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Takoda knew that his mate had gone out for a big hunt, it made him nervous that Jacinthus had packed so much stuff and the inclination was to be out for several days. He had such a big heart that man, hunting down food not only for his own family but for the neighboring village that was having troubles feeding themselves. Korra had wanted to go with him, but Takoda had suggested she perhaps practice with her bow outside and wait for when Jacinthus had more time to help her..

For himself he was going to head into the forest and look for...the fruit and vegetable portion of their meals. The shifter hadn't intended to be long, so he packed a small water skin a few rations for the day and proceeded into the forest of Jahaur. The forest felt unusually quiet this day, not the eerie sort but the kind where you expected to run into at least one predator on your venture, but instead nothing felt the need to bother you. It was pleasant and the man smiled as he moved through the forest, picking what fruits that looked ripe along the way.

Climbing a tree he had spotted some fresh nearly ripe Barajas and placing his items down on to the ground began to climb. It was fairly high, but it wasn't as if it was his first time climbing a tree. As he reached his destination there was an odd...humming sound. He had never heard anything like it before and it was just at that right frequency where it felt like it pierced through you skull. One couldn't ignore it and thus abandoning his fruit gathering venture began to look around.

The sound got louder the closer to the trunk he got and placing a hand upon the bark he could swear he felt a small vibration. Curious. Moving around the tree he discovered a small knothole and what appeared to be a nest. It was full of random things and from here was where the sound was eminating from? Looking around he wondered if the 'owner' of said nest would come to protect its hoard. Did a Kifna do this? He didn't recal the birds being prone to collect things. But he supposed there was a first time for everything.

With great care the shifter went through the items, most of it was bits and pieces of stuff. A nail, string, small tools...there was even a ring in here. But after clearing away most of the junk what was left was hidden in the very back, it was...a strange hoop. Oxidized the metal had a strange green/blue tinge to it, and it was indeed humming and vibrating. How he wasn't entirely sure, magic seemed to be the most plausible way to explain what was happening.

Now touching things that you didn't understand or only had a vague idea how it worked wasn't the greatest of ideas. But perhaps because it looked so harmless (it was just a small metal hoop after all ) the shifter reached inside to grab it. As his fingers touched the smooth cool surface he felt a jolt something almost electric surging through him and without any time to react he felt his body being dragged away. There was pan...and the darkness.

The darkness gave way to a piercing light, something felt as if it was trying to skewer right through his brain. The very fabric of his being about to rip at the seams. Then all was quiet, that blinding pain disappeared slowly and he felt sick to his stomach. Not daring to open his eyes until the nausea passed he was surprised by how dim the area was. The low level of lighting that had no direct source but seemed ambient lighting the entire are in a dim glow.

But where was he? Panic struck him as he looked up,realizing he couldn't see the sky, just a immense network of roots and earth lay above him. But...how? Dumbfounded he checked his skin it was still dark so the sun must still be out. But he could not see it, nor could he tell exactly where he was. As his eyes adjusted he noted he was on a ledge, a high wall behind him. Before him lay immense structures that had fallen with the passage of time.

Alarmed by how they towered, like skeletal fingers reaching up to claim the sky Only to be denied. He couldn't tell how many there were, so many it was countless as they lay before him. Even stranger was trees were growing up around d and even through some of them. How trees could survive and even flourish without the aid of the Suns energy was even more baffling. The Soul Linker felt every strand of hair stand on end at the sight before him. The core of his being screamed they needed to leave..and now!

Takoda wasn't curious enough to want to go and explore these ruins. His primary goal was to find a way back home. He searched the cliff side looking for any means to get back, that metal ring had sent him here, but it didn't look like it had come along for the trip. Perhaps there was another one hidden nearby that could return him home. He searched every nook, and crevice he found find and revealed nothing. Sighing he drank from his water skin thoughtfully looking at the cliff face. There was nothing here but glowing stones, dirt and the void below.

Though there was two paths on either side of the ledge he was one, he hadn't brought up the nerve to pick one and goe down it. Though soon he wasn't going to have a choice in the matter . Something large had moved out of the corner of his eyes. Turning his head, renewed alarm rang through his body. That thing was massive and he could feel the trembling in the earth with each one of its footfalls. Desperate he looked around for cover, despite the fact he had already scowered the area and there was no such thing as a hiding spot.

He'd have to pick a path..left or right? Either one took him down towards the ancient ruins below and he didn't like the idea of going into the city. If there was something that massive down here there could be other creatures potentially just as dangerous as the one moving towards him. Clenching his teeth he picked the left path and began his decent. As much as he didn't want to go there it would provide some cover, perhaps the creature wouldn't find him...

