Camp Zak (Ith)

[Zakari Skinner]

Zak picked some little mud droplets from his face and clothing while Ith was speaking. It was sad that the fun was over, but in reality it was also a good thing. Getting attached to Ith would lead him to nothing but trouble later on in life, so he wasn't going to allow himself to do that... If he could help it.

As she inquired about a stream, he pointed down the path a ways. "The stream actally winds quite a lot. Walk about ten meters in that direction and the turn right and a section of it should flow right through there. He hadn't been in the area in ages, but he was sure he was remembering correctly. With the fresh batch of rain, the stream wouldn't be empty, either.

Back on task, Zak crammed the canvas and into Beast's saddle bags. Once he was finished he admired the horse's mane; he hadn't paid it any attention but it was still just how he wanted it. When they got to the next village the horse was going to get his mane braided that way it was kinky again, for that was how Beast looked better.

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[Ith Faera]

<sup>Ith nodded after he had given her directions and headed off towards where he had said the stream would be. But before she go tfar she turned and shouted over her shoulder, "Don't you dare leave without me!" And then she darted off into the trees, ready to wash the filth from her body.

It didn't take her long to find the babbling creek but when she did she frowned to herself. From what she could tell that water wasn't very deep, maybe up to her waist at its deepest point. In a sudden flare of self-consciousness Ith peered around in all directions before she stripped of her mud caked clothes. Tossing the clothes down next to the water she ran into the water. It felt great to feel the mud wash off of her skin. After a few moments she grabbed her clothes and scrubbed off the mud and then lay them out to dry.

"Might as well relax a little while they dry," Ith murmured to herself. Treading through the cool water Ith tried to locate the deepest part of the stream, but just as she has suspected, it only came up to her waist. Shrugging mentally she dropped down into the water, kneeling in the water so that it covered her bare chest. She closed her eyes in pleasre as the refreshing water washed over her sore dirty body. She wished she could stay in the water all day.

When Ith had figured enough time had passed for her clothes to dry she regretfully climbed out of the water and slipped her clothes back on. Now to get back to Brian.</sup>

[Zakari Skinner]

Zak watched as Ith walked off to clean herself. He felt the need to do the same, but he didn't really want to go to the same part in the stream as her. The more he thought about the situation, the more he realized how vulnerable Ith was at that point in time. He could take her down with ease. She seemed to have gained trust in him, and that could quickly lead to the downfall of anyone.

But he couldn't possibly kill her. Not after what had just happened, and not with her being in her current situation. What made her that bad, after all?

"The potential threats she causes, and the trouble she could bring to others." Zak answered his mind's question aloud and chewed thoughtfully on his lip. His mind was torn between the two options. Beast was giving him a weird look.

Ith clearly wasn't like your typical soul hungry demon, or else she would have tried to eat his soul already. But she's still a demon. Zak shook his head, trying to rid himself of the terrible thoughts, and walked a little ways back toward a different bend in the stream. He knelt down to wash his face, the coolness of the water rejuvenating his skin. When he got back to society, he was definitely taking a warm bath.

It was then that Zak decided upon what he would do about Ith. When, or if, he ever came upon Ith feeding on someone's soul, then and only then would he ever try to end her existence. For now, he would continue acting as if he didn't know anything about what she was, and he would take her back to the village without any harm inflicted by him.

To be sure he could end her existance if it was needed, he had to stop being so lovable. Well, he didn't have to stop being so lovable; he just needed to try to detach himself emotionally from the demon woman while maintaining his kind and lovable demeanor.

Nodding to second the thought, Zak walked back to Beast and patted his large muscular neck. It would just be a little longer before Ith returned, he was sure.

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[Ith Faera]

<sup>Ith meandered through the trees slowly, a happy little skip in her step. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks, something was wrong. She looked around, scanning the trees; she could sense someone else nearby, and it wasn't Brian. Behind her the faint sound of a stick breaking set Ith on full red alert. Whipping out her two favorite knives she could feel her body start morphing into demon mode. Skin ash grey and cracked like an old painting, eyes the palest shade of blue, Ith stalked through the trees towards the sound. Someone was out there and their intentions were not good.

After a few more steps Ith saw something move through the leaves and a large form materialized between the trees. It was a demon hunter, Ith had no doubt about that, and he was here for her, unless she had somehow not picked up on the scents of other demons. The man took a forbidding step forward, pulling out his own weapon, a long sword. Ith hissed a warning at him deep in her throat, but the man only stepped forward again. If this demon hunter thought that she was an easy target he was dead wrong, with heay emphasis on the 'dead'.

Letting out a sound half way between a scream and a grunt, Ith heaved her throwing knife at the hunter. Somehow, though, he managed to dodge her well aimed throw, and in frustration she charged the man dagger ready, its deadly point trained on his heart</sup>.

