Melissa watched as the river streamed pass her. She was in her wolf form and wanted to walk to the other side. The only problem with that was the treaty between the vampires. They weren't allowed to cross the river or else they would be in the vampires territory. They were already feuding because supposedly a shapeshifter crossed over. Lisa highly doubted it though. The shapeshifters aren't wild animals, they have control over themselves and know where they can go and can't go.

Shifting back into her human form, she sat down on a rock and let the tips of her toes touch the river. She wished she could get out of this forest and see how humans truly live their lives. Is it too much to ask for to do such a thing? Probably. Sighing she laid back on the rock and looked at the trees above her. She had to admit though through all of the chaos the witches, vampires, and shapshifters were going through, the forest still managed to seem pretty peaceful. Shockingly. Stretching her arms out she wondered what everyone was doing right now. They were probably just waking up or something.

Looking at the trees, Melissa always felt there was something in the back of her mind trying to get her attention, but she didn't know what it was. It was like a lost memory she couldn't figure out. It bugged her to no end knowing she didn't know what it was. Whatever it was it must be big for her to lock it away like she has. Eventually she will figure out what it is though.

Niko
Niko needed a stone. A smooth stone that was absolutely perfect—no cracks, no dirt. It was intended to symbolize strength—if he had the flawless rock, he could copy its practice and be able to use it as his own. The blonde was intending on doing some pretty serious work later that week and he needed all the capability spells he could manage.

It was early morning in the still-chilly wood, and as the youth looked above himself, the sunlight was just beginning to crack through the large canopy in gold strands. He had been favored with a good day. Birds had just awoken and the small sounds of activity crowded around from below, above, and around, the various colors came to life with the new noise. These were the things that made Niko happy that he was a witch. If one had a good heart, they could see the world so differently.

Coming to a thin spot in the river, he plunged his hand into the icy water and found purchase on a round object. With a bit of effort on his fingers, he pulled the clean rock from the silt and rubbed it off in the water. There. Everything he needed was gotten. Three ivy leaves for vitality, a smooth stone, a bee's wax candle, and a roll of cord. However, he could only finish the spell in private...which, well...couldn't be done with her sitting there.

The shifter sat on the edge of the stream, dipping her toes in the water—and had been totally oblivious of him collecting random things in the woods, however, he had watched her contemplate crossing the river into vampire territory and then give up while still in her wolf-form, then turn into this pretty dark-haired girl and sit down to think. He suddenly became very conscious of what he looked like, worked up a bit of courage to speak with the enemy...and seated himself behind her. There was no rule that said he couldn't.

“Sorry...but, do you mind if I sit with you?”

Antoni

Tendrils of grey morning light peeked through the red velour curtains in his room. The body next to him, Violet he recalled her name to be, stirred making soft mewing noises. She lay sprawled across the king sized bed until Antoni only had a sliver of area in which to lie. The man frowned. He had never been a monster and those that were in his employ knew that. He was not cruel but if those did wrong him, hell was to be the price they paid. Violet was one of his favourites; she had been with them years and she would even call him by his praenom in his chambers. He shoved her away from him and she skidded across the satin sheets as if they were glass. Antoni could no more sleep now than he could when he tried hours ago, before he called one of these poor souls up from his stables to try and quiet his mind. It was to be a restless day, he judged sighing. With the quickness of creeping shadow he was dressed and heading to the kitchen.

The manor had ten human servants and they of course needed to eat and when Antoni was feeling listless he came here and watched the cook, Marcus prepare the meals. "Up late sire?" He was from Wales and always sounded sarcastic. "I should say you are up early Marcus." Antoni smiled. "Aye sir, you could say that, you having trouble sleeping again? Might I suggest a visit from-" The vampire cut him off. "No, Violet sleeps like a babe and here I am in your company." Marcus pulled two onions out of the pantry and began chopping them in fine dices. "I hate to toot me own horn, but it's not so poor a company is it?" Antoni laughed. "Quite right Marcus. I've had troubling dreams of that shifter and of the whole treaty. I tend to dwell don't I?" Marcus put the onions in a bowl and drizzled them with olive oil. "Hmm... oh aye, the young madam you were to be joined with?" Antoni nodded. "Seems to me," Marcus dumped the onions in a skillet where they instantly sizzled erupting in a savoury cloud of aroma. He stirred them once and continued this thought. "Now mind you I don't know the inner workings of that mess but I think you need a young lady to share your time with, to love-- and not a skirt from the harem."

Antoni thought about what the man said. A woman to love, to accept him at his faults...he was a hard man to love. Would there ever be such a person? Not bloody likely. "Any other wizened words great sage about vampire politics?" Antoni asked, amazed by the man's frankness and would be saddened when he eventually died. "I think you might look a little closer to your ancient enemy. Them witches have it in 'em, you might forget since you have to look a long way down at us mortals from your high perches.' The vampire rolled his eyes. "Oh you jokester. They are only human, not-" Marcus slammed the cleaver into the bamboo slab he was now chopping carrots on. "Just human? Bah, so soon your race forgets sir, why not take a lovely morning stroll? Go to the edge of the forest and have an afternoon swim. You forget who cursed you to dwell in darkness and yet remember what I had for breakfast on my birthday twenty years ago." The vampire looked defeated. "You had porridge because I burned the eggs." He sighed. "Quite right you did sir, looked like coal they did. You remember - them witches ain't your friends. Your kind drank them like pints for years - they don't have that selective memory an immortal existence affords." Antoni did want to go to the forest now, he wanted to stroll in the sun, hell he felt he needed to, but it would be several hours before sundown and for now all he could do was wait.

