Marcella went deeper into the canyon's depths, feeling a strong sense of urgency as she searched for any signs of life, or whatever the source of what called to her, picking her way through the treacherous terrain. She caught a faint metallic smell in the air, sending a wave of fear through her. The young woman focused on the ground below her, the jagged rocks stood so tall, like they were calling for whoever was above to try to come to them. It was as if they wanted to taste the blood of anyone thinking it wise to test the Mother goddess. They were starting to get smaller and more scattered, when the petite blonde first saw the faint red on the valley floor. Swooping down to insure she was not letting her mind play tricks on her, Marcella got a closer look. Sure enough bathed in the silver moonlight was the crimson trail. The carpathian girl had to follow it, this was why she was here.<br/><br/><br/>Her heart pounding in her chest the farther she went, Marcella followed the trail. The fear she felt was driving her to go on. It was too late to turn around now; she knew it in her heart. The rocks gave way to a steep incline where the trail looked fresher, the smell of blood stronger. In front of her lay a cave system, the openings looking like black gaping mouths waiting to swallow her up. The small owl flew along the crimson trail, till it went in one of the caves, fast to change back to her original form.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#cc99ff">“Thank you Mother earth for leading me here."</span>She spoke softly, standing at the entrance. her silken green dress pooled around her ankles as she walked, held up by a belt woven of gold just under her bust. as she entered the cave, the wind picked up, nearly strangling her with the forest green cloak she had draped around her neck.<br/><br/><br/>She wrapped the cloak tighter around her as she entered the cave. The scent of blood was overwhelming her nose, no other scent able to penetrate it. She navigated through this dark, narrow cave. That was when she saw a sight that nearly broke her heart. A lone Carpathian male, his body maimed and bloody, crouched there as still as the stone walls around them. He had to be one of the lost Hunters that never returned the night before. Her ice blue eyes filled sorrow, as she feared she was too late to save him. she knew the moment she saw him he had a family that needed him to come home.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#cc99ff">"Please don't be one of the lost souls"</span>she whispered as she got closer to him.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#cc99ff">"Can you hear me?"</span>She asked him, holding her hands out to show she wasn't there to harm him. He had armed himself with a rock, willing to fight till the end.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#cc99ff">"I'm not here to hurt you. You need help. Let me aid you."</span>The young carpathian spoke as she knelt in front of him, her long blonde ponytail falling over her shoulder, the silver streak visible even in the absence of light. She was close enough to reach out and touch him; but it was an urge Marcella resisted. She had to help him, but unless he was unconscious she wasn't going to force help on him.