With my head hung down low. I was slowly making my way through the forest. Before long I realized just how dark it had gotten. As dark as it was though, I was not afraid. Something was in the distance and it was calling to me. There was this unspoken urgency that pulled me in to the forest. The further into the forest I walked the more eerie it felt. It was like walking through a graveyard in the middle of the night by myself. Only this is not a graveyard but, I am by myself. The light from the moon barely made it through the trees. There's an icy feel to the air around me. With every defining step I took, the colder I felt. I began picking up my pace as the theme song for Jason began playing in my head. I tried to calm myself and remind myself. I have nothing to fear. I could feel panic rushing through me. I was practically speed walking and trying to calm myself. I was so focused on myself that I didn't even realize how fast I had gone. When I stopped and turned back around. I could no longer see the fireplace or our campsite. I felt eyes on me but I could not pinpoint where they were coming from. I began walking backwards and then sideways. Searching through the darkness. I stumbled over a rock and just barely caught myself. In the distance I saw a pair of beady red eyes. I shook my head and said to myself. It's probably just an animal and kept going. I was practically running now. Following the pull until finally I reached a cave. This cave was really dark and musty. The first thing I noticed was a symbol at the top of it. It looked like the ones I've seen in my dreams. Instinctively I wanted to turn around and run away. I tried to leave but my body had a mind of its own. The cave smelled of death, decay and earthy. Every part of me told me to run. As hard as I tried to leave my body kept going. The cave opened up a little more and a sweet smell filled my senses. I no longer was afraid. Instead I was curious. I followed the smell the best I could. I finally reached a makeshift door. I tried to peak into the room but I couldn't see a thing. So I carefully and slowly opened up the door. I tried to peak in again but still. I saw nothing at all. Curiosity got the best of me and I stepped into the room. I'm in search of that wonderful smell. Searching the room at first I saw nothing at all. I made my way through the big cave. I was in there nearly five minutes just walking around examining the cave. It looked like a normal cave at first. Except I've run across a few human bones piles. Which honestly gave me a scare at first. Then I saw a really large flat Boulder. It looked to be some kind of table of sorts. As I was taking it all in I felt that feeling again. As if I was being watched. I walked a little faster and saw those red beady eyes looking right at me. It looked at me so fiercely. I felt as if I may have entered this magnificent world creatures home and I'll probably die because of it. I tried to back away but my legs wouldn't move. My feet became unsteady and I slipped. I slowly got back on my feet and tried to dust my hands off. My hands were warm, wet and sticky. I looked down as my eyes adjusted to the poor lighting. There's blood everywhere. I smelled my hand and realized the smell I've been following was its blood. It was this moment I decided to help. If it's blood is that alluring I can imagine what else might be following it. What if it's still in danger?! I slowly approached the creature. It's eyes never left mine. I tried to soothe it and let it know I'm not here to hurt it. Once I was close enough it began to shift in place. I lowered my head and kneeled. In hopes it would understand I did not mean it any harm. It placed its head down and I moved in closer. I needed to find where the blood was coming from. I was rubbing all over is torso. I covered everything except it's legs. Which were covered by its body. I looked at it with a gentle smile. Then slowly slid my hands down towards its legs. It slowly shifted its body. I tried to do the same on the other side but it used its head to nudge me away. Which means I found the problem. Since it wasn't going to let me help willingly. I stood up and realized I still had a snack in my pocket. I grabbed it out and tried to get it to eat it. The creature sniffed it but turned away from me. So I looked around and tried to figure out what it actually ate. I walked outside the cave and grabbed some leaves and took that in to the creature. It slowly limped towards the pile I grabbed and placed beside the makeshift table. So I leaned down and reached for its hind leg. It was definitely severely injured. It had claw marks, teeth marks and really deep cuts. It looks as if something tried to take a chunk out of it. I placed my hand over its leg and was trying to see if I could use the magic that now coursed through me. I began to glow and light emitted through me. The creature was no longer limping as bad. The leg was not fully healed but it was no longer bleeding. The light my body was giving off lit the entire cave. In the corner of my eye I saw something move in the far corner. Across from where we are now standing. So I started to walk over to it. The light has faded and I'm trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness. The creature I just helped started making sounds. The closer I got the louder it became. A quick flash passed me and I saw it was a tiny version of the