Alec

Just as Level had defeated the first Wolf two more dove at him as he was turning and attacked from hiding. The first Wolf have dove and and after clawing and scrabbling across Alec's armor and shield it had finally found purchase and open s small test in Alec's arm. But thankfully Alec's shield had expelled some of its stored static electrical charge into the Wolf. The second Wolf in its haste had tripped over it's own feet and tumbled to stop right in front of Alec. All the mayhem and confusion had caused Alec to miss his swing at the first Wolf also. The first Wolf had rebounded from the shock but was preparing to strike again teeth barred and muscles compacted. The second Wolf bounded to its feet and slunk back behind the first Wolf receiving a nip from its fellow. When both Wolves had regrouped they charged again. This time the second Wolf in the lead. As they drew in Alec waited for his moment and when the time was right he swung his axe around aiming for the second Wolf's left haunch.

As the Wolves charged in Alec swung his Mithril Axe at the haunch of the second Wolf, who was leading this charge. His Axe bit into it's flank and opened up a chunk of its side spilling out red pixels. Both Wolves advanced snapping and snarling. As they dove in Alec was able to bring his Shield to bear and prevent them from breaching his defenses.

Alec selected his inventory and opened it accepting the new Materials, Col and Trinket into his inventory. Just as he was turning around to continue his journey deeper into the forest in search of the deep dark cave where he would find a suitable gem for Hannah to help her craft a ring of some sorts Alec was nearly blindsided by two huge furry creatures that were all fangs and fur and claws as they nearly engulfed him. Alec did his best to bring his shield to bear and interpose it between himself and these two most recent attackers. That’s when it dawned on Alec. “Why had he not thought about it earlier? Wolf’s weren’t solitary hunters unless something was very wrong. He should have expected it. It was a common wolf tactic distract the prey with one from the front and then flank with multiple others. Well thought Alec I relearned something today. Lets just hope I live to learn from it.” WIth that Alec brought his shield up and swung his Mithril Axe for all he was worth.

The two Wolves dove at Alec from a hidden vantage catching him off guard. The first Wolf dove in and snapped at Alec its fangs skidding and sliding off his armor and shield till finally finding purchase and opening in Alec's arm leaking red pixels. As the first Wolf came into contact with Alec's shield there was a snap of electricity arcing and the Wolf yelped as it was shocked. The second tripped and fell over its own paws in its hurry and ended up tumbling into a pile at Alec's feet.

The Wolf had bull rushed Alec and slammed its body into him causing Alec to loose his balance and tumble over into a pile. Alec quickly scrambled to his feet and regained his composure. He shifted his feet for proper stance and stability. He raised his shield into a defensive position between himself and the Wolf attacking him. He gripped his Mithril Axe firmly and gestured at the Wolf to charge at him again. Alec was ready now he had the Wolf’s measure and would not fail. He was the rock!! As the Wolf charged in teeth exposed and jaws spread impossibly wide Alec snapped his axe out to the side swinging for the Wolf as it flew at him mid flight. The mirrored surface of the axe glinting with the small rays of sunlight breaking through the canopy of the forest as it flashed nearer and nearer to the Wolf.

As the Wolf flew towards Alec the Mithril Axe flashed out from the side and bit into the Wolf as it flew through the air the axe bit out another chunk of the Wolf which jetted red pixels. As the Wolf made contact with Alec its jaws found an unprotected spot in Alec's shoulder as its teeth skittered off his Breastplate opening another small rent in his skin and leaking a few more red pixels. However as the Wolf made contact with the Shield of the Thunderhearts there was another snap of electricity arcing and the Wolf let out a final howl of pain and torment and defeat as its body wavered and shimmered and exploded into a shower of pixels.

