Over 16,528,565 people are on fubar.
What are you waiting for?
It took Zasch several grueling hours to find what he was looking for in the darkness, but eventually he finally managed to find the trail. The foot prints were unlike anything he had before seen, resembling something like that of a human, and yet, not quite human. It unnerved him, and the tracks reminded him a great deal of something that he had encountered once before.
He recalled several of his studies about such similar creatures, and wasn't worried about facing one in the least, having slain a lycanthrope before. He calmly walked along, careful to keep his mind from wandering to his studies, knowing that it would lead to his mind wandering to her, and distract him from the task at hand. Distractions in this field usually lead to an early demise. Zasch had no intentions of falling any time soon.
The trail led him through the southern stretches of the forest over the course of several days, certain that he was catching up to his quarry. Throughout the trek, Zasch hadn't yet stumbled upon any hostile creatures since the goblin encounter at the farm. It was late the the fourth night when Zasch had settled down to rest.
An orb of blue light hovered down from the tree tops, constantly disappearing, and repearing, at last ceasing it's movement a few feet from Zasch. Zasch spared a glance to the Wisp, and set the small fire ablaze. The Wisp hovered short ways closer to Zasch, constantly disappearing and reappearing an inch or so to the left, the right, above, below, or any other direction of it's previous position.
"I have seen nothing in the distance," the little orb of light spoke in a hushed, high pitched feminine whisper.
Zasch nodded, "Hello Alais, and no, I'm not surprised you haven't seen anything. Such is the case I fear. I think we may be dealing with a lycanthrope."
Alais flickered up and down as if nodding, "I agree, the tracks would resemble that of a human lycanthrope, likely a werewolf."
With a nod of agreement, Zasch turned his attention from his Wisp companion, and removed his hat, the flickering firelight illuminating his off-gray skin, and reflecting viciously in his violet eyes. Alais flickered closer to Zasch, flickering just in front of him, as if trying to tease him. Zasch smiled softly at his familiar, one of only two beings he counted as a friend, then leaned back against the tree.
"You are smiling," Alais stated, knowing him well to know what was hidden beneath his high collar.
"I am."
"Sleep well," Alais whispered at him, "I'll watch over you."
Zasch closed his violet eyes, and let weariness and sleep take him...
Zasch awoke to Alais hovering over him. As he straightened himself, and placed his hat upon his head, the Wisp giggled adoringly and moved closer to him. Zasch rolled his eyes in response, and started off after picking the trail back up. After several hours the trail began to double back.
"This lycanthrope has an unusually large territory, I must say," Alais commented.
"Agreed, perhaps he leads a pack?" he suggested, mostly thinking aloud to himself.
"If so, do you think you can defeat a pack alone? I can travel through the planes and quickly contact those back at the White Lotus to see if any are willing to aid. I'm certain Muriel or Kallista <Black Rose> will gladly aid you," Alais offered.
The mention of Kallista <Black Rose> drew a wince, and a halt from Zasch as he regarded the Wisp momentarily. Finally, Zasch turned his attention back to the trail, "I will be fine."
I have to be, Zasch told himself in arrogant determination. Secretly, he doubted himself that he could face off against a pack of lycanthropes. Maybe he would meet his ened here.
"Maybe not," Zasch said aloud.
Alais kindly didn't remark on him talking to himself, she had gotten use to his habit, and seemed to understand it was a product of his isolation. After all he counted only two as his friend, and the Wisp was one, and had bound herself to him Magically, so there was no way she'd be able to betray him if she ever wished too.
"If I may remark, Shadar-kai are odd creatures," Alais offered into deafening silence.
"And a Dhampyr Shadar-kai?" Zasch asked, his tone softening and sounding a little playful.
Alais merely blinked along beside her companion, but an affectionate chortle came from the Wisp.
