe Celeste should be the first to post here, so that we can all see how fantastic she looks! Then Anna and then we will get the ball rolling!

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste had risen early with the sun, watching it cast a gentle hand over the arid dirt of the Prairie. She looked upon this barren kingdom with both hope and fear in her eyes. It was time. This very well could be her last sunrise. With arms folded, she stood waiting, until Syna completed her morning pilgrimage. Riyanna and the Initiates were quick to join her, which came as no surprise. Over the course of those ten, grueling days, she’d never felt a stronger sense of love and companionship in all her life. She felt wanted. And after those moments, she knew: this was where she belonged.

By Ionu, she swore she’d return to it, no matter the cost.

She cast a tentative smile up at her Master. ”Of course,” she responded. ”Don’t you do anything while I’m gone,” she added suddenly, remembering the somewhat ominous feeling she’d gotten before. ”If revenge is what you want, then know you’ve won through having chosen me. I won’t fail you.” She looked desperate. ”Promise me you’ll wait until I come back.” Celeste reached out to grasp Riyanna’s forearms lightly, looking up into her eyes. ”Please.”

The bell passed rather quickly, which came as no surprise. As Amaryllis and Annalisa strode into view, she took a step forward, cool and confident. She too, was naked, as were all the initiates around her. Her lean, supple body seemed older, and in many places her once perfect flesh was now littered with tiny, raised scars, the worst of which being just above her right hip and directly over her heart.

Her face looked as if she’d chiseled it out of ivory. It was artistically done, devoid of human imperfection. This was the closest she could recall how she looked before. Her nose was arrow straight, eyes larger, lips fuller and freshly bitten. Yet that rich, green gaze of hers was different. It was distant, devoid of feeling. She regarded the beaming Amaryllis coolly, as if she were looking as a particularly disinteresting patch of sand.

Her hair was softly curled and light pink to match her lips, marred only by a single cream-colored streak lancing from root to tip. It matched her perfectly manicured nails, marbled pink and white, like a piece of candy. In fact, she was perfectly adorable in every single way. This of course was calculated and disturbingly, in contrast to her battle-scarred skin.

”Annalisa,” she called in greeting, casting a nod in her direction. ”I trust you’re well?” She made it obvious the two of them were acquainted. Even her voice was deeper, slightly more matured. ”It is a pleasure to see you again, Amaryllis. I’m certain we’ll be back before the sun has gone down.” And she turned the full effect of her smile upon the evil woman, all the vitriol she could muster reflected in those perfectly white teeth.

[Annalisa Marin]

Annalisa strode alongside her Master easily and with confidence in her step, her bearing that of complete and utter ease regarding this current situation. She had been mentally preparing herself for this journey as much as possible over the last few days, readying her odds as heavily in her own favor as she possibly could. The tall woman knew failure was no longer an option here, she would need to use every tool in her arsenal to survive and succeed besides be they magical means or otherwise.

The real motivation had nothing to do with Amaryllis' goals any longer, this was for her lord and master. She wanted to put herself in as much of an advantageous position as possible on Sahova that Rhysol may be better served. She had promised him Sahova last night after all, sworn to bring it into his fold no matter the sacrifice. Anna intended fully to succeed in that holy goal and spread chaos and betrayal here.

Anna cast a sideways glance to her Master, an easy smirk on her face as they final shared words. A reminder of what was at stake, failure means death so she could not then afford to fail. She had emerged from a torment Sahova had thrust upon her that few could even imagine, she'd had her steps haunted long enough and felt weak and helpless too many times. It was time she reversed that, it was time she became the strong one and her enemies the weaklings.

"Amaryllis, as tastefully ironic it might be for the downfall of the master to be brought about by the apprentice, you know I still need you far too much. You needn't fear, if you lose me you just have to find another pulser wench for your schemes." Anna said, already fully aware of how very expendable she was to the Nuit. A valuable piece was still a piece to be expended.

