As their journey took them through her forest, her home, Kallo fell back into the comforting ways of a hunter, his childhood training taking over as he effortlessly navigated the forest beside his companion, his admiration for her increasing each day they spent prowling through the trees. Even knowing that they hunted the black within Asdenni, Kallo had to constantly fight the urge to take Levani by the shoulders and convince her to just let them both remain in her forest, in her home. The ease with which he fell back into his hunter's instincts, reading the paths, the small, barely noticeable signs of life passing underfoot, listening to each movement within the forest, creating a picture in his mind that allowed him to walk with the forest, not through it, becoming just another creature slipping through the massive trees, or the underbrush. This was where he was meant to be, walking the shadowy depths of the forest, living as one with nature, as he was taught as a boy.<br/><br/>Each time his gaze swept across Levani, her predatory instincts becoming as clear as a mountain stream, he couldn't help but wonder what life would be like if the two of them weren't chosen by the gods to cleanse the blackness that threatened to swallow the world. Would they be happy, living in this forest, with nature, as hunters? Watching her through the days they spent traveling, searching, he grew to know one single fact above all else; he was meant to be here, beside her, hunting at her side, whether it was in search of the black, or merely game to feed themselves for the day. Making a promise to himself, he decided that, should they survive their battle, he would convince her that they were meant to hunt together, regardless of what the gods wanted of them.<br/><br/>During their travels, Kallo made it a point to gather certain plants and minerals as he came across them, attempting to replenish his missing stock of alchemical elements, though he kept much of what he was gathering, and why, to himself. Remembering the excitement on Levani's face at the mention of what he could create with certain compounds, he didn't want to get her hopes up and distract her from the search at hand. To his surprise, he found quite a few ingredients, some of them quite rare from where he came from, some he could only make educated guesses on what they could be used for. His mother had taught him to look for certain aspects of plants, or minerals, or organs from downed game, showing him that even though some compounds might come from different sources, the basic alchemical function they served, might be the same. He would spend an hour or so each night after they set camp mixing and playing with the compounds he had found, hoping to replenish some of his missing oils and salves, some of which would be exceptionally valuable in their fight against the black.<br/><br/>With several days now behind them, most of which were uneventful, Kallo began to wonder if there truly was a source of black within this forest, or if it was seeping in from some other, external, force. The last night that they set camp, under and overlay of a rocky outcropping, something seemed off with the forest around them. The natural noises of life throughout the forest was utterly silent around their camp, a palpable air of tension within the great wood, as if it knew there was something waiting, just out of sight, ready to pounce. Unease settled across Kallo as he propped himself against the outcropping, keeping himself in an upright position, his back against the stones as he peered out into the night, hoping desperately for sleep to come, yet knowing that it wouldn't find him that night.<br/><br/>The moment that Levani woke with a start, Kallo focused his pale eyes on her, curious as to what this nights terrors had been. She had been quiet about the nightmares, revealing nothing at all of what they were, or that they had even happened, yet Kallo had seen her restless sleep, had heard the quiet whimpering as she faced the terror of her dreams. His respect for her had kept his tongue in check, though he wanted desperately to reach out and take her in his arms, holding her close to tell her that she wasn't alone, that she didn't have to face those terrors by herself. Pale orbs watched intently as she crouched low, he own golden gaze scanning quickly around them, hands settled on her weapons as her frayed nerves showed.<br/><br/>As she spoke his name, he quietly shifted his bulk and moved close to her, his right hand closed around the hilt of his massive blade. “I'm here lass. Nothing has been near us all night, but if you say something is close, let's go find it.” He could see the discomfort etched on her face, the tension in her muscles as she spoke of a feeling of familiarity, of something she knew, or remembered. “Lead the way lass, I've got your back covered.” He waited quietly for her to find her bearings and lead them to whatever it is she felt, though he had a sinking feeling that neither of them would like what she lead them to.