Alec suddenly realized something. He couldn’t get cocky. He had to keep his head. It wasn’t his nature to revel in violence and bloodshed. That wasn’t who he was deep down. He was a protector of others a stalwart beacon and a rock of refuge and solace for those adrift and in need of a sturdy object that would not falter or crumble. Alec began taking deep slow breaths to calm himself and regain his composure. Once he regained his sense of self and who he was he reset his feet for maximum stability. He raised the Shield of the Thunderhearts back into a defensive position between himself and the Wolf. He then shifted his grip on his Mithril Battle Axe for the most sure stable grip he could attain. Then he held his position and waited for the Wolf to charge him again, knowing it would.

Alec set himself to receive the Wolfs charge. As inspected the Wolf charged but Alec was not prepared for the sheer ferocity of the attack. The Wolf slammed into him with no thought of biting or clawing it simple smashed its body into Alec causing Alec to tumble to the ground in a heap. Alec smiled at the Wolf "Well played Sir." Alec stated as he shifted his facial features to one of grim resolve.

His axe had bitten into the Wolf’s hide again. He was landing many more strikes than he had with his first axe. This new axe was quickly becoming a part of Alec and one he felt he was becoming rather adept with. The Wolf had dove for Alec teeth bared and jaws wide in anticipation of a mouthful of flesh. Instead it had tasted Alec’s Mithril Axe and his Mithril Axe had again tasted of the Wolf’s hide. Alec’s mood was beginning to brighten albeit in a very macabre way. His scowl was shifting into a predatory grin as he eyed the Wolf. This Wolf was nothing he would defeat it he would be victorious! Alec circled the Wolf now switching from waiting to receive the attacks to looking of his opening to initiate an attack of his own. As the Wolf was forced to circle with Alec, Alec noted that the WOlf was favoring its left side. Most likely from all the axe strikes it had received there. However its movements were stiff and jerky, most likely from all the electrical shocks it had received so far. As their dance continued Alec suddenly stopped and lashed out with a quicksilver fast flash of his mirrored axe at the Wolfs left side again.
 

Alec stopped his circling and lashed out with a swing designed to take the Wolf in the side. The Wolf anticipated this attack and lunged high over the axe swipe and landing against Alec's Breastplate teeth searching for purchase against Alec's Breastplate and arms. The Wolf managed to open a small tear in Alec's arm and a small amount of red pixels escaped this newest wound. As the Wolf made contact with Alec his shield flashed again and discharged an arc of electricity into the Wolf causing it to yelp in pain and rebound from Alec.

The Wolf had lunged at Alec but he had managed to get his Shield of the Thunderhearts between himself and the attacking Wolf deflecting its teeth and claws away from himself and vital areas on his body. They wrestled around for a time neither gaining an upper hand till Alec heaved with all his considerable might and threw the Wolf away from him gaining some space to maneuver again. The Wolf glared malevolently at Alec as it crouched low to compact its muscles again. When it had fully compacted it flexed its muscles and flew at Alec jaws opened wide and teeth bared. Alec took a step back to position himself better switched his grip on his Mithril Battle Axe and waited for the Wolf to close. When the Wolf came within range Alec swept his Mithril Axe out in a wide arc for the most momentum he could achieve. His mirrored axe flashed out to meet the Wolf mid flight.

As the Wolf rocketed towards him Alec whipped his axe out in a wide arc for maximum momentum. His mirrored axe blade meet the Wolf and sunk deep into its side open a wide rent in its flesh that red pixels spilled out of. The Wolf's hit point bar dropped again this time switching to red. Alec was really starting to enjoy himself in combat. With the right gear a whole new world of possibilities opened up he noticed. Alec wasn't yet but he was beginning his transformation into the Storm!!! And he would wiped this world clean he thought forcefully!!

Alec had landed another seeing from his Mithril Axe. Alec was so pleased this new axe nearly swung itself! It was so much lighter than his last Axe and as such was much easier to adjust its angle in flight drastically increasingly his chances at hitting. His shield had proven amazingly invaluable as well the number of times it had expelled static electricity and tasered the Wolf had been amazing so far!! The Wolf looked like it's last shock had worn off and it had plans to repay Alec for some of the hurt he had lain on it so far. Alec braced his shield between himself and the Wolf and raised his axe cocking it again for another swing.