And wait he did for ten minutes. He remembered that the foliage of the trees would keep the deadly sunbeams at bay. And as long as Antoni didn't stray too far from that coverage he would be fine. The forest was a different animal in the daylight. It had more depth, more richness a poet would call it beautiful; he was however, not a poet. The vampire made his way to the edge of river and saw two people sitting on its banks. A shifter not just just any shifter but his once betrothed, and a witch. "Son of bitch." He muttered. Perhaps there was a plot. For now Antoni would watch and see where this rendezvous would lead.

Tik

The bog was dark barely any light could make it through the trees. The smell of death and decay was everywhere. A few insects were flying around in the spots where light did get through. There were dead animals scattered everywhere obviously unaware that the water in the bog was probably the deadliest in the world. A few frogs croaked but aside from that nothing was alive, except for him.


A man stood in the middle of it. His features hidden by the dark cloak he was wearing. He extends his hands outward revealing his hands "Now I command thee to arise!" His voice booms across the almost silent bog. A green flash illuminates from his hands lighting up his dark surroundings. Very slowly green lights begin to emerge from the muck and grime around him. "I call you back from the shadows!" He yells. Skeletons begin to pull themselves from the bog with the same green aura his hands emit, some animals and some humans. "Now let the beast be born!" He roars. He waves his hands over his head and the skeletons begin to slowly shuffle towards him. "Perhaps I will finally be able to make my dream reality..." He muses to himself.

The skeletons begin to pull together forming one large beast like creature. He waves his hands again and the creature lowers itself to the ground. He throws off his robe revealing his pale skin and silver hair and climbs onto the beast. "Now let's see what those other fools are doing." He murmurs. He strikes the beast's back with his hand. "Forward!" He barks angrily. The beast begins to lurch forward. "Yes," He says grinning evilly, "I am almost ready to master the final step, then my dreams will take form." He begins laughing darkly.

Melissa

Melissa looked at the male next to her and she was taken aback. "What're you doing here?! Aren't you a witch?" Being around the forest for so long she started to remember peoples faces. Sitting up and couldn't help but let him sit down though. "I don't mind you sitting down I'm just making sure no one gets hurt that's all." She smiled at him to make ip for her rude question earlier. "My name is Melissa by the way." She smiled at him before looking at the woods in front of her. Did she just see a man?

Looking harder she saw there was a male there. Most likely a vampire too. He looked familiar but she wasn't sure who he we so she shrugged it off for now. Though she dis wonder what he was doing there. Turning back to the male sitting next to her she smiled at him again. "So what brings you to this side of the forest?" Melissa questioned playing with the water under her feet. It was a nice day to her, but she still had something in the back of her mind, that she wa trying to remember.

Niko.
“There aren't many boundaries for witches,” Niko mumbled partially to himself. “...They'd break them anyway...”

Rocking back and forth, he doesn't let a smile falter on his lips when she allows him to stay. Sudden acceptance was pretty nice, actually. “I was only doing morning work,” reaching into his pocket, he retrieved his stone to show her. “I mean no harm, I promise.” Rubbing his hands over his arms, a gentle laugh escaped his chest from the idea. “I'm Nicholas,” he said, letting his voice get a bit more self-assured. “Or just Niko.”

Taking a twig between his fingers, the blonde gave it a flourish pretending it was some sort of magic wand. “I'm here to gather things for a small spell I want to do on myself. Don't worry—I don't do spells on anyone but me. But for that one, I just want to become a little stronger.” For a second, he wondered if Melissa thought he was pretty stupid for doing stuff like that—it was like taking magic steroids. Trying to play it off, Niko let another nervous chuckle escape as he waved his hands. “You know...physical improvement.” Tossing the stick aside, he nods to the girl. “W-What about yourself? Why so glum in the woods for such a lovely day?”

Tik

The ground is compressed with every step the beast takes. Trees are batted aside if they get in the way. He looks around taking a deep breath. The beast reaches a river and he strikes its back "Stop!" He commands. The beast lowers itself and he gets off walking to the water. He crouches down on the river bed holding his hand over the water he closes his eyes and his hand begins to glow again. He opens his eyes and takes a small flask from his vest and holds it in the water filling it. He puts his now full flask back into his vest and cups his hands lowering them into the water. He throws the gathered water on his face repeating this action two more times before he stands up.

He looks down both sides of the river, seeing nothing he points at the beast and his hands glow again, then beast begins to amble back towards the bog where it was created. He lowers his hands and begins to walk down the river bank drinking from his flask as he goes. He stops only twice, once to refill his flask and the other to stare at a two forms sitting by the river.

Melissa

Melissa looked at the male and smiled at him. "Work huh? Sounds...boring." She teased him with a laugh escaping her lips. She just realized what he had said about the witches not listening to rules and it peeked her interest. What exactly did he mean by that? Shrugging it off for now, she looked at him again as he spoke. "You want to become stronger? Well you could always do it the old fashioned way and just work out." She nudged him a little knowing she doesn't work out herself, so why would she tell someone else to do it? She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard she was being asked a question.

"Oh well it just gets pretty boring just staying in one area. I guess you could say I'm tired of this monotone life I'm living right now. I wish I could travel farther into the forest, but I don't want to make the situation any worse." She laughed a little feeling childish over such a fantasy. "Silly I know, but that is just how I feel right now. But you're right it is too beautiful of a day to be down about anything." Standing up, she stretched her arms to the sky before looking down the river bank. IN the distance she saw another male and wondered who he was. It seemed a lot was happening on these banks right now. She wondered if he was a vampire or something.