And the Sun never shone so brightly

[Umbra]

A dark figure, collapsed amongst the folliage, lifeless for who knows how long. Untouched by native animals, the spirit may now return.

Umbra's astral self had finally found his body, just newly created by the counsil for him primarilly to combat DarkUmbra. The spirit passed into the seemingly dead corpse. All of a sudden, the heart started to beat, the lungs started to breath, the brain started to think.

Uuuuhhhh. Where am I? What happened? Can't remem. . . CAN'T REMEMBER! So much pain, throbbing, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?!

Lying on the ground for countless hours, the newfound body of Umbra began to twitch, finally gaining motion, Umbra tried to stand, but his legs could still not take the pressure and he collapsed once more.

AHHHHHHH!!!! SO. . . MUCH. . . PAIN!

He screamed as he passed out once again.

As he began to open his eyes for the first time, everything was blurry, and his brain could barely take in the rush of information. Closing his eyes, he was now able to stand. Slowly rising, the tall humanoid began to open his eyes, blinking several times to adjust for the incoming light. Standing in the shade of the trees, Umbra began to think, remembering, head stil throbbing.

I. . . I think I. . .

Betrayl.

The one word echoed through his mind as he remembered what DarkUmbra, his apprentice had done.

Are. . . are the Shadow-khan finished? Am . . . am I all that survived? Has DarkUmbra destroyed, destroyed everything? Can't worry about that now, just have to regain my composure, have to analyze my surroundings. Am I in danger?

As if responding to his thoughts, a crack heard overhead, a branch large enough to crush him fell from the cannopy cieling. Almost entirely by instinct, and with a wave of his cape, he melted into the shadows of the forest floor, and the branch came crashing down, right on top of his shadow, where he would have been if not for quick action. Threat passed, Umbra grew from the shadows until he was once again fully tangible. Mind wandering, Umbra began to walk towards something, nothing in particular, just something. As he reached the perrimiter of the forest, he took a step into the full direct light from the sun. As every nerve began to seethe with pain he jumped back, back into the protection of the shadows.

What was that? I must be on a different planet, the atmosphere must be thinner here, allowing the light to pennetrate more directly.

Just then he heard the screaming thoughts of four other voices arguing in his head.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! YOUR PUNISHMENT IS OVER!!!

All four voices spoke as one. . .

[glow=red,2,300]DarkUmbra destroyed the bodies we were to return to remember? We have no where to go.[/glow]

no

They're trapped within my body, they can not be expelled.

Umbra walked once again into the sunlight, slowly, walking through the seering pain. After a few minutes however he retreated to the shadows. He would adjust to the new brighter light but it would take time. Umbra crouched and began to meditate. The answers would come.

[Harle]

Harle's current location was desolate, and far greener than the desert she had meandered through but a few months ago. It was amazing, with how long she'd lived, and still, she hadn't unlocked the many secrets found within Fyia. She had remained more so unchangeable as the world grew into an electronic utopia. Or, so she thought. But there was one thing odd about most she had passed, they appeared to be recovering. But from what? She didn't know. She had only encroached the new lands just a while back, so obviously she wasn't as astute as most who had walked the planet all their lives. Though, her own life span could have wrapped about their own maybe a hundred times or more.

I think that the moldy crone had called this region... Chalegra. Hhm... this must be the forest she had mentioned, though, this is supposed to be a dominantly bosky area.

Her boots crushed a few faggots and dried leaves along the way, as she sauntered nonchalantly through the forest. Uncharacteristically, her blade was held at her side, almost as equally as the crimson rose as it brushed against the dark fabric of her dress. The reason for the new position of her sword was due to the smothering distance of the trees as many were given little space to cultivate individually. She didn't appear to mind the new accommodations, as her guise and demeanor remained impassive.

Still, it is nice to be stranded from others for a while. Especially from that elf...

She almost spat abhorrently at the thought, before allowing her crystal blue eyes to run along the shielding leaves. The overbearing tree limbs revealed that the forest itself was deciduous, as the leaves lacked any cutlets. The leaflets offered a substantial amount of shade from the sun's searing and arrant light. Her preference was nothing personal, she simply enjoyed subtle darkness, possibly due to her own lineage. And strangely, her eyes fancied pseudo-light more than that given off genuinely by the sun.

Hmm... it's not all that humid down here, and the shadow is... quelling.

For but a brief moment, she found herself within a state of unperturbed placidity. At least, until she had felt an akin tingle against her skin. Someone else appeared to be situated within the forest. And though the aura appeared to be retaining and gradually flaring, but in a stable manner, she felt slightly unnerved. Her unease never surfaced as she continued to walk, the person felt to be placed at a somewhat distant path ahead of her. Even with this knowledge, she didn't make a single turn, as leaving her current itinerary would have led her from the forest.