The Wolf leaped at Alec and scrabbled for purchase but Alec used his shield to bat the Wolf out if the way. The Wolf gathered itself and bunched down readying to strike again.

The Wolf threw itself at the hard shell man creature and attacked and thrashed with wild abandon. It managed to put a scratch into one of the hard shells soft parts. But the man creatures shiny moon tusk bit into it's side again and flat lightning rock the hard shell carried kept hurting it and locking its muscles do it couldn't move! The Wolf hated the hard shell and wanted to kill it! It wanted to prove itself to its two brothers hiding behind the man creature waiting to attack either when Dirt Cloak won or was defeated. Dirt Cloak would prove its worth to its brothers. As the Wolf sought purchase the lighting rock zapped twice and now it was frozen again. The Wolf convulsed and growled in pain and anger as the man creature swung it's moon tooth at it again.

The Wolf had thrown itself at Alec again. His Mithril Axe had bit deep and his shield had expelled two different charges this time. Alec really loved this shield. As the Wolf stood convulsing and twitching Alec raised his axe and swung down at the Wolf again.

As the Wolf stood twitching and convulsing from the static discharge Alec raised his Mithril Axe and swung down chopping into the Wolf again. Red pixels gushed from the wound and its health bar sunk deeper into the yellow. In Alec's opinion this fight was going very well!!

Again Alec landed a good solid swing on the Wolf. This fight was going much better than his fights against the Boars. He loved his new axe and shield! Together they were an amazing combination! The Wolf was again shocked by the shield but not hard enough to stun it. The Wolf was really not enjoying fight this hard shell man creature. It was infuriating! The Wolf crouched down again to strike. Once its muscles were contracted the Wolf exploded in motion driving itself in a fury towards its target. Jaws and teeth gnashing as it flew towards it mark. Alec paused poised to strike back. As the Wolf propelled itself at Alec in a rage snapping and biting as it flew Alec calmly swung his Mithril Battle Axe in a wide lazy arc towards the Wolf's side as it flew through the air.

The Wolf dove at Alec with hate and death on its mind. As the Wolf came within range Alec lazily swung his Mithril Battle Axe in a lazy arc that smashed into the Wolf's side and opened a large slash that jeted red pixels dinking the Wolf's hit points. As the Wolf made contact with Alec its jaws and teeth snapped and scratched against his Breastplate and shield until finally finding a piece if skin on Alec's shoulder causing a small cut that leaked a bit of red pixels and dropped his hit points by one. As the Wolf scrabbled over Alec's armor and shield there was a pop of electrical discharge from Alec's shield followed by a louder pop or electricity arcing that was punctuated by the tell tale ozone smell that signified the heavy charge release. The Wolf let out numerous yelps and whimpers as it's muscles froze and contracted from the static discharges.

Alec had prepared for the Wolf's charge. The slavering beast approached at break neck speed but at the last second it looked like its muscles in its front legs completely locked up and the Wolf went into an uncontrolled tumble which caused Alec's Axe swing to fly just over the top of the tumbling Wolf. When the Wolf finished its flounder it stood back up and shook its head forcibly to clear out the muddling cob webs that formed. It glared a baleful stare at the hard shell. This hard shell was proving to be a difficult pretty. It shouldn't be. The Wolf hard killed man creatures before but this one was not the same as the others the Wolf thought as it began a slow methodical stalk towards its prey. Alec recovered quickly from his missed swing. He reset his stance and raised his Mithril Battle Axe over his head and prepared to seeing it down upon the Wolf. As the Wolf dove at him he swing done with all his might.