It was true as well, she was not going to stab the Nuit in the back as much as it would please her to no end to do so. The Embalmer was much too useful alive to be killed, however later it might do to contemplate other means of bringing the Nuit to heel. Killing was hardly the only way of worshiping the Defiler and could even be wasteful in some instances. Something to keep in mind for a later date.

Anna strode out into the Prairie looking her finest, the immaculate silk black robes trimmed in purple adorning her body with her satchel slung over her shoulder. She looked clean and well fed, her hair tied back in its signature ponytail with her bangs framing her face. On the ring finger of her right hand her newly acquired Wizard ring, a silver ring with the sigil of a burning scroll on it and rubies glinting along it, was displayed proudly and prominently. She was tall and proud and her grey eyes unclouded by the fog of madness, the picture of the imposing and powerful sorceress. Of course the dagger on her person was concealed within the one of the inner pockets of her robes, out of sight until it was needed.

She gazed over the gathered collection before her, noting Celeste had changed rather a bit since last Anna had laid eyes upon her. She allowed a slight widening of her eyes at the sight of the child, who bore the scars of battle and the change upon her flesh. It was... more than a little jarring to see her like that, mature and more capable looking. What the petch had happened since last they had shared words? She had changed considerably it appeared.

Then again so had Anna, she was on her way to gaining further power in the Citadel and had given her undead overlords something to consider regarding her power. She had mastered all four elements and stood closer than she ever had to being the equal to Roknus Maelstrom. She had created ripples, foiled Silverheart's plans, and gained the interest of the Head of the Council of Five when a lesser might have left dejected and defeated. He own change had been both external and internal, though Celeste's appeared more dynamic and obvious.

Anna met the Warden's gaze, appreciating her well sculpted body but allowing some disdain for her creep into her mind. A master of changing, while Anna was a master of the natural world. She respected the amount of power the woman had to wield but did not quail before it as a lesser wizard might, her own magical prowess being considerable.

At Celeste's greeting Anna inclined her head graciously, a regal gesture that suited her so very well. There seemed something... different about her manner that was more that just her flesh. Anna made a note to inquire after her activities over these last few days, she hadn't seen Celeste since being locked down in the Palsa Hydrasa. They had so very much to catch up on. She was particularly interested in learning where the petch she had gotten her new scars from.

"I am indeed well, Celeste. I trust the same can be said for you?" Anna replied, returning her gaze to the Warden.

"It is a pleasure to properly make your acquaintance, Warden, and that of your companions. I assure you Celeste will come to no harm in my company and I shall bring her back as soon as my task is completed." Anna said, another regal incline given to Riyanna.

Of course what went unspoken was the dagger in her robes was there so that, if necessary, she could put the initiate down quickly and near painlessly. No need to cloud the Warden's head with unnecessary complications that might arise. The Heartlands were a dangerous place, one never knew what might end her there. Could have been a monster, could have been a long fall, who could say? She needed to just make it quick, she couldn't afford to have- to have regrets.

[Mirage]

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Riyanna raised an eyebrow, and then chuckled, hiding a grin while setting a hand on Celeste's shoulder, "I am not worried about my Initiate in the slightest. Just try not to slow her down, and we will call it even for putting her to the trouble of escorting you." Looking at Amaryllis, Riyanna nodded her head at Brom and Tierra, "And just to be safe, and to help our precious apprentices return in a timely manner, Brom and Tierra will be escorting them to the outskirts of the Heartland. It will be faster if Annalisa simply rides on Brom's back. No point in making her keep up."

Taking his que Brom fell to all fours, his body growing in size as his muscles rippled and rearranged with the bones beneath his skin. Tierra did the same, her 6 arms molding to simply two and both Initiates shifted and changed, and within the chime there stood two larger tigers the size of war horses. Brom's fur was silver, with tripes of blue. Large canines hooked over his lips, bone plates ran along his neck, stomach and sides, each crested with a medium sized spike. His eyes were icy blue now as well. Tierra's fur was a deep red and gold, richly colored and the stripes curled in intricate patters like her tattoo of gold had before.