Well, even without certain solitude, my peace need not be demolished so quickly. HHmm... still, a slightly stabilizing aura. The person could be resting or regaining strength or... a sense of his or her bearings. Heh, then again, I could be ruminating into this a bit too deeply myself...

Nevertheless, she remained in her straight and narrow path, with the ends of her dress following in suit with her boots. The winds appeared generous for once, not flailing about her lavender strands or cryptic veil as she sashayed onward. With each step, her pupils appeared to slit warily, noting the closing distance with growing tensity. This person held a certain air about his/her aura. It was safe to assume that maybe she wasn't approaching a mere human, but something entirely different, a person of unknown lineage. But exactly what was this enigmatic person? The answer was beyond her line of thought, but she highly doubted the likelihood of finding out.

[Umbra]

"Who is there?"

Umbra said calmly. Even though he spoke softly, his low voiced boomed through the forest. Umbra rose slowly, and turned.

"I am Umbra, Supreme arbiter of the Shadow-khan. And you are?"

Looking the creatue in the eyes, Umbra heard voices within his head telling him that what stood before him was a female shadow demon, proficient in shadow magic. Being far enough away to prevent any damage to him, he was comfortable not readying himself for combat.

Being polite, he pused the white hair out of his right eye, fully revealing his white eye. He stood straight, and with almost perfect posture, hands at his sides as he awaited a response.

[Harle]

As Harle perpetually marched, she came to a viewing point; which finally allowed her eyes to do a bit of rubbernecking, though somewhat unnoticeably from her current distance. Her pace never faltered or hastened as she observed the person, who she could now easily identify to be a male. At least, the person appeared to be more so butch than effeminate from this distance. Either way, he -as she thought him to be- was meditating; which thus explained the peculiar waves his aura was emitting when she had first sensed him. Even at her steady pace, she wasn't encroaching heavily upon what he could have deemed his comfort zone. Then again, she had the tendency of ignoring that single and relevant personal boundary.

Interesting, hmm... but his hair is really all that I can see.

Her pondering came to a momentary halt as a question rung throughout the forest. He had finally taken notice to her, questioning her identity; which only resulted in an arrest as her boots kicked up a final patch of dry leaves. It was surprising almost, how long it had been to finally have someone inquire her name. But all she did during the interim of time was stand there, erectly, but with a more rigid air as her face maintained its casual apathy. Her arms were limp at her sides, with both hands graciously ensnaring the rose and double bladed sword. She only listened at first, catching his name, though figuring it would have been denied to her at first.

That was very facile... he just presented himself so easily. Still, I know that he is possibly cautionary himself. Hhm... I guess it wouldn't hurt to reveal my name.

Her slitted pupils lessened to their spherical facade, she would speak, as it was in her to be primarily civil. "My name is Harle, I am but a simple shadow demon," she remarked, though remaining as stiff as before. Strangely, curiosity flooded her gaze for a moment as she recalled his race. "Shadow-khan?" Harle inquired, while lifting one arm towards her torso. "I am unfamiliar with such a race, do you hail from another region?" As her gloved hand ascended near her face, the rose that it held was situated gingerly upon her bottom lip. For once, some interest was unearthed within her mind, so she wouldn't throw this fellow to the winds just yet.

[Umbra]

Umbra ran his fingers through his white hair. It once again fell, covering his right eye.

"Perhaps."

One word. One word was all he needed.

"It was a pleasure to have made your aquaintance Harle."

His voice echoed. Umbra turned. He began to walk solemnly toward nothing. But a few steps from his previous location was a wall of trellis, vines, leaves, and other folliage. With a wave of his cape, he melted into the ground, and a shadow passed over the wall. Once on the other side, he grew, standing tall from the ground, and with one last look at the person now identified as Harle through a hole in the plants, paced off into the distance. As he walked, he thought to himself, but his thoughts were quickly interupted by voices only he could here. They screamed in his mind. The strain was so much that Umbra could barley take it. Falling to his knees, he closed his eyes.

"not now, not ever"

He wispered to himself, as he rose to his feet. Hoping the possibly dangerous creature had not followed him, he once again began to meditate. As the voices in his head quelled, he relaxed. The wind had picked up slightly, and leaves and dust blew around him, lifting his cape, furrling his hair. Mind calm, he stood. He knows not how long he stood, seconds, minutes, hours, years, just that he stood, eyes closed, feeling the wind wrap around him, hearing his cape flutter in the breeze.

