The last rays of sunlight slanted downwards through rare openings in the canopy of foliage above. As above, so below, the roots of the trees grew over the ground in a latticework of wood and mud. The air was placid, heavy with dampness of a recent rain, and dew condensed upon leaves of low hanging branches. The only sound was the evening chorus of birds, trilling their chords into the deadened wood, heard only by the colossal pines that stood in surveillance of the forest.
Pale stepped lightly through soft, thick beds of fallen pine needles. A low growling gurgle stretched through the air, and she looked down with dismay at her stomach. She had not eaten much today... Nothing but grubs from a rotting log. Night was breaking fast on the heels of twilight however, and darkness would soon descend over the woods. Pale imagined the nights first hunt with relish. Her stomach roared again at the thought of a meal.
Distracted as she was by hunger, the sound of the faint rustling of leaves arrested her attention. Almost immediately, she crouched low, hand placed on the pommel of her dagger. The sound was unnatural, with the complete lack of wind, noticeable and drawn out. Something was hidden in the foliage. Her eyes tripped from side to side in their sockets, searching the forest. She reached out a thin tendril of thought, scanning for intelligence, and sensed confidence and male power. She cursed herself for becoming so caught up in her rumbling guts that she hadn't noticed she was being watched.
"I wouldn't do that, girl," a voice rasped, the owner revealing his tall, redoubtable silhouette. "Just hand over your valuables and I'll be off. I'd hate cut up a lady..." The man grinned cockily. As if on cue (and probably so), three more shadowy figures revealed themselves from the clusters of trees and spread to either side of their leader. "Now, girl... Do you surrender?"
She looked sideways at the men, studiously. They wre a rangy bunch with not even a strong bow among them. Four of them and only minutes to darkness. Already she could feel her blood boiling, her bones aching to slide into the positions of her nighttime self. Yes, they would make a fine meal. Fearsomely she hissed her challenge to the bandits and bared her teeth. She wouldn't have to hold them off for long...
((Feel free to play the bandits as well. = D))