Brom stepped forward, lowering himself to the ground so that Annalisa could climb on easily enough. Amaryllis simply folded her hands at her waist, expression neutral as she nodded, "How very thoughtful of you Riyanna. Yes it is best that Annalisa saves her strength for when the true challenge begins. But should not Celeste ride as well? To conserver her strength of course."

The Warden's arm wrapped around Celeste's shoulders and she shook her head, "A journey to the Heartlands is nothing more than a morning jog for her, something she would do before breakfast. She will be just fine I assure you." Turning to look at Celeste the Woman rested both hands on the girl's shoulders, and she smiled down at her, "Well sweetie, you ready to get going?"

Amaryllis simply looked sideways at Annalisa, a wave of her hand indicating for her to be on her way, "I have every confidence that you will succeed Annalisa Marin. Do not make me a fool for believing the impossible."
e

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste looked up at her Master with a thoughtful expression. ”Of course.” She took a long look at Riyanna, as if she were trying to hold in the image in place. Were she to fail, this is what she would think of in those fleeting, final moments. She’d picture the Warden’s smiling face and be happy. Were she to die not having changed anything, not having saved the Citadel from itself, at least she would die content, knowing that she’d once experienced unconditional love.

All this and more swam in her eyes for a moment, just a moment, before she shut it out, steeling herself against the reality that was soon to follow. ”I’m ready.” She squeezed one of the hands that rested upon her shoulder before pulling from their grasp and moving away.

Still, she wouldn’t die so easily as that.

With a shudder, the girl fell to all fours, the sickening crunch of cartilage and bone filling the open space for a moment as her body changed. She too, took the form of the tiger, standing shoulder to shoulder with the others, though her coloring was distinctly different. Her fur was a vertical gradient, running top to bottom. Where her feet were lilac, the hue became subtly lighter until her overgrown mane was the color of cream. Even her eyes were a gradient, her flowered irises running light to dark, the subtle mixture of colors reminiscent of wildflowers.

In addition, she appeared to be more or less a mixture of both lion and tiger - a special model that Riyanna had worked with her to create. The beast bore a long, flowing mane and broad, leonine features. It wasn’t even difficult to create, really. Having grown in her power considerably, all it’d taken was a few minor tweaks of her djed. This one was for show – the real fun would come later, when she displayed her other, more combat oriented designs.

She turned her inhuman eyes to Annalisa, gauging her reaction. ”Shall we go?”

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna regarded Amaryllis, having expected nothing less that a cold and strictly cordial departure from her. Part of her was more than a little envious of the Celeste's own relationship with her mistress, however that emotion was crushed mercilessly by the Sorceress. Amaryllis was hardly the nicest woman in the Citadel, however it spoke volumes that she stood where she did now. This journey was really a sink or swim mission, failure meant death while success meant power for both women. Amaryllis would gain a piece close to Qiao that owed her, put Silverheart in his place, and be rid of Daren Marlow in one swoop. It was quite a gamble on her part, Anna could see that as even with Celeste it was likely that she might not return.

"The impossible is merely a weakling's cover for their own inadequacy, Amaryllis. I shall return soon enough." Anna said confidently.

On the inside though, Anna was hardly certain of her own odds for living through this little journey. She had survived more than she could wager Celeste had, not trials of the body but torments of the mind that haunted her dreams. Last night the eyes of that girl in the Element's Sanctum had stared blankly up at her, silently accusing Anna for letting her die. Then there had been those horrible red eyes, the voices echoing in her skull as she felt herself being laid bare once more. Finally the warm blood pouring down her fingers in crimson streams as that prisoner breathed her last in a traitors arms. Nightmares that haunted her, and would continue to do so for the rest of her life no doubt. What else could Sahova have in store? What nameless terrors dwelled in the Heartlands, just waiting to add to her sleepless nights?

