"Oh my, I think the party may be starting" Koji thought as the light spilled out of the castle. His prediction was further supported by the ungodly shreik he got as an answer(?) to his question from the late-night swimmer. He watched this new one ("...another one?") approach, but did not reply when she spoke. "Do these things even feel the cold?" he asked himself. The question hadn't even occured to him before. There was so much he didn't know...he suspected there were many questions of that sort...

His thoughts were broken by another commotion of noise from down the shore. The noise was very unnatural to him. Deciding to investigate further (but keeping an eye on the new one) he jogged down the shore aways untill he could see her. His eyes went wide when he saw what she was doing.

The power of this being was evident in the shreds of bark and wood flying off the tree, and he got a good mental image of what those claws could do to his flesh. He also got a good look at the contempt for life this being had, for there seemed to be no purpose to her actions; he doubted if she was planning to build a fire.

It seemed a bit foolhardy to risk one's self for the life of a tree, but all life was precious to him. In a calm, almost soothing voice, he asked, "Is that really necessarry?"