As the Wolf sprinted in Alec swung his Mithril Battle Axe down and chopped into the charging Wolf, his mirror bright axe burying itself in the Wolf's back causing it to yip in pain. The Wolf's jaws snapped and bit at Alec, scratching along Alec's Breastplate. As the Wolf pawed and thrashed st Alec it clawed his Shield. The Shield of the Thunderhearts released more of it's built up static charge and jolted the Wolf causing it to yip and yelp in more pain.

Alec's Mithril Battle Axe bit the Wolf's hide once more it had yelped in pain and frustration. "Every time it attacked this hard shelled man creature it was shocked and it couldn't move!" The Wolf thought angrily baring it's fangs at the hard shell. "It would cause pain like it had received!" It spat the thought as it crouched and lunged again with rage and death on it's mind.

Alec was very impressed with his two new items. The axe was so fast and easy to use and the shield was amazing. It kept stunning the Wolf! Alec couldn't have been more happy with his weapon and shield! Alec ensured his shield was firmly positioned between himself and the enraged Wolf as he drew his Mithril Battle Axe back up over his shoulder and prepared to swing it down at the Wolf once more.

Alec brought his Mithril Battle Axe around lightning fast but as the Wolf charged in with hate and fury in its eyes it suffered a muscle spasm, most likely due to the repeated electrical discharges it had already received. The muscle spasm caused the Wolf's front legs to lock up and caused it to summersault end over end and tumble past Alec. This unexpected drop and roll by the Wolf caused his swing to fly harmlessly over the top of the Wolf.

Alec's Mithril Axe again sliced deeply into the Wolf's flank. Alec sent up a mental "Thank You!" to Macradon the Blacksmith who had made this amazing Axe. The Mithril Axe was a thing of beauty to behold but it had proven agile and deadly as well. Alec smiled fondly at the deadly piece of beautiful craftsmanship he currently wielded. The Wolf had lunged in again at this time it's razor like teeth had skipped harmlessly off his Breastplate slowing their momentum and lessen their damage when they finally did find a piece of exposed skin below his armor. The Wolf had again triggered the Shield of the Thunderhearts special ability expending it's stored up static electrical charge shocking and stunning the Wolf causing it to again stand there convulsing and paralyzed. Alec sent a mental "Thank you!" to it's creator Vigilon. That man had been a genius in creating that aspect of the shield. Alec raised his Mithril Axe again to strike at the Wolf.

Alec swung the Mithril Battle Axe down and connected solidly with the Wolf opening yet another cut in the Wolf's pelt. More red pixels scattered from the wound and it's health bar dipped deeper towards zero. The Wolf did not attack again as it was still convulsing from it's contact with Alec's Shield and it's electrical discharge. As the electrical wire off and the Wolf regained control of its muscles again it began to advance towards Alec malice in it's eyes.

Alec winced as his Mithril Axe missed the Wolf and skipped off a rock jutting out of the ground. The mirrored surface of the axe head shot sparks as it skipped off the rock rebounding to the side. Alec did not like when things like that happened to his equipment. Even if it was only a video game and where as in real like that would have chipped his blade here it did nothing but it was still in grained in him that that was a bad thing. The Wolf finished it's convulsions and took an aggressive step towards Alec. Obviously it had not liked being shocked and it meant to do something about it. Alec reset his shield between the two of them and brought his Mithril Axe up ready to bring it down on the Wolf as soon as it moved close enough to attack. The Wolf bunched it's muscles and sprung like a coiled spring. It lunged straight for Alec teeth snapping and jaws spraying spittle in it's desire to sink it's teeth into Alec's flesh.

