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It had been awhile since Takoda had gone back to his old home. The house he had grown up with and lived in even after both his parents passed away. Guilt riddled him as he felt that he should be tending to his old home, the home away from home. He had left Zuko there, the giant moth like creature at that place and he wondered if it was still around or even alive.

Lost in his thoughts as he moved in the direction which was his home he unconsciously ducked below a strand of sticky webbing that was strewn from one tree to the next. He hadn't even noticed the fact it was getting thicker as he got closer. It wasn't until he accidentally brushed against one strand a jolt of nausea struck him. Staggering and nearly falling off tree branch that he was atop of.

A hand to his forehead the shifter felt dizzy and sick, looking over he nearly lept back in surprise seeing the silk thread that he had nearly landed in. What...the? Feverish nightmares resurfaced from his childhood, he recalled being stuck on the web before. Hallucinations, fevers and nightmares. Seeing the strands brought dread as he allowed his gaze to look forward to discover that there wasn't just one or two but a network of them and they grow more and more dense the closer they got to his.....house.

Holding his breath Takoda slowed down, seeing his old home in such a state brought a bought of guilt. Menzuri only took to nesting in an area that was safe, secluded and unlikely to be disturbed. Being this close to the borders of Jahaur and Tale was most disturbing. Where they expanding their territory? Chewing on his thumb the shifter moved forward slowly, though the webs were evidence of them being there, they didn't look too new. Perhaps they had tried to make a home here but decided against it.

Moving closer he tried to regulate his breathing, panic threatened to make him mistep and draw the attention of anything nearby. Picking his way carefully towards the house, his grey eyes looked about so signs of the menzuri but thus far there had been no sightings of them. The webbing was getting thicker and he had to be very careful as he moved one false step and he could land in a hellish nightmare and possibly be eaten.

About to step forward Takoda stiffened, stopping midstep as he saw something in the corner of his gaze move. It was slow and deliberate and familiar. A chill went up his spine as he realized not only to his left was something massive something below him had been watching him intently as well. Holding his breath it was like time stood still, if he dared to breath now not one but two menzuri would be upon him. They were sight baised predators and so if he didn't move...they couldn't see him right?

Takoda knew he couldn't stay there forever...and after a quick reevaluation the shifter darted forward and perhaps it was good timing on his part and the menzuri from below had taken this time to leap upwards as well. The sound of branches breaking as the large arachnid hit sent a shudder along the branch he was on. THe fact it was broken didn't help as he was forced to leap to another branch. The second menzuri seemed to have known this would be his choice and was already there to great him.

Eyes large Takoda brought his hands up as reflex summoning a wall of dirt to act as a shield. The shield didn't last long as the creature smashed through it quickly but it was enough of a distraction to allow the shifter to quickly drop down to a different branch. His heart was thudding against his chest so hard he felt it may explode and he would die on the spot. BUt he didn't have time to let his thoughts linger on such things as the second menzuri was already hot on his trail.

The Soul linker wasn't entirely sure how he managed it. A near hit here and a impressive dodge there and suddenly he was free of the creatures and fleeing out of the forest and into Tale. The massive creatures didn't like having places to ambush with the thinning out of trees and soon abandoned their chase. The advantage no longer theirs they lost interest. Lucky for Takoda who only stopped running when he saw the dim outline of his home.

Word count: 790
Finished