Derek
*A small ripped piece of cloth impaled on a branch swayed in front of Dismas. He stared at it intently.*
*It wasn't much to write home about, it was a piece of cloth, usually common when it came to woods near villages. The youth running into woods to play or gather berries. However most still remained close to the village when they went to the forest, in the bright of day, aware not to stray far because they knew that if they did, they'd soon see themselves lost in the underbrush, it was just common sense.*
*The knight, however, was deep in the cold forest, the chill from the humid air sticking to his armor, wetting the steel plates. All that could be heard was the occasional howl from an animal in the distance and the creaking of the trees, although part of that may have to do with the moon light just barely piercing through the branches of the trees atop. No one came here, those who did were either lost or dead, yet here he saw a pieces of ripped cloth, a sign of life.*
*He snatched the piece from the branch and brought it to his breath, visible with every exhale, he got a closer look. The piece of linen was a muted yellow, it could very well be ripped off a shirt that got stuck into the branch when it's wearer was trying to run away from something, but the muted yellow matched the description of what he was hunting, if there was much of a description at all. It wasn't much of a clue, but it was **A** Clue, it told him that he was exactly where he needed to be, deep in a dark forest possibly filled with monsters and other horrors.*
*He quickly turned around to see what was behind him, as if he had heard a voice in the distance, putting his hand at his hip ready to draw his sword, but there was nothing. Whether it was just his imagination or there was actually something way deeper back down from whence he came, he couldn't tell, he couldn't see jack past 10 feet in front of him.*
*He rubbed his eyes as he turned back before letting out a yawn. He was tired.*
Miles
*As Dismas drifted in and out of consious, he could hear the distant voice... Steadily getting closer... He tried to look around... And a few feet away, entering his vision... Was something strange...*

*Some sort of humanoid creature... Nearly entirely covered in a muted yellow costume, the same shade of yellow as the ripped cloth on the nearby branch...*
Derek
*Dismas shook his head and began to march onwards on the path, the sound of the lantern on his belt squeaking as it swayed back and fourth and the metal clanks from his armor could be heard through the forest.*
*As he marched he ran into a peculiar sight, a short being with a muted colored costume appeared in front of him. He took a slight step back with a sharp inhale, his right hand now fully gripping his sword ready to draw.*
*He stared the thing down, his torn colored tabard swaying in the light wind, it matched the description given to him by the villagers, although 'covered in a yellow costume' wasn't that hard of a prompt to match.*
*The thing had an unsettling aura, something the knight couldn't exactly pinpoint, it just gave him sense of unease, then again what exactly didn't give the man a sense of unease in the current situation. The dark surroundings, the sound of leaves and branches dancing, even at times when the terrain wasn't perfect for an ambush he always had a feeling that someone, something was watching him, a feeling that felt more normal than para.*
*He loosened the grip he had on the hilt, pushing it slightly back into it's scabbard. This 'monster' had shown itself, something a lot of monsters don't do, at least not without a piercing screech and a lunge. He felt as if this thing wanted him then it would've done a move by now.*
"Who- What are you?" *He whispered curiously, a question he more so asked to himself rather than the being in front of him. He wasn't sure whether the chances of it being just a kid in disguise was more likely than it simply being a monster trying to lure him in, then again the latter tended to happen a lot. He kept his distance, kept his hand by his sword, he didn't know why but something told him this thing was mostly harmless, or maybe it was just wishful thinking, hoping that he didn't have to fight anything.*
Miles
*As he got the monsters attention, it turned its head, revealing wide, black eyes, red cheeks, and a jagged, malicious smile. It stepped back a small bit, its long, large claws limp and swaying by its side... It tilted its head in curiosity as it stepped a little closer, its voice too weak to hear from the distance between them.*

*And then... It began to walk closer.*
Derek
*The knight fully let go of his sword. Instead of yelping in horror running away like a normal person he stayed, thinking of his options. He thought about lunging at it, tackling it and bringing it to the villagers as proof, he thought about cutting it down with his sword and bringing it's head instead.*
*His decision however, was to watch instead is it came closer, taking the lantern from his belt and raising it to get a better look. Something about this, the unsettlement this creature brought him, the paranoia caused by the environment, the dread in it's movements, it all sunk into him slowly, like a spider slowly crawling up his skin. It was a fear he barely got to experience, one that wasn't caused by constant flashes of grotesque imagery, loud noises, piercing screeches like he was used to, it was a slow settling fear that more so told him something was wrong rather than his life fully being in danger, and he for some reason enjoyed the feeling.*
*As he raised his lantern he decided to waddle closer to it, he knew it was a bad idea although at the time he just believed all the thing could do was lunge at his face and claw it off, however his visor could easily stop that from happening. He lowered his visor at the half way point and began to crouch, lifting the lantern closer to the little thing, who knows, maybe he could lure with the false sense of safety before snatching it, he had to remember that he had a job to do.*
Miles
*With each step, both characters became more and more anxious, though for differing reasons. But soon... Dismas was close enough to barely hear and fully take in the creature's appearance. It's voice was meek... Quiet and soft, and... It sounded like she was being strangled... Taking a desperate inhale with each word in its voice.*

