Rowan pulled her boot free with a rather disgusting sucking sound; it was hard to make progress in the muck. Every few dozen yards she was forced to fetch a shoe. With a sigh and a roll of her shoulders, she looked at her surroundings again. The twisted gnarled trees had started to grow closer together. Their blackened boughs sported odd pieces of armor or the occasional noose. It was frightening to say the least, but Rowan had Mo'o with her. The large green dragon had opted for flying instead of sinking to his belly in the mud. With the bracelet on her right wrist, she could check in on him periodically to make sure he was still close by. It still astounded her that she was entrusted to such an artifact. Magic was something that was better left untouched in her opinion. Even if she couldn't work any herself, it gave her chills thinking about the one magical item she carried with her. Despite having a dragon as a companion she was still wary of those who wielded the unnatural art. 

The grotesque forest was unnaturally silent; no breeze ruffled any branches. The silence pressed on Rowan until she started humming to herself nervously to dispell it. Thankfully she had a beautiful voice, so eventually she broke into a merry tune. It was amusing to be trudging through the swamp looking for evil creatures to slay while singing a happy song, but if anyone would do it, Rowan would. The slurping of her boots was an odd accompaniment. 

Ahead Rowan saw a floating light appear, and her hand immediately went to the longsword at her hip. Rumor had it that evil creatures roamed this cursed forest and lured the unwary by floating lights. Maybe if she followed one she would find something to kill. Then again if she knew it was a trap why would she walk right into it. Rowan thought better of it and continued to trudge the direction she had originally intended. Her destination was the burned remains of the World Tree that had once brought deities to this land. The men who had come to attack it succeeded in their mission but paid for it with their lives. It was said that the men had been trapped within the trees that were why bits of armor still protruded from them. Not only that but more than one widow had come to see her lost love and hung herself on his branches. It was tragic and much more morose than Rowan wanted to be thinking so instead she continued with her joyful song. She blissfully ignored the chills that ran up her spine, hoping that Mo'o would be close enough to help if any real danger appeared. 

"'Go to Koschei' they said. 'Use your demonic gifts to help deal with the curses and hauntings there' they said," Drae muttered as he splurtched through the mud of the swamps. He looked around at the twisted trees that seemed to reach out for anyone and everyone as they passed, seeking to drag the unwary travelers into bark and moss wrapped hell as they had been. His boot sunk into the boggy ground and the half-elf swore as he used his staff to gain the leverage needed to wrench his foot from the muck. 

"Gods, I hate this place. Never was an isle more feverishly and passionately cursed," he muttered as he looked about at the trees that drooped with moss. "Poor bastards… this is what you get when you don't respect and mess with powers that you can't understand and control," the warlock mocked as he passed the nooses that hung from the twisted brances above, and the tortured faces that pressed out of the bark. He looked about, scanning the area for threats and wrinkled his nose in disgust. 

"Never mess with the Gods, people. they can reduce you to ash, or rubble…" he muttered thinking about the news that had ventured into Wyllmochvar about the Goddess of Fire losing control for a time. "Or turn you into trees," he added as he raised his staff and tapped a bark-ified hand that reached out from a tree to snag the cloak of the unsuspecting. 

An unearthly wail ripped out from the mist, and the warlock jumped involuntarily. Grateful no one had seen him react so, Drae lifted his hand and a blue-green flame erupted from his fist. This place was known for all sorts of horrors to lurk these woods. Banshees, lycans of all sorts, and who knew what other monstrosities called this place home, and each one of them was something Drae was not keen on coming face to face with, especially not on his own. He could be a force to be reckoned with when he wanted to be, but frankly, unless there was considerable pay, or some sort of monetary gain, he tended to be conservative with his magic. What point was there in being brave and noble if it didn't have a pay off?

However, there were times when it definitely was more than a good idea to show off one's abilities. It had a tendency to keep the scary things at bay, and this was most certainly a place filled with scary things. 