creature I just helped. Realizing those noises were a warning. I turned around towards the parental creature and slowly walked away from the baby. I was to late. It's eyes were fuming red and it was already charging at me. I braced myself but nothing happened. I lowered my head and hands and prayed it understood I meant no harm. I squeezed my eyes closed and waited. Then moments later I heard hello. The creature was standing in front of me, just staring at me. Then I heard it again. Hello. I am Kira. Thank you for helping me. I mean you no harm as long as you do not put my babies in harms way. I looked over and smiled at her beautiful baby. I bent down into a sitting position on my knees. I put my hands out to give her baby a chance to approach me. The same way my mom used to do to me when ever I got hurt. It was how I knew she was open to hugs and cuddles. This tiny little creature stood there looking back and forth between me and its mother. Slowly it made its way to me. At first it just sniffed me all over. Then took a step backwards and looked me up and down. Then I was knocked over on my butt and it was in my lap. I was stroking its head and talking with its mother. Mostly about how I ended up on this side of the forest. I explained that I had gotten lost. Then I felt this pull towards the cave. Then how my body refused to listen as I tried to back out of the cave. Then we talked about how I could stay the night since it's very dangerous on this side of the forest. She said there are many creatures in this forest that do not show kindness to outsiders. Then she told me that she would help guide me back towards the Riverbend. We were getting ready to eat. I helped her gather leaves and such to bring back into the cave. I was just getting ready to summon my own food. We were all gathered in front of a tiny man made fire place. My food randomly appeared in front of me in small portions. I was just about to take my first bite when everything went dark. I felt something push me so hard my body went flying. I couldn't see anything around me and my vision was blurred. I could feel warmth on the backside of my head but I felt super tired. When I woke back up Kira was lying on her child. She was barely breathing but she was still alive. Barely but she was. Her baby was beneath her and I could tell she was terrified. I'm not sure what's going on but I have to help. I looked around the room and right where the baby was. When I first saw it in the corner. There stood a man holding this beautiful pearl like ball in his hands. He picked it up and tucked it into his coat. Then he leaned over for the next one. That's when I realized, he was taking her eggs. The baby darted towards him at full speed. Screaming leave my family alone. My heart sank as I watched the baby be flown against the wall. At this point I was trying to make a plan to save us all. I don't think he knows I'm here or that I'm awake. That gives me the element of surprise. I just needed to figure out how to do it without bringing harm to the eggs. I tried to mind link Kira. She must've heard my thoughts. She was slowly getting up. She made her way to him and fell right beside him. He kicked her right in the stomach and said to her the most horrid things. Don't you worry. I will take great care of your children. I'm going to sell them to the king. They will be his slaves and will be happy. The king treats all his pets very well. As for your yelp here. I'm sure I can make a good dollar for it. Once it reaches maturity I'll make sure to breed it. I'll keep your line alive as long as I can enjoy it myself. Kira had a tear in her eyes. I could see she was in massive pain. Her entire body was matted in blood. Then he snickered and then started speaking again. As for you, you ugly b***h. I will gut you and use your parts for money in the black market. My body was beginning to get hot. I could feel the heat coursing through me. He turned towards her and the pocket with the eggs were right above her. He lifted up a dagger and was about to swing when I let my daggers fly. It ripped right through his neck. It slowly dragged itself down his back and finally reached his feet. It pierced his foot. He slowly turned towards me and just started towards me. He had this crazy look on his face and his eyes terrified me. Fear rose in me and I stood there frozen in time. I knew all it would take is a single hit and I would be down for the count. Would he kill me? Would he talky me with him and sell me a well? Shuddering from the thought as I noticed just how close he was now. He was standing just in arms reach. His dagger in hand and raised up high. I closed my eyes waiting to feel the dagger pierce my skin. Only it never did. I squinted my eye open only to see the baby had plunged right into him. The dagger was pushed into him as he hit the wall. The egg he was holding in his arm was now falling. I quickly ran towards him as it slowly slipped out of his hand. At which point I knew his spirit was leaving his body. I reached him just in time to grab the egg. His hand came out of nowhere and gripped my hair. My head thrusted towards him as I tried to break free. He yanked harder and I fell to the ground. I felt him put a knife to the back of my head. Just as I felt the blow, my vision turned completely red. We were now standing and I was trying to wiggle my way out of his grip. The baby came from behind and