Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Sparring Area

Jacob came rolling to his feet and met a series of punches and kicks deflecting them as best as he could while absorbing any he couldn't on his muscles. His opponent was faster than him with reflexes that rivaled his own when he was not holding back. Suddenly she flowed back from her attack and relaxed, "You are holding back. I have been bedridden for almost a week. I cannot regain my strength if you hold back on me." Cathrine glared at him.

"The healers said you should be in bed for another couple days, you are lucky I can't stand your pouting otherwise we wouldn't be here. Yes, I am holding back, you were very close to dying, so feel free to be mad at me if I don't want to hurt you." Jacob replied as he waited for her to attack again. It went against his combat instincts, but the ones he had for her were messed up until he thought she was better.

"I have been in training to defend myself and kill since I was 10, I know how to fight and take care of myself. I know my own body and I will survive if you will stop holding back." Cathrine stated as she prepared to launch another attack.

Jacob smiled at her, "Then you should have no problem overwhelming my defenses and kicking my ass. Remember, no Skills or Abilities, this fight is based upon your physical body. Even as you are, you are still faster then I am, and I am not recovering from a mortal wound. So come on and kick my ass princess!!" Jacob taunted her.

Cathrine smiled as her closed fist lashed out and slammed into Jacobs' nose. Bone and cartilage snapped as blood sprayed. Jacob covered up and jumped back as Alerts popped up.

Alert...

De-Buff Broken Nose: Cannot smell anything and your voice will sound weird (Duration 1 minute)

De-Buff Starry-Eyed: Accuracy and Sight are decreased by 50% (Duration 30 Seconds)

De-Buff Open Wound: 10 DPS (Duration 1 MInute)

Alert...

Jacob tried to see past the tears, but everything was blurry. He could only get a sense of Cathrine's general direction so Jacob did his best to defend himself as he continued to circle around and buy himself time to heal.

Cathrine took full advantage of Jacobs de-buffs and launched several lightning-fast hits that he mostly blocked, but some got through compounding the damage he had received. By the time their sparring session was done, Jacob had several broken ribs, a busted lip, and both eyes were black.

Jacob chugged a healing potion that one of the nearby healers gave him before she started with magic. "You kicked my ass, way to go!!" Jacob congratulated her, but Cathrine was still glaring at him.

"You held back the whole time, even when I was kicking your ass you refused to strike out at me.' Cathrine started frowning. 'You are hiding things from me. I can feel it, just below the surface, rage, and anger. You are also afraid you will hurt me if you let it out. What's going on?"

Jacob gave her a sad smile, "I know why I am mad, your people tried to kidnap you and instead came very close to killing you and did kill two of the Heart Guard. So yes, I will handle you with care until I think you are back 100% until then get used to the fact I care about you and don't want too hurt you."

Cathrine continued to study his body language as well as their psychic link, "You are hiding something. Please talk to me, you have been here every step of the way. I can be there for you if you let me."

Jacob could feel the anger, rage, and hate boiling beneath the surface and gave her a sad smile and soft kiss, "I need some time to figure out how to...come to grips with this. Once I do, you will be the first person I talk too, I promise. Now, will you please go eat and rest some more, I promise when I get back I will come to see you. The most important thing right now is that you rest and recover. Please, will you do that for me." With that, Jacob strode

Cathrine studied Jacob before sighing and nodding as he turned and left. Right now he was dealing with his internal demons, and there was nothing she could do to help him.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- Eternal Forest

Jacob looked at the various trees, rocks, creatures, and monsters all running around. Star was nearby hunting and Jacob had an appointment with a tree, something a councilor had taught him last time when Ava had shit all over him. He didn't have a punching bag and he didn't trust himself to spar with someone here. If he was in his normal body, it would be a different story, but this body had real power to hurt those around him.

So instead of a punching bag, he had a large Oak tree that he had found in a relatively safe area with almost no monsters and very few forest creatures. He still had a few hours until he had to get back and check out any reports from the spies up north and the ones monitoring the Slavers Union trade routes back to the east.

None of it mattered right now. Jacob took a deep breath in and out before he opened his eyes and his fist shot forward lightning quick. Chips of bark and blood flew as Jacob started pounding the Oak as hard as he could. One strike after the next, no holding back as he allowed the blood and anger to flow. One question repeating itself, over and over, why? Why him in all of this? He was a nobody, he did not deserve any of it. With a roar he slammed his fist into the tree one more time.

Alert...

De-Buff Broken Fingers: You have several broken fingers, spell and ability use can be hindered or even impossible (Duration 10 minutes)

Alert...

Jacob cursed, but it wasn't the first time in the last couple of days he had broken something. He quickly fished out a Small Healing Tonic from his inventory and downed the strawberry flavored potion. Within 30 seconds a series of popping made him frown as the bones set and the cuts started to seal.

The snapping of twigs brought his attention to the tree line where Star emerged with a deer carcass in her mouth. She ran up the incline and plopped down next to him and started eating. Jacob leaned against the nearby boulder as he watched his mount and friend consumer her kill before laying back and closing his eyes and started breathing exercise that was part of the drill.

Stars low growl got his attention and broke his meditation, Jacobs' head snapped in the direction she was staring. A large black wolf was at the edge of the clearing. It was not the first time Jacob had seen such wolves as he had come to this place, but this was the first time one had been close enough for Jacob to make out any details. "It's just a wolf Star, this is their home, we are guests so please be nice." Star looked at him like he was an idiot, the little ball of emotions conveyed the same though causing Jacob to laugh. A first for him all week long.

