Haunted Vista – Kingdoms: Rebirth "A Campsite Visit"  
By Sephzero

The vast Yniol Forest of Aramon bordered the southern eastern side of the realm. It was perhaps one of the greatest forests in Darien excluding the wild jungles of Zhon. There are many things which roam the depths of this mysterious wood and even fewer have been able to discover its secrets. Few dared to venture into its depth leaving much of the forest uncharted. Those who do keep to armed escorts and spend as little time underneath the leafy canopy as possible. Especially none would ever think to spend the night in under these haunted branches.

Those who live near the woods have heard the strange noises which echoed out at night. Some have seen the strange rustling of leaves and branches by an unseen hand. Those who sought to prove their bravery by penetrating the forest at nights found the depths of their cowardice exposed or return not at all each one only further fueling the fear of the Yniol Forest in the hearts of the people.

Only a fool would seek to tests the denizens of the woods in their home, elders would scoff when the topic was brought up.

Then it would be a company of fools that would consider to even setting up camp deep in the Yniol Forest far from the edge and any safe haven beyond. The sun had long since past beyond the horizon taking with it the last lingering rays of sunlight. Night quickly descended upon the forest with the nocturne animals greeting the night sky. Only this time something new was there to break the monotony.

A large bonfire puffed plumes of smoke up into the night sky carefully encircled by stones and with two large piles of wood to feed it long into the night. It cast shadows across the campsite with two rows of tents running parallel to the bonfire. Rising up at one end was a great pavilion which dwarfed the other tents in the site easily.

The entrance curtains to the pavilion opened to reveal Kirenna dressed in a flowing nighttime robes gliding out. A few of the men working to secure the supplies and the perimeter shot a few glances at her before turning back to their duties. She paid them no mind instead making her way to Elsin who stood staring into the bonfire.

"How do you fare, dear brother?" Kirenna asked.

Elsin turned from his rumination at the fire toward his sister. "I am uneasy. This place does not rest well with me. These woods have strange air about them."

"It is surprising to hear you speak in such a way. After all did this area not belong to your kingdom before?" Kirenna laughed.

"Long ago and only in name, these woods refused to be tamed whether by fire or axes. When I was king there were far easier lands available that I ignore it." Elsin reflected the memories of his past life flitting before his eyes.

Yniol Forest reputation was cemented long before Elsin had taken the throne thousands of years ago. He remembered how during his early years, the attempts to bring civilizations to all breadth of Aramon the forest included. Yet at every turn he found himself rebuff by the strange mysteries which plagued the forest. Eventually, he turned his attention to other things and instead left the forest to its own device. Only brigands would dare use the woods in hope of escaping the justice of law, but they just as easily found a much crueler justice instead.

He was surprised that during this travel through Aramon a request would lead them deep into this forest. The others did not brook much protest about it, but they did not fathom the sinister reputation of Yniol Forest. Here they are now setting up camp in these haunted venues, Elsin could sense of the anxiety from the men which had been brought along at being here. If it had been his call, he would prefer to minimize the potential casualties on this trip.

"The men are anxious." Elsin remarked.

"Indeed, they seem positively spooked. It shows quite clearly in their eyes." Kirenna noted with a wink toward her brother. "You still must be amazed how they haven't run off yet."

"The situation now, it wouldn't be prudent for them to abandon the light of the bonfire to the darkness of the forest." Elsin reminded her.

"Then we don't have to worry about losing any of them. I hate to see it happen, we definitely need every strong back to carry the supplies." Kirenna mused.

"You mean your supplies. All of this is largely your stuff especially that." Elsin pointed at the pavilion.

"Don't be so crass, brother. It isn't mine completely, these were all gifts provided by a local admirer to me along with the men for our little sojourn into the forest. He did stress the most unfortunate reasons for not being able to come along with us." Kirenna corrected.

No matter how charmed a man is of Kirenna, it was unlikely that could surpass any fear of venturing into this accursed forest. If only that same fear would have prevented him from offering so many amenities to Kirenna and strong backs to carry it for her too. Elsin had not entered the pavilion yet, but he could smell perfume and scented aroma from inside which clung to Kirenna. No doubt, it was a lavish affair inside.

