The red sun was setting beyond the tall dark mass of a forest. There was a bitter chill in the air carried on a lazy wind that rustled the tree tops. Down below, where the fading light barely seeped there was a peaceful moment soon to be shattered.<br/><br/>A slender figure was currently bathing in a stream. Heavy chains could be heard rattling as he attempted to get most of the dirt and blood washed from it's soft tanned flesh. The metal on the being's wrists catching what little light dared break through the canopy.<br/><br/>The far-off sound of horse's hooves could be heard, the beast obviously being spurred to a run. It was a single horse, by the sound, and an exhausted one at that. "Hyah! Nahm, nahm!" The voice that angrily shouted was simply tenor, rather average except for the slight accent and the foreign language in which it spoke. "Damned Nysaar!" One could hear it when the horse stumbled.<br/><br/>The figure's bright blue gaze shifted toward the sounds. After a moment of hesitation the creature got out of the stream. The figure was male, wet breeches clung to his legs and hips, his feet were still chained together, clearly he'd somehow escaped from somewhere. The chains on his ankles jingled slightly as he neared to sounds, soon muffled by a coating of mud. He held the ends of the broken wrist chains in his hands so they didn't make too much noise.<br/><br/>There was a light 'thump' as the rider dismounted, and then the ring of a drawn blade. The horse's shrill whinny was cut off abruptly and the beast, quite obviously dead, fell to the ground. There was some muttering before a figure, no taller than five feet and three inches, loomed into view of the other, sheathing its long, wicked-looking dagger at the same time.<br/><br/>The male made a soft sound, like a gasp. He moved a little way away ducking behind a tree, his back resting against the massive tree. Eyes closed he tried to keep himself calm, and his mind from dwelling on what might happen were he noticed.<br/><br/>The rider was muffled in a heavy black cloak that looked too large, shoulder-length black locks of hair escaping from within the hood. A pair of faintly luminescent yellow-green eyes observed his surroundings as he walked swiftly through the trees. "Idiot... if I hadn't needed a horse in a hurry, the man would be without a head now. Gerard will...." He stopped abruptly, pupils enlarging slightly as he slowly looked around.<br/><br/>The male shifted slightly, his chains made a faint noise as he crouched down into a sitting position, his knees to his bare chest. He attempted to make himself small. Hoping the man would pass without noticing him.<br/><br/>At the sound, the rider turned abruptly to look in the creature's general direction, at the same time taking the evil-looking blade back out of its sheath. "Hm-mm-mm, what have we here?" From his stance and the way he held the dagger (a dueling dagger, coincidentally) he knew how to fight and killed without regret or remorse.<br/><br/>The male shifted, he was too tired and hungry to do much. His body stank with Hell, having lived there his entire existence up to just a few months ago had heavily embedded the scent into his very being. His face was towards the forest canopy's underbelly.<br/><br/>The rider paused before sheathing his blade and walking the rest of the way 'round the tree, so he could see the source of the sound, still keeping his distance. Absently, he shook his head slightly, letting his hood slip back (it was so hard to see very clearly with one's hood on). His shoulder-length black hair was somewhat stringy, in need of cleaning, and his skin was pale by human standards. The skeletal structure of his face stood out somewhat, giving him an unwholesome look, his eyes narrow, seeming too small for his face and making him resemble a weasel... "An escaped slave? What a gem..."<br/><br/>The slave's bright blue eyes shifted towards the rider. Slightly wet matting blonde hair clung to the male's face and neck, long pointed ears peek through, the ends of his hair barely reached his shoulder blades. There was a single slight wave in his hair as though it had been tied back for a long amount of time. He shifted as if making to get to his feet, but only to sat up straighter.<br/><br/>The rider chuckled, grinning, and unsheathed the dagger again. There was a thin bluish film on the dagger... poison? He strode forward and put his right hand on the slave's left shoulder, thumb placed slightly in the pressure point just above his collar bone and nicked the slave's right shoulder with the poisoned blade.<br/><br/>The slave gazed up at the rider and raised a fine brow lightly. His flesh seemed to burn, though it wasn't extremely hot it was hot nonetheless, hotter than average temp for any creature.<br/><br/>The man's eyebrows furrowed slightly, then... "Hellchild!" The rider drew back as if burned, eyes narrowed to slits. "And why, hm-mm-m, would a Hellchild be sold here as a slave?" He seemed to be asking himself this. Of course, the rider was thinking too much. He sneered. "Gerard will have my head if I don't return soon... 'Piter, do this. Piter do that.'" he muttered, sheathing his dagger and turning. "I've more than enough to tangle with as it is..." And then he was leaving, back turned towards the slave.<br/><br/>The creature watched the man leave, not feeling at ease until he could no longer hear the stranger with his keen hearing. A soft sigh of relief as he settled back against the tree. His heart was pounding wildly as his dire situation sank in. He had no idea what he was doing or where he was.