Squirming desperately on the ground, Krynn froze at the smooth voice cutting through the gloom. Quiet footsteps carried the speaker closer, until a pale face framed by raven hair was looking down upon her. Fine features and elongated ears marked him as an elf, but if he was on this side of the border, then did that mean he was one of the drow?<b>"I--I didn't <i>mean</i> to--"</b>Her frightened, sputtered excuses did seem to change her situation much. She hadn't come to the Darkwoods looking for trouble, but it seemed trouble had found her regardless. The silver-skinned water sprite craned her neck as he walked down the length of her body, trying to keep him in her sights. With her bindings, however, doing so was difficult without straining her neck, and she was afraid to wriggle any harder, lest the tendrils decide to squeeze her like a chew toy again. He seemed to be looking her over with an appraising eye, more curious than bloodthirsty. Seizing on that hope, she shook her head in response to his questions.<b>"N-nobody. I'm just a scholar. A-a field researcher, that's all." </b>She fixed him with a desperate look.<b>"I know I was wrong to come here, but I wasn't looking to harm the Darkwoods, I swear." </b>She hardly looked the part of a warrior anyway. The sprite carried no weapon, and her embroidered blue tunic and dark leggings were hardly the garb of a soldier. She just a commoner--surely the elf had to see that.<br/><br/>She cringed slightly as he bent down, effortlessly revealing the small copper contraption she had stowed at the base of the tree.<b>"It's for my studies," </b>she pressed, too worried at her situation to be annoyed by him referring to the charm as "this". She had worked hard to devise those charms, spelling them to siphon and store small amounts of magic without disturbing the nearby flora and fauna. They were harmless devices, but their potential for expanding their knowledge of the Darkwoods was limitless.<br/><br/>He bent down to tap the belts binding her, and Krynn yelped again as they rose from the ground, carrying her with them. They floated obediently after him as he walked off, heedless of her protests and struggles.<b>"Let me go, please! I can't--I wasn't looking for trouble."</b>She strained against her bindings, trying to pull free.<b>"<i>Please</i>. You'll never see me here again, just let me go."</b>