[Arien]

The mist was clearing. They seemed to have strayed from a recognisable path altogether. Although Ihwesta was leading them well, avoiding obstacles like boulders and fell trees which they were not able to see until the actually fell over them. But the mist was thinning now, and their eyes started to register with their surroundings. Ceros looked around suspecting to find the trees standing tall and proud.

But he was met by quite a different sight. There were webs everywhere, winding themselves around trees and squeezing the life out of them, suffocating them. As they brushed past the webs they could see the damage done to the trees, marks and deep hacks and slices were set into them. This place certainly wasn’t the Greenwood he knew. It was as though the company had strayed into a nightmare. All of them were speechless, and the silence hung in the air, saturating it. Until they heard running.

Ihwesta was the first to hear it as she was at the head of the company. She ran back to where the rest were and told them of what she had heard.

“Someone is coming,” she whispered into the huddle.

“Someone or something?” question Arië. She had a very good point, what if it was an enemy?

“Draw your weapons then, Ihwesta how many come?” asked Ceros turning to the she elf.

“One…”she said looking into his eyes, “Just one…”

“Let us hope you are right,” Anemetion said swiftly as he drew his knives. The others drew their bows. Fortunately the thinning of the mist would allow them to see this thing from a good 10 metres away, and that would undoubtedly leave enough time for them to slay it. So they waited, but only for a few seconds. In the distance a shape was forming, Ceros’ tightened his arrow onto the notch and waited. Slowly but surely the form came closer. Arië was the first to drop her weapon followed by the others.

“ Reynion” cried Arië, she rushed to him and saw that he was injured, as the others gathered around she asked, “What happened?”

“Spiders, they have the others,” he said flatly hiding the pain from his leg.

Wasting no time Ceros said hastily, “Which way?” and so they followed him running through the debris of webs and marred trees, the ran swiftly and the still air whipped their faces, branches caught their faces but they didn’t care, they had to get to the others. As the approached the spider lair so to speak, Reynion slowed down. He put his hand up to halt them and he alone crept forward passed the spider he had slain earlier. He beckoned them forward and showed them where the others were. Ceros stared into the lair and he could see Eruwen and Taurëwen hanging, the life drained from them, his eyes wondered to the floor where Gilbereth lay, apparently dead but Ceros assured himself that he was only unconscious. He dreaded the thought of losing anyone else. They crept forward not making a sound.

“Its too quiet..” whispered Anemetion. The other nodded in agreement. It was too quiet.

[ August 21, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]