Night had fallen on Menomori, chilling the mists that rolled in as the sun dipped down. For a while he had sad quietly, enjoying the momentary peace. The sky had shifted hues gradually; endless blue to soft rose, deepening to a vivid crimson as if the tips of the bamboo stalks had cut into the sky leaving it to bleed out.

The forest itself was so thick that it made the night feel all consuming. Even with his abilities he could barely see through such advanced darkness. A few stars winked at him where they could through the bamboo, but he couldn’t translate what they were trying to say from such a muddled vantage point.

His advertisement had called for three formidable people that were interested in hard work. Hard, dangerous work. More people would have been helpful but he could only be responsible for three at the most, and would be lucky if he got that. The reward had been high enough, but some people weren’t willing to risk their skin no matter the price to be paid. He didn’t blame them.

Silver and gold meant nothing to him and he had more than enough to give out. Any treasure that would be found in their search would go to them and they could decide amongst themselves who got what. No, his sights were set on but five things. Five items in five locations that when combined would give him…No, no, one step at a time.

Not wanting to startle people off by having them answer the call to a deity’s quest, he had himself cloaked in illusion to hide who he was; voice included. The slender almond eyes that would so easily give away his Ataiyan descent were instead round, their color a forgettable brown. He couldn’t have his eyes changing through jewel tones the entire time, could he? That in itself was a dead giveaway.

Though the light had been the hardest part. He was always glowing -it was his domain after all- and so far, he had it down enough that it just looked like one’s eyes adjusted to the darkness easily around him. There was only so far he could push down his light, but he had managed to hide the white markings that usually covered his skin. That was another matter: his skin, while usually tanned from so much time spent in bright light ant the sun was instead pale; his usually dark brown hair was now a deep rust with golden highlights; his cheeks, normally angled with high cheekbones, were instead round and soft with a constellation of freckles across his nose.

He knew there was a great risk that he’d be discovered eventually, but for this first trip he at least wanted anonymity. For now, he had put his name down as ‘Mathieu’ and still wasn’t used to it no matter how many times he’d said it to himself over and over again. About the only thing on his person that could be recognized was Torinasu: at his hip, loyal as always. He couldn’t part with the blade for something so important, but only followers of him would be able to recognize it on first glance.

The posting had said to meet at the border of Menomori and Kujishoku at midnight on this very night. So now all he had to do was wait and hope that at least one person had decided to take on the task with him. He was confident in his abilities and wit, but he knew that no one was perfect, not even a deity. He wasn’t one to turn down fresh eyes or abilities of those that had much more experience than him in areas. It had been a while since he’d worked in a party and adrenaline was pumping quickly through him as he anticipated the many nights ahead of them. If nothing else it would leave them all with stories to tell.

Raile had not seen the ad that the deity had posted. In fact, if anything, he would have avoided it. The merchant was not one to normally go for treasures. He would rather put his stakes into something that he knew the outcome of. Well…aside from a risky game of cards every so often.

However, somehow he had found himself lost in the Menomori at one of it’s darkest hours. It had not been his intention, but the bamboo forest itself seemed to have plans of it’s own.

The merchant clutched the straps of his backpack. He slightly regretting not bringing the twins along. The company would have been welcome. The bamboo stalks obstructed any visible path, and Raile hadn’t the slightest clue which way was the exit. He refused to stop moving though. Stopping would get him nowhere. As luck would have it though, getting lost led him to the exact spot that ‘Mathieu’ had claimed as the meeting grounds for this treasure hunt…

“Hm?” the merchant said aloud as he noticed a figure through the bamboo. “H-hello? Hey!” Excited at the prospect that this figure might lead him out of the forest, he ran forward. Raile had no idea what was in store for him, or the nights ahead….

“I seem to find myself lost,” he said as he approached the pale man. It dawned on Raile that finding someone in the dead of night just waiting was odd, but at this point he was a little more than desperate. However, that did not make him defenseless. Being a merchant had its perks, and some of those perks included rare and valuable trinkets with more than their fair share of unique abilities.

“My name is Ralie Talon! Traveling merchant and trader, at your service,” he said with a quick, out of breath bow. “Er…not to bother you, but….why exactly are you….here?”

Jasmine had seen the advertisement asking for four formidable people for travel and adventure. They were supposed to meet someone named ‘Mathieu’ at midnight in a bamboo forest. Ugh cloak and dagger mysteries. Just why was this guy recruiting?

“It's a trap.”

“Probably but we're still going. Our pouch is light and I'm bored.”

“Kill then play?”

“We'll have to see how things go when we get there. Now let's keep moving.”

Traveling in her cat form was faster and quieter then in her human form. Only drawback was Cheetah was harder to control in her natural form and tended to want to go off hunting rather then continue towards their destination.

The giant red spotted cat slipped silently through the first tail lashing nervously. People were to near. Drawing they're scent in her mouth she counted two males. One smelled funny powerful. The other smelled tired and nervous. She paused assessing the situation. “Trap.” Her new warg puppy took that opportunity to lick the side of her face. Sigh this was going to be interesting.

“We'll see. Cheetah, back off a hundred yards and shift. I don't want the first time they see me to be as a threat. “

Cheetah turned and padded quietly deeper into the forest before stopping “Here?” In answer Jasmine pushed herself forward in her shared mind. She felt her fur ripple as it started to recede and clothing took its place. She moaned as bones broke and reshaped themselves. She didn't know what it looked like only what it felt like and it felt really good. When her change was over she lay there for a moment panting.

“Good girl Cheetah.”

Cheetah only purred in response then curled up in her corner of their shared mind to take a nap. “She's getting better.” The observation from Vamp showing just how far Cheetah had come when it came to listening.

Jasmine only shrugged grabbed her bag and headed off in the direction of the two men. She wasn't worried about the puppy keeping up or wandering off he seemed to take all his cues on what to do from her.

She entered the clearing just after the merchant had introduced himself. Clearing her throat she spoke quietly.

“My name’s Jasmine. I'm answering your advertisement. That is if you are in fact Mathieu.”