Something from the shadows caught Gonath’s attention and held him, gazing at the obscure figures generated by the large flames. As he stared Gonath saw two hands form from the darkness. Long black fingers uncurled and straightened, pointing upward. Gonath blinked to clear the picture from his mind, yet the hands did not disappear. Instead they slowly creaped along the ground moving toward him, longing to reach where he stood. The hands disappeared and blended in with other shadows of the camp, yet continued through them. Gonath blinked again and suddenly the shadows were at his feet, clawing the tops of his boots. He could feel only a harsh coldness were once before the fire warmed. The shadow hands moved up his legs drawing the warmth from within, leaving Gonath with a chill from a cold, a lifeless cold, a dead cold. He stepped back once and the hands fell, only to stretch from the blackness and regain its course. The two hands passed his knees and moved towards his waist. The black finger tips tentatively stopped at the pockets of his pants. The dark force grew colder still and tried to pass where it stopped. Gonath could feel heat coming from within his right pant leg and began to spread down toward the gripping shadow. He felt the lifeless chill and rousing warmth collide. The shadow hands curled into arthritic forms and disappeared back into the flames of the campfire. Amazed at what transpired, Gonath thrust his hand into his pocket and retrieved the coin. In the darkness the golden coin shined as though reflecting the sun. He could feel the lingering heat the coin projected just seconds ago. He fixed his gaze to the woman figure embossed on the coin and traced her with his thumb. “Who is this woman?”, he thought to himself. “What is this coin?” Beneath his thumb he felt another symbol that was not there before, now making two on the coin. With shaking hands he placed the coin back into his pocket and continued on to search for Starik. He felt he needed to desperately find his friend, if not for help in explaining what was happening but to at least have someone to tell of the bizarre happenings he had experienced since his encounter with the old woman earlier that afternoon.
Gonath left the large fire and continued through the camp, avoiding any other flames the best he could. Starik could not be found within the camp. Gonath stopped several men throughout the camp and asked if they knew where Starik may be. The men either did not know Starik or did not know where he was. Gonath decided he would find his friend the following day somewhere within the village. Chances were that Starik would not be too far from the tempting ale in town. As Gonath reached the end of camp and continued his walk home. A large man covered in armor that bore the distinct markings of many battles stepped out from the brush and stood before Gonath. The dents and gashes with the steel contorted the man’s figure, making him look as though his body was made up of lumps and mounds. It took nothing away from his intimidating pose.
Gonath left the large fire and continued through the camp, avoiding any other flames the best he could. Starik could not be found within the camp. Gonath stopped several men throughout the camp and asked if they knew where Starik may be. The men either did not know Starik or did not know where he was. Gonath decided he would find his friend the following day somewhere within the village. Chances were that Starik would not be too far from the tempting ale in town. As Gonath reached the end of camp and continued his walk home. A large man covered in armor that bore the distinct markings of many battles stepped out from the brush and stood before Gonath. The dents and gashes with the steel contorted the man’s figure, making him look as though his body was made up of lumps and mounds. It took nothing away from his intimidating pose.
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