The days leading up to this had been soul rending, as she had simply written from her soul every lesson she could think of for Celeste to absorb should Anna die. How the petch was she supposed to tell the girl about that legacy left to her? How did one normally tell another that they had left them their entire life's knowledge of a particular magic? How did she tell the girl she might have to kill that she was being left that kind of knowledge?

The tall woman watched Celeste's transformation, visibly impressed by the power she had gained. Her mind was brought back to the Mudpools, when Celeste had savaged creatures at close range easily enough. She suspected this form might very well have made her more than prepared to face such danger on her own. It appeared they had both learned some new tricks since last they had spoken, the question was whether or not those tricks would be turned on each other by this journey's end. Anna hoped for the best but prepared for the worst, intent on conserving as much Djed as possible and sticking strictly to smaller spells.

"I am indeed, my friend. Let us be off." Anna replied, mounting this so called Brom with a little difficulty at first.

The young master of the four elements took hold of the Morpher's fur and braced herself for the journey to the Heartlands. She had prepared for the eventuality of her own demise, now she needed to silently strangle her feelings for the girl lest they cause her to hesitate. Anna knew that if it came down to blows and she actually managed to murder the girl there would be more than just sleepless nights in her future. The anguish of the mind was so much more painful than the physical torments inflicted upon the body. Her betrayal of Velia had crushed her spirit, had Rhysol not been there would could have said where that kind of self loathing might have taken her.

My lord, please don't let me hesitate. Give me the strength I fear I lack. Please. She prayed silently, shutting her eyes.

[Mirage]

As soon as Anna was mounted Brom would stand abruptly, not bothering to make sure the apprentice was settled in a good position. He turned to face their path, Tierra came up beside him, casting one golden glance over Anna before looking forward as well. Riyanna stepped forward and gently petted Celeste's mane, leaning close to whisper in the girl's ear, "Trust in yourself, and what you have learned... and don't like this girl fool you. Something about her smells off." Wrapping her arms around the liger's larger neck the Warden gave one last hug and pulled back, waving a farewell to them all. Amaryllis was already heading back up the path toward the Citadel.

Brom flicked and ear and looked over his shoulder, "You better hold on tight corpse lover." but just as he said that he took off, paws pounding the ground and carrying them forward with great speed. Despite the endurance of the Initiates the journey to the entrance of the Heartlands would take several bells. They stopped as little as possible, but the hazzardous terrain coupled with the need to rest saw that they finally found the entrance to the Heartlands the sun was already on its way down. As they traveled they were sure to notice that always to their right, at the center of the Testing Grounds, there was a blood red mist that blocked the view of the Heartlands completely. Brom and Tierra gave this a very wide berth when they traveled.

The company then stopped on the outskirts of the 3rd mudpool, Brom lowered himself down for Anna to dismount. Before them was a sloping path that lead down into a Deep Ravine. One could not see far down this path leading into the emphasis heartlands, for the shadows began to wrap and obscure vision near the entrance.

Brom strolled closer to Celeste, speaking as he did while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, "This is the entrance to the Heartlands, the Dendrik Ravine. I've never been down there so I can't give you warning of what you will face. Just be careful, OK?" He brushed against her as he walked past, as close to affection as he could get. Teirra strolled around to stand beside Celeste, eyes looking down the Ravine as well, "No one has come back except for Kierra, her apprentice and Chabiza. We know as little as you do. Just, avoid the mist. The red mist especially." Her eyes flickered to the mist that surrounded the perimeter of the Heartlands, and created something of a dome around it, "It is more dangerous than it seems."

