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Now what? Lydia twisted her hands together in uncertainty. She'd never been asked to do anything like this before. Every time Pan had encountered another Nightmare with her in tow he'd treated her like... an object. Something to be broken and discarded. Something that had no worth without him. And now he expected something of her and had given her no idea what it was that he wanted. She sucked in a small breath.

"Korriganes," she repeated, "A wanderer? Pan does not tolerate trespassing Nightmares unless they pay due respect to the Forest."

Lydia's mind raced. There had to be a reason she was being included in this in the first place. Pan had made a point to have her here. He had made a point to in some way, even as the lowest rung on the social ladder, to include her among the Nightmares gathered. There was always a reason for the things he did. After a moment, Lydia had an idea as to why.

"You heard the entire meeting, didn't you? It's valuable information... what do you intend to do with it?"

It was difficult to make her voice cold but she tried, remembering the times Pan had spoken to her in such a manner.

Lydia had to consider Korriganes's words for a moment. Wanderer? She'd never heard Pan use that word before... no, wait. Maybe. He'd said something about Nightmares that didn't belong any place at all but that was a different circumstance. He'd been offended then. Offended that the Nightmare in question was not a resident of Bestia and yet was traveling through it like they were without a proper token of respect shown to the Guardian of the Forest. She didn't feel comfortable talking to any Nightmare but so far, this one hadn't seemed so bad. Perhaps it was because, in some way, they were both outsiders here in the Forest. Lydia because she was human and nothing more than Pan's 'toy' and Korriganes because she had no home here in this strange world. Still. Lydia forced herself to focus on the issue at hand and tried to shove down that little surge of empathy. This was a Nightmare. If it weren't for Pan being so close things would be very, very different.

"Then you'd probably better at least acknowledge Pan himself," Lydia said, "If you really do respect the Forest. He gets offended easily when Nightmares that don't belong fail to pay him proper due... I'm not sure what that means." She looked embarrassed. "Pan hasn't told me much of anything."

Again, that empathy. Lydia chided herself. Hadn't Pan taught her many times that appearances were deceiving? He, himself, was a lesson in that. Noble and even beautiful in a strange way on the outside but so very cruel at heart. Even though this one... slight, diminutive, seemed harmless that probably wasn't the case.

"And I can't judge your intentions," Lydia said, firmly again, "I leave that to my master."

And Lydia stepped aside, gesturing for Korriganes to enter the clearing where Pan stood waiting, his blue eyes turned towards the shadows in which the two conversed.

Pan turned to face Korriganes as she crept into the clearing. He sniffed, delicately, taking in the scents of those around him and of the Nightmare approaching him. And that of his own human. So frightened, so unsure. Well, she could be weak and worthless to herself but he would find a use for her. He would make her be useful, even if she were cringing and crying for the entire time. These were his tools to use.

Even the Wanderer.

"The trees have told me of a wandering Nightmare in my domain," Pan said, "Your passage has bothered none."

He paused and tilted his head, looking past Korriganes and slowly blinking, as if he had all the time in the world to decide this matter. His fingers curled and uncurled around the hilt of his dagger and he raised the tip to tap thoughtfully against his cheekbone.

"But your presence... at this meeting... is an inconvenience. You do not have the look of one that would side with the city - you are no Nightmare born of human creations. So then - tell me - if I were to allow you pass peacefully through my realm - where would you go from here? To the City? With us? Or to some other realm...? And would your silence be assured or do I have to take it from you?"

And he smiled and flipped the dagger back in his hand so that the blade faced away from Korriganes. A slashing or stabbing position, so that the blade could either come up along her body or down into it.

"I will know if you lie. This is my domain. I am ruler here."

Pan already suspected he knew her answer. He had heard what she told Lydia and doubted it would change much. But he wanted to hear it for himself, if nothing else to establish to his own people that he had utter power over those that walked within the Forest. They would want such strength leading them in this raid. Pan's heart quivered with anticipation and his muscles shuddered slightly, eager to have the matter of the Wanderer over with so he could set in motion his beloved raid.

So, the outskirts of Beastia is where this fine expidition of blood and pleasure was going to take place? The canine hadn't a need to inquire more about what was needed or expected of him, and so he was raised off his hind legs and stood for a moment before stretching out much like any dog would. Though he did happen to catch some interesting bits of conversation, something about a whinning and a spine. Whatever it was, it certainly didn't catch his attention.

It was just as he was about to head off towards the outskirts of Beastia to await the right time to move, that again an odd part of conversation got his attention. A crystaline gaze shifted to the side as he spotted the Living Tree's human moving off. This might be rather... interesting to stay and watch. It wasn't curiousity that gripped his mind at this point, but rather a strange excitement carried by any beast ready for a scuffle. The events that unfolded certainly surpassed any fathoms of the imagination he could have thought up, but nonetheless he decided to stick around for a bit longer. Heck, he might as well take a seat to enjoy it! With a jaw-stretching yawn he once again lowered his haunches to the ground, though this time sprawled out in rather comfortable position.

Crystaline blue orbs rested on the Wander that had made its way up to the Living Tree. Though the conversation escaped him, he couldn't help but simply hope an order would come. He got the feeling this one didn't quite belong, and as such the guardian just might wish for such action as an attack to be taken. Despite the slim chances, Bauh'eim figured it better to stick around just in case. That, and if he got bored, he could always call Ropin to the nightscape for a bit of fun before going on the raid. Yes, that would do quite well really. Still, his gaze didn't leave the figure from his sprawled out position on the ground.