What am I to do here? I can't leave the planet, I'm far too weak to travel. I have no idea where I am. I have no idea who I am any longer. With the threat of DarkUmbra passed, what do I do? There is no council, there are no more Shadow-Khan. All there is is me. And I don't know what to do. I know not what's right, what's wrong anymore. Where do I go?

Umbra wondered as the dried leaves spiralled around him, one brushed his face. Almost immediately he had drawn his swords and swung. The solitary leaf hit the ground in four peices as the hundreds of others, untouched, remained spiralling.

What am I?! Am I nothing but a killing machine?! Calm, I must stay calm! The aswers will come if I wait, but I cannot stay in one place, I shall go mad. So a wanderer I shall be.

So he began to walk, head hanging low.

[teran]

Is it possible, can i be true? s this the one my people told me about as a child, the rbing of death, the monster of deception and murder. The possiblity of it boggled terans mind, it was not possible, the prophocies had been told down the generations, each one hoping that they would not be theones to witness his coming.

Falling noiselessly from the tree, Teran started writing on a peice of parchment.
He's here, he's coming, it may be the Dark one, the deatn rbinger, prepare the village, warn the families, and tell my family I love them
Sincerly, Teran

Finishing the note, Teran tied it to the leg of a pigeon seated near his post. Letting the animal fly into the sky, he turned back to the problem at hand, the stranger in the road. Hopefully the women he was speaking with had already left. A friend of the dark one could be no better.

Concentrating on the ground, Teran raised his hand shifting dirt. Concentrating harder the earth began to tremble, hsaking slightly. THrowing all of his power, Teran forced the ground to rse, spliting rock through the soil, blocking the stranger's path. Jumping on top of the blockade, Teran spoke

"Halt, in the name of the town of Jerphan, i can not let you travel this path till you tell your name and purpose. If not, then leave now and do not return, we will have none of your evil here!"

[Umbra]

Before the Earth began to tremble, Umbra lept. As he hid the ground he did not stop going down, intead he seemed to pass into the forest floor itself, until all that remained was a shadow, silent, motionless for a split second. The shadow streaked across the ground in an instant, until is was right behind it's attacker. Rising from the ground until he looked down upon the aggressor. As he re-materialized, he drew his weapons, and crossed them on the front of the neck of his attacker.

"What is your meaning?"

Umbra said calmly, prepared both to kill the man, or to let the situation resolve peacefully. As the wind blew his hair, he contemplated the situation. Having done absolutely nothing, he was attacked. What sort of uncivilized brute could contemplate doing such a thing. Suddenly the female he had met earlier would have been a welcomed change of pace. As he held the blades closer to the creature's neck, he asked again.

"What is your meaning?"

[teran]

Eyes wide with shock, Teran was barely able to half turn his head before the steel was at his throat, and cold steel it was too, ready to kill, without pity, without love, without compasion. He was not ready to die like this, and if it meant talk to the vile creature he did not care, he would get out of this situation and not be so trustful the next.

"I am but a protector of the land, what right have you to ask my meaning when you yourself tresspass without our knowledge" Growled Teran "My meaning is this, and this only, to protect those i love, to help those who I trust, to feed those who i pity, and to destroy those who I hate. Do not lightly bcome the last, for i will hunt those who do, and i will use my power to its fullest ability! that is my meaning! Now, tell em yours, Dark wanderer, tell me your meaning to live!"

[Umbra]

Umbra did not move for half a minute. He removed the black blades from the man's neck. As he re-sheithed his swords, once again a ball of black engulfed him and he became nothing but darkness on the ground. Passing over the humanoid, he reformed himself on the cold soil in front of the confused creature. Umbra brushed the hair out of his eyes. And stared at the creature, looking deep, pennetrating his very soul.

"I feel no need to reveal my identity to you. As for my trespassing and counterattack, well, I just came here, and, not knowing where I am, began to walk. I walked to that point over there where you proceeded to attack me. Count yourself lucky I took not your life on this day."

Umbra turned walked away, continuing on his intened unknown path.

[teran]

"ATTACK!? You call that an 'Attack'!?" Teran Almost spat at the Dark wanderer, "I am but allowed to prtect my lands, and fight but when needed, to attack would be agianst my beliefs, but obviously nto yours, yet you seem to believe that i am to blame!"

Dropping from the barrier and onto the path, the short man dropped his knife on the ground.
"a show of Faith that you mean no harm, but in return you must tell me atleast what your purpose is, if not who you are, for if i am to protect me people, i must atleast know that"

[Umbra]

Umbra did not stop. He did not even slow. He just continued straight on, making no acknowledgement of the persistent man's existence.