I slipped the egg to it. I felt heat, lots of heat. Then I was being pulled back towards the ground. His breathing was unsteady but his grip was fierce. I watched as his spirit finally left his body. I then started to try and get out of his grips but try as I might. I am completely stuck but I won't give up. Then I heard someone call out my name. The voice sounded familiar but I did not know who it belonged to. So I responded with I am okay I am just very tangled in his grip. When the man approached me it was no one I actually knew. It belonged to that dark shadow. The one I hit with my arrow earlier. Fear was now coursing through me all over again. I thought to myself. This must be how I die. My entire body stiffened as it got closer and closer to me. Then he said do not worry. I am not here to hurt you. I just want to help you. Then he pulled out a stick of some sort. Just like that I was free from the dead mans grip. He took my side and lifted me up. He asked me if I was hurt. I nodded as to say no. I tried to open my mouth but I couldn't find my voice. So he looked at me a few moments longer then asked if I was sure I was not hurt. As he lifted his hands to show me there was blood on it. I moved my body around a bit as I was reaching, feeling to see if I was indeed hurt. I was twisting and turning as I was checking my body. I came full circle towards him. I was completely unbalanced and started falling forward. My eyes grew wide as a sword slid right passed my face. Just barely missing me as it cut me ever so lightly. Then the shadow man just disappeared into thin air. I tried to look for him but I could not see him anywhere. I caught myself right before my face hit the ground. I realized at that point that I was indeed being held up by him smh not on my own account. Seconds later I felt the familiar grasp of my escort. Before I could even realize what was going on I was in his arms. Everything at this point had happened so fast I was confused. That or maybe I really did hit my head way too hard way too many times. I looked around and found the family I was with was still in the far corner practically hidden in the darkness. Which must be how they've survived here for so long. I began to wiggle free so I could check on Kira and her babies. He put me down and handed me the egg I was so desperately trying to protect. I gave him a quick smile, grabbed the egg and put my hand up. I asked him to wait for me right here for just a moment. Before he could answer me I turned and briskly walked towards Kira. I knew she was badly hurt. I just hope and pray she's still alive. I pray I can help her this time around. When I reached them the child was crying on top of her. Kira was breathing shallow and she had really bled out. She was completely matted and some blood was turning dark already. At which point I feared I might be too late. I called for Xerion. He was not far at all. He quickly came to me and I pointed to Kira. He did not say anything at first. He just leaned over and began to try and heal her. The whole room lit up but died out just as quick. So we tried it together. Her breathing improved but that was about it. So both xerion and I both allowed a tear from us fall upon her. In hopes that might help her. She was able to open her eyes completely. That is an improvement I think. I searched her eyes for some kind of indication that she was okay. I leaned down towards her head and gave her a light hug. Then I heard her voice. She had asked me to please take and watch over her family. My time here has come to an end. The eggs in your possession and my child. They are creatures of great power. Many will seek them out and abuse their powers. The one the man holds is for you and only you. Though everyone else here can only see an egg. I know you can see the magic that grows inside of it. Please take them as your own. I nodded in agreement. Silence fell between us. As if the connection was gone. Just then the baby walked over and looked at me. He stood only a step away from me. I watched as it began to change its appearance. It turned into a little boy. My name is dainan. Then I heard her again. Only this time it was very faint. Please hurry and leave this place. My Dainans rightful owner will cross your path again. Pick your battles carefully. There are a few that are not here to harm to but will seem to be a threat at first. He is fated to another but the connection broke before transformation was complete. Now go, I must sleep and I feel evil coming this way. She shifted into human form and I stood there amazed at her beauty. As we turned to walk away I heard her voice once again. The shadow. Do not fear the shadow. He belongs to Dainan. He is cursed but is not dangerous. I nodded but kept going. I did not want Dainan to see his mother die. If she dies I do not want to be here either. We all walked back quietly. Xerion looked at us and said do not worry. She will live and heal but it will take many moons. She told me you guys will cross paths again. As her owner is your kin. These creatures cannot die unless their masters and their masters kin have either passed on or claimed all their kin. Then I heard a familiar sound of a stomach rumble. Dainan quickly put his head down as he was embarrassed. So I used what strength I had left to summon us all food. It was a quiet dinner. Then we all washed up. I started a fire and we all headed to sleep.