Korriganes stomach flip flopped. Straitening from her cower, she twisted on the balls of her feet to follow the near invisable wave of response. The tree's meshed together above, casting darkness upon the glade, and she felt a tremble beneath her bare feet that she could only imagin to be roots of the brush springing into being about the borders of Beastia.

The tree's mergance of branch's above was both effective and ineffective. It wasn't as if she could fly out. Of course, with her wings closed so tight to her back it was easy to miss the tattered state of the membranes. Still, the loss of the open sky was unpleasent, and the darkness that began to shroud all around her would be, by and far, very dangerouse for her if she were to attempt running.

Hitting a tree at her top speed would be very unpleasent, if she even managed to run far enough to gather that much speed behind her. Of course...she could just climb as high as she could and hope the jump down would be far enough to poof her....more then likely she'd just break a leg or twist an ankle. Jumping off the tops of buildings or falling down cliff's was what she needed. That was even if she wanted to deal with that much pain to slip out of Beastia.

Still, this proved to be a very inconveinent situation. She was a Wanderer currently not permitted to wander! Oh sure..she could probably stumble her way through the whole of Beastia...but that wasn't the point! The point was she was trapepd in it's borders and couldn't go where she willed! {more or less} So now what was she supposed to do? Just because Pan was too busy to swat her, something she was intensely grateful for, it didn't mean something else wouldn't find her a interesting chew toy! Twisting the strap of her bag between her fingers she felt a sour bile in the back of her throat.

Tag along? She could...and hope to slip through the border and into Operis when Pan and his motly little assortment reached the City. She honestly doubted Pan was ignorant of that being an attempt of her's. The only thing she could play on would be the hope of his ignorance of just how fast a little spat she was....providing he didn't make a bush pop up under her mid attempt...

She should have just stayed in that hollow and slept today...

Giving herself a little shake, she let her eyes snap about the other Nightmares in the glade, and then the human girl. Well...where they went it was bound to be lighter then if she were to stay put... She could linger on, and hope to be ignored until she had a real solid idea of how to get out of this mess. With careful tip toeing steps, Korriganes began to pace herself away from the overpowering presence of Pan, so as to slink along outside the ring of perception.

Aroon followed after the guardian of the forest. Watching him with his golden eyes, just where where they headed, was one question fluttering around the mind of the gryphon. He thought it odd that Pan would take his mortal to such a dangerous place. A glimpse of love still lingered in the gryphon for his human. Clawing at his insides from time to time, though he never would share this with any other soul. He would rather have his tongue sliced out from his beak then utter his inner secrete. How annoying , he thought to him self, emotions. Though he felt a familiar chill up his spine.

The gryphon had been locked away in his thoughts not paying any attention to where they were heading and almost walked into Pan. Luckily the strange gate had awakened him from his mental slumber. An odd gate it was. It gave Aroon another chill up his spine, but a different kind this time. He did not trust this gate that laid directly in front of them. Though he knew that they would have to travel to it to get to where they were headed, it still was eerie and mysterious.

Beyond in the eerie gate laid a place oh so familiar to Aroon. A city, like the one Erin lived in. Only this one was twisted with rot and past glory, making its way up to the sky in an impressive stride to demand all attention onto it's self. Eerie, yet it would suck you in if you were not careful. He could under stand why mortals would be more drawn to this place. Eerie and threatening with a cold steel backbone towering over all who dared lay eyes on this damned forsaken place.

Pan's roar almost made the gryphon jump out of his skin. His roar demanded more attention onto it self then the twisted dark steel structure. There was going to be blood shed for sure. Aroon was not scared at this. Just a bit uneasy. Twas the light before the dawning of war.

Ah well, the dog couldn't have everything go the way he wanted, despite how much of a thrill it would have been to recieve such an order. With a flick of his bushy tail, the canine had planned on staying around quite a bit longer to perhaps have a warm session with Ropin, the useless human of his, but such thoughts daunted at the back of his mind as unnecissary. He was warmed up already, his blood thirst was rather appealing to the taste buds, and certainly he would have no hesitation in the act.

With a rather distasteful movement away, the dog had gotten up from where he lay to follow suit with the movement of the guardian, though several minutes behind, of course. Of course, every step he took had the canine terror nearly stalking in the shadows, as if already on the hunt. It could have been, any time, such an order would come; and he just needed to keep his eyes pealed for such a thing.

However, it was something else that caught his attention, a roar from up ahead that sent shivers of both a fierce fear and terrible glee. They were close, his hide twitched with anticipation as his steps became more eager to catch up to the rest of the group. Such longiness in his baby blue eyes; twisted as it was.

Well then...this was what she'd been waiting for wasn't it? The path was open, the hoard gathered and chaotic. Things were prime for her to slip herself through the gap and escape, should all here truely be distracted.

Korriganes wasted little time on thought. If she had she would have contented herself to just huddle in some tree hollow in the shadows. No. She could not..would not do that. It was the same as if someone had locked her in a box. Korriganes valued the freedom of her wandering feet too much to risk them getting tripped up in the gnarled roots of Beastia!

She ran, darting with little concern to whom she might pass on her way out that gap. As harsh as the roads of Operis were on her bare feet, how cutting the whipping wind, or how sharp the suns light above...she would prefer to Wander them long enough to cross through to another realm. Where? She had few choices she preffered over Beastia but...once she found Xadrian she'd need not worry about much...except his senial old ways.