Regeneration -- Episode #221

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:
Arina (Marjean Holden) is stalked by The Apparition (Leah Purcell), an evil demon who rules the Burning Forest. The Apparition knows of Arina's relationship with Orpheo, who briefly returned from the dead seeking to possess Arina and take her to the underground world. Now Arina carries the spawn of that union. The Apparition vows to take control of the child, deeming it evil.

Meanwhile, Dar (Daniel Goddard) and Tao (Jackson Raine) are surprised to discover that Arina is still in the area, after learning that Voden (David Paterson) has put a price on her head. It seems she's planning to sneak into Xinca to reclaim a mare named Citia, that was left in Voden's stable. Prior to Arina leaving Xinca, Voden had bred the mare with his fastest stallion. The foal was to be the first of a great line of cavalry mounts. Pregnant herself, Arina believes the mare's foal deserves a better fate than to die in battle.

Anticipating an attack, Voden orders the entrances to Xinca to be sealed off. Accompanied by Dar, Arina embarks on her dangerous mission by accessing a tunnel under the wall. Once inside, with every soldier on guard, they're able to execute a brilliant maneuver to free Citia. As they make their escape, Voden sees Arina fleeing with the prized horse, and orders Hjalmar (Mark Lee) to go after them. Leaving Dar to make his own way back, Arina escapes with Citia and returns to the camp. There, Tao tends to the pregnant mare, warning that she mustn't be moved, even though the Nords are on their trail. Their only hope is for Dar to divert them.

Desperate to lure Arina to the Burning Forest, the Apparition morphs into "Dar" and draws Arina away from the camp on the pretext of deflecting the Nords. The Sorceress (Dylan Bierk) alerts Dar to Arina's predicament, and again he comes to the rescue.

Realizing she has been tricked, Arina fights off the demon. Arina attempts to flee, but The Apparition's Sentinels are on her heels. She reaches a steep cliff bordering a narrow gorge. Grabbing a vine, she tries to climb down the rock face, but the vine snaps and she plummets into the gorge. The Apparition transforms the jagged rocks below into a tranquil body of water. When Arina finally surfaces, the real Dar is there to save her. As they make their way out of the Burning Forest, the Sentinels catch up with the fleeing pair, and Dar sends Arina ahead while he takes on the thugs.

When Dar arrives back at camp, there's no sign of Arina. Sharak reveals that she has been captured by the Nords and taken back to Xinca. Dar makes his way to Xinca to rescue Arina from Voden's clutches. Meanwhile, Arina pleads for her life. Voden finally offers to trade her life for the mare, but Arina refuses. Voden orders her to be taken to the arena, where she's pitted against Hjalmar. She tries to convince Hjalmar that together they could kill Voden, but Hjalmar knows they would never get out of the pit alive. The two face off, and just when she is about to defeat him, she makes another proposal to Voden -- her life in exchange for Hjalmar, but he rejects it. Arina raises her dagger, but as she's about to slay him she notices that "Hjalmar" is really Dar hidden beneath a heavy cowl. Arina drops her knife, and Voden sends her back to her cell. Dar intercepts, and makes an escape with Arina. The real Hjalmar diverts the pursuing guards, and helps the duo escape. Back at the forest, The Apparition appears before them. Arina makes it clear to the irate demon that the life of her baby, like the life of Citia's foal, is too precious to trust to anyone else.

In the end, Tao manages to help Citia deliver a healthy baby and The Apparition is banished once again to the Burning Forest. Arina, however, sadly accepts that neither the Apparition nor Voden will ever stop pursuing her.