Drae approached the barrier of the woods, and leaned slightly on his staff as he looked upward at the charms that hung from the branches to keep those who lived outside the deepest part of the wood safe. Did he want to do this? Definitely not. He wasn't an adventurer, but a city boy who liked to keep clean, and he certainly wasn't the altruistic type. Another wail, and Drae considered gating out there and then, but growled an oath in abyssal before he stepped past the barrier. 

He stood still for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the darkness that filled the area. The rumors about this place being in a state of ever-present night weren't false, and he thanked the powers that were that had let him retain at least the eyesight of his mother's kin. He did, however, keep his fist lit as he walked deeper into the gloom, mist swirling about him as he trudged. He hoped he would come to the remains of the old Parvpora Tree before too long. He had thought it might have been an impressive thing to bring back to Angela's temple, especially if perhaps some of the old magic remained in the wood, that maybe under her nurturing care, it might be revived and give her a touch more power in the godless lands. At the very least, he hoped that maybe it wouldn't burn her out so much to pay visits to the Arcane city. 

He waded some time, ever aware of his surroundings and the sounds that accompanied them. Once or twice he was certain he saw a log move in the swamp water on its own accord, and more than once he spotted the wisps that were known to try and lead travelers astray, beckoning to him with their ethereal arms. He was pretty sure he had seen an owlbear off in the distance, snuffling around, looking for some sort of tasty snack in the undergrowth. It had looked up at him, gauging whether he would be a tasty snack, but had decided he might be a bit too big to tackle. 

Drae exhaled slowly as the beast had turned and shambled away into the dim, but stiffened when he heard a sound that definitely was not a normal sound for the swamps. He froze and strained to hear over the sounds of the frogs and other creatures that cried from the muck. He heard it again, and it made his brow furrow in confusion. 

Singing? Humming at the very least. Rather a pretty tune too. Odd, there weren't supposed to be sirens in this area, and anyone could tell you that Banshees didn't exactly sing anything other than death songs. Drae lifted his fist higher to grant a bit more light and looked around as the sound of singing got louder. 

Rowan adjusted her greaves, with her boots falling off into the mud, the shin plates kept shifting uncomfortably. Ahead she could see a clearing that was big enough for Mo'o to join her. Rowan lifted her right wrist and looked carefully at her dragon eye bracelet. Suddenly she could no longer see the forest before her but below her. Above the gnarled trees passed quickly below her,  it was almost as if the beating wings were her own. She could see herself and the clearing not far ahead, then though Rowan could only feel the movement she raised a hand and waved to Mo'o. Watching from above as he saw the signal was a strange sensation, it had taken her years to get used to seeing herself from his eyes. Her training with him had been spread out over most of her life, and the bracelet had been given as a gift on her 10th name day. 

As Rowan lowered her arm, the vision from Mo'o's point of view vanished. He would meet her in the clearing if she could keep from getting her boots stuck again. Slowly she plodded over and looked up to see the large green dragon descending from the sky. Though it was dark, the light from the two moons glistened off of his scales. Pride welled in her chest as she approached the beast, he was a magnificent creature and a better companion than she deserved. 

Quickly she wrapped her arms around Mo'o's neck. The darkness, the trees, and the lights unsettled her enough that his presence was very welcome.

"I'm glad you made it!" she teased Mo'o, who chuffed in return. He nuzzled her shoulder before setting his eyes on something in the trees. While she couldn't see far in the blackness that enveloped them, but she knew he could. With caution, she turned to were his gaze lead and drew her longsword. There was never a way to be too cautious, especially in a place like this.

"Who goes there?" she shouted, then realized it was a dumb mistake. Despite the dragon at her side, it wasn't smart to be announcing their position in a place full of creepy things. At least, she knew if all went to hell she could mount Mo'o and fly to safety. There were a few perks to owning a dragon, and that was her personal favorite.

The sound of rushing wings made Drae freeze in his tracks and peer skyward through the drooping foliage of the twisted, tormented trees, into the dim. Something that big with wings, and it sounded pretty big, could make an easy meal out of something like him, and you could bet that if it indeed was as big as he guessed, it probably would have no qualms about doing so. It touched down not far from him, he heard the water and mud squelching beneath it as it touched down. He just hoped it wasn't as quick moving through the marsh as it was through the skies. He cautiously moved to begin walking again when it appeared that he was not in fact being stalked. He looked around him as the mists began growing heavier, making the light of his flame ensconced fist appear dimmer. He sighed and began moving ahead again. 

