Omar climbed out of the wagon, taking a moment to stretch and shake out the kinks. He looked around, considering where to make camp. Eventually he found a bare plot with tents already set up on either side. He claimed a tent from the second wagon and set it up. He found the spot ideal; if something happened overnight, he'd have time to escape his tent and react as the periphery would wake him up.

He considered what to do with the time before mess. He passed a game of cards between a group of enlisted humans; while the opportunity to take their Dragons in a game of "chance" was appealing, he needed to remain inconspicuous for now. Instead he headed toward a group congregating near the main campfire, looking for someone interesting to mind-read.

Belial went a ways beyond the perimeter of the established campsite, though it seemed not too far to get lost from them. Strange.

He deigned not to pitch a tent. Instead, he simply stood and stared off into the distance.

Zephyr wakes, and looks around, noticing the wagon to be empty. He shrugs, and steps out of the wagon. He stretches, and letting his wings work a few kinks out before wrapping them back around himself. Looking around he spots the wagon with the tents, and moves to get one to set up. He fumbles with it a bit, but manages to get it set up enough to keep any rain that might come out. He shrugs, and walks to sit next to the fire where he notices another demi-human sitting

(OOC: update later, but note for Demi-humans, your dark sense skill should alert you to something dangerous closeby right about... now)

Emygeil heard the rustling sounds of another demi-human taking a seat next to her by the fire. Her head turned casually in his direction and she nodded once to Zephyr in greeting. But the meeting was marred by the niggling sense that something was nearby and whatever it was, that something was not good.

"I feel a dangerous presence close to the campsite." Emygeil's worried facial expression was uncharacteristic for her, which might alarm those of her group that had paid any attention to her overall demeanor. Her normally stoic voice was also tinged with a hint of nervousness. The supporting sorcerer decided to stand up and survey her surroundings, looking for any signs of the source of her foreboding feeling.

The near-grey irises of Belial's eyes slowly swam to the side, looking off in the direction of where his innate sense was nagging at him. He didn't move, deigning to watch with his arms folded, expression still statue-esque.

"You too then?" Zephyr glances around , and stands up, casting a glance toward a group of humans.

"Think we should let them know that?"

"That would be wise, yes." The light gray-skinned woman nodded once more and then turned to walk off toward the last place where she had spotted Corporal Summers. Along the way she turned her head this way and that way worriedly still on the lookout for whatever it was that she had felt. Once she had reached the man that she had been looking for the scaly half-demon cleared her throat to get his attention.

"Sir, I sense something dangerous. It is quite close to the campsite. What are your orders?" The healer said with a more normal tone of voice, trying to suppress her alarm at the situation, keeping attentive and ready to receive and act upon any orders that the human gave her to deal with the findings of her Dark Sense.

Omar felt a pang in the pit of his stomach; something dangerous was near. Looking around, it was clear that the other demi-humans knew something was wrong. Staying alive would be his top priority, but keeping others alive would be crucial as well, the more live bodies, the easier it would be to blend in.

He moved near the fire, standing roughly between the black-skinned man and the archer woman. He mentally marked a log in the fire that had yet to burn well, that he could wield telekinetically if he so needed.

Omar looked to the black-skinned man. "You feel it?"

Kyle frowned as he approached the fire, there were too many people. There was.. a bald man, a dark skinned man... and of course his... helper. Two of them were demi-humans, he'd have to be careful. He sidled up to the fire, trying to play cool.
He smiled at the girl as he sat, and took her hand in his. Expertly, he had palmed two silver dragons. "A mission like this is dangerous, but well rewarding.. I'm glad some people with skill showed up." He hoped that wasn't too subtle. Now he had to find an excuse to get her alone... and then came the hard part. Convincing her to help him find the jewel without attracting suspicion. Ah, but he was a pro. He beamed at her, gauging her own skill at subterfuge.

----------------------

Kyrie looked at Emygeil. She was almost famous, among the higher ups, and was one of the few comforting things in this mission. With hope, she would keep the rest of the demi's in line. He sighed. "I was hoping to be a little more south before we met trouble... Do you have any specifics? Get Lhaso and see if you can add any sort of protection to the camp. I'll warn the soldiers." He turned but snorted. "If we're meeting trouble already, Angels preserve us when we actually get to South Lake..."

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Their were many now, where there had just been one. Four legged with sharp claws, and sharp fangs, they would rend these humans and claim. The leader looked on towards the others and growled. Everything in him wanted to howl their approach to the interlopers... but something was holding them back. Instead, they stalked towards the camp, heading towards the far tent. The man at the tent smelled like brimstone... the direwolves were wary, but compelled to move forward.

Zephyr glaces at Omar and nods in answer to the question, then looks over at Kyle as he moves over by the fire. "I'm sure it will be rewarding eventually, human, but it is dangerous now. There is something out there."

Belial's eyes returned to staring straight ahead. He felt many of them, now. Closing in. Animals attracted to the one that strayed from the pack. Assuming that one is the weak link. Easily lost. Easily outnumbered. If one weren't careful, they could tear a human, a demi-human limb from limb.

How annoying.

Belial removed his hand from where it had been resting in the crook of a folded arm and held it out at where the mass of dark sense was directing him.

