The Dire Forest, name taking effect for the obvious reason that the beasts hidden under its leafy-canopies were anything but small, had its perks. No one dared to enter, being one of them, unless they were desperate. Needless to say, the newly formed insurgents had been promptly pushed to this point. The abrupt overthrow of King Victor Iucrua had sent a bolt of shock across Divinity’s Reach, the new declared king taking advantage of this and cutting down what he could of the forces that would dare to swell up in retribution of the massacred royal family. The crown’s castle within Terragot, the capital of the Reach, had been stained red top to bottom with the blood of near everyone who had the misfortune of being within its walls on the day of the takeover; out of the few who did escape, it was made certain none of the royals were left alive, especially the half-breed elven girl who’d been lined for the throne. They’d made sure to gut that pretty little elven woman as soon as they saw those pointy ears; ashamed they assumed that because she had pointed ears she had to be the elf girl sired by the King.<br/><br/>The handful that escaped the slaughter rushed from Terragot, heading South on foot, and for those lucky enough to find a mount, horseback. They made their way first to the town nearest Terragot, only to find that it seemed the castle was not the first place to be hit. The stench of decay had already started to loom over the city. The traitors had leveled the town, perhaps to ensure no aid be sent to Terragot when they made their move? The refugees needed to find safety so they could try and gather themselves, to learn their next move; the only place that could provide protection without needing an army? Dire Forest. See, desperate.<br/><br/>Their numbers were small, but others were trying to make their way to the place the insurgents were held up at. The only problem? Getting to them was not the easiest of task, especially if coming by night.<br/><br/>A howl, the human ranger at Cecilie’s side immediately shutting his mouth, and he followed the young woman’s gaze out to the thick of the forest down the small mountain side. “Was that…?” He just barely found his voice, it cracking as he choked out the question he didn’t want the answer to. Another howl and his voice was lost once more.<br/><br/>“I believe so,” the young woman said, scanning her eyes over the forest.<br/><br/>“What…what do we do?”<br/><br/>A gust flowed from behind them, pulling her silver hair over her shoulders and for a moment traveling as if it was a part of the unseen force. Just what they needed, something to carry their scent down to the beast prowling too close for comfort in the forest. The wind slowed, Ceci raising a hand to tuck most of it back behind her pointed ears as she said, “Pray it doesn’t come this way.” Her gaze went to the ranger, solemnness twisted into with the whisky grays of her eyes. Another voice caused the half-breed to look over her shoulder.<br/><br/>Standing outside one of the shelters they’d taken home to was one of the rescued the insurgent had managed to drag through the forest and to their little ‘haven’.<br/><br/><em>”Is anybody out there?”</em>he asked, looking about to try and answer his own question. With them being cloaked in Night’s blanket of darkness beyond the faint rays of the moon, and not being near any of the torches mounted on the corners of the home, it would be hard for him to sight the ranger and Ceci.<br/><br/>“Keep track of it,” she instructed the ranger, referring to the beast roaming the woods. She turned and began up the hill, going towards the stranger they’d saved. “Yes, a good handful of us, in fact.” She slowed her pace for a few strides before coming to a stop a couple yards from the small stairs he stood at the top of. “But careful not to wake them. First impressions are everything, no?” She offered a smile, probably looking far too innocent and ‘delicate’ with her soft, round face, kind yet clouded eyes, and that smile present. But the smile faded, with it a chunk of that naïve and innocence so many mistake her for still having, when she heard another howl.<br/>