Unfortunately, it seemed Berlious was no where to be seen. The forests around Zantaric were thick and unruly- like it's men. And as Iyla watched Hunter disappear after her prey, she cursed beneath her breath and nursed her leg. Gods, stupid paralyzing darts. She couldn't even feel her foot anymore!
Thankfully, it only affected one leg and not her entire body, even though her entire body was tingling by now by the 'poison', she still managed to use her other leg and her arms to push herself up as she stood and leaned against a nearby tree. She used this moment to slip into the shadow and became unseen, one with the darkness, and while she was in it- she could visualize Berlious still running farther and farther away.
And thebounty hunter was probably running the other way. For now, however, she could still sense the shadow seed and she'd have to keep a tab on it, though when she tried to use her dark magics again- and to use the shadows for travel, she found herself halting halfway in her 'shadw run' as she stumbled into a small creek with a curse.
Shadow running was a lot easier when your entire body cooperated, but the paralyzing arrow was doing a number on her- and it seemed she wasn't as strong as Berlious was to ignore or let the effects wear off so quickly. It was probably because she was so much smaller than the man, though as she picked herself up out of the waters, she held her breath and noted-
Berlious was plowing his way through the trees, just North of her.
Ah.. she got the bounty now! Drawing up the energy to slip into shadows again, she found herself floundering again in this ability and dropped into the shallow waters once again- but this time she gained the attentions of Berlious Rhecht- and when she lifted her gaze, the man's shadow was over top of her.
"I knew it was you,"t he man growled through panted breaths. "Not sure why you're still following after me, but let me demonstrate why you ought to give up now.." the man growled, and grabbed Iyla by the throat and lifted her clean off the ground, choking her of breath- and as he did so, her mask began to fall back, and it was then he realized- with a laugh.
"Wait- are you a woman?"
Iyla's face said it all and the man laughed at her all the more.
"Dressed in men's clothing? To deter what?" he said wth a dangerous purr, his hand still tightened around her neck.
"Get your paws off me," she growled, trying to claw at his arm, but it was to no avail. he had leather bracers that protected him and he only laughed and took her clothe mask and yanked it off- tearing it clean from her face, then moved next to rip the hood of her cloak from her head and appreciated what he said as his eyes sparkled lustfully.
"Well, well, well, such a pretty face under there," he said, his hand still gripping and bruising her throat while the other one forced her chin to look up at him. "Yeah, you should have stayed where you were, girl," he said, and drew out a blade, which she only saw in a flash of motion befre suddenly, the man stabbed it into her side int he very same instant he kissed her, which hushed her screams so as to avoid alerting the damn pesky man with the cross bow.
"Shh.. It'll be alright," he whispered to her, jamming the blade in deeper to her side- not realizing that the blood that spilled out was black and unnatural as his eyes were glued to hers. "Just die quietly and if you're lucky- you'll enjoy it..."