"I might be an idiot, but it does not change the fact that we are guests here. So again, be nice, please. Its a wolf and not a monster.' Jacob told her as he patted her shoulder. She looked at him and the wolf one more time before going back to eating. 'Sorry about that, she is protective and I have had a shitty week and I come out here to blow off some steam. I will be gone fairly soon and this part of the woods will be all yours again." Jacob said pretty sure the wolf could hear him even from over 50 yards away. Understanding was a different thing, but considering he was in a whole world full of magic, having a wolf that understood common speech would not be the oddest thing around.

Suddenly the wolf broke from the tree line and started to slowly make its way over, Star was back up snarling this time. "Ok dude fair warning, Star is kinda territorial as far as food goes. This is your first warning, you get any closer and she will snap at you, after that she will kill you and if she needs help, I will be on her side. No offense I am sure you are a great wolf, but she is my friend." Jacob stated as the wolf approached slowly before stopping about halfway up the incline.

Jacob glanced between Star and the other wolf, "Star, why don't you share some of your food and maybe he will leave. Sound like a plan?" Jacob asked suspicion flared along their bond but eventually, acceptance overruled it. Jacob nodded and pulled a dagger from his inventory, he had no skills or abilities for skinning and gutting so he winged it. He cut off one of the deers back legs before walking down toward the black wolf who suddenly stood at attention, watching him suspiciously.

"You got two choices dude, either I can walk this leg down to you or I can throw it and it will get all sorts of grass and dirt on it. I know Star dislikes it when it gets in her food, but it's up too you. Decide." Jacob prompted as he stopped 10 feet from the wolf.

After considering a few moments the wolf huffed and sat back don't on its hunches, but it never took its eyes off Jacob. Jacob just shook his head as he slowly walked closer and let the leg dangling from an outstretched hand. The wolf slowly smelled it before snapping out and taking it and trotting to the base of the incline and laying down where it started to eat.

As Jacob made his way back up Star continued to stare at him, "Its called a peace offering Star, it kept him from getting in a fight with you. So it was worth it. 5Yes I know you could have taken the other wolf, but now you don't have too.' Jacob told her, but all he got was the feeling she still thought he was an idiot. 'So do you think I should tell Cathrine about me ending things with Sosa? She is still recovering from her wound and I don't want to stress her out?" Star in the process of eating the deers' guts considered his words before sneezing. Jacob quickly felt affirmation through their link.

"Yeah, she knows I am hiding something from her. I don't want to lie to here and I can no longer put her off, but it had been such a long week for both of us. First her own people try to kidnap her and instead almost kill her. On top of that, I told her people to stay out of the Empire upon imprisonment and possible death because they almost killed her. My second wife is involved in an affair with someone else and betrayed our trust. So I dissolved our marriage because of her action. In addition to those problems our alliance with Clan Darguun is on the brink of collapse because of it..." Jacob stated as he studied Star who was staring past Jacob and glaring at whatever was behind him.

Jacob slowly turned his hand on Moonlights hilt but it was just the wold licking its chops and staring at Jacob and Stars kill. Jacob was pretty sure if he had a mental connection with the wolf, he would be getting feelings of hunger and want. "Dude, you are lucky she let you have a leg now you want more." Jacob looked back at Star and her eyes had narrowed to slits.

Jacob quickly brought up his inventory, he had some leftovers from the Celebration that was still good there. He quickly pulled out a ham and two chickens from his inventory. "Jacob pulled the wolfs attention away from the deer with the food he suddenly had in his hands. "I know its not a fresh kill, but it's still good and I promise it won't hurt you. It might be a little stale, but otherwise, it's good. Fair enough?" Jacob offered the two birds and the huge haunch of ham.

"Who might you be sharing a meal with Jacob?" Nila asked as she emerged from the woods. Jacob could swear the wolf froze at her words and stopped eating.

Jacob made calming gestures to the wolf that was staring at the approaching Dryad and the tree line. "Hey dude relax, this is Nila. Just finish eating your food, you have done nothing wrong, so you have nothing to worry about. Hey Nila, just talking to this friendly wolf, I haven't breached our agreement. I have not harmed him and since he did not attack me I was not forced to defend myself or my friend here. So everything is fine."

Nila studied Jacob and the wolf that had gone back to eating but Jacob swore it was shivering a little. Jacob sighed and slowly moved closer until his leg was pressing against the wolfs flank. Nilas eyes snapped between Jacob and where he touched the wolf before nodding and shrugged her shoulders. "Agreed, you did not break the covenant with the wolf. However, the tree is another matter."

"I did not cut it down and a little of my blood will not harm it what-so-ever. If it was sentient, I am absolutely sure it would have bitch slapped me to the tree line the fist time I hit it days ago. Yet, it did not. I also have not cut it down nor have I cleared in trees anywhere so we can build more buildings, all according to our agreement." Jacob replied.

Nila slowly walked closer before pulling Jacob hands up and inspecting them and nodding her head. "Your aura is severely changed since the last time I saw you. You may come here and use the tree to vent your frustrations, it is not a breach to out Covenant. Your wolf will be coming with me where you will explain everything so I can better help our neighbor." The wolf snorted and shoved off Jacob and trotted down the incline and waited by the tree line.

Nila started to turn back but stopped, "Did she bite you or try to kill you?"

Jacob frowned and shook his head, "Nope I just gave her some of Stars kill and some of my own food. Tell her sorry, I thought she was a guy based on her size." Jacob called out as Nila walked away. The last part made the Dryad laugh as she disappeared with the wolf among the trees.