Stephanie
The sun stretched fingers of light into the cold, damp branches of the forests canopy. After the rain, the pine needles emitted a fresh tang into the air, dead leaves and pinecones damp where they littered the ground. Birds were already flitting from the tree branches, small warbling thrushes calling in song to greet the day. 
Saura knelt beside the markings of odd tracks, her brow furrowed, fingers touching the torn earth. Her bow was settled over one shoulder comfortably, an array of arrows - tipped in different colors - filled her quiver. Pale green eyes scanned the wood, wondering what creature had entered. It wasn't anything she had seen before.
John
*~With a bit of a clumsy walk, Ayen rounds a tree, his hand resting for support. His emerald eyes also wander. His green hair is put back a tiny bit, not as a ponytail, just behind his head. His boots and clothing appears to be drying over so slowly, as its noticable he was in the rain. His staff, a small white owl with a blue gem is in his hand. As his eyes wander, he swings his staff, gently placing it on the ground as a golden colored aura forms around him. He takes a seat at the base of the tree, his breath ragged, as if he was rushing. He rests his staff against the tree in order to take a small break.~*
Gertrude
"That doc. Wondering if I will ever meet him again." Severus mumbles.

After what feels like an eternity, Severus, now satisfied from the information received from the crazy Doctor, makes his way back into the dense woods of Steep. His gaze flickers throughout the trees, as if he is looking for something. He professionally walks swiftly, almost like he is chasing something or fleeing from something. Though his steps are heavy and loud as he treads on the leaves and twigs under his feet, combined with his heavy armour. Left behind are only his heavy footsteps. At that moment, Severus feels so energetic, even it has been a long time without rest. Does an Undead even need to rest at all? Indeed, no need at all.

Severus keeps walking through the woods, the smell of wet grass and leaves filling his dead nostrils. He steps with purpose, carefully, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger...

However, after a few hours of running and walking through the rain, and it even stopped raining after all, Severus stops suddenly, sensing that something is off. His nature is telling him, there are more than just normal living beings is existing. They are 'higher' than the normal living beings. Despite of that fact, he keeps a nonchalant expression...
Stephanie
Her slender ears twitch, eyes flashing with the alert of others. In the blink of an eye she has leapt up to grab a branch above her, fingers breaking off bits of cold, amber sap and a scrap of bark, then swings up. Booted feet land in a silent stand, sending a shimmer of raindrops loosened, and she climbs several more branches until she is hidden beneath the pine boughs.
Drawing her bow free, she sinks to her haunches, the bow across her knees, one hand steadying her placement with its light touch upon the trunk of the towering fur tree.
John
*~As he sits there, he becomes aware of others nearby. He doesn't move. His legs are worn out, and the ground is comfortable. He reaches to his bag and takes out his dagger for self defense. He is inside his shield. He taps it with his knuckle, a whirring thud every time. It can block about 2 ranged shots if needed. His express is soft and tired. He looks to his staff, its laying against the tree. He takes a deep breath and reaches for it. He holds it close, attempting to hide as best as he can. But his shield is very visible. He looks around, trying to find whatever he knows to be here. Is it a monster or something else dangerous?~*
Gertrude
After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Severus decides to advances methodically. Each step is planned and deliberate, and Severus makes sure to leave as least trace as possible of his passage behind. He knows that even the smallest mistake can be fatal, and he is unwilling to take any unnecessary risks.

Holding the golden cross guard of his sword tightly in his left hand, Severus continues to advance steadily and with caution. The sword, an elegant yet deadly weapon, hangs at his hip, and he keeps a firm grip on the hilt, ready to draw the blade in an instant if needed. Despite the intensity of the moment, Severus' movements remain steady and controlled, as if he were one with the sword itself. His right hand remains free, ready to grab any potential hazards or obstacles that cross his path.

In this moment, Severus appears as an immovable object, unshakable in his conviction and resolve. His Undead nature of fearless is ultimate in such a situation. Even as the woods around him remain unnaturally quiet and still, despite the sense of unease hanging in the air, Severus' expression and demeanor project a sense of calm and control, as if he were in complete mastery of the situation.

