[center][img]https://images.cooltext.com/5248721.png[/img][/center] [center][sub] Creeping on Mat[@TheDoctor] and everyone else in Goldencrest (why are you there??) and talking with Celosia[@Kitty] [/sub] [/center] [hr] [i] [h3] Earlier…. [/h3] [/i] [i]The howling of the wolves in an otherwise silent night roused many of the castle’s diurnal inhabitants and drew the eyes of the ones that worshiped the night. Standing in the courtyard was Alexina’s pack of wolves. Huge beasts that that could rise above the height of some men, in the middle of the pack were five of their own. Even from his tower window, Taran could see the wolves snapping whenever one of the five move too quickly or in the wrong way. The largest of the wolves sent forth a summoning howl that pulled all out from the castle into the bitter chill of the night air. The moon cast long shadows that were dispersed by the flickering of torches across the courtyard as more and more witches filled in the ranks. A hand caught Taran’s shoulder as he stepped into the courtyard. Glancing toward the owner of the hand, his eyes were met with the piercing gold eyes of Alexina, full of rage, hurt and sorrow. Without speaking Taran reached out a hand to comfort her, to try to take away some of the burden she refused to share. Whatever was coming and whatever had happened...it cost Alexina deeply. “[color=708090]Alexina,[/color]” he whispered after a few seconds, he kept his words soft and slow, so’s not to add to the woman’s stress. “[color=708090]What is it? What has happened?[/color]” He felt her hand tighten on his shoulder and for a moment he thought that she wasn’t going to tell him. “[color=007236]Some...something that shouldn’t have,[/color]” She took a deep breath. “[color=007236]There was an incident in a village and some of our witches did something inexcusable. Something-But never mind that, I need you to do something for me. When my wolves were returning they caught the scent of an unfamiliar witch. It was all over the village as though she inhabited there but gone when the wolves swept through. She cannot be left alone. This incident will bring every hunter within a league sniffing around the forest she’ll be hiding in. Find her...offer her sanctuary, [/color]” Alexina turned and took a few steps into the courtyard. “[color=007236] It is our fault that she lost hers..[/color]” Taran stood a moment longer as Alexina started to address the crowd before leaving. It wasn’t the first time Alexina sent him out to recruit from under the noses of hunters. He blended in more than his brothers and sisters of the coven. Being male automatically made him overlookable, there were so few male witches that to assume he was one was far fetched. He also didn’t boast his statues like some other warlocks who took [i]pride[/i] in who they were. No...unless he started shooting fireballs, no one had any reason to suspect he was what he was. As he left the castle a tiny shadow emerged from the woods. A fox with far too clever eyes to be a normal animal approached. One of Alexina’s. “[color=708090]Alexina...I don’t need a chaperone,[/color]” Taran muttered under his breath. The fox yawned in response, sneezed and then followed him anyway. [/i] ---------------------------------------------------- [center][h3][b] Now [/b][/h3][/center] His travels brought him to and around the town more times than he would have liked. He stood on the edge of the clearing as the hunters lit the fire that burned the town to ash. He was exhausted and longed to return back, but every time his mind wandered to that thought, the fox seemed to catch a scent and take off into the bushes. As the sky began to darken, the pair walked past the entrance of a cave and the fox gave a small noise before leading up to its’ entrance. Inside was a red headed women, looking a few years older than himself but with witches looks meant nothing. She could be a hundred years old for all her looks were worth. “[color=708090]Excuse me[/color],” he said softly, so as not to frighten her. “[color=708090]You’re the witch from Goldencrest?[/color]” He said softly, casting a small spark of fire in his palm to show her that he meant no harm. “[color=708090]Mistress Alexina would like to offer her coven as home to you, to offer you sanctuary in this time of great tragedy[/color],” Even from this distance, the air smelt of smoke and faintly of cooked meat. [color=00a651]“No no no…”[/color] Screamed a voice from the town. The sight showed that the once deserted area now held more than a few guests [color=00a651]“Who the hell did this?”[/color] “[color=708090]You should join us[/color],” He said finally, just as the bell from the church started to ring. The little fox jumped onto Tarans shoulders, looking at the redheaded. Bong! Bong! Bong!