The decadence of it was in stark contrast to the reason for them being out here, it was only fortunate the other two didn't share her taste. Lokken had largely kept to himself and the others wisely gave him distance. Since camp was setup, Elsin had not seen his elusive brother but no doubt he was around here somewhere. His sharp mind was something to rely upon compare to the frivolities of Kirenna if only his penchant for manipulation and scheming didn't put others in dire straits.

This brought him to the last one, Thirsha. She probably enjoyed the forest the most always preferring the wilderness. It wasn't exactly the same as Zhon, but far preferable to any town or city. Even the campsite did not suit her taste. He was sure she was probably roosting on some tree branch just on the edge of camp. If Reist had come along, she probably would try and torment him but instead either kept to herself or occasionally spook the men.

"So you think it'll be a quiet night?" Kirenna asked him.

"Hardly, I'm sure by morning we'll be ready to head back." Elsin stated with one hand on the pummel of the sword at his side.

"You seem quite confident in it, brother. Don't tell me you plan on tackling this all by yourself?" Kirenna chuckled at the staunch look on his face.

"It would be better if I did. Alone I know I can handle myself." Elsin assured her.

"Where would the fun be in that?" Kirenna replied before stepping back. "We came along too because we're interested as well. There is no reason to worry about us. We each can take care of ourselves."

It is the trouble you can each cause is the thing to be worried.

"That's not the reason for my concern." Elsin replied.

"I think I shall retire then for the night, brother." Kirenna bowed to him.

"You aren't planning on keeping watch over the night?" Elsin inquired in jest.

"Even a lady needs her rest. I doubt you'll handle things quiet enough not to wake me so till then I shall depart." Kirenna smiled before she turned and entered through the pavilion's curtain.

The whiff of scented aroma assaulted Elsin's nose once again, before he sneezed. He seriously wished she had left all of those things behind. Maybe Thirsha was keeping a distance because all those scented smells were offensive to her acute nose.

---

Thirsha snorted at the faint smell of scented aroma from her perch on the tree branch. The artificial smells which Kirenna seem willing to drape herself were so repugnant. Luckily the pavilion's curtain contained most of it inside. The girl was always such obsess with material delights, not even death could change that part.

Elsin seemed content to ignore his sister's taste and simply kept watch over by the bonfire. Thirsha did not have much to say about him, he at least had a strong arm though his penchant for justice as tiring. Lokken was nowhere to be seen or smelled either, but her crafty brother knew better if he wanted to remain unnoticed to allow himself to be caught by her keen smell.

It was that same keen sense which was acutely aware of the situation they had put themselves into now here in the forest. There were sounds in the night some of them indistinguishable for animals, but others which were clearly not. Those sounds were probably inaudible to the others, but to a huntress like herself they were as plain as the sun in the sky.

They were being stalked, the prey carefully circling around them, likely observing them and trying to gauge their strength. It was not something natural for she could hear no footstep from it only an unnatural rustling of air with its movement. This also confounded her nose, not that Kirenna's perfume was inhibiting things enough, but the scent was indistinct to her.

Yet the sense of mystery did not worry her. It only thrilled her more. The sense of danger made her blood start pumping in anticipation for the hunt. She lean her spear against her shoulder in wait for the elusive prey to reveal itself.

No doubt, it would attempt to pick off one of the weaker amongst the number. That is why she did not protest much when Kirenna insisted in bringing such a large entourage with them. It provided plenty of available bait for their enemy to prey.

Who is the hunter? Who is the hunted?

Those questions would be answered tonight. The sound of rustling leaves and footsteps which were not footsteps caught her ears, it seem the game was about to start tonight. Thirsha glanced toward the bonfire with a wicked smile in glee in seeing how this will all turn out.

---

A disheveled and ragged man came staggering out of the forest into the campsite. He immediately brought up his arms to shield himself from the sudden brightness of the bonfire. Torn rags covered his shoulders with a baggy trouser and muddied boots for clothing. His hair was a messy mop of black curls and drooping horseshoe mustache on the face. The only other noticeable item was a sheathed sword on his belt which swayed with each stumbling step he took toward the fire.

"Please you must help me…" he rasped.

The other men in the camp all froze in their track at his sight. Some of them looked dumbfounded by the stranger which had mysteriously stumbled into their mist. Others turned to Elsin or someone for direction on how to proceed.

