<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">Two above, three behind and one before him. With eyes held shut Ma’alkeen was crouched low and slowly circled his position, the right blade of his bracer traced the ground, cutting over leaves and a recently broken branch. His left hand held a dagger, a smaller version of Echo as half of the weapon was used to make up the bracer. The thing distinguishing it from the shortsword was the blade curved like a scimitar. <o:p> </o:p> The first move came from the two above. Two shadows of humans descended from the trees with wicked twisting swords poised to impale him through the back. His ears would hear the disturbance in the air caused by their descent. Instead of rolling like most would to get out of range of the attack he would immediately shift into feral form and bound backwards, his weapons shifted with his body merging with his claws, before following through with a swift pounce shifting again to morph form with dagger and bracer armed once more. Both blades entered backs of his unsuspecting assailants. They vanished in a cloud of black smoke which quickly faded into the woods, his muzzle was locked into a stolid scowl. <o:p> </o:p> The three coming from his rear were nearly upon him, the hiss a long sword cutting through air was met with his dagger guiding the blade just off to the side using the knife’s slightly curved hilt. Ma’alkeen’s right hand immediately shot forwards sending the wrist blade through the skull of his enemy before he could attempt to step behind his sword to cover him. The second tried a sweeping attack aimed at his knees which forced him to jump through the fading dead enemy and roll. <o:p> </o:p> The words the fox shouted came as sinister incomprehensible hiss as it echoed through the woods. The black circle responded by forming a wall of shadow that held the density of the hardest thing the blade touched while drawing the circle, wood. Given the nature of his enemy it won’t hold them for long but it gave him enough to focus on the two enemies who were rushing in to flank him. <o:p> </o:p> He’ll quickly raise his left arm with the dagger turning into the second bracer. His right arm focused on parrying the sword thrust and with a flick he set himself up to step forward in a riposte. The right jab aimed for the throat but his foe would step back just out of range as he tried to reorient himself during the second enemy’s diagonal slash. With a claymore it was intended to cut Ma’alkeen’s arm off and catch him in the chest. Instead he would barely cause fur to sway as the fox dropped the left arm and bent forward at the high point of the slash. With a posture assisted by the new bending of digitgrade legs he was able to get under the enemy’s arm level as the Nahfalt’s left arm would rise sending the blade under the man’s arms and into the heart. The man staggered back gripping its chest before vanishing. <o:p> </o:p> This left Ma’alkeen to quickly turn his attention to the shadow swinging the longsword towards his hip which the Nahfalt quickly stepped back and advanced through a quick transformation into a quadruped form. The shadow tried to bring his blade back to slash the fox but he quickly evaded by jumping over the sword in a lunge that kicked up loose snow and leaves. He shifted again while in the air to morphic form, the blades didn’t change into bracers, the energy that made his blades so deadly were still flowing through his claws. The shadow would never have the chance to bring his blade back to defend himself, as Ma’alkeen’s claws bit into both of his collarbone and his teeth found the shadow’s throat. Where once was the sword of the shadow lay a piece of bone with a small rune carved into it. He’d pick it up as he stood back onto two legs. <o:p> </o:p> His last enemy was half way done escaping the shadow wall. The stone hard gaze of the Nahfalt never changes even as he stared at his trapped enemy. The wall shifts in shape to a sphere in almost an eye blink. His bracers fade from his arms and the energy flows into the shadow ball. All an outside observer would know of the dark deed being done was the sound of crack and slice of blade and bone running against each other from sporadic angles. The shadow fades leaving nothing in it place aside from a single shard of bone with a rune engraved on it. <o:p> </o:p> You’re quickly adapting to that body.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Ma’alkeen would slowly open his eyes and his tail displayed the emotion that he didn’t visibly display on his muzzle, joy. He’ll pick up each shard left behind by the shadows before walking over to the scabbard. Echo waited for him, now materialized in the sheath. Ma’alkeen puts the leather strap over his shoulder securing the sword to his back, his ears actively searching for any other movement in the woods. His nose would convey a variety of scents he wouldn’t have comprehended before but none belonging to anything out of the ordinary. <o:p> </o:p> I never imagined ever being in possession of such agility. I’ve barely scratched the surface of my full potential. These ears and this nose also allow me to perform even better in ‘blind’ fighting. He looked to the contour now in the shape of a fox morph like him. Ma’alkeen had his suspicions when Nod used a canid form to draw the patrolling keepers to Exsal’s seal. The assassin picked up his robes, they were easier to fit around him than the rest of his outfit. They weren’t practical for how he would have to maneuver with his new body but he wouldn’t leave them or the rest of his outfit behind. All are still a part of who he is. <o:p> </o:p> You did well against those shadows.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Getting sloppy though, might be wise to go on reprieve before testing a new technique.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I take it something’s bothering you? Nod’s voice didn’t hold the same humor it usually does. Likely because he sensed something wrong too. <o:p> </o:p> Yes. He would close his eyes still contemplating the events back at the seal. I feel like we may have missed something. Illkira could’ve been leading us again.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You think Exsal’s seal was just another diversion?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Possibly. Perhaps we should investigate the ruins again. He’ll pick through a traveling pack, something he found from the bandits he slain two days before. First I want to resupply on rations before planning any prolonged visit. The Nahfalt then stepped into the shadows of a great oak and vanished. <o:p> </o:p> --- It was slightly warmer today. A cool day in an often bitter winter. This didn’t make the ice slick roads to Euper easier. A very decorated merchant and a few of his guards had their attention divided between the road and watching for any sign of attackers. The goods were covered by a canvass tarp, however Ma’alkeen’s nose easily identified the scent of food carried by the wind, even hidden under the tarp and within crates. Though not necessarily how he intended to get food it would provide a bit of amusement to see what kind of chaos he can unleash while taking some of their goods. <o:p> </o:p> The fox sat in the branches, his green eyes engulfed by crimson and he begin to channel energy through the shadows into several concentrated positions under a bush and fallen log on the opposite side of the road. Inflicting physical harm amongst the caravan will be detrimental to him and temporary blindness is all he felt he needed for stealing from it. <o:p> </o:p> The mule driven carriage approached closer to the desired point. Then once they were between the rock and log Ma’</td></tr></table> !DSPAM:4cb88679218591804284693!