[Celeste Arumen]

If there was one thing she’d learned, it was to trust the Warden’s instincts. After all, when it came to people, she was usually right. Celeste nodded imperceptibly before they took off, resolving in silence to keep an eye on Annalisa. The Chaon surely had her own agenda and whatever her ends, it was obvious that she’d do anything to achieve them. Oh and of course, she was absolutely off-the-deep-end insane at that. All in all, the combination made for a very interesting afternoon.

She wasn’t the type to worry over the uncontrolled variables. Riyanna had broken her of that. Over the course of her training, she’d learned to embrace the change, to move with the shift. Whatever happened, she would adapt. That much was certain. But in order to do so, she had to try and maintain a clear mind. What she was more interested in was the nature of the failbeasts that dwelled specifically within the Heartlands. Their strength would be indicative of the power wielded by Kierra Doma.

As Brom brushed past, Celeste headbutted him affectionately. ”Have a fun trip back, big brother.” She said moving to lean bodily against Tierra. They were the closest to siblings she’d ever had. ”I’ll be careful.” She sniffed the air, hoping to catch the scent of the mist, that way she could pick it up in case they were blinded, for whatever reason. The stench of the Heartlands was somewhat forboding.

”I’ll be home soon,” she said confidently, morphing back into her human form within a matter of chimes. Without hesitation, she turned to Annalisa. ”Let’s go, m’dear. The quicker we’re in, the quicker we’ll be out.”

This being said in spite of her mad heartbeat. And who said there was nothing good about false bravado?

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna grunted softly as Brom stood, which nearly knocked her flat off if not for her grabbing on tightly and keeping it that way. Walking was sounding fairly nice to Anna at this point in time, after all there were unlikely to be any threats roaming the Prairie that the reimancer couldn't have destroyed. It would be so very entertaining as well, so very godlike... no. She had to conserve her Djed until it was absolutely needed, there could be no slipping up. Petch madness and petch insanity, they did her no favors and only brought more nightmares.

Part of Anna wanted to sneer openly at Celeste relationship with the Warden while another was rather envious of such a thing. Anna had possessed such a thing in Zeltiva once upon a time, something that she had twisted and abandoned. Knowing what she did know now, the question was whether or not she would have ever left her home city. Surely if she had stayed she could have surpassed every wizard at the University, could have become the greatest Sorceress in the port city. Instead... here she stood, on Sahova with none she could call friend, lover, or equal. No, that wasn't true. Rhysol was always with her, his blessing branded upon her flesh a symbol of that connection. He was all she needed. He was all she needed.

A spark of indignation flared at Brom's words of Corpse Lover, as though she petching liked those Nuit and wouldn't see them all dead to the last for what they had done to her. As she held tight and Brom set off a flicker of chaos entered her mind, her mark pulsing slightly. She wondered how very safe this petching morpher would feel if he lost both of his eyes for a week. She wondered how long he's last out here, how very quickly he'd be dead with the ability to see. Perhaps even taking his other senses...

Anna tore herself from the intoxicating urge to lay down a curse, knowing it was not the time. Not here, and not to this man as Celeste knew what Anna was and would likely guess who it was that had done such things. So she kept to her silence, her anger burning to ashes inside her as they travelled. She didn't speak through the journey, she was rather too busy keeping her grip and position on the Morpher. It would have been rather nice if he could just have petching slowed down.

When they arrived at their destination the Sorceress dismounted, her legs feeling a bit rubbery which caused her to stumble a bit before she found her ability to walk again. Petching Morphers, petch the lot of them to the sea. Okay, perhaps that was a little too harsh so she subtracted Celeste from that all encompassing toss into Laviku's embrace. Her little mental absolution of the girl done, Anna turned her attention Brom's words and the path ahead.

The Sorceress felt more than a little anxiety about just walking in there, what had Qiao said? Did she think she could return from the place where none yet had? It was easy to say yes, but now actually standing here the woman was starting to feel second thoughts creep into her mind. This was not just monsters she was facing, it was the actual realization that this could very well kill her more surely than anything else. It was her mortality she was staring down, not the path to some secret domain. It scared her, scared her worse than Darren when he had started to unravel her completely and totally in the Caverns.