"I don't have to tell you anything, worm. Why do you hinder my path, and threaten me, before you know my purpose?"

As Umbra continued to walk, he began to descend. It appeared almost as if he was walking down stairs. Soon, he was gone, and the shadow that should've been where he used to be had already began to dart across the ground. Positive that he was far enough away, he rose once more, and sat with his back to a tree, facing away from where his aggressor once was. As he sat, and wondered, the voices came back, louder then ever. Screaming in his mind, he could barely take it. Letting out a scream he spiralled to the ground in pain. Having lost all consciousness, he laid.

[Harle]

As he replied, only allowing a single word to ring within the forest, she nodded, though her ears tingled with each echo his voice produced. It could have been considerably questionable, the conciseness of his response, but she accepted it with silent understanding. "I see," she retorted coolly, her crystal blue gaze noting the concealment of his right eye as his snowy hair shadowed it. Only now did she recall its peculiarity, having the texture of a dove's feather. But her eyes had later condoned it, while her mind pulsed with thought and curiosity. It was hard for her to detect any emotion, if underlying or visible, she had drawn a blank from this man. Umbra was a mystery. Still, she expected the same of herself, though the inquisitive quality within her cold gaze hadn't dispersed entirely.

Puzzling somewhat... still, he's intriguing. He remains somewhat of an enigma, even despite telling me his name and of his origin, partially...

Her thoughts were dispelled carelessly as he bid her adieu, just as mannerly as he had greeted her. It felt abrupt, even for Harle as she watched him turn, his cape slapping against the wind as he walked. A narrow breeze carried her own lavender locks as she simply accepted his departure, though not all that silently. "Likewise Umbra," she voiced as her gaze followed him momentarily. Her boots did not carry her any farther as she leveled her gaze to the side, a further lining of forest just ahead of her. But she did not amble onward right away, as she straightened her hold along the centerpiece of her blade.

He didn't appear to have a key destination in mind. Though I could be wrong, hmm... our meeting was peaceful, and it ended in the same manner. Heh, that's a first... for myself at least.

Though she did not witness his melding into the ground, she had felt a drop within his presence. While he passed over a wall of nearly impenetrable vines, she took that as her que and began to saunter once more through the forest. Briefly, after only a few taken steps, she felt eyes boring into her, though from his remote purlieu. But their gaze only lasted for but a second, until dying away from her lithe frame. "Until next time," Harle gently murmured beneath her breath as her head drooped for a moment. A family of tree-locked vines hung overhead, thus calling for more adjustments as Harle's head settled to a downward inclination.

For some reason, I felt a sense of irony from his name. Especially as his aura made a more apparent shift... Maybe his art is akin to mine...

She shook off her pondering as her head lifted, being free of the looping vines as she sashayed beside two decrepit oak trees. In the distance, Harle could hear the gentle rumbling of a spring, more than likely a stream or river. Her nostrils flared weakly as she gained a whiff of the marine biome, not sensing or even tasting a single grain of salt. Obviously it was unlikely for her to find a sea or ocean in a forest, but it always paid to be sure. Gradually, as she sauntered nearer, the churning of fresh water grew louder, lashing further against her sensitive ears as a few beams of speckled sunlight peaked through the overbearing trees. With each gleam directed upon her gaze, her pupils would become scant, disappearing momentarily, just until the sun's light shied away.

A light growl pulsed beneath her breathe with each hindering radiance, causing her to tread blindly, though not for a long distance. Thankfully, as she came upon the stream, obscurity laid along it; the sun could no longer penetrate through the trees. What anger had persisted within her briefly, quickly dispersed as she eased herself onto a mossy boulder. It had a brusk air, with heavily unpolished edges that surrounded the large stone's shape. Her boots pushed along the dirt covered ground, causing some forgotten twigs and leaves to be exposed. With a lack of wonder, her eyes dove towards the stream, peering through its murky facade while her blade was planted into the ground, with her rose following in suit as it slipped from her bottom lip.

Umbra.... shadow, or better yet, darkness in Latin. That is interesting.... heh, but such a name does not really appear to match the selfhood of his eyes.

[Umbra]

As Umbra regained consciousness, he moaned with a seering pain flowing through his head. He stood, shoulders haunched, head haning low. Rubbing his forehead, he wondered what to do.

If I continue to explore, I will be attacked again, and may be forced to kill. However if I do not explore then I shall probably perish amongst these trees.

Just then, four voices in his mind once again spoke as one.

