The sun was already sinking behind the treetops of the Black Forest, the shadows from the sunset turning the fall leaves to a dull gray, as Caius began the search for his father’s murderer. Several signs of the killer’s flight were left in the open for Caius to find as he allowed his eyes to roam ahead. The trail followed the main path, which skirted the forest edge to the west before plunging into the heart of the woods. The familiar sounds of buzzing insects, birds in song, and foraging animals always disappeared with the coming of the night in these woods. The Black Forest was a haven for the men and women who had rejected the teachings of the Earthen Father. By leaving the "True Way", and following their own path, they were considered to be among "those of the fallen". Most villagers simply referred to them as the Lost Ones. Although there weren’t any confirmed stories, the Lost Ones have been rumored to delve into sorcery involving dark ritual and human sacrifice. It was always prudent to be carefu l before entering these woods, even if one was of the True Blood.

There was a slight chill in the air as he stood and contemplated his next move.

He wore the brown robes that his father had always favored. The feel of the coarse wool against his skin was somehow comforting. Although he was still a young man with little use for a walking staff, he carried that item of his father’s as well. His gray eyes stared into the dense wood as if to force the trees reveal the location of the killer. The forest was obviously not impressed. It remained silent. Even with a full moon, it would offer very little to penetrate the dense overlapping of leaves and branches. He closed his eyes and quietly chanted the verse that his father had taught he and his brother, Kelsen as children:

The familiar calming took hold as the magic within his blood was awakened. Each individual tree and leaf revealed itself as if one first opens his or her eyes after a long sleep. What once was black as night was now as bright as day, he thought to himself. With his newly found sight giving him strength, and thoughts of his father in mind, he strode into the wood for answers.

The events of the past hour were still a blur to him. He had just come in from the north after healing a diseased child of a village Elder. It always filled him with a sense of pride and purpose when he was able to help other members of the community. The family magic should be shared with everyone in the village and surrounding settlements. Kelsen always appeared reluctant to make use of his magic. He was somewhat miserly in that sense. Smiling to himself, he pictured Kelsen hunched over and guarding his carefully hoarded treasure. Just as his image of Kelsen, was joking with him to mind his own business, he saw a body hanging from the large tree outside the family home. After the initial shock from seeing death invade the same place where he had played as a child, he cautiously approached the tree.

The body was completely naked, and faced away from him towards the west. In coming closer, he noticed the feet had been removed at the ankle with careful precision. As his eyes traveled up the rest of the body, he noticed that the skin was completely gray from the absence of blood. It was then that he stopped in his tracks. Something was amiss. There was nothing to show sign of struggle, the severed feet were not within sight, and yet the entire area remained in pristine condition. There was not one drop of blood anywhere on the ground. Distracted by the inexplicable sight, his eyes remained on the ground as he made his way around to the front of the body.