The shout of someone, a female, young by the sounds of it, calling out, demanding to know who was nearby nearly made Drae jump out of his skin, and he was grateful for the fog that obscured his start. He began moving towards the direction of the shout, his fist raised high to try and grant more light, casting an eerie glow upon the wall of mist that billowed around him. 

"Don't raise your voice," he replied calmly, his voice low and even, but still audible. "There are things in this swamp that would be attracted to such sounds… I heard one swooping in not moments ago," he told the voice in the distance, unsure whether he was actually addressing a person, or a wisp or a banshee of some sort. All, however, he wasn't sure he wanted to cross; after all there was no telling what kind of people would willingly wander this forsaken place. 

Rowan stifled a giggle as she listened to the stranger warn her of her companion. While Mo'o was intimidating, he wouldn't hurt anyone unless she said so. It hadn't been very smart to shout out to him, and there was the possibility of nearby creatures having heard, but she wasn't frightened now that Mo'o was here. For a brief moment, she contemplated scaring the pants off the man, but decided he was likely to attack if she did so.

"Don't worry, the thing with the wings is mine," she said quietly, but clearly. With the mist that swirled around the tree trunks, she couldn't see the newcomer yet. Mo'o turned, squelching in the mud to look towards her left where a faint blue glow was arriving. "He is a dragon, though, so don't be too hasty," she added. 

A light drifted in from the opposite direction and Rowan reached for her sword Kindness. If there were lights, it was likely that there was something sinister coming. It was unnerving how sound seemed to play tricks here. There should have been rustling or some other telltale sign of an animal, but an enormous gray wolf burst through the thick fog. Rowan turned her back, so it faced Mo'o, there was no way there was just one wolf. Her knees bent as she watched the first creature run silently toward her. Rowan lunged toward it and pierced it's hide with Kindness as it yelped in pain. Before she could raise her blade again, another wolf charged at her that Mo'o clubbed with his spiked tail. 

Silence descended on them once more, and Rowan could see shadows moving in the darkness. She pivoted toward each movement, but her breath hitched in her throat. There was no way to know where to beasts were going to strike from. With no sound and fog so thick she couldn't see past the nearest tree, danger lurked. Mo'o caught one in his jaw as it came barreling out of the darkness and another ran at Rowan. It was too fast for her to get her sword up, so she raised her armored forearm in an attempt to deflect the attack. She knocked to the ground as the beast tore at her vambrace. The smell of its meaty breath reached her, making her want to wretch, but she resisted the urge. Rowan blindly feeling around for Kindness which she had dropped as she'd been pinned to the ground. 

With a grunt she used both of her feet to kick the wolf in its belly, sending it off of her as she scrambled to her feet. She pulled a dagger from her side and prepared for another strike.

The wolf was on its paws again in a bound, undaunted by the shove, though more angry than before. It rushed the girl again, unafraid of the tiny blade she wielded. It jumped at her, and as it was mid-air, a green ball of fire-like magic shot out of the fog and struck the wolf dead center and with a yelp, the beast landed in the mud unmoving. The dark shape of a humanoid became visible in the fog as he moved closer, a second ball of green flames held high in his hand to provide light, a staff in his other hand. 

"See, told you there were nasties waiting to strike," he commented as he came closer to the girl and her dragon. "Just consider yourself lucky that it was only wolves and not the owlbear I saw lurking about not long ago," he said. Drae looked at the girl and her companion with great interest, though more so at the dragon than her. He walked up to them, not too concerned about the threat that either of them could pose to him, quite intent on getting a good look at the winged lizard. 

"Fascinating. I've never seen one up close. I've always wanted to. Is he full-grown?" Drae asked as he came close. "How often does he lose scales, teeth, and claws?" he pressed a bit more.