"Are... *Hh...* You... *Hh...* Freind...?"

*As it tilts it's head up, Dismas could see a bit of rope taut around its neck.*
Derek
*Dismas stared at the rope with intent, it was an easy grappling point, one he could tug at and be done with the job, but he questioned on whether he should actually do it or not. The thing in front of him was unsettling, but harmless, maybe that's what it wanted him to think, but maybe it was the months of tragedy he's seen or the fact that it was one of the first things in years that actually almost referred to him as a friend, luring him closer and closer.*
*The monster was not anything he had seen before, not to mention it could talk. He could very well just pull out a dagger and stab it through the chin, drag it's limp body to the villagers and get nothing in return as is his reward for every job, before riding down into the sunset. It would be an average Saturday night to the man, dealing with the paranormal quick and not so easy before sitting in a secluded part of the forest to booze, rinse and repeat.*
*Here however, for the first time in a while, something different was in front of him, something that reached it's hand out and offered friendship.*
*He knew it was a horrible idea, he knew he'd surely die by getting closer, but soon his curiosity and want for something more, something different, got the better of him.*
*He stared at the rope around it's neck once more, this time not with the intent of pulling on it, he noticed it's voice although soft sounded like it was begging for air. He reached his hand out, armored and wrapped in steel, for the rope, not give it a yank but rather to attempt to untie it off the monster.*
"Uh... Yes.. I'm uh.. I'm a friend." *He said hesitantly, mostly unsure of himself *
Miles
*It hisses in fright and recoils as he makes a motion toward the ropes on its neck, barely making out a fearful,* "Don't... *Hf...* Touch!" *It grabs at the rope around its neck defensively, it's breathing, though still strained, was becoming faster, and... It sounds like it's panicking at just the thought of the rope being removed. In reality, the rope wasn't painfully tight. Uncomfortable, very, but It did not completely keep the creature from breathing. Just tight enough to hold down the hood of its costume over its face. After giving itself a moment to steady its emotions, it continues introducing itself.*

"M-m-m-my name... *Hhh...* Mimi..."
Derek
*Dismas lowered his hand, and with it, he lowered his guard. Maybe he was falling into a trap laid by the thing, but he realized that if it wanted him dead it would've tried something and most certainly wouldn't have told him it's name.*
"Uh.. Hey there Mimi, I'm Dismas." *He said, more confused than hesitant, despite it's fairly amicable offers he still felt an unease, although his curiosity over powered the feeling.* "Your rope around your neck, does it not hurt?" *He asked, in a tone as if he was talking to a child, the size, voice, mannerism, even the name of this being certainly could've fooled him.*
Miles
*She lowers her claws away from her neck as Dismas backs off as she whimpers, "N-no. No... *Hh* Not really." *Her voice crackles a little, in a strange fashion, before quickly apologizing,* "Sorry..." *And giving a weak, nervous chuckle...*

*She then tries to explain the rope, though her voice is very slow, so carrying a long-winded explanation would take patience.*

"So... The... The rope... *Hf* It's only... Really... *Hh* Mildly... *Hhhh* Uncomfortable! And... *Hh* There for... Good reason. *Hh*"

"It's to... Keep... My costume on..."
Derek
*Visible air seeped and blew through the holes and slits of his visor, staring into where his eyes should be, even if a lantern was close to his face you could barely see his eyes, only a light hazel tint far back.*
*He raised his visor, although with a seemingly sudden grasp he raised it slowly, making sure the little beast in front of him wouldn't lunge at his face. Behind the visor showed a dirtied face with sunken eyes, a fairly well groomed mustache and beard, colored black with strands of silver over his lips.*
"I see..." *He said after it gave him an answer.* "..And what a lovely costume it is, did you make it yourself?" *He said, finally with a friendly smile, although not entirely genuine, he more so put it on to keep it from feeling threatened.*
Miles
*Mimi nodded shyly* "Y-yeah." 

