An Owl's Rise

"Make sure you prioritize your safety over anything else. Within the Elmot Gorge even some sovereign rank beasts make their home, and you would find it impossible to do anything against them. Luckily, they will show no interest in you so long as you leave them alone, and you can lessen your chances of running into more powerful beasts by sticking to areas that have less magical energy in them."

Before heading off Evelyn had come to see Melisandre and was now getting a long lecture on safety.

Of course, after what happened last time, she understood why Melisandre was worried.

"I promise to prioritize my wellbeing. I will not make a spectacle or take unnecessary risks."

Satisfied with Evelyn's answer Melisandre only said a few more words of concern before letting Evelyn go.

"Here, take this talisman. It is the same as the last one and will help you get out of a tough bind if you need. Oh, and when you get back there may be something I need your help with that could take a bit of time. So be prepared for that." Melisandre said as she sent Evelyn off.

'I wonder what it is she needs my help with? But I guess I should focus on my own missions first.' Evelyn thought as she flew towards the warp hall.

Soon enough she had her mission confirmed and was granted access to use the nearest warp point to the Elmot Gorge.

However, while Evelyn had been teleported to the glowing woods alone this time there were four owls that were going with her

Surprisingly they were all at the peak of the awakened rank and it was clear that they were a group.

As the preparations for the warp portal were underway these four owls constantly gave Evelyn confused gazes that were mixed with concern.

Eventually the warp portals were activated, and Evelyn felt the now familiar sensation of being transported a great distance all at once.

When the world came back to her, she found herself standing in a large rolling plain.

Along with her were the four other owls that had been warped with her, and immediately she raised her guard against them.

While it was forbidden for members of the Roost to attack each other outside of duels that did not mean they would not.

Thankfully that was not going on here and the leader of this group of peak awakened beasts came up to Evelyn and expressed his group's worry for her.

"If you are planning on going to the Elmot Gorge I recommend you go back. It is not the kind of place you want to go to when you are only a low tier awakened beast."

"Thanks for the warning but I have already made up my mind to go there. I will be fine." Evelyn said before turning around and preparing to fly.

However, the owl that had been talking to her hastily moved in front of her and held up his wings to stop her.

"Wait, if you are that obstinate on going how about coming with us? We can all work together to accomplish our missions. It might take longer but I think it would be for the best."

Narrowing her eyes, Evelyn now viewed all these owls with extreme suspicion.

She was not sure why they wanted to bring her along, but for her it reeked of some sort of trap.

"No thanks. I work alone. Now would you get out of my way."

"Fine I understand. Just do your best not to die. Too many newly evolved owls believe they have become invincible and end up dead when they underestimate the world."

With that the leader of the four owls headed back to his group and flew off. Leaving Evelyn alone.

'What was with that guy. Was he trying to trap me? But why not just attack right here and now if that was the case. Could he have actually been concerned for me.'

Unable to determine exactly what significance of that interaction was, Evelyn pushed it to the back of her mind but made sure to be wary of any sort of ambush from those four owls.

Once she had determined that nothing else was around, Evelyn took off into the air and surveyed the area.

All around her was open field as far as she could see but as she got higher off in the distance, she could make out what looked like a thin line through the earth.

'That must be the Elmot Gorge. And I believe I can see just a bit of Velinis Desert off in the distance.'

Her destination spotted Evelyn began flying towards the gorge at a stead pace.

Along the way she saw some roaming bands of beasts, but she simply ignored them and they did the same.

She was not looking to get into any fights she did not have to and taking on a whole pack or random beasts was not what in her plans.

'Wait what is that?'

Spotting something in the distance, Evelyn got a little closer and pulled out a potion that would help enhanced her already impeccable eyesight.

Yet when she saw what it was, she turned around and began flying the opposite direction.

Off in the distance she had spotted one of the things that Melisandre had warned her about. Humans.

There was a large camp set up at the edge of the gorge and Evelyn wanted nothing to do with them. Making the decision to head to the other end of the gorge and stay as far away from them as possible.

'She told me the place was popular and dangerous, but I never expected to see so many humans here. There were easily over sixty people in that one group.'

Increasing her pace, Evelyn hightailed it away from the humans and did not stop until they were out of sight.

She then lowered her altitude and got closer to the edge of the gorge which she had been flying around two miles away from.

Melisandre had warned her not to fly high over the gorge under any circumstances. There were apparently entities in there that scanned the skies and would attack anything that they spotted.

'As long as I stay close to the ground though it should be fine.'

Landing at the edge of the gorge Evelyn looked down but could not see the bottom.

'Not much light is there. Even as an owl it will be hard to navigate the deepest areas dunging the night. But creating a light might as well put a target on my back so I should only do that in emergencies.'

Once she had finished gazing into the gorge, she dropped off the edge and slowly descended down into it. Going off in search of the beasts, plants, and other items she was looking for.

Soon she had made it over two hundred feet deep when she came across the first denizen of the gorge.

It had a lizard like appearance, but Evelyn could tell that it was actually a type of salamander by the texture of its skin.

'Looks like I am in luck. I have already found one of the beasts I am looking for.'