Skandranon had seen Kessrah disappear into the evening sky over a candlemark ago. Thick gray clouds still loomed over the treetops; the Winter rains weren't over yet. He hoped that she would beat these new clouds to the city, but he couldn't worry about that now. With so many mages he couldn't use any large magics; they would be detected immediately. :Well, time to do this the old fashioned way.:

Skandranon glided to the forest floor and landed on soundless back paws. He then stuck his beak to the ground and began sniffing. He knew that he was being watched, and his query wouldn't evade him forever; he was counting on them confronting him.

After three candlemarks of following thin scent trails and rusting bushes that wove through the forest endlessly, a thin dark figure solidified against the verdant forest and stared at the Gryphon with cold, sulfur-yellow eyes. It lowered its arrow-shaped head and snapped, revealing a formidable line of teeth. Skandranon stared at the creature as it wove in and out of the foliage, both terrified and hypnotized by the slender form. It looked like an emaciated greyhound crossed with a serpent; with black scales protecting its body and a small head perched upon a horribly long, thin neck. It hissed and made a lunge at him; it was amazingly fast. But Skan managed to dodge and stared into the Wyrsa's eyes unwaveringly. He attempted to communicate with it.

: You wonder what I want with you, yes?: It lifted it's head and stared back; clearly it understood him. Skan didn't waste any time.

: You have noticed the humans that have come through here. Surely you have also seen how much they have destroyed, and how much power they wield.: At that the creature's eyes flashed, and its near expressionless face betrayed it's desire. : You lust after the magic; why have you not taken it?: The Wyrsa's tail twitched suspiciously, but it did not bolt.

: I learned from a certain soldier that some of your pack has run into these humans earlier, and that the encounter did not go favorably for you. Do you fear them, is that why you haven't sought revenge?: He paused.

: They may have great numbers, but they are weak. All that you need is a little... help. All you need is a way to distract them, to shatter their ranks, and I am willing to help you do that and claim all of that energy.: The Wyrsa's eyes narrowed and it watched him with consideration.

:Because, you see, these humans are enemies of mine as well, and I believe it is time we put the fear of the Pelagiris back into them.:

Skandranon waited in his perch and examined his substantial talons. A week earlier he had used the cover of a nighttime storm to sneak into the enemy camp and herd the livestock into the forest; naturally they had sent men out looking for them. Those men had never returned. And strangely, supply wagons had not arrived either. But without any fresh supplies 800-odd men grow hungry quickly, and would be sending out hunting parties. That was what Skan was waiting for.

: Remember,: Skandranon told himself, :for every one that you take down, that is one less that is attacking Ralendor, one less that can hurt people like they did those in Lin'shala!:

The Wyrsa were already in position, forming a living net out of hearing range from the camp. There were 14 individuals in this pack, plus another 7 that were recruited from a neighbor. It was amazing how so many of the creatures could be in the forest, yet you would never hear or see them until it was far too late.

A shape appeared in the forest below him, and Skan alerted the Pack leader with a mental signal. A nearly undetectable series of clicks and hisses followed; everyone was ready. There were 8 men in this group, lightly armored, and hopefully many more were dispersed throughout the woods. Once he was sure that screams would not be heard in the camp, Skandranon leapt out of the tree, and onto his unsuspecting prey below.

If the Wyrsa were not already known for their dangerousness and ferocity, Skandranon would have been utterly shocked by what effective killers they were. :Before I even reached the ground the two Wyrsa in my area heard my descent and sprang on the men with amazing speed. Before they could reach for their weapons the majority of them were dead...:

Similar success had been made throughout the forest, and after the bodies were either eaten by the Wyrsa or hidden in the endless forest, 30 men had been killed, and luckily no one had escaped to say exactly what had attacked them. The thinking behind Skan's plan was not just to pick off their enemies; it was to terrify them. And an unknown enemy lurking in the ancient forest was worse then one that you could face and fight. To support this, Skan placed illusions similar to that which was covering the army on each Wyrsa and himself, so that to any scrying mage they would appear nonexistent.

Soon the fright of their vanished comrades would give way to hunger, and perhaps the group would send out one more deployment of men, this time in larger groups, and more heavily armed. Or maybe they would try it twice. Really it made no difference when the soldiers gave way to fear; either they foolishly go into the woods to get killed, or fearfully starve in their camp. Either way, it was only a matter of time before the army was weakened to a point where they could be disbanded with one strike.