The forest at night was normally a home away from home to Malkier, compared to the Underdark very few places upon the surface held much fear for him. But the idea of roving hoards of Beastkin were not something that he relished encountering in these foreign lands. His argument with Bran had him all worked up, coupled with being out in the forest alone had his senses on edge, the sounds of wildlife moving through the undergrowth had his head swivelling from one direction to the next and jumping at shadows. Such ridiculous behaviours merely made him angry at himself stoking the embers left behind from his exchange the elderly human.<br/><br/>As the sun rose at the end of that first night, he took refuge in a small hollow within a rocky outcrop. He knew he would need to find a meal this next night, the evening spent camped with Bran and Deryn’s group he had restrained, although the temptation was there to drag one of the sentries off into the forest but as the sole stranger that would likely have raised the old man’s suspicions further. He wasn’t certain what Deryn had thought or suspected of his nature, or right now why he even cared. Perhaps it was that the young woman had intrigued him, something about the way she held her ground to him and the way she was irked by the name he used for her, it had been a strange and unexpected encounter but one that would make this trip more memorable than many others.<br/><br/>As the sun set he stirred from his torpor leaving the safety of the cave, stretching out in the woodland outside, the glowing amber light of the setting sun filtering through the trees, it would be an hour or so yet until he could feed, but it would likely take him a short while to find someone suitable. Unbeknownst to Malkier, Deryn was not far from him, doing her best to follow his spoor through the forest, but where she rested most the nights he travelled and vice versa. It was as the sun finally set below the horizon that second night that would lead to Deryn encountering her Viper welcoming committee.<br/><br/>Malkier had picked up the trail and scent of a group travelling through the forest nearby, trailing them silently to assess their number and strength. It seemed like a scouting group, a mixture of races as was the Viper way, but a predominance of greenskins, a shame as it was not a taste that he particularly enjoyed, but appearing pale and ghost-like would not be ideal for his meeting with Imperellis, he preferred to maintain the guise of being amongst the living as best as he could.<br/><br/>Crouched in the shadows cast by a massively ancient tree he watched as the scouting group slipped past him,  they were very quiet, but together they made noise, enough for him to get close, waiting until the last man was passing as he reached out the blade of his glaive, enchanted once more with his corruptive magics to paralyse the goblin it touched. Silently seizing up mid stride, Malkier rose to catch the frozen greenskin before it crashed to the ground with a thud, the creature now cradles in his arms and with his wings draped around them both, sank his fangs into the neck of the goblin, the metallic taste of the creature’s blood flooded his mouth and the energies from the act coursed through his body, it would sustain him for a few more days before he would need to feed again. Lowering the now unconscious Goblin to the ground Malkier slipped into the darkness, once more heading Northwards.<br/><br/>It was the third night that Malkier arrived at the Starcraft encampment, the night before Deryn would encounter he first Greenskin. Approaching openly the entrance to their camp, ensuring that he appeared to not be a threat. Announcing his name and House along with his intent to those stood on guard at the gate gained him access to the safety of their encampment and in time should secure him an audience with their clan head Imperellis. He was granted a guest tent with a bed for the rest of the night, being told that Imperellis would meet with him tomorrow and hear his message.<br/><br/>So it was on the evening of the third day as Malkier sat about the main camp fire, discussing the details of what he knew of the sickness that seemed to have infected the Beastkin band that he had encountered outside the shrine. Voices drew his attention from the gate, the commotion of a returning scouting group, pushing in front of them a bound individual, something of the silhouette seemed familiar to him, peering through the darkness he tried to make out what it was that tugged at his memory. The returning group of Starcraft scouts approached the fire trailing their captive with them, intent on giving their chief their report and display their prize. As the flicking light of the fire struck the fine features of the bound captive, Malkier’s eyes widened in surprise… Deryn, what was she doing here? She should be at the coast by now with Bran and the rest of her group.<br/><br/>The leader of the scouts, a large brute with dark brown or black skin stepped forward to give his report<b>“Our patrol found nuffink, somefin grabbed Gobbit last night, we seen he’d gone and come back, found him out nappin’ on the ground, couple of holes on his neck, not sure what from. We made camp and let him wake up, lazy git, he’s alright now, bit groggy like an’ then dis little fing comes wanderin’ along, dunno if she was da one what got Gobbit, says she’s not, so we brung her ‘ere. She kept sayin’ somefin about…” </b>his words trailed off as he caught sight of Malkier sat beside the fire, his large black wings evidently clear as he looked towards the scout.<b>“…some guy wiv wings, thought she was lyin’ or just a bit mad.”</b><br/><br/>The exchange had Malkier smiling and shaking his head in disbelief, of all the coincidences on this egg. Imperellis looked over his shoulder toward the dark angel, a questioning look in his eye,<b>“She speaks the truth I would imagine. She was with the group I encountered at the Shrine, one of the group from Albion who fought the Beastkin with me. What she is doing here though I would like to hear, I thought she would be with her party headed West back to Albion.”</b>Standing from the fire, and slowly walking towards Deryn he drew a short bone bladed dagger from the sheathe at his hip<b>“Imperellis, if I may?” </b>waiting for the nod of approval from the chieftain he cut the rope binding her wrists<b>“Hello Young One, so what brings you here?”<br/>
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