Severus squinted his eyes, gazing upwards and around the area, searching for the 'higher' presence. His stare was intense and focused, almost as if he were trying to penetrate through the very fabric of the forest itself to find what he was looking for. He turned his head this way and that, straining to see any signs of movement, any hint of unusual activity.
Stephanie
From her vantage in the tree, she can see the other two figures she had heard movement from - The green-haired elven man and the lumbering armoured figure approaching. *Elven kin* She thinks, concerned that he seems wounded or exhausted, perhaps unaware of what approaches. She has not yet determined if the walking hulk in armour is a threat, but something about him makes the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. The lumbering movements of the armored one seem stiff to her, not a natural movement.
She leaps to another branch, shaking raindrops with her advance, trying to close the distance between herself and the one sitting on the floor to warn him. The shield around him gives her less fear for his safety, but whether it would stand up to the other's attack, if it came, remained to be seen. 
Finding a vantage where she is high enough, yet close to offer aid, she settles, her back to a trunk, bow at the ready.
John
*~He stands, a small form of difficulty as he swings his staff. His body is enveloped in a warm golden light as his minor cuts and scrapes disappear. His expression is soft and pained, he looks around before he speaks in a soft voice.~*

***"Is someone there?"***

*~His eyes dart from side to side, checking what he thinks might pose an issue.~*
Gertrude
The silence of the woods was suddenly pierced by the sound of some unnatural noise coming from a distant place. Severus strained his ears to follow the sound, trying to determine its source. For a moment, he wondered if he was merely hearing things, if his mind was playing tricks on him. Or was something truly out there? Still, he believes in himself, in his ability.

Severus grips the golden crossguard of his sword, and with a single swift motion, he withdraw the weapon forcefully from its scabbard. The sound of the sword being drawn echoes through the silent woods, causing even the birds hidden in their nests to freeze in place, too scared to fly away. The sound seems to linger, creating a haunting melody that fills the air with an ominous, foreboding sense of unease. Severus stands there, the only sound coming from him being the steady and deliberate breaths he takes as he scans his surroundings, his sword still firmly in his hand. It's as if the entire forest has come to a standstill, with all its inhabitants holding their breath, as if they too were waiting to see what the outcome of Severus' actions would be.

Severus swings his sword with his left hand, the [Filthy Darkness], in an arc through the air, aiming it at a nearby tree. As the sword makes contact with the tree, a loud thwack echoes through the woods, as if the very forest itself was surprised by the sudden and violent act of aggression. The tree shudders, the leaves shaking from the force of the blow, but it otherwise remains seemingly unharmed. Severus, however, is not satisfied. He raises the sword once more, aiming it at another tree, this time with a more forceful blow. The sword slices easily through the first few outer layers of bark, but it takes a series of repeated swings before a deeper cut is made. Finally, with one final, violent swing, Severus' sword slices deep into the tree, the tree shaking violently as if it were in the middle of a hurricane. The tree teeters for a moment before finally toppling over, crashing loudly to the ground in a shower of splinters. Severus stands there, sword still in hand, his breathing heavy, as if he were just as surprised at his own actions as the tree he had just felled. This was not the kind of behavior one would expect from a man like Severus, who is usually so controlled and composed...
Stephanie
She is startled by the heavy sound of metal scraping free of its sheath, echoing in the woods. The forest went still as death and her heart rate thrummed staccato in her chest. When Severus swung the blade, one handed at the tree, she almost felt the blow herself, a cry lodged in her throat, covered by her hand. The next blow sent her scurrying toward the elf, leaping from branch to branch, like a bird almost taking wing. 

"Flee you fool!" She yelled at Ayen. 

Then the next tree was felled, cracking from the force of the blows, slamming into the ground with a *Whoomp* Of sound, gouging the very earth with its weight she drew up short, holding a tree limb covered in pitch. 

"STOP!" She screamed... Her heart feeling like it had been torn. She could not draw her bow against this walking metal casket, no flesh was visible in its defense. The eye slits... That was the only target. She did not aim, however, being more keen on getting the other elf to safety.
John
*~Ayen looked towards the gaze of where Saura was worried about. His eyes went colder and numb. He turned towards the metal, and traced the ground with his staff. [Defiant Hope]. A soft golden glow outlines the metal creature. They feel both protected and weakened. This buff grants a shield against a singular attack but in turn, the individual cannot attack. With this opportunity, Ayen softly jumps back. ~*

***"Hiya Saura. Also that rude metal man!"***

*~His breath is strained. His rest was disturbed. He was running from something and this is not it.~*
Gertrude
"I was right," Severus mumbles to himself, admiring his own instincts. He stand still and stares at intensively around with his red as flame eyes to locate the 'high' presences' location. In fact, she could see his eyes through the holes on the helmet if she was a sharp elf. 

The silence between them is thick, as if the very air itself is holding its breath, waiting to see what will happen next. Finally, Severus found one of them. He holds her gaze for a moment, try to scan her presence his expression unreadable, before he finally speaks, his voice slow and measured.