The stupid beasts made the mistake of assuming that the one who broke off from the pack was part of the pack to begin with.

The air around his hand sizzled. Invisible water particles dancing in the open space screamed as they were turned into vapor, rolling off against the demi-human's pasty skin. His hand began to glow like coal glows on a barbecue pit, illuminating the ground like a lantern, splitting the night like a spear.

Belial said nothing, letting the high-pitched whistle of air being forced in every direction to accomodate the sudden existance of a large ball of flames saying more than he ever could. Like a comet, it shot off, tail flowing behind it, its target the direwolves hiding in the distance.

Frederick wanders around boredly.

"It feels like it's getting stronger. Whatever triggered the dark sense is far too close." Omar addressed the humans as well now. "Be on your guard, friends. If you hold any low-minded prejudices about us demi-humans, it's time to lose them. Something is preparing to attack the camp, and we can't afford group conflict. We won't make it to payday, otherwise."

As he spoke, a sharp whistle and a flare of light came in the direction of the dark sense. "Perhaps they're upon us already..."

"The presence is fragmented, indicating a group... whatever they are, the demonic power radiating from them is weaker than it would be from a full-fledged mage, so I doubt that they know much about or are even able to cast spells. Other than that I'm just as clueless as you are, sir." Emygeil paused to listen to Corporal Summers's grim final words and allowed a frown to turn down the corners of her lips.

But she had the orders fresh in her mind and walked at a quick clip toward where the wagons had been parked. Surely enough she found Lhaso there. Emygeil began to gather magical energy around her body to prepare the largest and strongest shielding spell that she could attempt from full power.

"Let's try to create a barrier around the perimeter of the camp. We will keep those things out in the wilderness where they belong." The woman's yellow-green eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire, gleaming from the light given off by the main campfire as well, and she proceeded to create the first "block" of the barrier after she had spoken her words with true conviction.

"All of you without the spines for combat get back behind the shields and stay close to me! We do not want a bloodbath happening on the first leg of the trip!" The half-demon called out across the camp, her voice carrying quite far, even over the high-pitched whistle of a fireball spell being cast off in the near distance.

Lhaso smiled and channeled her shield against Emygiels. Normally, a shield of that size would be difficult, but erecting a half a shield each would be much easier, and much more effective. She looked at the black shapes illuminated by a fireball at the edge of the camp. She could sense the darkness in them, there was spelling going on... but if the creatures were wild they may not stop when they hit the barrier. Still, it was better than nothing.

She laughed at Emygiel's shouted command. "Girl..." she whispered. "If they're too cowardly for this they're useless to us anyway."

-------------------

The leader leapt away from the flames. Two of their pack weren't so lucky. The burning man was dangerous. Cautiously, two of his fellows went forward, but the leader led the rest away. There were easier prizes, he could smell it already. Howling, the wolves ran towards the camp.

--------------------

Kyle leapt to his feet at the news from the bald headed Demi-human. "Action is my business." he said with a smile. He looked at the archer girl. "Looks like I can test out your skill earlier than imagined." He was disappointed at the foiled opportunity, but that could come later. Not dying was the task at hand. He looked at the dark skinned demi-human who was also by the fire. "Only one melee fighter to be had among us? Very well, tell me when they're about to hit us."

He drew a bastard sword, whose hilt was carefully wrapped in fabric. Underneath that fabric was a jewel encrusted hilt that gave away his noble birthright... something he didn't need anyone discovering just yet. He sighed and shook his head. Not dying was more important than secrets here.

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On the other end of the camp, Rayne was shaking as he stood behind a forming line. The corporal was shouting orders, but Rayne couldn't even hear them. Was he going to die here, unremembered? Was he going to run to the protection of the healers? No, he'd never live that down. He was useless enough in his old life, he wasn't going to be a coward. He heard a howl.. they were almost at them now, and they weren't ready.

They never learn, do they?

The outstretched palm clenches into a half-fist, Belial's index and middle fingers still outstretched to point at the two approaching wolves. Two jets of flames shot from his fingertips at the beasties.

The stoic half-demon held her arm out in front of her body with the corresponding palm open as if pressing it against something, the positive demonic magic radiating outwards from that palm, which formed her half of the shield. She kept her other arm close to her body, an aura of golden light pulsating around her free hand, which she could use to extend her healing energies outwards to anyone that came within range. She heard Lhaso's comment but due to her winning personality only acknowledged it with a glance in the other healer's direction and a grunt to indicate that she had heard it.

That howl had signaled the beginning of the battle. Emygeil could only hope that everyone at the camp would try their best to defend their lives. Although she wanted to conserve her energy for maintaining the barrier and for healing wounded comrades she knew that she might have to use her magic to repulse an invader or two if things started to get out of control.

"Shit." Ves leapt to her feet quickly, now wishing she'd kept her weapons at hand. It was a lesson she'd not soon forget. She sprinted to her tent, attracting confused looks from those who hadn't gotten the warning. Not her problem. They'd find out soon enough.

She practically ripped her tent apart in her rush and snatched her bow and quiver from their hiding place. By the time she was within sight of the campfire, the things - she couldn't tell what from here - were attacking. Wishing for better light, she moved closer, nocking, aiming, and firing arrows as she went.

Frederick joins the line.