"You've been in this forest five minutes and you're already ignoring what the ONE person who knows this forest told us?" Vennar said, walking up behind her and raising an eyebrow. "Or did you think the 'Don't step off the path' message was an optional suggestion?"<br/><br/>Suddenly a loud howl cut through the still air, echoing enough that the direction of its source was impossible to ascertain.<br/><br/>"Great Gaia," Vennar muttered under his breath, grabbing the sword he'd forged from its sheath. "Get back to the path, NOW," he growled to Shael. "As for you, I don't know who you are or how you ended up in here, but I suggest if you like being alive you come with us." As he turned towards the path he froze, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly standing on end. "We're being watched, be careful where you're walking."