The next Morning.

"Alright, I'm heading out Nalar."

"Midnight, are you sure we can do this? I mean we are talking about an angel."

"Getting cold feet? You need this right?"

"Well yes, but i hadnt really considered what happens if we fail. Angels dont have a sense of humor so i picture a much worse **** than i would otherwise have."

"Look." He put a tendril on her shoulder. "I dont know if we have this or not. Ive never done anything like this before. But the way I see it, Life is made worth living by doing what we haven't done before. So im gonna take the chance on one hell of a story afterwards. And if we survive, maybe I can help you work out that added stress later."

She nodded, but didnt seem to respond to his proposal. Ah well, comforting people was hardly his forte. Heading for the meeting place, he took a breath and cleared his mind of distractions. It wasnt more than 20 minutes after he got there before he saw a bright light and Ariel swooped down and landed in front of him.

Here we go.

"Ariel. Its great to see you."

As he dropped down and landed gracefully, because of fucking course he would, Ariel nodded to your greeting but seemed distracted.

"And you. Why are you in shadow form if i might ask."

Truthfully you were in your shadow form because without a clearly defined face, it was harder to read if you were lying. Fortunately you were prepared.

"Well I found it was easier to travel in this form and there was something I wanted to show you."

"Oh? What is that."

"You see, i cleared out most of the forest, and i found the leader of the forest. It seems a very old dryad was draining travelers of their life **** to extend her own life. I was hoping you could help persuade her to pass on in peace."

As he nodded knowingly you couldnt help but wonder if all lights champions were so gullible.

"Of course. That is the role we servants of light must play. You were right to bring the matter to me. Is she still a danger?"

"No, i marked her with the mark of submission and told her to wait for me."

"Then you've done better than I imagined you would.

As you lead him through the woods, you feel the pounding of your nonexistant heart. Steadying yourself, you point out the remains of your path of carnage, even taking credit for the slaying of the monsters from the adventuring party. You had talked with Nalar and she had recalled all the mobile monsters so the forest would seem cleared out. Ariel is in awe of your combat prowess and pays very little heed to much else. Either he believes wrongly that angels are untouchable or he has a very good reason for that confidence.

Just up ahead.... thirty yards...fifteen yards...five yards. As you break the treeline, the only person visible is Nalar, sitting on a stump. As she sees you, she rises a little too eagerly. Fortunately it seems the angel is an idiot or he might have been suspicious by this point.

"Ariel, this is Nalar. Nalar, this is my friend that I wanted you to meet. I think he can help you with your problem."

She bowed. "Of course Master."

Ariel turned to address her looking pompous and as if he were about to issue a call for revival, not realizing that he had just turned his back on you.

Perfect