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Shalars relief was palpable in the air, and to be honest he didn't really understand why he was so possessive over something he had hated and feared all of his life... but this inner darkness come to life was as much a part of himself as his own beating heart... so, why would he not protect his own heart?

Thinking not of the creature that would likely turn to follow them he stormed forward, creating a slight path for him and Azkadellia. There were several spots with overhanging branches and he lifted them up for her using his larger wings. "I am glad." He finally said, the silence that had fallen between them strangely uncomfortable... he found he actually wanted to hear her voice. Again he forced himself not to explore that concept, simply continued in blissful ignorance. "I do not know who he was.... a beast, Kalona." He didn't want her to be scared but he could not bring himself to lie to her either. The Kalona had not looked.... pure... but that did not make him any less dangerous, if anything Shalar was willing to bet he was more so. For a moment fear prickled the hairs at the back of Shalar's neck.... where was Petal?

He stopped in his path and scented the air. The wind was blowing towards the Kalona, and so would their scent... but he could not smell his little mouse. Sure that she would go home and stay hidden should the beast cross her path Shalar decided to focus on Azkadellia's safety. "I need you to trust me," He turned to face her. Seriousness wrinkling his features, even as he said her name with a soft tendernous; "Azkadellia."

Shalar's training and protective need put him into action. He froze, every instinct in his body flaring to life as he listened and felt for the energy of the forest. It was... magical, but he did not dwell on the life he senced around him, instead he looked for a spot that could be used for hiding. There was... an empty echo in the wind... the sort of thing that usually indicated a hollow tree or a cave, something that forced the wind to go around. That was his target.... "This way..." He said, before giving her the briefest, softest kiss of reassurance on her cheek before heading off... they didn't have much time, of that he was sure.

Barker Hook was pissed! And that was putting it mildly. He couldn't help but feel cheated.... that light had clearly been a trick, why else would it have lead him away and then vanish? Yet even as he was miffed at being tricked he couldn't help but see such an attraction put to use in his carnival... oh the joy and shock of the crowd as lights danced around them, and that alluring and mysterious stallion being the course of it all. Both were... appealing. He grinned, spun around in a motion most would not have guessed him capable of given his false limb.... but he was well versed in such actions.

He would not rage back towards his pray... startling him would likely cause more tricks... no... he would hunt!

Shalar paused and shook his head; "This is not your fault." Kalona's were known to roam, and if something caught their interest they were prone to lingering..... it was a trait that Shalar hated, and he remembered when he had been in the presences of one called Demon.... the beast had been cornered, out numbered but far from out... the agression that Shalar saw in his face still gave him pause to this day.

However Shalar couldn't allow himself to linger too much on such thoughts, now was not the time. He pressed on through the forest and found what he was seeking... it was small, too small for him and his wings but he was sure that Azkadellia would fit in nicely. It was an old oak tree. Huge in size, so large in fact that Shalar got the distinct impression that this was were the forest had started, where everything had begun..... impressive. Turning his attention back to Azkadelllia after a long silence he found himself speaking a flurry of words... "I need you to hide here for a while. And if you permit it, allow me to remove a few feathers." His plan was to mark a trail in the opposite direction, make it look like they got confused and doubled back. He would jump twice in each spot, side by side, to make it appear as if two set of hoof prints were still walking together. It may not work... but he had to try.... plus, if he lead his own scent away from the beauty of his inner darkness it may just be enough to entice the beast to follow him instead... fresh was best.

Shalar didn't voice any of his plans. Simply smiled softly but seriously. He didn't want her scared, the mere thought of it was enough to ruffle him up the wrong way... so... he was left with no other option. "I...." He had no idea what he was trying to say, maybe he was trying to tell her how he felt... yet the problem was he didn't really know. Hadn't taken the time to consider the implications.... and wasn't it just a little sick to be attracted to a part of yourself? No matter how small..... He shut his eyes and shook his head in an attempt to dislogde his thoughts. "Never mind... we haven't the time."

