Aluren’s footsteps were muffled by the soft dirt and grass beneath him as he traveled into the dimly lit woods. The trees were thick, their life almost mocking him as lush leaves blocked out most of the sun. His thoughts remained upon the vegetation surrounding him, uncaring if they, like everything else was swallowed whole in this cursed realm, they still lived together within this forest. His strange thoughts of trees watching him were cut short as a cry, a feminine cry drifted toward him within the wind. The knight paused, finding himself uncertain to what he had just heard. The woman before, the hollowed one, she was like everything else, more monster than human with a voice to match.<br/><br/>The distressed cry of a woman would have aroused a sense of duty with the most noble and honorable of knights  though it only caused him to draw his sword. Hands at his sides, he let the edge hover close to the grass at an angle with his continued approach, not caring that the clatter of plates and chainmail betrayed his position. Trees blinded him of where exactly he should look though the fresh scent of blood, and the soul attached to it soon reached his nostrils. Aluren tightened his grip on the ornate, worn blade as the sounds of subtle movement could be heard in the brush.  He wasn’t sure what to make of it, certainly the wretched undead fought each other… but that voice.<br/><br/>He had not heard such a sound since his last moments in the castle before the curse swept over the lands. His men laughed and cheered with their victory as he left the barracks to report to the king of their accomplishments. Climbing the stairs that lead to the extravagant castle, he passed a group of noblewomen preparing for the feast that was to come that night only for them to call out his name and laugh flirtatiously before they passed. He caught their whispers, mentioning him and the word ‘marriage’ followed by more hushed giggles. Aluren grinned sheepishly, his straight black hair kept in a ponytail to free his rather flawless, strong features free. Radiant blue eyes shined like the deepest of sapphires in the sunlight that complemented the crimson cloak and polished armor that displayed his rank of commander. It was then, in the throne room that he first heard the shrill cry, followed by the panicked gurgling as a woman choked on her own blood from behind him in the hall he just left.<br/><br/>He blinked repeatedly, his mind brought back to reality as he realizes he looked upon the injured woman, merely four meters from her. He groaned inaudibly, eyes squeezing shut as the wicked howls of his men and the desperate pleas of the royal family still rang in his ears. His features were shrouded in darkness from his tattered, red hood, head tilting to the side as he looks at her in deep confusion. Aluren looked no different from the hollowed that lay around her, his armor concealing the fact blood still pumped within his veins. He glanced down at her abdomen, eyes narrowing to the flowing, crimson river that ran down her fingertips as she held her wound. In silence, he took a step closer, gloved fingers gripping his weapon firmly as he debates if the beauty before him was truly there. Cold breath was all that escaped his hood, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath as he waited to see just what she… or it would do.