The next day we gathered near the gate and looked out to see the area where the fighting took place was now clear of the bodies of the creatures. Only blood and torn earth marking where the fighting had occurred. Atlas had spent the night studying the bodies that had been taken inside and the living specimen that had been captured. From what he had observed to that point the creatures looked like someone had tried to make a living thing but did not know what they were supposed to look like. None of it internal organs seem to function as they were supposed to it did not even need to eat or drink. This created the question of why the creatures always seemed to eat the dead.

  We prepared for the next part of our mission we needed to place a central purifying rune near the heart of the forest to get to the heart of the forest we would need a special team. Garrett chose the rangers and the hunters to enter the wood. I was place in charge of the team with Kage as the second in command. Asher and the other hunters and the rangers were all brought to enter the forest. Asher was angry and sullen as was expected when he learned he was serving under me, and I could feel his anger and Jealousy radiating off him when he looked at me. This time Jay did not come to demand that he be allowed to come but only to see me off. We left town and headed for the forest. When we entered the forest and came under the red canopy and gloom we felt a foreboding presents. Its attention was not focused on us, but we could feel it bearing on us. Even Asher became intent due to this presents. We found the path that was supposed to lead to the grove of the druids and moved down it. We lost a ranger before we even got to the grove. It was an unexpected event. Even with the caution we proceeded with it was when he brushed against some scarlet vines that hung down form the treetops. The ranger brushed against on of the vines and suddenly the vine moved wrapping around the ranger and drawing him up into the canopy. He screamed when he was caught and dragged up. Then his screams cut off and the sound of wet ripping told us the ranger was dead. It was slow going since we had to avoid the trees and plants to avoid any further problems.

  When we arrived at the grove i cannot even accurately describe what we saw. At the center rose a great tree it trunk black and its leaves blood red. At the feet of the tree a pool of blood red liquid. Around the pool were large plants they looked diseased they had large growths that seemed to shift as though something was inside. Around the pool was a host of the abominable creatures. I could see the shapes of deer, wolves, and other creatures and I saw near the edge I could see a creature that looked like a man. All bore the signature features of red skin that looked as if the creature had its skin removed and all who faces I could see had large fangs for ripping and tearing. I saw one of the creatures with a large protruding stomach that I had seen on the creatures who had recently fed. I saw it from a distance, and it seemed to come before the pool and regurgitate everything in it stomach into the pool. I did not see what became of the material that went into the pool. What was most terrible was the presents of a giant creature it looked almost like a man but with huge muscle and standing 9 feet tall it towered over the other creature. A goliath among them. I told the others to keep watch and provide a distraction if necessary and I moved into the grove I saw a spot near the edge of the grove by a broken hut that I could place the rune. It took several minutes to get the rune finished and as I was preparing to head back to the others I heard a roar. Asher and the hunters had decided to try and kill the giant. They tried shooting it while it had its back to them, but the arrows failed, and the giant turned to them. It came at them the rangers jumped into action and tried to distract the creature. The others in the grove simple watched as though the giant was commanding them not to interfere with it battle. As I moved to aid the rangers, I saw the giant move quickly and lashed out with a clawed hand at one of the rangers and he fell to the ground gutted. Another he grabbed and with little effort ripped him in two this ranger he tossed to the other creatures, and he was quickly ripped apart. The giant was bearing down on Kage when I got to them. I had not seen Asher or the other hunters in the fight. I grab on to the giant and drew my dragon tooth knife. The giant had knock Kage on his back when I jump on its grab and held onto it. I stab at it with the dragon knife, and I felt burning magic move from the knife into the giant. The giant screamed and grabbed me. I felt its claws stab into my side when it grabbed me and then it threw me. I felt my body turn as it flew and out of the grove and then felt myself slam into a tree and everything went black.

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