It took Talice a moment to recognize him. He had changed a great deal in the years since she had seen him last, when he had left to serve in the army. They were all required to serve for a year when they came of age… it was seen as a rite of passage… but it was also the law. However, most served in a local militia, especially within the Yuirwood, but Courynn had joined the Army of the Lion in Emmech, as far from his home as he could get within Aglarond’s borders… and with just cause. Talice looked him over for a moment. There was still much of the boy she had known in him; tall and lean with fairer hair than most and sky-blue eyes, but his lanky frame was now thickly knotted with muscles and his awkward nervousness was replaced by a stoic demeanor. He had grown into a man, and, she had to admit, a well favored one at that! “Do you make a habit of throwing women to the ground?” she scolded, making a show of brushing off the leaves and dirt that were more likely the result of stalking through the bush than him baring her to the ground. “Do you make a habit of spying on people?” Courynn counter, more than a bit of amused by her act; he could barely remember a time that he had seen her without a smug of dirt somewhere on her radiant skin. “This forest is my home… I come and go as I please!” she shot back with pride, wondering if he had completely forgotten the woodland’s way of life. “Besides, half of the Yuirwood could hear this fool’s clatter!” “I’ll have you know I am here on the Simbul’s business…” Rynard started in a haughty tone, but Courynn silenced him with a raised hand. “What business?” Talice demanded, eyeing the mage for the first time since she had dismissed him as a city-dwelling fool with no business being in her forest, and finding nothing to dispute that appraisal. “Whole encampments have been taken,” Courynn answered solemnly, “At least three between here and the Tannath foothills.” “I saw one,” she confirmed sadly. She had found the abandoned camp just the previous day and had known something was very wrong. “But what do the two of you think you can do about it?” she challenged with a humorless laugh. “I’ll do whatever I can.” Courynn shot back, the fire in his eyes belaying the controlled timbre of his tone. “They sent him to investigate,” he motioned towards Rynard. “But the whole Yuirwood could be emptied before the Council takes real action… and I don’t intend to wait!” “Then I’ll join you,” she announced, still trying to reconcile the stoic man before her with the boy she had often caught peeking at her from behind corners. There was strength in him now… a passion she could see in his eyes that had not been there before, and a sly smile turned her lips as she strutted pass them both as she ideally wonder if the next time he wrestled her to the ground, would it be more enjoyable.