Elsin could see the uncertainty in the men's face. They were not sure if this was possibly some lone traveler in need of help. Or some sort of deception design to lure them into some sort of trap. He gestured for them to remain back, while he took a step toward the stranger.

"You appear to be in distress. What seems to be the problem?" Elsin asked.

"Appear? Do you think people normally look like this?" he snapped back.

Looking the stranger up and down, Elsin replied, "Since I am unaware of your particular taste in fashion. I can not properly discern what may be considered normal for you."

The answer seemed to baffle the stranger who looked slack-jaw back at Elsin. A few chuckles erupted from some of the men at the exchange.

A loud roar echoed throughout the campsite.

"The beast, it is still out there!" the stranger cried out in fear.

"What are you talking about?" Elsin asked.

He couldn't be sure how close the thing which roar could be, the sound seemed to have almost echoed across the camp. If only Thirsha was here, then she could probably discern the direction of the source, but she was nowhere to be found. Hopefully, if that thing gets close she would have the courtesy to warn them. Knowing her, the only warning would be her battle cry when she tries to attack it.

"It is chasing me. The beast is coming after me." He rambled nervously. His legs seemed to have lost all strength and he collapsed to the ground.

"Please if you want us to help you, we must know more." Elsin stated.

The stranger wiped the sweat from his brow. "My name is Kurnan and I was tasked by my village elder to venture into these woods to recover a rare herb. But it was guarded by a most unnatural beast which stalked me for an entire day. It toyed with me and my futile attempt to fight it off. I got lost in my flight and it was only by some miracle that I stumbled upon your camp here."

The men murmured behind them about the tale. Some of them shot nervous glances toward the dark edges of the camp quietly moving closer to the bonfire.

"I beg of you, please kill it. The beast is still hunting me and is sure to come here too." Kurnan bagged with both of his hands clasped together.

Elsin simply nodded his head. "I will not hesitate to lend aid when it is asked."

A smile crossed Kurnan's face at the news.

"If what you say is true, then I wouldn't be afraid to lend my sword." Elsin added.

"What do you mean?" Kurnan asked. A puzzled look replaced the smile while the two locked gazes with each other.

The sound of crackling bonfire became the only sound between the two for a moment, before the curtains of the pavilion opened as Kirenna stepped outside. She let out a brief yawn, before squinting a bit at the brightness.

"So has it come? I was in the midst of a much refreshing dream before some roar rudely interrupted me." Kirenna remarked before she noticed Elsin and Kurnan. "Who might this gentleman be in such an awful state?"

"I am Kurnan, and I've recently been visited by a most unfortunate of circumstances." He said.

"It seems the roar you heard was of some beast which was hunting him." Elsin added, keeping himself between Kirenna and Kurnan.

"Then you're lucky to have found us, I'm sure my brother would have no qualm providing you aid. He was always the most generous of us." Kirenna beamed.

"Thank you, I am in your debt." Kurnan thanked heartily.

"Oh you definitely will be." Kirenna laughed.

Everyone wasn't sure what she meant by that, but it all gave them a chill down the spine by the way she smiled and laughed about it.

"As a token of thanks, please take this sword." Kurnan requested. He unfastened the sword from his belt and presented it to Elsin.

"Your gesture is appreciated, but I need no token for my aid. Besides I prefer my sword, you should keep yours for your own protection." Elsin replied, he held out his hand in refusal.

"With your protection I have no need of it. Please take it." He insisted, offering the sword out still.

Elsin continue to shake his head. Rebuffed, Kurnan instead turned to Kirenna. "Please my lady, take this sword as a gesture of my thanks."

"While I'm always flattered of the gifts from any male, I must sadly decline too. That sword simply would not suit the others in my collection." Kirenna refused while the men simply shook their heads at her reasoning.

Kurnan turned to offer to the others, before Elsin stepped in his way. "You seem quite earnest in relinquishing that blade."

"I am only trying to prove my thanks." Kurnan protested.

Another roar echoed this time much closer. Panic seized many of the men, who started too huddled closer toward the fire in fear. None seem to show the fear more then Kurnan who turned a ghostly pale white and looking over his shoulder. He turned back again to Elsin with renewed conviction in his face and fear in his eyes.

