The Highlands: Deepwood Forest.

Blake's eyes widened as Kariti dropped from the tree and started to walk towards him. He then put his hand over his eyes and started luaghing.

"Think of the devil and the devil shall appear." Blake said luaghing. He stood up and held out a hand her to shake. "It's been a while Kariti."

She fought not to hug him tightly, check him for injuries as she shook his hand. "A very long time. I see you've finally stopped rushing into danger." She was only teasing, and half smiled at him. "What brings you to the forest?"

"Yeah....about that...." Blake said slowly as he looked at his companions. "We are in the forest because the dwarf over there" Blake motined to Thane "was teleported here by mistake and we are going to find other dwarves that might be able to help get him back home. Going through the forest was easiest. And I was hoping we would run into you. You know this forest better than anyone. Could you help guide us through it?" Blake looked at her hopefully.

She smiled. "of course. That sounds like fun!" But she suddenly paused, and near glared over at Blake's companions. "Are they respectful?" Kariti walked to the horse, and began to brush its mane with her fingers.

"Thane is rough around the edges but Luthier is one of my good friends. I trust 'em." Blake said watching her.

An orcish spyglass lowered.

"The smallest ones are speaking, but it looks like they won't sleep any time soon. The time is right."

"Good. Attack now. We will eat well tonight."

A raucous cackle surrounded the woods around them, and the orcs charged.

(Kill Count: 0/25)

Kariti nodded. "Then I trust them." She walked back over to him. "Are you hurt at all?" She sat on his sleeping bag.

Despite his assurance, she still worried about who she was going to lead through her home. Nothing mattered more to her than the forest. She glanced over at Thane and Luthier, nervous about how they'd react to her-

She screamed for Blake as she saw the figures charge.

Luthier awoke to an unfamiliar scream, incredibly discontent.

He rustled around in his sleeping bag for a moment, and then his eyes adjusted, making it clearly visible that the forest around him was moving.

He was awake now, alright. Drawing his sword and concentrating, he waited for the onslaught.

Blake pushed Kariti behind him and drew out his dagger. He wasn't the most skilled fighter but he was acrobatic and can wear them down. When he saw who it was attacking he grunted. "Oh come on!!!!" He shouted. "Kariti I know you can fight. They may live in your home with you but they will kill and eat us."

Kariti finally snapped out of her trance, and bounded into the trees, jumping down into the fight and fighting fiercely. Rage filled her. She began giving as many people as she could fake injuries, enough to stun them so she could knock them out or at least give them a good punch. She glanced around, looking for Blake and his companions, but all she saw was the enemy orcs.

Blake took a strong stance as an orc charged him. When he got close he jumped up and thrust the dagger down behind the orcs collar bone piercing his heart and jumped over him pulling out the dagger as he landed. One down, but there were so many.

"GRAWW!! DAMNIT!!! Now would be a good time to wake up guys!!!!!" Blake yelled as he prepard for the next one.

Kariti bounded over to the companion was awake- Luthier?- and shook him. "Come on!" Before he could reply, an orc grabbed her and began to drag her away. She kicked and screamed, but she could not manage to use her power or get a good grip on the orc.

"Seeing Kariti get dragged away Blake doged the charging orc and ran to her. Stabbing the orc's arms until he let Kariti go the orc swung his club into Blake's gut. Blake flew back about 10 feet and landed on the ground hard.
Seeing stars he stood up warily. That's a few broken ribs. Blake thought. He started to charge the orc again ignoring the pain.

Kariti seethed, waiting a moment until Blake finished killing the Orc before pressing her hand to Blake's ribs. She focused, and took away the injury, before turning to battle another Orc. They kept coming..

"Thanks Kariti." Blake whispered as she flew off to fight another orc. Damn. She probally felt them. they are bound but still. Killing another orc in a similar fashion to the first Blake landed low and jumped up the get another one in the jugular. But he didn't die before stabbing Blake in the side. Nothing major, grazed the side so Blake kept fighting.
"How many have you killed Kiriti!!"

