The tread of Zeke's shoes barely break into the soft dirt below as he travels deeper into Caplao forest. The trees he passes stand tall and proud, some of them seem so high that they touch the white whisps that flutter along the lightened blue of the skies.

He leans down, checking the dirt for any recent tracks mangled among the mess caused by endless passing of small feet.

He calmly makes his way ever deeper into the forest. As he walks his eyes work overtime, searching for anything out of place or disturbed.

For a moment he stands still. His breathing slows, focused to allow the smooth passing of his xylex around his body. Two fingers are pressed together giving off a slight blue glow. His eyes close.

All about an energy is felt. The musk of the fresh moss and dampness grows somewhat stronger. As does the chirps of the Flyers and the creeks of the trees.

Slowly he eases upon his focus. His breaths return to normal and his eyes once again open. At this point, not a single presence can be felt. Not of a nalite, anyway.

As he continues into the depths of the forest, following an almost random pathway through the trees and bushes, he repeats the same patterns over and over. Searching for disturbed scenery, checking for tracks and using his xylex to feel for a nearby presence. Though for the entire morning, he finds nothing of note; A couple of funnerty's and a large flyer, but neither hold orbs with any worth.

The sun glides evermore to its peak guiding its rays through the holes in the leaves to give the soil a speckled glimmer. The sounds of gushing water come closer to ear as Zeke passes on towards a colourful opening. A calming fills his being as the image of cascading water drops from a high ridge.

Zeke edges closer towards his favourite spot as he takes in the salty scent. Beside the waters edge a once proud standing tree has fallen providing the perfect surface to sit and enjoy the scenery.

For one final moment he checks his surroundings. He smells the air and listens carefully. Eventually he smiles lightly, knowing the area to be clear, except for a few critters, a flyer or two, and a few beasties hidden in the shadows.

A scuttling sound scratches nearer as Zeke sits down upon the thickened tufts of grass beside the log. He reaches back into his backpack and after a moment shuffling around he pulls out a small packet of sweets. Almost the instant he opens them a couple of furry looking balls creep into view.

Both beasties waddle along upon tiny feet that emerge from beneath a mass of thick fur that covers their tiny round bodies. A single eye fills their centres showing nothing but delight. Two fangs flutter up and down as they chirp and sing their way towards Zeke.

He chuckles lightly at their fumbling presence. A few sugary sweets are thrown to the ground in offer to the beasties. Sweets that are pounced upon the moment they hit the grass.

"Your orbs are no good to me are they?" Zeke says as he rests his head back onto the bark of the log.

The beasties scuttle over, finished with their treat, and make a fuss over their new found friend. One shifts to his bag, intrigued by its contents. The other grows close snuggling itself beneath one of Zeke's arms.

Zeke closes his eyes leaving the warmness of the sun to slowly bake him into a soft slumber. A hand rests upon the top of the furry beastie, scratching between its tiny twin horns. His mind wanders for a moment, thinking back to Isla's words earlier that morning. Is it really too late? Is his presence in the forest irrelevant?

- A tall man stands proud above Zeke. In his weathered gloved hand is a spear as long as he is tall. Zeke, at the time, is young and weaponless.

The man takes in the air, the sounds and the scenery. A smile grows, mostly hidden behind a mass of dark stubble. He reaches down to a knife, tucked into a low hanging belt, and unsheathes it for the boy.

Zeke takes it, holding it awkwardly within a palm seeming too small for the handle. The steel is cold, and it weighs much more than Zeke ever could imagine.

He looks up to his mentor with a quizzical look in his eye. "What's this for'" he asks, with as much innocence as is expected of a boy so young.

The man smiles a response, yet keeps his eyes laid firmly upon the bushes straight ahead.

Out leaps a beast. It's large eyes are as black as a moonless sky. Its claws seem several sizes too large for its body.

It bounds closer, needing only a few springs to close the gap. It swipes Zeke's way.

Zeke freezes, mesmerised by the lack of emotion held within its eyes.