"Please the beast will soon be upon us. Take this sword. It is the only thing that can harm it?" Kurnan insisted as he all but tried to shove the blade onto Elsin.

"How strange, don't you think so brother?" Kirenna interrupted.

Kurnan paused while the two siblings shared a glance between them.

"Indeed, if this blade is the only thing which could slay the beast then how come you were chased by it?" Elsin asked.

"There is no time for this. Hurry before it is upon us." Kurnan barked insistently.

"I think not." Elsin stated.

Kurnan's face twisted into one of rages. His eyes sparkled with anger while his lips curled back in barely contained rage. He was desperately attempting to try and continue to offer the blade, but he seemed almost as eager to draw it forth and attack.

"Why will you not listen to me? Just take the sword already!" He growled to them.

"How much longer will you continue this farce?" Lokken asked.

Stepping forth from the shadows of the flame, the mantle of invisibility which had previously obscured him dropping away to reveal enigmatic brother, Lokken circled around the bonfire toward his siblings. He gave a smirk to the shock Kurnan whose eyes had widen in surprise by the sudden appearance and question.

"I was simply waiting on Elsin." Kirenna insisted with a smile.

"It would be best if he had simply confessed to the deception then to simply blatantly accuse him." Elsin replied with a shrug. "That would be better to soothe his tormented spirit and put it at rest."

"As much as you might like it, this is not the only task we have do here. It is best to settle it before the other one runs out of patience." Lokken wagged his finger.

Kurnan only blinked in confusion at the discussion.

"In case, you didn't realize we already know you for what you are." Lokken informed. "We've known since before we step into this forest."

"What are you talking about?" Kurnan stammered.

"We came to this forest because we were requested to help in deal with a particular problem, a terrible wind spirit which had started to hunt beyond the boundaries of the forest." Kirenna reported before nodding her head toward Elsin.

"Along with an accompanying restless spirit of a warrior who had sworn to slay it," Elsin added.

"That oath which was bound upon the blade of the warrior to complete the task has forced him continue on past his demise. It is such a tragic event." Lokken remarked, betraying not the least bit of sadness or remorse on the fact.

"And it looks like we found one. So where is your buddy?" Kirenna inquired. She clapped her hands together.

Bowing his head downward, Kurnan muttered, "It seems all I was doing for naught. Here I was hoping to escape this accursed oath. To bound someone else to this fate and damnable monster."

"I guess that makes you a loser both in life and death." Lokken sneered.

"Fine then, you'll all make welcome feast to it then! May your souls be tormented for all eternity like mine!" Kurnan pronounced.

The roar returned but this grew increasingly louder while the wind started to furiously blow all around the campsite. Smoke from the fire was pulled along with the quickening wind swirling around before rising up. High above the camp the smoking spiral upward into a massive form before two glowing baleful eyes pierce out from them and gaping jaws opened forth.

"Ugly fellow isn't it?" Lokken mused as he looked up at it.

Kirenna sighed, "Those things always got to be some frightful."

"There aren't too many pretty things in the world that wants to lurk in a forest and tear people apart." Lokken reminded her.

Elsin wanted to interrupt them, but instead barely manage to side step a swing from Kurnan who howled in rage and attacked with his sword. The move brought Elsin far too close to the fire and he felt his back singing from the licks of the flame. Kurnan noticed it too, pressing his attack to try and push Elsin further into it. Unfettered by the situation, Elsin leapt backward through the flames onto the other side much to his attack's surprised.

He pulled out his sword and with a single sweep parted the flames. Leaping through the opening back toward Kurnan clashing their two blades against one another, both of them stared into each other's face. Putting his weight behind his sword, Elsin shoved Kurnan back before he swung out the exposed torso. The blade easily passed through the body. A smirk crossed Kurnan's face before he swung at Elsin forcing the other back.

"I'm a ghost, you think your blade can cut me!" he mocked.

"This will be challenging." Elsin noted as the two crossed blades again.

"Those two seem to be quite entangled with each other." Kirenna said, observing the two fighting.

"Then I guess we'll just have to settle ourselves with the nasty wind spirit up there." Lokken said.

The wind spirit simply roared in reply before it dived downward in its massive voluminous cloud form toward the camp. It swooped through the camp sending the men diving toward the ground in order to avoid the monster. Bits of ashes seemed to rain down in its wake as the beast made several passes.