"Don't know! 10 maybe?" Little did Blake know that Kariti was fully aware of his secret. Perhaps not conciously, but when she had saved his life she had noticed a few odd things about him.

Kariti focused on the next Orc before untying Blake's horse, who was whinnying in fright.

Blake stopped for a moment. 10?! Jesus he had some catching up to do. Blake was tripped by one of the orcs and rolled underneath his legs before it could swing it's club down on his head. He sliced the backs of their knees and jumped up seperating the spinal cord with his dagger. "that makes 15 dead! 10 more!!" Blake ran over to the next group and was surrounded by 5 of them.

"Now guys, why do we have to fight? Why can't we just be peaceful?!" Blake yelled as one of them jumpped in to the circle and he fought it.

The other five were backing Kariti against a tree, unaware she could climb quickly. She went to climb up, but an Orc grabbed her ankle and pulled her down. She panicked, and fought against it's grip. She saw a club and began swinging with all her might.

Kariti glanced at Blake, who seemed to be holding his own, and forced herself to keep calm.

Killing the first orc the other four decided to attack all at once. As they charged Blake jumpped up in the air at the right moment. But not fast enough. His left foot was cuaght in the rush and crushed. Letting out a cry of of pain as his bones shattered Blake brought his dagger down on the closest orc and stabbed through the collar bone again to reach the heart. As that orc collasped to the ground Blake's foot was freed and he fell to the ground. Rolling away just in time to avoid being clubbed he stood on his good foot and leaned against the tree his horse used to be tied too. Holding the dagger out the other three approached slowly, thinking they finally beat this one. Not so fast guys. I'm not dead yet. When they got close enough he reached down to grab an object on the top of his bag. Throwing the vile at the middle orc it cried out in pain as the gel acid ate through his flesh. Smirking Blake turned to the other two who were close now. One of them grabbed his throat and lifted him in the air. Using his dagger he cut the orc's arm and was dropped to the ground. Crying out in oain as his crushed foot hit the ground he quickly threw his dagger at the other orc and hit him square in the throat. Reaching quickley for his pack he pulled out a few smaller daggers as the injured orc grabbed his crushed foot and dragged him away. Dropping all but one of the smaller daggers in the blinding pain Blake turned himself over while being dragged he threw the dagger and hit him in the middle of the forehead. Laying there in pain and exhuastion Blake turned his head to look at Kiriti.

Kariti had managed to kill four of the orcs, but one had stayed back a little, and after seeing Blake's foot be crushed, it grabbed her throat and squeezed hard, pressing her against the tree. She scratched the orc's arm and kicked until she got a well placed kick to its gut. She made it relive Blake's broken ribs, and as it cried out she sliced it's throat. Once she stopped moving, all the death hit her. She walked over to Blake, her collarbone feeling like it was on fire. She bit her lip and began healing him.

(XD For the record, this is not how combat is going to go in the future. Wait your turns, guys, mods control NPC's. That being said, it's not a huge deal, so I'll let it happen.)

Luthier blinked.

"That was the bloodiest fucking thing I've ever seen. Did we really have to kill them ALL?"

He put his sword down and his mouth opened wide.

"Uh, thanks for protecting us, I guess... Blake, who the hell is this?"

He motioned to the girl awkwardly.

Gilrim stumbled back to the camp. He had a little bit of blood on him, but he looked more angry than anything.

"Did ye know thar ain't a keg o' ale in this whole damn fores-"

He stopped midsentence and looked around at the orc bodies.

"GODS DAMNIT! Ye killed em all withou' mae?!"

Blake went to Luthier and put his arm on his sholder akwardly cause he was taller than Blake. "This is my friend the wood nymph. Like I said I've been here before. Her name is Kariti. Kariti this is Luthier and Thane." Blake motioned to each person individually.

Kariti nodded to each of the men.

"Nice to meet you both. Blake tells me you wish to travel through here. I can guide you, if you'd like."

Luthier blinked.

"Exactly how well do you know this person, Blake?"

His thoughts were on those living in the forest, and why he hadn't heard of Kariti before.