Marsh flats again. The very least favourite place of his. He swore he would never show up hier again, no matter the case. And a week later he goes there again, because someone mentioned a fiend horse there. The description he heard was concerningly close to Wood's former mount, Cerber. While Wood entirely cut himself off the former life, this part of it was the one he would want to keep if possible.

If covering his lower half in mud was a price to make Wood less moody, Heian was all in without a blink.

Back on track, he found hoof prints, deeply burned in the mud. In such terrain traces could remain for days, so he firstly went to check where they appeared.

As he followed the prints, he noticed a column of smoke in the distance. Wildfire on marsh flats was a rare occasion, that must've been his destination.

Or someone's campfire.

Beist sat at his campfire and held his charcoal-like walking stick close. The enchantments upon it allowing him to keep his hands warm and dry in this damp, muddy place. His feet were wrapped in leathers, looking more like had just tied leather bags around his feet than actual shoes, but they kept his feet nice and dry.

He didn't particularly like it here, but the rumors of a very interesting creature spotted in the area were enough to for him to get over that. He had heard stories of a horse with a flaming mane galloping through the marsh. He had even managed to find hoofprints burnt into the ground. He must be close. But first, he decided to rest with a warm campfire and a hot meal. He used his walking stick to rearrange the logs slightly, keeping the fire going and threw in another.

He heard the sound of snapping twigs and turned to see a man standing there, half covered in red glass and with a single horn.

A bit surprised by the sudden guest, Beist stared at them for a moment before coming to his senses. He raised a hand and gave a slight wave and a smile.

"Oh! Hello! Sorry, uh, I wasn't expecting company." He said with a little excitement. He looked to the small kettle hanging above the fire from the makeshift frame he had fashioned from some sturdier sticks and gestured to it. "Tea?"

The smoke actually was a campfire. With a teapot hanging above and a 2,5 meter high horned bear person sitting nearby. And leaves attached to the horns.

Marsh flats. Just marsh flats.

-With pleasure - he said, sitting on the opposite side and pulling out his cup.

-So, you're after that horse too, right? My name is Heian anyway

He took a pot and poured the tea to their cups. The tea was pleasantly hot.

-He belonged to my friend and I want to get it back for him. I know Cerber is dangerous, but still I'd like to ask for you to avoid hurting him

"Ah, yes. I heard rumors about a strange horse around here. I'm interested in it, but I only planned to observe it, so no worries" He said as he poured some hot water into a cup with some tea leaves at the bottom. "My name is Beistmild, but please, call me Beist. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Beistmild swilled the tea around slightly, letting the leaves infuse the water. He glanced at Heian.

"Apologies if this sounds rude, especially coming from me, but you have a very... interesting... appearance. I understand if it's a private matter though, no need to explain it. I'm just a rather curious person." Beist said before taking a sip.

The Marsh Flats is far from Darkveil City; far from the Ashlands; but he has business here, nonetheless.

That is to say, he had business here, anyways; said business has since been concluded, but he did hear a particularly interesting rumour about something else which was quite curious: a beast of fire and ash roaming in the Marshlands. He still has the unsent letter, in fact, from the home in Gazablaak he'd taken it from; he's still uncertain what interest the Crimson Hand has in the beast, but there is no doubt something strange about a beast of fire roaming a place as miserable and boggy as this one.

He's been tracking the location depicted in the letter; the Hauntwood; for the past day— but something distracted him.

Smoke on the horizon.

Which again, is strange to see in an area as humid as this one; so, he had changed his direction albeit briefly in order to investigate. It's for this reason, that he comes across two strangers gathered around a campfire. Two very... in-ordinary strangers. One is absolutely massive, the other is... equally as interesting. A half-demon?

Caedes lingers just out of the fire's light, studying the two for a moment; he's leaned a shoulder against a nearby tree as they exchange words. He can't say for sure whether he's already been seen or heard; stealth proves to be hard to accomplish in the mud of the bog, lest one can fly: and he is not graced with that ability. He decides to go ahead and bite the crossbolt, taking a pace into the firelight. "I couldn't help but overhear," he interjects harmlessly, hands held together behind his back. "It seems rumours about the horse have reached rather far. You said it belongs to a friend of yours?"