"What an interesting encounter," With a quick and fluid motion, Severus changes his grip on the sword, shifting it to his right hand. The sword, [The Filthy Darkness], feels like an old friend in his hand, a familiar weight and balance. He feels the power coursing through his veins, as if the sword were an extension of himself, as if he were one with the sword. No one could tell if he is holding the sword, or the sword is current clinging to his hand on its own...

"You over there," He purposely points his left index finger towards the elven woman and says cautiously with his somewhat unnatural but acceptable and low voice...

Suddenly, he forgets about what he was about to really talk to her, for some reasons. "I am Severus Lavendrature. You may say your name."
Stephanie
Her eyes widen as the metal monster focuses directly on her. She leans away, her back against the trunk in the tree, perhaps twenty feet above the two of them. The air seemed to crackle and then got very heavy, as if a pall of humidity had descended. She gripped her bow tightly, leaf green eyes narrowing. She wasn't about to give her name to any creature. Some creatures knew to use names for dark deeds.. And this one certainly seemed to fall into that classification. 
"I am appalled at how you lay waste to defenceless trees. Why do you feel the need for such destruction?" She was poised to flee, but hoped that in this destruction that Ayen would have the presence of mind to run ... And quickly.
John
*~Using the opportunity, he gets away from the metal man. They haven't noticed Ayen nor his spell. He heads to a thicket of trees, in hopes of the enemy losing sight of him. After finding a new tree, he starts to catch his breath yet again.~*
Gertrude
"That was just one of many ways that can help me quickly to locate your presence. I don't mind destroying some plants to archive my desires..."

He stops pointing the sword at her, it then points to the earth because his right hand is right now relaxing, 

"So a little destruction of these *Defencesless trees* Is not a big deal," He says it, calmly but yet mockingly, left hand touching another large old tree nearby, 

"Pitifully, they offer me nothing but peace... Sometimes, these trees still have to fall down to make way for greater things," 

In his voice, there is somewhat feeling of disappointment. Obviously, only he knows what he feels, the feelings that cannot be shared to anyone, as these feelings are forced to reduce greatly by *Being an Undead*. He was suprised of himself about why did he need to destroy the tree at first. But at the end, he feels nothing, nor regret.

His attention then got caught by the amazing bow that she is holding as his carmine eyes are now staring at it, "Now, that's a good bow you've got," He stands still, left arm akimbo, decides not to move yet.
Stephanie
She is not concerned by his sword, being up in the tree as she is. If he decides to hack it down, she will jump to another... Providing they are not too far apart. She feels relatively safe up there, thankful that Ayen made his escape. She achieved her goal, and would keep the metal leviathan occupied until he could get far far way.
"Trees are the arteries of the earth.. Their roots connect and thrive beneath the earth. They feed and shelter. To destroy them with no regard is heartless. Perhaps that describes you well *Severus*?" 

When he mentioned her bow she gripped it more tightly. She had made this weapon of her own two hands, carved the runes into its surface, polished and oiled the wood until it shown and bent with the strength and dexterity of perfection.
Gertrude
"Heartless?" He rubs his free hand on his chin, and nonchalantly laughs, 

"Hah hah. Heartless you said? If I picked a tree up and is called heartless, I can obviously see that justice is extremely harsh here... Lest this land swallow me whole... As there are so many others with a worse-than-heartless heart!" Mockingly answer, he is still pretty paying his attention to the beautifully crafted bow. Even if he could sense another 'higher' presence here, he would not care! But whatever, when the woman elf shouted, Severus already knew that there were two of them. In any kind of situation, he will still be cautious not to be back-stabbed by the other one.

"I am... Definitely not as heartless as you may think. Should I tell you that you can't judge a book by its cover," His eyes suddenly stare intensively at the Elf, hinting that she should be careful with her words as it may become her own enemy one day.

"I am fairly intrigued by many different types of intelligent living beings," Despite the fact that he is completely illiterate thanks to his blurry memory, he still wisely chooses his words so that the others may not recognise.

"However, I don't think that..." Saying goodbye his sword by sliding it back to the indistinct black scabbard, Severus is now with gloved hands talking with the woman Elf, 

"In such a situation, fighting is *Not* Necessary. Because I am more interested in your *Well-crafted bow*," He emphasise. 

In fact, Severus did such a daring move because there are more than one elves here which naturally do not like interacting with weird monsters. Monster... Huh? He thinks about that for a brief moment before deciding to ignore it anyhow.

He calmly looks at the female figure.