Rowan was grateful to see the ball of green light strike out at the wolf when it didn't rise she looked around and picked up Kindness where it had fallen. No other wolves came out of the darkness, so she sheathed her sword and looked at the newcomer. He had black hair and gray eyes that seemed to look right through her. She flushed the same shade as her hair before clearing her throat and realizing he was only looking at Mo'o. He seemed truly fascinated by the Dragon, not fearing coming close to the green monstrosity. Mo'o puffed out his chest, enjoying the attention.

"He is full grown, loses scales once a year, once every other year and claws every few months. I'm Rowan, and this is Mo'o," she said matter of factly. Having had him her entire life, she knew the Dragon better than she knew herself. Mo'o lowered his head onto Rowan's shoulder and stared at the male with his yellow eyes. It was the way he proved his protectiveness towards his human and a gesture she was familiar with. When they encountered people, the Dragon tended to stick a little closer to her than usual, but for some reason, she could tell he likes this man. Not many people were willing to be so close to the creature; his size ran most off before they dare say anything. The others tried to ignore him and that just offended Mo'o. In those cases, he purposely scared them off. This stranger was interested and respectful of Mo'o even if this was his first time up close to a Dragon. 

"What are you doing in this cursed place?" she blurted out, unable to curb her curiosity. It wasn't as if this place was great for a casual stroll. If he wasn't here to kill evil creatures he was here to team up with them. Mo'o was a good judge of character, so she assumed the man was her for the same reason as she. Perhaps together they would get more done to help the local villagers who were being terrorized. Something in the forest had changed of late; some sinister force had risen and chased some of the dangers outside of the borders of the trees. Rowan had been sent by her friend Lyra to investigate the increased violence but if she could team up with this man they might get the job done quicker. She did have to admit to herself that company wouldn't be unwanted; this place gave her the creeps. Mo'o was a huge comfort, but he couldn't travel through the thick mud on the ground with her. He had to fly most of the way and land where he could so Rowan felt like she was on her own. 

Drae noticed immediately the bond the dragon had with the human girl. He definitely wouldn't have thought that such a young thing could have bonded so strongly with a dragon such as Mo'o. It showed that the girl definitely had some level of moxie. She didn't look like much, and could have been into her second decade of life. Very much still a human child in his eyes.

The dragon seemed to like the praise Drae gave him. That was good. Perhaps if he continued to stroke the fire-breather's ego, perhaps the beast would allow him to do an in-depth examination. Drae would have much preferred to do such things in the good brightness of day instead of in the gloom of the swamps, but for the time being he would take what he could get. 

"Full grown, sheds once a year, and regrows teeth every other year. Claws it would make sense to lose more often. I would love to get my hands on one. They make for grand magical talismans, make fantastic jewelry, and can be sold for a pretty penny where I come from," Drae commented as he came in closer to try and get a better look, though still respected the green monster's boundaries. 

He inspection was interrupted by the girl. She certainly seemed intent on knowing him. Not that it was really any of her business, but at current, she had something he wanted to look at, so for the time being, Drae decided it was probably best to be civil, even if she was barely more than a child. He judged that she couldn't have been more than five or so years older than Sapphire, and she was thirteen. 

"I came on errand. I have a unique perspective when it comes to magics, and I was… employed to come and see if I could lend some aid…" the word left a bitter taste on his tongue, "to those who make their home in this wretched place. That and I happen to be very close to someone who might benefit greatly with some of the earth and wood from the site of the fallen tree. It might be able to make her presence here in Parvpora a little stronger than what it is. Or at least that is my hope," Drae answered her simply. 

"Frankly, I'm more of a mind to let this place be. It is a testament to those who have meddled in affairs that should not have been meddled in, and serves as a caution for those who would see fit to rise up against that which gives the very world life. Anyone who makes a life here in this cursed place is not sane, or is of the calibur and constitution to be able to handle their own problems… or should be in any case," he smirked. 

"Now, what brings such a young girl to a place like this? I've given you my reasons, but you, no offense, are but a child. Granted, you must have some force of will to have such a magnificent creature to be your companion, and so loyal too, but you hardly have the air of a warrior about you…" Drae said bluntly.