[Ithaeliel]

And suddenly Ender was alone again. She was not afraid of the forest. If the beast came (which it would not-- there was no sign of it anywhere; the wind carried no scent), she would have ample chance to escape. Her feet were quick and her sword newly honed. Yet still she felt a presence that was unfamiliar.

Ender dropped onto the ground suddenly, and she did not know why. A moment later, she looked up to see the towering figure of Death above her, Death whom she knew from that night in the cave. He knelt slowly until his face was at the same level with hers. Then he spoke, in that hissing tone.

"You do not strike. This is good. It is a sign that you are willing to listen."

Ender clutched the hilt of her sword like it was her life-force. "What conspiracy are you trying to weave me into? I want no part of it," she said in dangerously low tone.

Death laughed. He laughed of amusement, not of malice. "There is no plot here. I only mean to teach you the way to overcome the trickery of the Beast."

"You are the Beast, and this is part of your trickery."

"Nay, no Black Beast am I, nor am I in allegiance with it, nor do I wish its destruction only to cause my own treachery. If you will aid me by destroying it, I shall reward you and your companions with your greatest desires-- the healing of your hearts."

Ender was grabbed now, but she still retained her wits. "Who are you?"

"I am but the one you have befriended before. That is all I shall say, for the Valar permit me not to entrust more information unto you. But I shall tell you this: you have seen nothing. 'Tis merely a shadow, an illusion sent to trick your mortal minds, that you have witnessed before. But you shall have to find the rest for yourself. Should you ever need succour, I shall know. You need not alert me. But now I must bid you farewell. Search not for answers from the greater power, but answers within yourself." And with these last words, Death's figure vanished in a gust of wind, leaving Ender to wonder of her fate. If she had seen only shadows before, where was the real Black Beast? She knew she had to alert her companions of this.

[ October 02, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]