Neither Kirenna nor Lokken were particularly bothered by the clumsy move. Each of them easily out stepping its passes while keeping a watchful eye on it always. The beast seemed to notice it too, halting above them while growling in fury.

"We seemed to have made it angry." Kirenna noted.

"Likely, because we aren't playing scared for it, I suspect this spirit likes to have its victim properly terrified before it moves in for the kill. Such a death would definitely aid in bring a restless spirit to life." Lokken said.

"Like our friend over there." Kirenna gestured to Kurnan.

"Exactly," Lokken nodded before turning his attention back to the wind spirit, "the question is what to do with our nasty beast up there."

"It is unlikely my discipline over water will be able to affect an immaterial creature like that." Kirenna sighed with a shrug. "Is there any magic which might be effective against it?"

"Possibly, but that is not for certain." Lokken said.

"So neither of us have anything particularly effective against it?" Kirenna glanced toward Lokken.

"So it would seem." Lokken answered her.

The wind spirit chuckled at their situation before it open its mouth up wide and dive down toward them preparing to engulf them for certain this time. Kirenna and Lokken both held their ground while the spirit swooped downward toward them each of them betraying not a hint of fear at their predicament and even a small smirk on their lips.

"But then again this is someone we both know who can handle something like this quite easily." Kirenna grinned just as it was upon them.

"And she wouldn't be happy if we deprived her of her fun." Lokken agreed with a nod.

The smoky jaw froze mere moments before the two seized by a swirling force of winds which tore it upward into the sky. It howled in protest at the capture, while Thirsha merely flapped her wings in the air above the camp. She gestured her fingers a bit pulling the winds encircling the monster up toward her as she looked into its furious eyes.

"So you're the wind spirit that been causing people so much trouble." Thirsha laughed. "Had so much fun terrorizing people, but it took little more then some wind to halt your fun."

It roared in protested at her. The smoky form struggling against the winds which imprisoned it to no avail.

"And here I was hoping for a decent challenge. But all you are is just a bunch of hot air." Thirsha remarked before she waved her hand in dismissal.

One final roar echoed out from the monster before the winds tore it apart. The smoke was dispersed in a massive burst of winds which rained down ashes across the camp. The last echo of the roar faded as the lat bit of ash touched the ground.  

"Who better to deal with a wind spirit then the mistress of the wind herself?" Lokken mused.

"That's our sister." Kirenna smiled back.

Kurnan stopped his attack in disbelief at the death of the monster. The sword in his hand went limp while his jaw just hanged in surprise. He stared in disbelief at the spot where it had been just before where only Thirsha remained hovering.

"It is dead. I can't believe it is finally dead." He stammered in disbelief.

"The beast may be dead, but that does not mean we are done with you." Elsin stated.

Kurnan turn to look at them, and said, "But with the beast dead I'm free. The oath no longer binds me here, I can move on."

"I don't think so," Lokken replied, "we came here to deal with the both of you. So that still leaves you left."

"But surely with the beast gone, there is nothing more you need to do with me." Kurnan protested.

"Don't act so innocent. Your hands are not so clean in this affair." Kirenna said. "Many lives were lost when you coerced others to take up your blade to bind them to the same oath as yourself."

"But I was simply doing that to find someone to kill the beast!" Kurnan said.

Thirsha snorted in laughter. Landing down on the ground, she smiled, "I'm sure some farmer or wood cutter is just the person to handle that thing. Your lies are just pathetic."

"So what, I'm a ghost. What can you do to me?" Kurnan challenged.

Lokken simply answered it by putting his hand down on Kurnan's shoulder. The ghost blinked in surprise at the gesture, before his eyes widen at the fact the gloved hand had gripped his incorporeal form.

"Our dear brother here is actually quite the expert on the matter of the undead." Kirenna informed with a smile.

"So handling something like a ghost is no problem for him." Thirsha added with a grin.

"What are you going to do?" Kurnan stammered in shock.

Lokken just smiled.

"Make sure it is done by morning," Elsin replied before he sheathed his sword and turned his back on them heading to one of the tent. "I want to be out of here as early as possible."

The Yniol Forest was filled with a new scream that night, one that was quite different then any before it.