If there was ever a deafening silence, it was certainly within this darkness. Footsteps seemed distant, almost straining to hear. Even ones heartbeat or breath was without sound as though they were in a vacuum. The air was cold though there was no breeze, no movement at all with the trees as if every leaf was petrified. However, the ground had somewhat of a faded path. It was clear there had been movement not long before them, and the earth itself was the only hint they would have in the darkness of where anything would or could have been. Aluren’s attention was raised to the tree tops, checking each branch for a potential ambush, though he could see nothing.<br/><br/>The further they traveled, the more deformed the trees seemed to be. They were otherwise the same trees if not for the growths the trunks seemed to have. Bulging masses that still held bark seemed to twist and make random areas of each tree puff out. Aluren, narrowed his gaze, growing more cautious as the trees seemed to huddle them closer together with the path growing smaller due to the strange growths.<br/><br/>Aluren looked over his shoulder, looking back at the dragoness with a stern expression, his gaze rolling over her form briefly before turning back. He checked to make sure she was prepared for what was to come, though the only thing really on his mind was his desire to finally have revenge for all those girls, perhaps even freeing their souls from further torment.<br/><br/>Two trees were close, causing the larger knight to turn his form to slip through, thinking little of it, he continued a few paces forward before pausing. Just before he turned his head to look back at the dragoness, the same two trees were suddenly linked as a thin, black shape went from one tree to the other. Upon closer inspection, one could see that fingers were now on the opposite tree, and what was before her was an arm barring her passage. Another soon stretched from the opposite tree, completely blocking her passage before the bulging masses seemed to shudder, rounded, head like shapes pulled free to slowly turn toward the girl, black pits for eyes and mouths staring at her blankly as the strange, bark covered humanoids slowly pulled free with a soft groan.