Barker Hook may look slow and lazy, but when there was something he wanted he went at it with all his might.... at a speed that would probably have scared his own mother had she not died all those years ago. The very thought of her death was enough to renew his strength; it was to find their killer that he did what he did... he had lost his family in a fire, none of them small enough to escape through the hole in the gate like he had been..... that had been the night he had lost his hoof... though he had never told a soul that.

Still, he kept his pace steady, his tracking skills causing him to pause every now and then to ensure the trail was still right. They had moved in straight lines.... how... predictable and boring.... and there was definatly more than one. More than that strange stallion, which lead Barker to a question; was the light really from the stallion? Or the one he had been protecting? He would find out....

The trail went cold for a moment, except... Barkers eyes fell upon.... a feather. A smile formed on the old stallions lips... how inexperienced his prey where.

Shalar didn't allow himself to say anything else. He simply nodded at his inner darkness before leaning in and taking a mouthful of the feathers she offered. He tugged them free, perhaps much rougher than he had intended to... but his mind was buzzing with what needed to be done.

He turned and started to walk away. For what felt like an eternity he resist the urge to turn around, but just before he was out of sight he did so. His eyes sad....

Not able to tally any longer he sprinted off towards the path, jumping now from side to side to create his duo path. When he reached the point they had come from he dragged his tail across the ground to destroy some of the path, to blurr it out, before he continued. He couldn't hear anyone approaching... yet... but that just made his mission all the more desperate.

Jump, jump, jump. Hop, hop, hop. Oh what a sight he must have been... a fully grown stallion with roses in his hair acting very much like a rabbit. In any other situation he probably would have felt degraded.... but today that was not the case. He dropped the first feather, realising he was going to slow he did his best to pick up the pace.

When the last of his stolen feathers was gone he looked back at what he had created. He had kept the path straight, not wanting anyone following to suddenly realise a change in strategy.... but there was a strategy. Straight was simple and quick; and he had taken a few turns along the part of the path he prayed the Kalona would not venture down.... towards Azkadellia.

Would she still be there when he returned? He hoped so... but perhaps that was too much to hope for. Maybe losing sight of her would simply make her return to him? After all... she was his inner darkness.

Barker Hook started to grow impatient as he followed the track. It changed.... yet the scent that rose up in his nose clearly told him the new tracks were fresh.... what had caused the change? Perhaps a blockage? Or.... he took a deep breath... seperation? Interesting.... but the hunter in him couldn't allow him to lose the track. Couldn't allow him to do anything but follow the fresh scent and tracks. Whoever was at the end of it... Gods above help them, but they would feel his wrath.

He grinned.

Shalar had done all he could... he simply hoped it was enough. He started to plan his escape... his way back to Azkadellia.

Barker Hook could sence a victory at hoof....which was why he picked up his pace with such focused concentration you could almost smell his brain cells burning.... or maybe that was the dirt being ate up by his hooves? Who knew... who cared? Barker didn't that was for sure.

The scent grew stronger all of sudden, flooding the sences. He knew from the tracks that there where two set of hooves wanding this way, all going in the same direction; but only one unique scent assaulted his nose. This told him one of two things... either the tracks were a trick -very clever, or the stallion had managed to hide or overpower the more floral scent he had tracked earlier -very interesting. Either way, this was about to get fun.

Barker saw a flash of pink ahead and his heart raced....

Action roll: [[Let the fates decide XD]]
1- Barker Hook is too late and arrives at the clearing too late. The trail vanishing into thin air. (Shalar has managed to fly off without being caught or seen)
2- Barker Hook's speed takes Shalar by suprise as the Kalona tackles Shalar's side knocking him to the ground. (Minor damage)

The well-known phrase of "waiting is the hardest part" couldn't seem more apt to her situation at the moment. Azkadellia had not budged from the hiding place that Shalar had found for her since she'd squeezed herself into the hollow space earlier. She'd let her lights illuminate the interior above her so that she wouldn't be totally left in the dark and she sighed softly. The question of when she'd be able to sleep danced tantalizing around in her mind. She'd not had any sleep before she had started the game with the stallion and well now she was too confused and nervous to sleep. What if something had happened to Shalar? Her wingtips fluttered in her apprehension. There was still a mild throbbing from the spot on her wing where Shalar had yanked off feathers from. All together ... Azkadellia deemed that it was not the best day for her.

