Sygnet nodded, "I'm fine but what happened? Where are we? Where is everyone else?" she asked nervously, looking about the Valley with wide eyes.

"We are in the valley..." Micha observed. "How? I dont know exactily."

"The Elser elves are powerful creatures," Eshlyn chimes in. He was obviously one of the few who was aware of the hidden past.

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Sygnet was confused and a weird sensation was beginning to crop up. She felt a tingle up her spine and began to feel warm, despite the cold. She took deep breaths, "Where is everyone else?" she asked. She was afraid of what had happened to them and hoped they were alright.

"I dont know," Eshlyn answered. "Nessia and I are the only two that were left."


Micha glanced over the small party. "I guess we know what the dark pressence is that everyone has been senaing in the misty mountains."

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Sygnet dismounted her horse, feeling safer with both feet on the ground. She stroke her horse's nose in an attempt to settle her down, even though she was frightened herself, she didn't show it.

"Now that we know what the danger is we must get back to report to Rivendel," Eshlyn stated.

"Agreed," Micha responded. "But getting out is another thing than getting in. There is only one way out that I know of..."

He paused as if his mind wandered away from him momentarily. A cringe, almost as if from pain struck across his face for a split second.

"It won't be easy to get there."

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Sygnet watched his face as the flicker of pain passed it and her eyebrows creased. She wondered what he meant but decided that it was a sensitive subject and put the thought away, "Well, lead the way, I suppose," she said tentatively.

Eshlyn hesitated but nodded slowly to Micha. "You seem to know as much about this place as anyone."

Mich said nothing, he simply turned and started walking.

"The Elder Elves," he started as they journeyed. "Are reclusive people. If we stay out in the open we are less likely to be seen.. as backwards as that sounds. Keep in mind they look nothing like elves anymore. Even a fox, wolf, cat, or some inconceivable monster might be one of them."

They passed beneath a large rock outcropping and Micha stuck close to the walls, feeling along the edge as if he were looking for something.

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Sygnet continued to walk her horse along. Her bandaged shoulder was beginning to feel numb. She followed Micha closely and quietly before saying, "Are you alright? You seem...I don't know," she asked gently.

Micha paused and lookes up at Sygnet. "The time I was here before was a painful experience," he admitted. "The way out was equally as painful. It is mot something I ever desired to live through a second time."

He continued along the rock wall. Finally he found a crack that ran upwards. It was thick and deep. Micha reaches back into the crack and fumbled around for a while before pulling out a jagged looking crystal. He pulled several of them out and handed each indicidual one.

"The elder elves fear this mineral... It burns their skin... I have no idea why but it does. If worse comes to worse use the crystal against them."

When he got to Sygnet he handed her the largest crystal. "Keep close to me," he told her. "I will do my best to keep you safe." He glanced back at her for a moment. "Thank you for your concern. My past is complicated and painful."

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Sygnet took the crystal from him and smiled gently, reaching forward to take his hand. She held it for a moment, squeezing it gently, "I will be here. For anything you may need," she said quietly so Eshlyn and Nessia wouldn't hear. The wind blew slightly, dusting snow about their boots.

Micha let a flash of vulnerability escape through his eyes before his face turned serious once more. "Thank you," he replied in an equivalent tone.

He held to her hand for that short lived moment and flashes burst into his mind that he forced out. He winced once more but shook his head.

"For now, we must hurry."

As Sygnet released he did as well, turned and headed to the front of the group, making sure that the elf maiden was following closely.

"We head north east down the valley... if the weather is in our favor we should get there by nightfall... and lets all pray that we do."

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Sygnet smiled reassuringly and moved along side him, letting him lead the way, she pulls her horse alone behind her, stepping through the snow lightly and evenly do not to make footprints.

At long last the light of day gave up the last of it's strength and sucumbed to the bitter cold of night.

They were close to their destination... But not there yet. They had to move quickly, and though tired Micha knew it would help to keep him warm. The elves didnt concern themselves with such things but they were concerned about the constant sound of footsteps round about them that seemed to be growing ever closer.

Just as they were within sprinting distance if the cave entrance that Micha was heading for they were cut off and surrounded!

5 creatures stood around them. One still resembles an elf... Only one that had been dead for a hundred years. Another looked like an orc or goblin with tumerous growths all over its body. Another looked like some sort of lizard. Then there were the two wolf elves... Nothing was natural about any of this.

Micha drew his sword simultaniously with his elven band and waited for the first move to be made.

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Sygnet immediately dropped her reins as her horse reared and retreated slightly. She pulled a whip from her belt, she unleashed it with a snap and drew a small, curved sword in her left. She took her stance, preparing for the fight. She looked at Micha and a faint smile curved her lips.

"Dont let them scratch you with their claws. They will infect you and you will become one of them," Micha warned as the intruders moved in on their prey.

Micha brandished his sword as one of the wolves came his way. He swung hard against the beast's clawed attack, then ducked low and rotated around behind the creature. He got a solid strike in, straight across it's back. The elder elf growled and was left bleeding bad but the strike would have cleves any mortal clean in two!

The beast took a brief moment to recover , giving Micha enough time to dodge another attack.

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