The Wolf, intent on getting payback for being shocked by the stored up static electricity inside the Shield of the Thunderhearts lunged at Alec snapping jaws searching for a purchase somewhere in Alec's flesh. Alec brought the Mithril Axe down again and was again shocked at how light and agile this weapon was. The mirrored finish of the blade slid easily and deeply into the Wolf's back above it's shoulder. It yelped in pain again as another gash was opened in it's pelt and more red pixels exploded from the wound. The Wolf's razors sharp teeth scratched over the surface of Alec's Breastplate until finally finding purchase in his hip below his Breastplates protection. As the Wolf made contact Alec jammed the Shield of the Thunderhearts against the Wolf's body. Again there was the loud pop of an electrical discharge and the familiar waft of ozone as the shield expelled more stored up static electricity and shocked the Wolf stunning it and causing it to begin convulsing again.

Alec brought his Mithril Axe up over his shoulder after successfully burying it deep into the side of the attacking Wolf. The Wolf had connected with Alec's Shield of the Thunderhearts as it had charged and caused the absorbed static electricity built up and stored within the shield to be expelled in essence tasing the Wolf and stunning it. Alec ground his teeth as he took measure of the Wolf facing him. He readjusted his stance fir better balance and ensured his shield was positioned between himself and the Wolf. Then Alec let out a grunt as he whipped the ultra light axe back down towards the Wolf's back and shoulder area.

Alec grunted as he swung his Mithril Axe down towards the Wolf. His axe was new to him and Alec wasn't entirely comfortable with the change in weight from his last Battle Axe. He wasn't used to how agile his new axe was so as he swung it down he shifted his body weight slightly which caused his axe to fly wide missing the Wolf and striking sparks as it's mirrored blade skidded off a rock in the ground. Alec winced reflexively as he saw his cherished beautiful axe blade strike a rock. "Oh! I am SO sorry!" Alec whispered quietly to his Mithril Axe. The Wolf continued to twitch and convulse as the electrical current finished coursing through it's nervous system. The Wolf let out a low menacing growl as it took an aggressive step towards Alec.

Alec readied his Shield of the Thunderhearts to receive the Wolf's attack and shifted his grip on his Mithril Axe to strike back at the Wolf once it charged. Alec didn't have to wait long. Moments after his Mithril Axe was in his hand the Wolf lunged, it's jaws snapping and mouth salivating as it dove for Alec. The Wolf's jaws sought out Alec's throat as it threw itself at Alec attempting to tear his throat out. Alec did the only thing he could he swung his Mithril Axe at the Wolf as it dove towards him as he also brought his Shield of the Thunderhearts around in an attempt to position it between himself and the attacking Wolf.

Alec snapped the extremely light Battle Axe around as the Wolf charged in at him. His Mithril Axe bit deep into the side of the Wolf opening a large rent in it's side spilling out red pixels of it's life as it's hit point bar dipped. At the same moment the Wolf lunged in to snap at Alec but instead of his flesh the Wolf met the Shield of the Thunderhearts instead. There was a large pop as would be heard when a strong electrical current arcs from one point to another. Alec smelled a distinct scent of ozone as the Wolf let out a yelp of pain and began to convulse as if tased. Alec chuckled "Oh yes! This shield had been an excellent choice!" Alec thought with a grin that was close to snarled as he brought his axe his axe back up for another swing.

After walking for some time Alec began to feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He'd spent plenty of time in the woods back home and he knew that feeling well. Something wasn't right a predator was near by. Alec slowed his pace and began to look around wearily for an sign of the attacker. As Alec began his slow methodical scan of his surroundings he slowly and gently eased his Mithril Axe from it's loop at his hip and grasped the handle firmly as he continued his scan. Then he saw it. A large wolf stood not more than ten feet from him, like it had materialized out of the foliage or stepped from a tree trunk. The wolf was large and a mass of bristling fur and sharp teeth growling as it stared at Alec and began a slow aggressive stalk toward him. Alec readied his Mithril Axe and prepared for the Wolf to attack.