The one bright spot though had been meeting Shalar. Even if he seemed confused as to what she was to him the mare could admit to herself that maybe the stallion's confusion would dissipate over time. Certainly he was a sight to behold and he seemed genuinely worried about her safety. He could have left her to face the Kalona alone but he'd taken the time to find her a safe place before trying to lure the beast away.

Azkadellia craned her head outside once more before letting her eyes close. While it was probably not the most practicable place to rest perhaps a small nap would kill some time and let her relax for a little while. A small smile graced her features as she allowed herself to doze.

Azkadellia's eyes fluttered open. Something had disturbed the light slumber that she actually managed to settle into. As she regained her bearings Azkadellia's tired mind struggled to function and provide her with details of where she was. The narrow confines of the hollow tree limited her movements and brought awareness back. She'd been stashed here for her own protection. Thinking about that brought the whole situation back to light and Azkadellia now wondered just what it was that had woken her. Her lights had disappeared as her consciousness had faded and so it was darkness that greeted her now. Something else seemed a little off. When Shalar had found this hiding place there had been a little bit of moonlight that filtered in through the opening.

Azkadellia narrowed her gaze. The light that had been present before seemed to have been blocked as hardly anything was coming through. Someone or something was outside of her hiding place. Without exposing herself Azkadellia would hardly even begin to guess what it might be. Could Shalar have already come back? Was it the Kalona from before? Was it something totally different?

All these questions and not enough answers. The mare stamped her left hoof against the ground as quietly as she could before deciding to face the music. She tucked in her wings and quickly emerged from her hiding place. A large shape sat facing away from her and for a moment Azkadellia felt her breath catch in her throat. Had she just made a giant miscalculation? It was then that the moonlight picked out certain features of the shape and the mare gave a small sound of relief before continuing forward.

She let her wings flare out and used one wingtip to gently brush it against Shalar's side. She didn't say anything but waited to see the stallion's reaction.

Azkadellia almost did get knocked off her feet as it was. Not by Shalar's wingspan but at the speed at which he had moved. Her eyes widened in a bit of shock at the reaction that her touch had brought forth. In retrospect she probably should have been the one apologizing. She didn't like it when others, if they could, would sneak up on her so maybe it was the same with Shalar. As it was the stallion was probably still feeling an adrenaline rush from having to lay down a false trail and find his way back.

As Shalar closed his eyes and issued his apology something happened deep inside Azkadellia. Something changed. Azkadellia had never been one to seek out companionship and preferred being alone to "play" her various games. But this little game that she had initiated with Shalar had led to something more. The mare couldn't understand what it was at the moment.

With a quiet whisper Azkadellia's wings once again brushed against Shalar's side. "You do not need to apologize Shalar. You acted on instinct. It's been a harrowing night. It's bound to have left you a little tense." Azkadellia lowered her wings and with a small movement brought herself to stand right close to Shalar's side. She gave an indiscernible sound of content before letting her eyes close as she breathed in Shalar's unique scent. "I feel that I owe you a 'thank you' at the least. You risked your safety to guarantee mine."

Azkadellia was just a little shocked at the strength that was hidden in the wing that draped over her side. She had been gently drawn in so that she was right alongside Shalar's side. Had it been anyone else to do this Azkadellia probably would have fought to free herself and march off. But it was not anyone else. The stallion standing at her side had risked life and limb for her. Azkadellia almost felt special ... something to be cherished. When Shalar's voice made his promise she glanced sharply at him. "Let us hope then we remain safe."

The thought that she'd lose Shalar was repugnant to the mare. As they stood in silence Azkadellia chanced a quick glance around the clearing before concentrating softly. Various orbs of light appeared and began to dance around the pair. She gave a soft sigh before briefly nuzzling Shalar's neck. Time seemed to stand still as the display went on. Az let her eyes follow a light before switching to another. This was the first time she'd truly taken a moment just to enjoy the lights for herself.