[glow=red,2,300]And what of the girl? Perhaps she could assist us temporarilly.[/glow]

Umbra tried to ignore, attempted to fight, but what the spirits told him was probably the only chance he had of survival. Umbra knew that he would have a hard time catching up with the demon, but something in the way the wind was blowing, in the way the trees were calling, told him that he would have no problem. He began to run. His cape ruffling behind him, his swords clanking against one another, his hair angled back, now fully pushed out of his eyes. It felt good, the running, it was an easy way to lose himself, and to forget the voices within his head. The leaves on the ground crackled as he stepped on each one with his heavy black boots. His emotions were far behind him, he was running too fast for them to catch up with him. Lungs buring, legs on fire, he wouldn't stop. There was something pleasant about the pain of physical fatigue as opposed to the pain of mental anguish. Brushing the hair the had fallen back out of his eyes, he saw a branch not two feet in front of him. Moving too fast to stop, he pushed himself as hard as he could, to become a shadow before impact. Just as his forehead hit the hard wood, he disapeared in a puff of black. Reapparating on the other side, he slowed down, and stopped.

What was that? I had no idea this body was capable of tranformation the quickly.

The confused man thought to himself. Relatively new to his body, he literally knew nothing of his true abilities. Attempting to replicate the stunt, he concentrated hard, but all he gained was a massive headache. Deciding that there was no time to worry about that now, he continued his quest. Hearing water nearby, he decided to search the area by the brook. Melding with the shadows once again (slowly), he passed over the folliage, and in between trees until he saw the familiar figure of the Shadow-Demon Harle, sitting on a rock. Rising from the darkness silently not five feet behind where she sat, he spoke.

"Hello once again Harle."

[Harle]

Her arms lazed down upon her lap, as her naked hand drew the blade near, allowing it to lean partially against her right knee. The crimson rose remained ensnared by her gloved hand as it hung boundlessly off to the side. Her crystal blue eyes simply bore into the brook, spying a few fish that swam by in the narrow darkness. Her gaze refused cling onto anything with interest, all of the current splendors of nature were commonplace to her. She settled upon glancing along the swerving brook, with a placid air flaring about her frame. Despite her eyes' restless wandering, her mind continued to ruminate over the man that she had just met; she simply couldn't urge herself to abandon the subject.

His walk appeared to be without a sense of direction... maybe he's gotten lost. Then again, why should it matter?...

A frolicsome breeze broke past her cryptic veil, striking it with light precision as it billowed along her shoulders. Her back stood erect, with her head no longer bending as her eyes floated about the flourished surroundings. Her slightly askew veil gently hugged her face, causing her hairs to be casually disturbed from time to time. But she pardoned the wind's behavior, though a gentle tingle commenced to prick her skin, and its source did not appear to be coming from the jaunty breezes. The source was elusive, blending along usually flat surfaces as it coursed near the shallow stream. The aura that waved about this pliable frame felt somewhat familiar, but even with that as a slight assurance, Harle tensed visibly.

Hhmm... someone's here. Indelible in some way, I think I've only just felt this aura today... is it him?...

Her thoughts were put to rest as a figure ascended from the ground, soundlessly against Harle's ears. The loosened grip along her blade tightened for a moment, though it met a narrow pause as she heard a voice. It was Umbra's. It held the same boisterous call as he greeted her, causing her body to quell, while continuing to stay lightly rigid. "Umbra," she peacefully began, her body never pivoting as her eyes remained glued to the bubbling stream. "Fancy meeting you again." She paused for a moment, before her gaze lifted towards a patch of shrubs, studying the slight shivering that was produced by stray woodland creatures. "How has the forest been treating you?" Her question was light, and brought upon a wary assumption; maybe an occurrence had led him to her.

His return appears certain, I suppose. He wants something, but what exactly?

[Umbra]

Umbra remembered back to not five minutes ago.

"Not well actually. People are not friendly, or even civil for that matter. In any case, where is the nearest large body of water?"

He had no idea where he was, he had no idea why he was attacked, and he had no idea where he was going, but the seas would soothe him. As he took a step back, his back hit a tree, and he leaned into it. The strong wind that had now picked up, no longer blew his hair forward, the tree acting as a shield. He crossed his arms, the black metal stakes scraping against his chest. He looked up, staring at the trees, which now completely blocked out the sun, brighter on this planet. He looked at the thinning leaves at the top, brushing one another, groaning. He then looked at the ground, and observed the leaves and grass, and tattered wood chips scattered on the ground. He saw the strength of nature, the power of the forest. He was calmed for now. The water could wait. The most important thing currently was to find shelter, a temporary place to stay.

"Never mind. Instead, can you tell me where the nearest town might be?"