As Alec stepped into the shaded expanse of trees he felt the temperature drop several degrees from what it had been in the sunny grasslands. The canopy of broadleaf trees gave good cover from the high mid day sun that had been beating down earlier. Alec shivered involuntarily due to the suddenly change in temperature. He stood just inside the edge of the forest for a few moments allowing his eyes to adjust to the lower level if illumination afforded inside the tree line. Once Alec's eyes had adjust he dropped a pin on his HUD map for the approximate location of the large rock outcropping he had been navigating towards earlier. His HUD map showed the rock outcrop to be about an hour's walk to the North and West from his current location. Alec set of in the general dierction of the rock out cropping keeping and eye on it's location on his map. The terrain was easy to traverse. It was flatter here inside the forest than it was in the grass lands where the ground was covered in low rolling hills. Here in the forest the ground was flat there were just small shrubs scattered here and there but the ground was generally flat by comparison.

As Alec exited the Town and entered the plains outside the wall he glanced to the North West as he'd been instructed to. Sure enough just as Hannah had informed him he spotted a large outcrop of rock jutting out of the canopy of the forest ahead of him and to his left. Alec turned towards the outcrop and began to make his way directly to it. He had an hour or so walk ahead of him before he reached to forest. As yet he did not spot any wandering mobs in his vicinity. Alec felt a little disappointed he was really looking forward to trying out his new shield and axe. He was itching for a fight. Alec strode through the waist high grass his eyes searching for any sign of a mob that might be trying to sneak up on him. Thus far he had seen nothing out of the ordinary. All appeared calm and peaceful. Maybe when he got into the trees of the forest he could find something there.

As the northern Gate came into view Alec reached out his right hand and made a quick vertical downward swipe motion in front of him which opened his inventory. Alec tapped on his Reinforced Heavy Iron Breastplate to equip it on his torso, it shimmered into view around his check and back. Then he tapped the Shield of Thunderhearts which caused it too to shimmer into view attached to Alec's left forearm. It felt good there, right, solid. Then Alec tapped his Tier 1 Healing Potions and drug them to one of his active Battle ready slots. Next he tapped the Safeguard Potion he had received last quest and moved it to another Battle Ready slot. It must be important to this quest Alec thought if it had a tag that said it was only usable for this quest. Finally Alec tapped the icon for his Mithril Axe causing the mirror reflective axe to shimmer and waver into reality attached to a hook in his right hip where it could be easily grabbed. Alec checked the straps and buckles on his Breastplate to ensure they were secure they were. Then he checked the securement of the Shield of Thunderhearts to his left forearm. It too was secure. Confident all was in order Alec stride purposefully through the Northern Gate and into the plains beyond.

With that Alec turned to leave. As he began to step through the brush separating the grove from the rest of the Town Alec looked over his shoulder and gave a wave to Hannah before disappearing from the grove into the tumult of the crowded city streets. Alec made his way from the grove towards the Northern Gate that led into the grassland beyond the wall to the North of the Town of Beginnings. Alec had already ventured into the grasslands but had yet to visit the forest. Alec was sure that inside the forest he would find more mobs and more aggressive mobs than he had encountered in the wide open grasslands of the plains. Alec made his way from the grove to the Northern Gate by the most direct route available. He wanted to waste as little time inside the Town as possible. His directness and outward seriousness opened a slightly larger bubble around him than normal allowing him to stride purposefully down the streets with little no impediment to his pace or progress.

"First off, it's Alec, just Alec no Mr needed and secondly I'd be happy to help find a suitable gem for the ring you are making. Can you give me any more direction as to where in the forest I can find this cave Miss Hannah?" Alec asked. "The forest is pretty expansive and I could spend days walking around in it trying to find a solitary cave." stated Alec.

"The cave you are looking for is to the North West about an hour's walk into the forest. As you leave the North Gate look to the North West and you will see a large out cropping of rock jutting from deep inside the forest. The cave is at the base of the rock out cropping." Hannah directed.

"That sounds like as good of directions as I could ever hope to receive." Alec replied. "Then I'll be off to find you a suitable gem for your ring and return here as quickly as I can." promised Alec solemnly.