Traveling down the path the steep slope slowly levelled out. The buildings were even more imposing when you you at the base of them. What seemed like a smooth path once was broken with glowing stones, mushrooms and a few trees. But it seemed too wide to be a pathway and littered along its way were strange box like things on what appeared to be wheels. Perhaps they were carts..? It looked at if you could sit in them but he couldn't figure out where to attach the steads to pull it.

Distracted by these sights Takoda nearly forgot about his fear and urgency to get back home. Many of these metal boxes he discovered contained bones. It was eerie and caused him to back away upon this discovery. Upon closer inspection he discovered the remnants of bodies everywhere. They were on the streets, inside the tall buildings and littered along the giant pathway.

Some trees had disturbed the resting places as they grew, so even amongst the trees branches bones were tangeled up in them. A hand came to cover his mouth, he felt sick. This place screamed of a sudden inexplicable death toll. He was in a graveyard, no a tomb where these what he figured were once people died. Appalled at his realization he had almost forgotten about the immense beast that had been traveling in his direction, even the rumble of its footfalls that grew louder as it approached. It's pace never changing as if it knew you were stuck and had no where to run.

It rounded a corner and the small shifter looked up at it in dismay, fear and awe. Takoda had never seen anything like it. It's face was oddly humanoid, but flatter its glowing eyes picked out and focused on him. There was a moment of stillness, as if the creature was debating something. His own heart beat felt so loud in his ears Takoda was sure the beast must hear it as well. He watched as it shifted it's position and then raised a arm high into the air. A dawning realization as it was brought down, that he needed to get out of the way.

It was sheer luck that he was able to dodge out of the way, his body had reacted on instinct and quite possibly saved his life. Tumbling he lept to his feet panic building as he knew he couldn't fight this creature and trying to hide felt a fools errand. Fleeing felt like the only viable option, but perhaps he could gain some precious ground with a distraction. The creature was turning raising its fist again as if calculating its next strike. It saw the figure and brought its fists down upon it. Only ..there was nothing there.

Takoda had cast temporal form to make a decoy as he fled deeper into the city he only hoped that it was enough of a distraction that he could gain some ground.

How long had he been running? It felt like an eternity since he had started this mad dash and his burning lungs begged from him to stop. Stumbling he paused only briefly to double check he wasn't being per sued but even as the rumbling of footsteps felt quite far, it only took minutes to realize they were still approaching. It may of been large, lumbering even but it's strides were long and it wouldn't take much to have it catch up to him.

Summoning some water to drink the shifter was quick about and before his breathing could return to normal he was running again. Granted it wasn't the same mad dash from before. Instead he was pacing himself, hiding and resting when he was able or forced to. But the creature was gaining on him, as his pace gradually got slower and slower until the shifter felt his legs would give out on him and his lungs refuse to draw breath. There was only one thing he could do now ...hide and pray to the goddess that the creature didn't find him.

Crawling under a what he presumed broken home of some sort, he was too tired to be alarmed by the company he kept. Bones , particularly a small skull grinned up at him, making his stomach turn. Looking away he disliked the musty smell, led death and decay around him was troubling. But, luckily he didn't have time to worry or focus on such things. Instead it was the gradually increased shaking caused by the beast that got his heart racing.

Would the creature find him? Thus far it felt like the answer was yes, he wasn't sure how it managed to track him down but he was convinced it would without a doubt locate him. Left with these numbing thoughts he could only feel himself shaking with fear, anxiety and profound sadness. Jacinthus would never know what happened to him, his mate disappearing one day leaving him alone to raise their daughter alone. These thoughts brought tears to his eyes, he didn't want to give up but it didn't feel like he had much choice in the matter.

The shaking got more profound with each passing second and as dust and debri fell from over head Takoda began to wonder about how safe he actually was inside the dessimated building. Another shake, this one felt very close too close. Despite the fact he had little choice but to die here he found his body moving regardless. The natural instinct to survive kicking in as he darted forward out of the collapsing building and out into the open.

Takoda braced himself for a swinging fist, he had even stumbled and expected it any moment. But it never came, everything had gone still and quiet. The shifter risked opening an eye the beast looming over him but another equally bizarre creature was standing in front of it. It was speaking to it, although much smaller in stature it was still taller than any humanoid in tendaji. The beast, after giving Takoda one more look of appraisal turned and left.