He looks to the supposed half-demon curiously.

Sarris’ world had a personality like her own. At home or when she was working for the guild, she was an upright citizen. But at times she had to try to see if the thieving skills actually work in real life. It was not like you could just take someone’s word that a technique worked, you had to experience it. This meant that at times you had to get lost to throw off the trail of those tracking you.

For three days she had laid low in the mash being eaten by bugs and throwing off her pursuit. The problem was she also got herself turned around.

A small bit of smoke rose from the horizon, so Sarris followed.

She sat on a chunk of grey shale and concentrated.
“Terum vilositous,” she whispered as the chunk slid across the surface of the ground. Water and mud filled in the tracks that were left.
Saris knew that this would work till she hit a stream or pocket of water. So she adjusted her course weaving her way across the marsh making it hard for anyone to follow her path, well till they saw her sliding across the marsh.

She slowed as she approached the camp. Her legs were already covered in mud from the two snakes that were unfortunate enough to cross her path.

Two men were standing near the fire and neither was acting overly aggressive. But being female meant you did not take chances. She stood as the stone slid to the firm ground where the camp was made. Her bow in her hand with an arrow notched. Her legs to her stomach was covered in mud that was drying.

“Hello,” she said pleasantly to the men. It helped that she was the one holding a loaded short bow.

Before Heian managed to respond, he heard two voices greeting them from the opposite sides of camp. Simultaneously. Marsh flats...

One belonged to a white haired, but young looking man, wearing black clothes and smiling slightly. The other belongef to Sarris, who aimed at them with a bow.

-Hey, Sarris. A good place for a date don't you think? - he winked, pretending to be Wood. He still was buried under his memories so Heian had to act.

-Please, both of you, despite our appearances neither of us seeks harm. I'm afraid we don't have enough tea for 4 people however, meeting such crowd hier is quite unlikely. I assume you too came to see a horse?

He hated this place so much. Ignoring the tea he took a deep gulp from his hip flask.
Great, now he drank without Wood's influence. To Arbor with all of that.

Beist looked back and forth at the two new unexpected guests. He was particularly worried about the woman pointing a loaded bow at him. He tried his best not to seem threatening, moving as little as possible.

"Ah, yes, he's right. We mean no harm. And I would be happy to make more tea for you, but clean water is a bit scarce here I'm afraid. Mostly mud, you see." He said, offering a nervous, fang-filled smile, his ears drooping a bit more than usual. "But if you don't mind me having already taken a sip, one of you can have this cup." He said as he held his own cup of tea up. "My name is Beistmild, but you can call me Beist. Please, come dry off and warm up by the fire."

Oh, good.

Another.

Caedes hesitates, brows furrowing as he looks past the two men, to where a young woman stands with her loaded bow. He looks from her, to the strange half-demon while he speaks. "I'm fine, thank you." he answers. "You're welcome to keep your tea; likewise, I'm not looking for trouble— just the source of the rumours of a flaming horse out in the most unusual of places." he puts up his hands, dislodging his cloak, and showing that he's currently unarmed to the strangers. "No harm meant from me, although, I know a few people who may have otherwise ill plans for your creature of fire."

With Beist's offer, he looks between the individuals at the fire one last time, and takes a hesitant step forwards to join them. "Thank you for your offer— this place is quite miserable." he breathes a sigh, stepping up onto the dry land; he, like the rest, has been pretty blessed by the mud gods of Marsh Flats.

He moves hesitantly, keeping the young woman at the corner of his eyes.

"My name is Caedes; it's a pleasure, despite the odd circumstances."

Sarris lowered her bow but did not release it. She really did not want to shoot anyone, but she wanted to make sure she was safe.
As others arrived she started wondering about what all was happening in the marsh?

