"Seriously, you think we're just going to let you go like that." She frowned. "What do you mean you escaped death before."

"It's...a long story. Involving plenty of pain and a broken leg. Doesn't matter too much though. And I've made up my mind. I'm going. I'll try to make it back and Newt can tell you if anything happens to me. I'll be fine, don't worry. Just stay safe and don't dissolve-if anything, here."

Nicote puts a small totally smooth amythest into Astrana's hand, then turns and disappears into the shadows before Astrana can say anything else. He daren't look at her again, lest his courage fails him.

*No.* Astra whispered sitting down on the ground. Tears gathered and fell down. She held the amythest toghtly.

Newt finalllly ventured out of his tent. And immediately saw Astra.

"You ok?"

She shook her head. "Where's he going to find the stone." she asked.

It seemed he was up before the sun's rays broke through the thick leaves of the trees. During the early morning hours the elf hand managed to slip away without anyone knowing. He made his way about in the woods before finally coming to rest on a stump a bit of a ways from camp. It was rare that he had ever gotten this upset about what had happened. He normally brushed his past off but recently it had been getting to him. There were so many comments on the marks on his face, not all of them were bad but all made his remember the time he had nearly lost himself. Now he sat staring at the mark that covered his hand, the green energy sparking to life at the very thought. "What am I going to do if you start acting up again?" he sighed. He wasn't expecting an answer, why would he? After all it had never answered before. So when the voice rang out he froze, unsure what else to do.
"You are afraid. You shine like the sun only brighter. It's The Mark." A voice said softly. Dexion jumped a bit hurriedly looking around. A boy stood behind him, a boy nearly his own age. The human looked rather strange with grey eyes and pale blond hair. "It hurts. You hurt?"
"Who are you?" Dexion asked taking a few steps back. It was now he wished he had at least stopped to put armor on.
"My name is Sam, I came to warn you. He is watching you. He doesn't like it that you took his magic. You made him very angry." The boy said.
"I'm sorry who have I made angry?"
"Him. The one with a thousand eyes." With that the voice faded as did the image of the boy. Dexion backed away more, startled.
"Aye! Boy's what do we have here?" A firm hand clasped down on his shoulder making him jump. He attempted to pull forward though was unable to. "What's the rust little elf?" The gruff male voice said as he but more force behind his hand. In a swift action the elf pulled his elbow forward, ramming into the gut of the man. For a moment the grip on his shoulder was gone allowing him to dash forward a bit. The body of the dog slammed into him as he tried to run forward, the force enough to make him fall to the ground. Searing pain shot through his left leg as the animal torn at the skin rendering the appendage nearly useless. Despite his attempt to get free Dexion found himself forced to the ground, a knee in his back as his hands were roughly bound behind him. "A fighter huh? The boss will know what to do to stop that now." He continued to struggle which led to the man roughly kicking him in the side. Another wave of pain spread through his body making him draw his knees up. "That'll teach you."
"Dorian!" Dexion shouted as loud as he could. He couldn't think of any of the other's names at the moment, leaving him with only the one to use repeatedly.

Nicote had never left the area, instinct keeping him nearby. He heard Dexion and traveled to his side. In an instant he'd drawn his twin blades and was slashing at the attacker.
He shot two firery bears, then grabbed Dexion, brought him to camp, and left to deal with the attacker.

As the man was thrown off him he pushed himself up onto his knees. After a slight struggle he found that standing wasn't an option as the dog still had a hold on him. Wincing a bit he drew his leg up before roughly kicking the side of the animal's head until it's nose was bloody and it let go. He didn't know all that happened after that. His hand burned for a moment then both the dog and the man were surrounded by tall humanoids that had stepped through the rift that had opened. Then he was carried off. The magic died back as the rift closed. He didn't want to see what had happened. He knew all too well what those things could do. No doubt they had killed both the man and the dog before taking them back through the rift the feed on. Painfully he sat down near the campfire, ashamed that yet again he was the one in need of saving. It seemed nothing he did was ever right and that he always managed to find trouble.

Newt noticed Dexion. "Oh geez....I'm guessing that you got yourself into trouble? Well, welcome to the club." He gestured at his knee (which had a brace on it). "Need some healing?"

Astra sat her hand still clutching the amythest. She looked at dexion her eyes full of tears. It was barely a day and everything already seemed to be falling apart.