Dumbfounded he watched as the figure approached, she tried to speak to him her English so broken it was hard to understand. She didn't look dangerous but he felt that it was better to leave. Without answering he got up slowly and fled back into the forest. Unaware to him that his actions were being guided by the strange woman....and she was herding him back to his starting point.

Exhausted and still anxious Takoda moved forward, one foot ahead of the other he was thankful that at least he wasn't being pursued any further by the beast. He had been wary after leaving the strange woman since he wasn't entirely sure she wouldn't sic it after him. But as the rumblings of the footsteps receded his worry about being smite by the creature began to diminish. However as he moved forward he began to suspect he was being followed.

Takoda wished he had time to study the fauna of this strange world, if they could flourish without sunlight...he wondered if it was possible to cultivate them back home. Pushing forward he didn't have a moment to stop, despite being exhausted he had to keep moving, the woman....was following him. He had heard a sound behind him and when he turned she had been there, simply looking at him though it caused his heart to skip a beat.

She really was a strange creature, he felt dwarfed by her size and he was fairly certain that most Alkidikes were shorter than this being. Still he wasn't about to stop and ask her how she managed to get so tall, he needed to get away from her. It wasn't as if the shifter didn't trust her, but he was so shaken up about this place. This immense grave and a gigantic beast that had tried to end his life so he hoped the Goddess would forgive him for not wanting to make new acquaintances this day.

Looking down at his skin it was beginning to fade to white, night was coming but it felt like he had been down here for days, not hours. The ache in his legs though protesting with each step probably didn't help. At one point he had stopped to give them a rest, using his magic to heal the torn muscles. Looking around he took in his surroundings, only to discover...with alarm that he was..back to where he had first encountered the beast. The shifter was pretty confident that he had started away from the decrepit city. There was nothing here for him, for that he was sure. It would only lead him back to where he had appeared in the first place.

Cursing under his breath he then quickly apologized to the Goddess for his language. Taking a deep breath he knew at this point he couldn't continue to run away, he had to face the woman and accept his fate. Takoda trusted his goddess completely and with this he finished with his healing and went to stand.

"You can come out...I know you there." Takoda spoke his voice didn't quiver like he expected it instead he sounded tired yet reserved. The woman came out of her hiding and approached him.

For what happened next he had a hard time believing and yet the evidence was all around him. She led him through the city of the dead, explaining that this was a thriving world..until the great catastrophe. How the people of this world created Aisha to save them...but it had been too late. Up the slope they returned to the ledge where he had first appeared, looking at the ground he soon realized ..he wasn't the first person here. Looking up at the woman sharply he wanted to ask her if there had been others like him but he was stopped.

Her hand had come out and touched his cheek lightly, it...felt warm and comforting. Like a mothers touch. About to ask again she explained it was time to go and something sparked into life behind him. It felt as if he was being sucked in and before he could stop he was dragged through the portal.

He landed with a thud, the first thing he noticed was the damp smell of the forest a familiar smell. Opening his eyes the lighting made him wince at first but after he stood up he realized he was just underneath the tree he had discovered the metal ring from. Curious he turned and went back to the tree, the ring he discovered was gone so now he wondered if he had fallen and dreamed the entire experience. Rubbing the back of his head he sighed, he still felt a warm sensation in his cheek and he wondered idly if he was thinking too much about it.

It was late, his skin already a pale ash colour and he didn't want to cause any concern or worries with his family so it was best to hurry home. Retrieving his basket of fruits, vegetables and roots he made his way back slowly. Marveling that he wasn't attacked while he was unconscious on the forest floor he made his way back home. The house was dark and it meant that Korra..undoubtedly got herself lost...and that Jacinthus wasn't back yet.

Sighing he put down his basket, and went to wash his face. It had been a long day...his legs ached just like in his dream and mentally he felt exhausted. The cold water was refreshing, it made the shifter feel better until he went to dry himself off and tie back his hair. Looking in the small mirror they had...he stopped himself mid tie. What...was on his cheek? It was...like a section of his skin had become darker. What was this? Rubbing he felt perhaps he had missed a bit of dirt but it didn't look like it was going away. Was it just him...or was it darkening. Lines were appearing on his cheek, becoming clearer and more finite as time past.

It was alarming and once it had solidified it took the shifter a moment to realize that he reconized the symbol. It was Siren his dear goddess. Blinking he rubbed it again but it wasn't going away. Although he felt a sort of awe at the mark that had appeared on his cheek, there was also alarm. What would Jacinthus think?