<em>Edges of the Black Forest</em><br/><br/>He moved through the forest slowly, what had brought him here he wasn't sure, nor was he sure why he continued to move through the dense trees, but he did anyway. Each footfall completely silent, years of practice making him move stealthily even when under duress. Suddenly a voice spoke right in his ear, he spun on the spot, going low into a crouch as blades extended with a snap from the bracers on his arms. The blades glinted, even in the darkness, their edges razor sharp. Forged in dragon fire the blades were near unbreakable and never lost their edge.<br/><br/>He frowned in confusion, he was still alone. The darkness seemed to becoming more oppressive, more solid, as if it were taking on a life it's own. Eyes appeared in the trees and he turned slowly on his heels, marking everywhere he saw a pair of eyes in his mind. He moved with the grace of a dancer and the precision of a cat, turning slowly on the spot. His breathing was calm and even, as his face stared coldly into the darkness, but his heart rate had picked up and adrenaline was starting to surge in his system.<strong>"Show yourself!"</strong>he called into the darkness, almost snarling his defiance at the eyes on unseen bodies,<strong>"Face me and I will show you just how ready I am!"</strong>