“I would be happy to help you to hunt the horses,” Sarris said.

She finally released the bow string and rested her arm.

“I can create a bit of food, if anyone is hungry?” She asked.

-I'm not hungry, thanks

They all sat by a too small campfire. Neither Beist nor him expected that much of a company around hier. While more people could surround the horse more easily than one, they also made more noise.

-Answering your question, Beist - he showed on the glassy side of his face - this is the friend I told you about. He felt silent ever since he heard about Cerber possibly surviving whatever happened. Judging by the hoof prints, it is dangerous. I will repeat for newcomers, please avoid harming it

Beist seemed to be a solid guy, probably calm enough for Cerber. He met Sarris before and knew her enough to trust her.

The third one was a puzzle. He reminded Heian of his younger self for some reason.

-Alright it's getting dark. I say we go to sleep and begin hunting tomorrow

Beist sat idly stroking his beard, head slightly tilted to the side, lost in contemplation. Heian's explanation was fascinating. What did he mean that was his friend? The glassy-looking side of his face? Are they two different people fused together? Cerber, the fiery horse, what had they survived? It was all very puzzling, but just as equally interesting, if not more. He suddenly realized he had been staring directly at Heian as he zoned out. He stopped stroking his beard and straightened up slightly. He cleared his throat before he began to speak.

"Oh, yes, you're quite right. It is rather late isn't it?" he turned to the red haired woman, Heian had called her Sarris, feeling a bit safer now that her bow was lowered. "Perhaps we shall take you up on your offer, Sarris." he glanced at Heian as he said her name, "But in the morning. We can all share a lovely breakfast before setting out to find... uh... Cerber?" he glanced again at Heian as he repeated the horse's name, seeking confirmation that he had remembered it correctly.

He offered everyone a warm smile and happily finished his cup of tea, glad no one had taken his offer. "Shall we take turns keeping watch? I've heard the marshes can be rather dangerous at night. I don't mind going first, unless anyone else wants to volunteer".

Caedes remains where he stands, head cocked thoughtfully as he looks between the three people present; keeping them within his line of sight at all times. They share tame conversation — all food and horses and the possibility of sleep before the hunt. "I wouldn't dream of hurting your... friend's, horse." he agrees, shouldering his cloak to cover his frame once again; although, he doesn't understand the stranger's deal.

His friend is himself? Unless... there's more than one?

"Last thing I expected when I came out here was a hunting party."

Strange.

They all are, in their own ways.

"If you'd like to get some rest, I wouldn't mind keeping watch. I've spent a day or so in the Marsh Flats before coming out here; not very tired, myself. If not, I'll take the one after yourself." Caedes offers, extending a small gesture to Beist. Truthfully, he doesn't know if he'd be able to sleep around three strangers, anyways...

They seem harmless enough, but one can never be too careful.

Sarris used two spells, the first made all the dirt and mud fall fro her legs and clothing. She was not clean, but she was not caked in dirt. Then she took a bit of food from her pouch and put it in her mouth. She put it in her mouth and focused on the taste and texture.
“Creo Cibum,” she muttered bringing food to appear. It was a soft meat like jerky seasoned. She set it down on a pan.
She then took a plate and again picturing a white cake with a raspberry filling she spoke again, “Creo Cibum.”
A full cake appeared.
She set that down for the group to share. Leah would have been proud of that cake.

Sarris sat down, she needed to rest for a bit that’s as a lot of magic work for one day.

Heian didn't listen to them anymore. He released Mahogany for night and fell asleep as he lied, trying to get farther from swampy atmosphere around. While flies as always avoided him, their noises still triggered him, constantly waking him up and preventing from deeper descend. Those tearing naps were filled with Wood thoughts and memories. They never were as clear, despite him being seemingly confident, he still hid his mind behind a sarcastic smile. Now, that he was focused on a former friend, Heian, willingly or not, spied on his affection.

Someone tried to wake him up, but he couldn't escape. Cerber galloping around his mind, not letting him, or Wood, out.