[Zakari Skinner]

Simultaneously, Zak and Beast whipped their heads toward a loud sound. Within seconds he was aboard the large horse and maneuvered himself through the trees like this was something that he did everyday. Beast grew skittish and snorted at the new scents, and Zak's senses were screaming demon.

Demon, demon, demon, demon, demon, demon, demon, demon, demon. Zak's head began to ache from the strong energy his mind was providing. He reached the area where the newly disgusting being (who he presumed to be Ith) was facing off against a man who he knew from a long time ago. A man named Peter, an infamous demon hunter who had been one of Zak's favorite teachers in the art of demon hunting.

His mind was torn once again; he couldn't kill Ith. Not now. He hadn't detached himself from her properly. Beast pawed, only making the gut feeling worse. It was one or the other. The idea of having to intervene was not one he welcomed, but that would be his best chance at bringing peace and escaping alive. He wasn't on the best of terms with Peter, and he had no idea how Ith would react after learning how he had played her.

"Stop, the lot of you!" Zak tried to take up a rather threatening tone, and it worked. His voice reverberated in the area, and he hoped the words got his point across. What with all of the emotions and the adrenaline surging through the two, he really doubted this would end without a fatality. Who that fatality was, he didn't know, but he still didn't want to lose either of the people who were currently scrimmaging in front of him.

If he was forced to choose a side, it would probably be better to up and leave.

[Ith Faera]

<sup>The man blocked her attack with infuriating ease and she darted away and turned to face him, planning on what to do next. In the distance she could hear the sound of hoof beats. Ith hoped that it was Brian, then he could come and help her get rid of this man that was threatening her life. The hunter swung out with his sword and Ith skittered aside in time causing an angry scowl to split the man's face. But then a thought crossed her mind: she didn't want Brian to come and see her like this. Nevermind that he had said he didn't believe in demons Ith still didn't want to destroy his idea of the world and his image of her by allowing him to see what she really looked like.

However, as if on cue Brian and Beast came crashing through the trees. His sudden appearence threw Ith off and she quickly tried to regain her human countanance, but the adrenaline running through her veins was making it difficult. Finally she had returned to human form but she realized that in the time it had taken her he had undoubtedly seen her for what she really was.

Then something struck her as odd after he shouted at her and the hunter to stop fighting, he had hardly reacted, to any of it. Again the feeling that she had been lied to returned and a knot formed in her stomach. Standing up strat she turned to look at Brian with a disappointed look. As she stood there she remembered him saying something about him in a group of demon hunters and a part of her mind wondered if he knew this hunter that had tried to kill her. If he did it would make sense why he hadn't tried to help her.

"We are kinda in the middle of something, Brian," Ith spat his name out, now truly pissed off. "He is here to kill me, I would like to get back to our fight..." Pure venom.</sup>

[Zakari Skinner]

Apparently words did get through to people. Zak couldn't help himself; he felt accomplished. Not only had Ith stopped to give him a few unkind words, but the man he knew to be Peter turned to look at him as well. Recognition was the most notable feature on his worn face.

"Well if it isn't little Zakari Skinner. I'm surprised you haven't taken care of this one yet. You were never one to let them be, always charging in headfirst. You've changed over the years." The large man shook his head, making Zak feel like he hadn't done the right thing in this scenario. Typical Peter, though. If that man didn't approve, you heard about it. Zak knew he was probably going to get his ass kicked by Ith after lying to her repeatedly, but he really wasn't interested in that at that particular point in time.

"It only seems like I've changed, Peter." The tone of his voice was somewhat hostile. "This demon is off limits. You're not allowed to kill her." Zakari was definitely coming off as more confident than he actually was. His eyes stayed focused on Peter. The dwarf couldn't even bear to look at the dark-haired she-demon he knew as Ith. He didn't think he would be able to handle what was going to come to him.

"One such as you does not have the authority to order me about, dwarf." Peter's tone was angry and defiant; he really didn't give a shit about Zak's opinion. The boy was inferior and nothing more than a pawn in life's game to him. Peter thought of himself as the star of the demon slaying world, and Zak was nothing.

Color rose to Zak's tanned face. That was it. He'd had it with the man. He wasn't sure why he was pressing the matter. It was clear that all the man cared about was ridding the world of demons like some kind of hero. "If you'd learn to open your mind instead of your mouth you'd begin to see that not all demons are the same. Nor are all dwarves."


Peter gave Zak an angry snort. "If you continue to press the issue, I'll take you out first, boy." There was no doubt in Zak's mind that he was serious. Why would he be kidding?

This was not a pleasant situation for Zak to be in. It was quite the predicament, and now he definitely had to keep his mouth shut or be slaughtered on the spot. At least then they could agree on something, he thought grimly, waiting for whatever would come next.