The beasts claw moves ever closer, as large as Zeke's body and soon to slice straight through him.

Zeke winces. His eyes close. The claw doesn't hit.

One before the other, Zeke opens his eyes to catch a glimpse. The claw is stopped. In arms reach of his nose. He feels his heart restart and his breaths grow ever stronger.

The beast is lifted from the ground lodged onto the end of the man's spear. In a single swipe he takes its claws from its body.

Zeke lifts his sights to his mentor, still too fearful to move.

The man holds his calm as he had done since their firsts steps into the forest. He points down to his side, around his bottom ribs.

"Here. It's soft point. Even a small blade can penetrate. Dig deep enough, and it's orbs are all yours."

Zeke nods, though struggles to steady his quivering hands. He takes a step closer. Both hands wrap around the grip of the knife. He takes a breath, forcing his nerves to calm then guides the knife the beasts way...-

A furry creature nudges Zeke from his midday dreams. His heavy eyelids climb open, just in time to witness the thinnest, gangly legs emerge from the bottom corners of a hairy body.

His heart skips for a second, then thuds as strong as ever as he jumps up out of his skin, falling backwards over the log as he does so. He reaches out for his blade, fumbling his hands over the largeness of the log blocking his way.

A droplet falls down his brow as his eyes dart left and right in search of the danger.

The only beastie left near Zeke has now taken on it's attack form, gazing out into the thick tree line. It's 6 stick-like legs edge backwards slowly, giving it an extra few feet in height.

Zeke clambers to his feet, feeling the fear emanating from his little furry friend. He presses his fingers together and focuses his aura.

Confusion riddles his mind.

"What is that?" He mutters to himself, feeling an aura unlike any he'd felt before in the forest. "It's too big to be a crawler."

A thud sends the beasties spindly legs frantic, rushing for the closest bushes behind them.

Zeke's vision is thrown towards the beat. Just to the edge of the forest, tufts of dirt have been pulled up from the ground.

The forests mossy scent is overpowered by something unusual yet sweet. The chirps from the forests critters have long disappeared.

Zeke edges towards the clod of dirt pulled from the ground, keeping ever wary with each step. His fingers remain pressed together as a soft blue glow follows him through a fresh trail of broken twigs and fallen leaves.

A tall standing tree shades another tuft of dirt pulled up. As he passes, another shows, then a third and forth leading Zeke on a distinct pathway of clawed steps.

As warily as ever Zeke follows the clumped prints keeping his aura as consistent as possible. His mind riddles with what could be about. The tracks are clearly from a crawler, and that's all he'd expect to encounter here, yet something feels different about this one.

The Xylex feels thicker.

He reaches the end of the tracks, finishing to the centre of a grassy opening surrounded by spread out trees and low bushes. A natural opening which could suit well as a campsite.

Zeke keeps his observant eyes working, in search of further disturbance. From where he stands, none can be seen.

Knowing his normal senses to be of little use at this point, Zeke concentrates on his Xylex. He closes his eyes freeing his mind from sight and shuts off his hearing. All he can feel is his heart pumping time and time again in a melodic rhythm. The Xylex of the beast passes in waves. Difficult to pinpoint.

His eyes dart open. His blade is swung backwards. A large claw collides.

He's still unsure of the nearby Xylex, but one is right reside him. One which is more recently a threat.

He leaps back gaining some room. The Crawler's claw hammers the ground where he stood.

A foot plants upon the grass. His eyes open wider. He turns his weight, still unbalanced.

He batters away the claw from another crawler, moving in from the off side.

His feet finally ground. The grass provides much more friction to a battle upon the dirt.

He springs off, again looking for some room to prepare.

Zeke's heart pounds frantic. Adrenaline floods about his bloodstream.

He gains his ground, throwing his blades tip out for balance. His stance is low.

The two Crawler's shuffle about, still aware of their target. A third joins, seeming unoccupied until it's gaze finds Zeke. It too shifts it's stance.

He prepares his attack, passing his eyes from one to another then the other. With a deep breath he begins his assault.