Alec cleared his throat before he began to speak. He replied with his deep resonating voice "My name is Alec and i was sent here by Mr Lyle Tealeaf to bring a package to you." with that Alec opened up his inventory and selected the quest item for Hannah. The gold band materialized in his hand and he presented it to the young woman. When she took the offered golden band she turned it over inspecting it. "Thank very much Alec but this is only the first part of what I need to create the item I am working on. This band is used to form metal into a ring but that is not all that is needed sometimes. For the ring I am about to create I need a certain type of gem stone. This specific type of gem can only be found deep within a dark cave deep within the forest. Will you assist me this task Mr Alec and retrieve me a suitable gem for the ring I am crafting?"

Only this time Alec wasn't alone. He almost started at the sight of the pretty young woman seated before him with a drawing pad on her lap as she sat on a mound of grass and stared at a small lizard on a tree in front of her. Her hand absently moving across her pad of paper as she dabbed her brush in some water colors next to her and painted a beautiful picture of the small green lizard perched on the tree trunk in front of her. Alec himself had no skills at drawing or painting. He had always wished he could. He loved to see the beautiful things created by others but had no skill of his own to create such masterpieces. He stood quietly off to the side do as not to distract the young woman and her painting or the lizard that was her model. Alec smiled a faint smile watching her subtle movements with brush on paper and gazed mesmerized as a beautiful painting developed before his eyes. When the young woman had finished her painting she calmly and quietly put away her brush and paints and looked up at the larger man standing quietly behind her. "Good afternoon good sir. My name is Hannah and I am an Artisan. How may be of service?" the young woman asked demurely as she looked to the large man.

Alec reemerged from the fourth grove and found himself back in the crowded mass of people filling the streets. Alec stepped forward with his grim look of disapproval firmly rooted on to his face. He had two groves left to check all in search of one Artisan named Hannah who he was supposed to give a package to from Lyle Tealeaf the Blacksmith. Alec strode through the crowd with a stiff and uncomfortable pace. He really disliked being surrounded by this many people it rankled his nerves and put his hackles up. All in all it made him really uncomfortable to say the least. Alec proceeded for what felt like forever but was really more like ten minutes until he stood at the edge of the Town's fifth grove of trees. Alec looked around him as stepped from one world to another. Outside the grove was chaos and crowds inside the grove was peace and solitude. Two world's apart separated by a thin wall of tree trunks and brush. When inside the groves you could forget all about the thousands of people not a stones throw away. Inside the grove you were alone.

Alec took a deep calming breath to relax himself. He found himself getting agitated when he ended up thinking of Danny and home and how it had all come to pass. After a couple deep calming breathes Alec steeled himself for what was to come and pushed through the wall of trees and brush to once again reemerge in the crowd of people filling the streets around him. His gaze travelled across the masses reasserting his scowl firmly in place on his visage where it had taken up nearly permanent residence. His grim look and visual intensity caused those closest to reflexively flex away from him. Alec kept his scowl as he stepped into the mass and began moving to the fourth grove of trees within the Town. He had searched half already and now had half to go. This Artisan Hannah was beginning to prove an elusive target to find. Alec made his way through the crowded streets till he stood before another grove of trees. Alec gladly abandoned the streets and their endless sea of bodies for the calm and quiet withing the trees. After walking for a time in utter seclusion Alec came upon a small pool of clear water. As he approached the pool he noticed a handful of large koi swimming contentedly around in slow looping circles within the pools cool clear water. Alec took a moment to gaze down at the fish swimming lazily in their circles with not a care in the world. Alec felt some of the tension in his  shoulders  and back caused by sheer mass of people outside the grove to relax and melt away. "These groves really were therapeutic." Alec thought to himself as he played his fingers across the surface if the water causing minor ripples on the surface and startling the koi beneath. After a few short moments Alec stood and heaved a sigh as he prepared to re-enter the fray outside the grove.