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Rumors have begun to circulate. That something terrible has made it's way to the horsemen. It comes with vengeance and threatens them all. Some horsemen claim a dragon covered in bones, yet impervious to their attacks has begun to stalk the forests, others say a hunter has come from the dead, weapon on all. That their soul was a fail sending from Death. No one sure, but one thing is true, something in the woods have begun to scare some of the horsemen, setting them on edge.

An elder of war seems to be the only one who laughs at the rumors so loudly, challenging all those who would listen to go into the woods and see this 'impervious dragon'. This 'risen hunter'. Those brave enough to venture in come back, saying not a word, but telling others that it's in their best interest to not venture into the forest. But... the old executioner says if you can come back without crying he'll give you something nice. He promises it's useful and will aid you and battle and well......

....

A crash from the woods, a loud booming cry echoes through the trees as birds flee in terror. The sound of metal clanging joins the vicious cries as more animals free in fear. The closer you get to the source, the darker the woods become, the fewer signs of life can be found aside from lichen, mushrooms that glow and illuminate the shadowed paths that seem to wind endlessly. And then you realize it, as you've gotten closer, the terrible ferocious screams have fallen silent. Only the crack of leaves can be heard underfoot.

Winding around a thick tree, you notice grooves in the bark, clean and thin. Those of a weapon, not claws. As you look to the other trees you notice the same. Each ones with various gashed and grooves deep in their bark, some oozing sap- others sealed over, the sap having hardened and closing the wounds. A rustle of leaves above can be heard and a low hiss comes from nearby brush, yet nothing can be found.

==>What do you do?

Shaheen had, for the most part, kept her grudging complaints as she was forcefully dragged out of the hut to herself. She didn't want to go out. She didn't want to investigate some stupid rumor in the stupid forest. She spent enough time out there to disbelieve anything she might have heard, having never seen anything herself. Well okay, she hadn't gone out into the forest proper recently, but she still highly doubted there was anything to the tall tales being spread around.

Any of her complaints, however, any of her scowls, her snide remarks, or her less then sunny disposition in general was all just a cover. The real reason she didn't want to go out was simply because she was finding it harder and harder to make herself do so. The thought of what might be out there, who might be watching her, what-----

No no no, she couldn't let it get to her!

So she followed, and yes, she managed to keep her mouth shut for a good portion of the journey. If she walked a little closer to Shik then was necessary, if she happened to reach out and clutch at his hand the nearer they drew to the forest, if she happened to look over her shoulder no less then fifty times in the last five minutes...well, who was to say that wasn't completely normal for her?

The screaming combined with the sound of metal clanging...that wasn't that uncommon for one of war to hear. The darkening forest didn't seem all that foreboding for one who prided herself on fearing very little. Eventually the screaming stopped, eventually the way was lit by glowing mushrooms, which Shaheen stared at with eyes that almost seemed to glow as well, only with a different sort of light.

"I wouldn't doubt it." She finally turned her attention towards the towering man at her side, stepping away from him to investigate the cuts on the tree herself, summoning her own dagger and making her own slashes in the tree, comparing the scores to see how similar they were to those that were already there.

Shik had gone up the tree, and small twigs and leaves drifted down to land in the chieftains hair. She tilted her head up, eyes squinting, forehead furrowed in a mock scowl.

"I can see right up your...whatever you call it." She called out to him with a smirk, all the while trying very hard to ignore the urge to look over her shoulder just one more time.