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((Twas meant for Rosa for now)) 3nodding ((Up to you, but can't guarantee he'd believe it))


"...North?" Tala had completely forgotten about the orb and lifted a hand up to the amulet that hung from his makeshift necklace... "But we've just got here..." he gripped it, lifting the orb up to his eyes before letting it drop...

He was oblivious to what the Elder Tree had told Rosa during the night, having been left to sleep soundly...

Feeling as though he'd lost his appetite he tossed the meat he'd been eating towards the pup that had tried to steal it earlier, then rose to his feet, dusting off his pants before walking to the edge of the clearing... He'd stand there for a moment, then glanced back at Rosa before dropping his eyes... He'd forgotten his task at hand and felt bad about it...

"We'll leave as soon as you're ready..." he breathed a sigh, then brushed away the vines and left the clearing - he wanted to walk around by himself for a while before they left...

The Elder Tree was silent for a moment, then when it seemed as though the entity wasn't going to say anything, then she would speak...

"It's all fine in telling him...but it's getting him to believe what you say..." she was aware the boy would wander for some time before returning... he would head to his favourite spot where he could see the entire lower world of Sune...

"He'll learn in time...I'm sure of that...but to tell him might force a wedge between your friendship...especially if he realises what he's believed all his life was wrong..." the voice would fall silent again and the dogs would seem to grow restless, running circles around the clearing whilst yapping and snarling at one another as though agitated...

"The Demon King sees only darkness here," the Elder Tree said softly, "Why take over what is already part of the Darklands? I'm sure he knows it's protected here... The forest itself has grown darker in these passing months... It's only this clearing that has been spared because I believe Sino doesn't know of it..."

The beasts continued snapping and snarling, chasing one another now, their hackles risen and mouths dripping...

"They are concerned for their pack brother..." The Entity frowned, "I would draw back the vines and open the seal, but I fear they might rush away and leave me unguarded... It's selfish I know, but I am all that is this forest...and should I become injured or die, Sune would cease to exist..."

There would be no doubt that if Rosa tried to leave, the dogs would try to follow her... The Entity could see the beasts were restless and knew this would be the case... The most she could suggest was to sit tight until the dogs settled down...


Tala leapt back as the beast crashed through the undergrowth towards him, its two-pronged horn landing either side of a tree as Tala retreated up the trunk for safety...

He had intentionally left to 'sulk' but the creature had come from nowhere, clearly overwhelmed by some sort of blight which was driving it crazy... Normally, such a creature would potter around the forest without much care for the day, but this one was infuriated...

When hunting, Tala would only take down what he and the pack needed, but this thing needed taming... He drew his daggers and leapt from the tree, driving his weapons into the back of the beast before dragging it down and putting it out of its misery...

He slid from the creatures back as it collapsed, apologising for cutting its life short, but explaining that it would be at peace and no longer in pain... Seconds later, it would fade to nothing as it was absorbed by the forest...

Realising things weren't right with Sune and that there was no doubt he'd need to leave again in order to sort out the issue, he grudgingly made his way back to the clearing, where he was greeted by the netherbeast who hastily cleared the beast's blood from his clothes and skin before dispersing around the clearing...

"We need to leave." He muttered, making his way past Rosa towards the Elder Tree...

"What's happened to the forest?" Tala seemed to ignore Rosa's concerned questions and focussed directly on the Elder Tree, his hands placed firmly upon the bark of her trunk...

The clearing was silent...even the beasts had ceased in their play and were looking towards their pack brother...ears twitching anxiously for his next words...

"I was just attacked by a Mokcha." Getting no answer he continued speaking... "A beast you know well as a passive entity that won't attack without reason..." he narrowed his eyes, "What's happened? Answer me! ...Naneth!"

A sigh would fill the clearing, followed by the Elder Tree's voice which seemed to resonate around them... "Sune has been infiltrated by the Demon King's darkness...And although I am able to keep the clearing protected for now...I can already feel his blight tainting my roots..." She had kept this secret from the both of them until now... "You were attacked because the creatures are afraid...many have fallen sick and are dying because of his...darkness..."

Tala gritted his teeth, removing his hands as he bit back a growl... "So...Can't you do something about it!?" He couldn't hide the look of anguish on his face, not understanding how Sune could ever be conquered...

"You need to leave this place...to protect yourself, and your friends..." The entity could sense his upset, but continued... "I shall protect you until you reach the lower forest - that place has yet to suffer the blight of his darkness... but once you're there, I cannot guarantee your safety...and you will be on your own."

Tala was mortified...all he'd known was...dying? This couldn't be happening...

((Feel like I'm taking over a bit here)) sweatdrop ((Reins are yours once we escape...lol* Sorry)) sweatdrop


"The best thing you can do to help...is to leave and find a way to defeat the Demon King..."

A vine would drift down towards them, floating across the amulet hanging from Tala's neck and touching it, the orb would glitter for a moment, then the vine out proceed to Rosa.

"I shall gift you what power I can, but as soon as you leave this clearing, I will start to close down the forest as my last attempt to protect it from the Darkness..."

"But you can't!" Tala placed his hands upon the bark, "I won't let you do this!"

"Do me a favour and find your birth-parents." The Elder Tree knew this would upset the boy, but it was the only way she would get him to leave, "They'll look after you. Now run."

Tala felt such an energy within the heart of the tree and it forced him back... he looked to Rosa, then narrowed his eyes... The Elder Tree wasn't going to compromise and her leaves had already started to turn grey...

"Rosa, get on Meta." He made his way to the barrier, spreading the vines aside... The hounds would wait for the pair to mount the Horzun before flanking them as they would set off into the forest...

They wouldn't notice it at first, but the leaves and trees around them would start to turn grey, becoming petrified as the Elder Tree withdrew all her energy into the main trunk...

((Kk)) smile
Tala felt as though a piece of him had been ripped out, but kept Meta running towards the deeper forest...

It was clear Sune was under a great darkness... Creatures fell where they stood, their bodies dispersing into a scattering of blue orbs before fading completely; Vines rose from all angles, thrashing about them before ultimately ceasing to move as they were turned to stone...

The greying of the undergrowth flanked them closely, almost catching them on a few occasions, but Meta was faster - it wasn't easy to run through the forest though, fallen trees blocked paths whilst wild vines that would have tripped or spooked a normal horse were rife having sensed something big was happening...

"Hold on..." Tala flicked the reins, urging Meta to go faster before seemingly directing him off the edge of a cliff... The great drop beneath them would have made anyone's stomach churn, but ultimately, it was just a face for what lay behind...

Meta landed and would no doubt stumble, having expected to drop to his demise only to find solid ground beneath his hooves... They would land in a new clearing, both thrown from the Horzun's back as it stumbled and fell...

Tala would roll a few feet before landing with his back hard against a man-made wall... This impact would steal his breath for a moment, but then he would draw it back as he watched the forest they had just left turn grey...the vines constricting around the trees before ultimately turning to stone before their eyes...

He rose to his feet as the sound of soft materials becoming hard fell into a deathly silence... Crossing towards the barrier he would lay his right hand flat upon the cold, hard bark, feeling nothing more from the forest than the lifeless stone beneath his palm...

Drawing another breath there would be a further moment of silence before Tala would turn, his hand leaving a soft blue imprint on the petrified bark as he slid down beside the barrier, he knees drawn up to his chest and head in his arms...