*She fidgeted with her clawed fingers a little.* "Th-th-thank... *Hh* For the compliment... *Hh* I'm... Glad someone... *Hh* Appreciates... My *Hhh*Ard work..."
Derek
*Dismas tilted his head as he changed the subject, a little not fully.* "Impresive, especially with those clawed hands. You live out here all by yourself? How'd you manage to get the materials to make such a garb?"
Miles
"I find them... *Hhh*Here and there... Abandoned buildings... *H* Sometimes i... *Hhh* Rummage around town... Anything i can find..." *Mimi gives a few breathy giggles, and if you were able to see her face, you'd see a slight blush under her fur. Unfortunately, Dismas couldn't, so for him, her expression was entirely up to his imagination.*
Derek
*It started to rain in the forest, very much like the amount, Disams' anxiety grew slightly, he wasn't sure if he properly oiled his armor this morning. He didn't bring a cloak either, her he thought he'd be facing oblivion by tracking a monster, in reality he just found some beastly kid in the forest, who despite the claws and the unsettling presence, didn't seem to have the will to even hurt a fly. Not like his old dusty cloak would do much, it was ladened with holes and slashes.*
*The mention of abandoned houses gave him a better picture, the people near by talked of sights of an evil spirit, a fearful silhouette they would catch glimpses of in the night, chills strong enough to give horrible nightmares, a lot of the victims were young kids who despite the old wives tales went to the woods at night, visiting some barren shack to do god knows what, other victims concluded of a group of the young brothers who tried reclaiming an abandoned house that was owed to them. He decided to ask one last question.*
"Have you encountered anybody in these abandoned houses? Kids and young couples? A pair of brothers perhaps?"
Miles
*Mimi shyly tilts her head to the side, not completely sure what the knight was talking about... Yes, she had come across some people, mostly kids venturing the woods, but if this knight were searching for someone, he would have to be a slight bit more specific. But, she was beginning to get a little bored of this conversation... And feeling the nervousness the knight had about the sudden rain, she felt it would be best if it were to end sooner rather than later, so after a quick moment of thought, she simply shook her head, saying,* "No... Sorry... *Hh* But... Good luck finding them..." *The knight couldn't tell if the chipper tone in her voice was genuine hope for his search, a playful snark, or something else.*
Derek
"Oh they're already found." *He said standing back up.* "Well... Besides one he was last seen sprinting into the woods 3 days ago, probably turned to food for the wolves as we speak. No, the people that concerns me are folks who have caught sight of a disturbing silhouette within these woods, bone chilling enough to give them nightmares. I was sent to look for that silhouette, or whom I only got a clear description from one man, who gave me a description that fits yours like a glove." *He let out a sigh.* "See I thought that this monster they found in the woods would be fairly aggressive, you know peasant superstition, they overdramatize what they actually see. Although unless they speak of a different beast so far from what I've seen.. Well I guess I've been proven wrong. I have no intention of hurting you, I just need to know whether or not you gave those people the apparitions, and if so I need you to promise me not to do it again."
Miles
*She becomes audibly nervous hearing this...* "*Hhh...* Yeah, that... *Hh* Could be me... *H*I'm... Terrifying under my costume... *Hh* It's entirely possible I may be..."

*She chokes up a little, hitting her hand to her chest and letting out a violent cough, before weakly, yet confidently stating,* *"That may be me."*
Derek
"Was it on purpose?" *He asked with an eyebrow raised.* "Was it out of malice or was it simply a cause of your current.. Being."
*'Under my costume?' he asked to himself, question peaked his interest, the girl was unsettling sure, but was there truly something so horrifying as it would cause nightmares and madness, all under such a small frame? Part of him wanted to ask her if she could show him, besides how perverted he'd sound, he contemplated on whether or not his curiosity being quenched was truly worth being traumatized. Then again, what exactly could leave his mind more scared and nightmare ridden than it was? WWat could he see that could chill him to the core more than what life had already showed him?*
*He pulled on the hairs of his chin, he didn't get his answer yet, but he was preparing for if she said yes. If she did, she'd be a threat and as is his job he'd have to find a way to get rid of her, by force is a means he didn't want to do, despite that one demented voice in the back of his head telling him that killing her here was no different than killing a rat, he still didn't want to do it. He had to think of another way.*
Miles
"I'd... *Hh* Never hurt anyone... *Hh* If they didn't ask for it... *Hhh*"

*She politely waited for any other questions... Eager for Dismas to hurry along, especially now that the rain began to quickly pick up quite a bit...*