Story to begin (I may edit this a lot before starting the IC)<br/><br/>Jiana Silvermane  was having a blast. She had been playing with her friends in the Forest prior to the annual migration. They were heading North again to the glorious foothills of the Griffon Range. It was the summer playground for the Faela. The time of making new relationships and remembering old ones. Reconnecting with the beautiful world of the silk business. They would be releasing the gorgeous butterflies into the world to mate and lay eggs for the caterpillars that made the soft silk fibers the Fae needed for their silk factories.<br/><br/>Jiana was happy to be heading North this year. She had her eye on a handsome male who was simply gorgeous. He was very busy honing his crafts and seldom saw Jiana as she did her work. But this year she was moving up. She would be honing her archery skills to be guarding the butterflies as they hatched out of their cocoons. Many enemies sought out the pretty butterflies. Mostly birds and snakes and other small animals. If the butterflies did not get a chance to let their wings dry they would be helpless prey.<br/><br/>No more gathering berries and other herbs for dyes. This year she had responsibility and a chance to meet the one she had her eye on. She was playing hide and seek with her best friends Gaily and Iris. They were deep in the Forest, deeper than they had ever gone before. All three felt adventurous and bold. None of them was prepared for the shock they were to receive. This was a part of the Forest that held some mysterious secrets. It was called The Malvern, and signs in Elvish posted a warning that the area was dangerous.<br/><br/>It started out as a premonition. Gaily had stopped to rest at the top of a tall elm tree and looked to the West. Curious, she called down to the other two girls. “What is that? It’s all dark and sinister...like a creeping black mist. Is it smoke?”<br/><br/>Jiana flew up to look as did Iris. They were both stymied. “I have no clue, it might be a fire. Maybe we should warn the Rangers. This is their territory.”<br/><br/>Iris shrugged. “They might already know. I am going to go and look. Maybe it’s a new discovery!”<br/><br/>Before Jiana and Gaily could stop her, Iris flew down to the creeping fog to get a closer look. “I have a bad feeling about this, Jiana.” the blue faela known as Gaily remarked.<br/><br/>They watched curiously as Iris went closer. Suddenly a high pitched scream rang out and Iris was drawn into the fog even as she tried furiously to fly away. The scream was cut off rather short. And the fog was headed right for them!<br/><br/>“RUN!!” yelled Gaily and she took off as fast as she could fly. Jiana right behind her.<br/><br/>As they flew as fast as they could for the safety of the Ranger’s station, Gaily flew right into a forest spider’s web. Jiana tried to pull her friend free. Glancing back as the creeping black fog drew closer. Gaily was caught completely and the spider was hurrying to catch her prey.<br/><br/>“Run! Jiana, go and warn the village do not stop!! Go!! Fly and stay high, they fog is almost here, GO!!!” Gaily screamed at her friend.<br/><br/>“I can’t leave you!” Jiana cried. Great tears rolled down her cheeks as she fitted an arrow and killed the spider. “Come on., I will carry you!”<br/><br/>“No you have to warn the village, I gladly make this sacrifice for all the Elves. Remember me Jiana. Now go!” Gaily shoved her friend away and folded her broken wings and prayed.<br/><br/>Jiana could not fight the tears, but she saw the menacing fog closing in. She thought she saw hideous shapes in the mist. Gulping in terror now, she fled. Flying higher and above the fog she managed to find a ranger who was on patrol. “Danger!! There is a menacing Black Mist coming!! I have already lost two friends to it!”<br/><br/>The Ranger was a tall Grenida who was riding a prancing paint horse. He grabbed Jiana carefully and set her in front of him on the saddle. “Hang on! We will get to safety!”<br/><br/>They rode hard for the river, and the wards set up there against the magic. “I am Lazir Oakblade. The fog should not cross the river, I hope we can warn the village in time. Who are you, little one?”<br/><br/>Jiana snuggled close to the Ranger and in a muffled voice she managed. “Jiana Silvermane. My friends are dead…” she sobbed.<br/><br/>“Tis a risk you take playing out here in the Wilds, young Faela. I am sorry for your loss. But it will not be in vain. I must warn the King the Black Mist is rising.” He was troubled. The Black Mist had not risen in over a thousand years. Someone must have tampered with the Wards.