The more Brom talked the more her odds seemed so very poor of ever emerging from the Heartlands seemed to become. Added on top of the possibility of coming to blows with her ally here, everything was just serving to make Anna feel small and weak. She was so very young, barely over two decades old, and yet she was expected to survive this place that had killed wizards that had been practicing magic for centuries. Part of her wanted to run, to flee Sahova entirely and run back home to hide under the covers of her bed.

However she knew there was no running from this, from Sahova and from her mission. She was here for a reason, she had fought, and suffered, and bled to get here in this place in time. Scars marked her body and mind as symbols of her struggles, things that would have broken lesser minds. She had survived them, she had survived everything despite the odds stacked against her. Anna was resolved to survive this, she would survive, her work was not yet done in this life. Rhysol's will needed to be carried out on Sahova, she couldn't abandon him when he had never abandoned her.

As Celeste returned to human form Anna approached her, once more noting her new scars and her shape with interest. She was really going to need to figure out how that had happened, Morphing was a strange means of warping one's Djed. Anna allowed herself a slight ghost of a smirk, one that did not quite reach her grey eyes. Eyes haunted by the nightmares of her time upon Sahova, ringed in dark circles to show her lack of slumber.

"Indeed, Celeste, my friend let us be off. No sense in wasting perfectly good daylight on simply making shadows in one place eh?" The woman replied, her eyes falling upon the path once more.

Avoid the mist, especially the red mist, don't let Celeste out of my sight, and conserve Djed unless it is absolutely needed. Let Celeste do most of the fighting, finish off what she leaves behind with smaller spells. It seemed a good strategy, though the best laid plans never lasted long outside of the planning phase. After a moment longer of hesitation the tall woman found her feet moving down the path. Hopefully, it was the same path she would emerge from when this was all finished.

[Mirage]

Brom and Tierra cast one last look back at the two as they made their way toward the Ravine. Look back to one another, both then turned to the horizon, back toward the Prairie and bounded forward.

From the ravine a mysterious fog billowed out, not noticeable at first, but as one past the entrance and began to descend the sloping ground the amount accumulated until it was up to their shins. The farther they traveled the more and more shadows came to dominate the scene, casting twisting visions of dark creatures on the walls. An erie red light was all that they could see by, the sunlight as it was filtered through the red mist above. They would travel a good 5 chimes without much changing in their scenery. Rocks were still rocks, shadows were still ever present, and the red light from above was ever present as a semi guide in the darkness. After about 8 chimes though, along the walls there began to be a strange shimmering substance that would disappear as soon as one looked directly at it. The longer they walked the more and more shimmering they would see until finally it could be made out what it was. It was silk. Thin, nearly translucent threads of silk coated the walks more and more as the deeper they traveled. The silk was sticky to the touch, and soon they would begin to feel their boots sticking to the ground which was surly covered by the silk threads as well. Still though, nothing was threatening about it. They would begin to pass makeshift caves of sorts, rounded entrances into the cliff faces that traveled back into darkness. The silk threads wound their way inside of some of the larger ones.

15 chime into their journey there would be a clicking sound from behind them, but hen they looked there was nothing there. A similar sound came from in front of them, then above them. A clicking, scraping kinda sound punctuated by gurgles and screeches came from every direction, even the nearby caves. Then it all suddenly stopped. In the silence the clicking noises came back, but now there was a very simple version of speach hidden within it.

"Rak na, nica...?" It almost sounded like a question, and it came from above them.

"Klacknica nact talak...? An answer came from their right, from one of the larger caves. In the darkness 8 shinning eyes could be made out, drawing closer. From the cave came a spider, a large spider whose legs were as thick as Celeste's arm. Its mouthparts moved, the clicking noise coming from it as it tried to speak once more. Its attention was on Celeste, "Balk nik tal nica?"