A darker forest

The night was silent, dark, and deep, and the stars glittered brilliantly high overhead. Or at least, Hadama assumed that they did. The ancient thick-boled trees with their purple-tinged leaves blocked out the light directly above him, but he stood at the very edge of the immense forest and could look to the north to see the clear sky there.

He had not been there long. He and Sah had only just arrived, teleporting in on a warp of gravity and a flash of lightning, respectively. The Void-touched foliage was slow to respond to these new arrivals - who were most decidedly _not_ FrIEnDs of the Family, but neither were they easy prey. Perhaps the lack of sunlight contributed to their sluggish state; they might have been corrupted by the Void, but they were still plants of Caido, changed but not beyond recognition.

Yet.

Hadama's expression was impassive as he mentally shook off the heavy thoughts. He turned to the Wild Thunder and inclined his head in gratitude. "Thank you for coming with me," he said quietly. "It did not seem wise to come alone. But I wish to finish my quest for Safrin soon."

Sah nodded, "Of course." When Hadama had asked for assistance with such a dangerous task, one for Safrin no less, the Wild Thunder had been quick to agree. Seeing the once beautiful and wild Greatwood reduced to a purple hell was disturbing. What once was lush and green was violet and corrupted. It sent a pang of grief through his chest.

It was also convenient that Hadama reached to him as Sah had some news to share with the Demi-god. His lips twitched slightly despite the danger as he shifted forms and spoke through the Attuned bond. Though now that we can communicate this way, it might be best to stick to the bond while we're here. Accompanying the words was a subdued wave of joy. Sah was still getting used to the emotion-sharing of the bond and wasn't able to fully suppress the happiness that came with recalling his recent hybridization. Even in such a risky situation, the memory of Safrin's blessing brought a smile to his face.

Vox had already proven to be able to infiltrate their minds, but it was still better to avoid letting anyone or anything else overhear them. They needed to be quick and get out undetected. His black fur also aided in that.

the wild thunder

Lightning strikes
A distant howl

code by sky

There was noise in the woods behind them. A creaking of branches and a slither of vines. The shifting of soil as roots lifted and stretched in the dark. The sounds were noted by sharp ears, but they were not quite close enough to be a danger yet. Still, time was not on their side. Intending to say as much, Hadama looked back at his companion just in time to see the Abandoned shift--

And to hear Sah through the Attuned bond for the first time.

Ah. That was... new.

Indeed, he murmured through the bond, his voice rich and warm, though his communication was crisp and clean, without any added emotion. Much like he kept his expression stoic, he did not allow his feelings to enter the Attuned Bond without his conscious choice. Still, Sah's joy was palpable and in spite of the danger around them Hadama's gaze softened as he looked down at the wolf that stood in the Halovian's place. And congratulations. But we should not linger here. Do you need to shift back to use your magic to leave?

I have never feared the storm

Thank you. With the sharper senses of the wolf, Sah felt more at ease in the tainted forest. Just a bit. The irregular patterns of branches, distant squelching, and asymmetrical rustling kept him on edge. Everything about the forest was wrong. As he and Hadama walked, the hybrid regularly scanned their surroundings.

At the question, the dark wolf nodded, [i]Yes. I'll shift once we're ready to leave the Greatwood. Unable to partially shift yet, Sah preferred to keep his sharpest senses out for now.

Once Hadama indicated that they'd successfully completed Safrin's task and it was time to go, the hybrid shifted back into his human form. Rolling his shoulders, Sah gave a nod. "Alright. Ready?" Lighting began to well up in his chest, ready to surge forward at a moment's notice and activate his teleportation.

Sah

Rising suddenly from the foliage, you realize the area you've stumbled into has been overrun by Void River Stars. The carnivorous plants reach out to ensnare any who approach, draining their life force.

As the Greatwood has been taken over by the Family, remaining in this area will be dangerous as the flora/fauna will continue to grow increasingly hostile toward you. Remaining in this thread for a prolonged period of time will likely trigger a KQ.

---

You’ve encountered  Void River Stars. This counts as an uncommon creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements.

Void River Stars (uncommon): The carnivorous River Stars, tainted by void energy, have become even more sinister. Their once vibrant appearance has faded into shades of deep black and purple. Now, instead of waiting for prey to step onto their centers, they actively seek out creatures, using void-infused tendrils to ensnare and drain the life force from their victims.

His task had simply been to stand upon the northernmost point of Caido. Though that might once have been in Halo, the shattering of the world in the War had shifted the regions so that the Greatwood now held that distinction. As soon as his feet had touched the corrupted ground, his quest had been accomplished. And while there was much to speak of once they teleported their way across the region to safety, it was nothing that could not wait.

"Ready," he agreed solemnly as Sah regained human form and teleported in a burst of lightning. He reached for the magic in his own soul, flavored in moonlight and the heart of a star--

A different sort of star rose abruptly around them, tendrils lashing out to wrap around his wrist and ankle. The Tidebreaker drew in a sharp breath, and his magic twisted as his intentions changed. Not to flee, but to cleanse. Three lances of warped space dropped down upon the river star that had ensnared him, shattering shell and foliage alike to lifeless pulp. The severed tendrils dropped away, releasing him from the star's grip, and he wasted no more time against the rest. His magic expanded again, drawing on the power of the moon even though it was hidden by the thick canopy above, and Hadama disappeared, following Sah to the edge of the Greatwood. From there they could regroup to a region free of the overpowering corruption of the Family.

~Fin