The nightmare flew down from the trees, landing in front of Maria. She felt the force of it landing course through her very being. Behind her she heard another beast move from the shadows to attack the man she who had now moved next to her. The dog-ape flew at Maria; she drew back her staff to perform a sweeping uppercut into the throat of the beast, but suddenly pitch-black shadows enveloped the two of them after he yelled for her to stay down. Still under the influence of her potion, she could see through the shadows, though with them so dark, it seemed like a full moon in the night sky. Outside their shell of protection she heard the cries of the creatures, the destruction of the trees, and the movement of the shadows. She saw as everything was ripped to shreds, turning back into a mess of dust and blood. Then there was silence. [i]Strange ability man from sky has. Maybe I gain power through death too. I shall learn,[/i] thought Maria. "The shadows, you control them. Perhaps Realm of Evil give us gifts," she told the man. "They call me Maria. I am the Shaman." She knew they would need to work together from here on out to survive.