So You Wanna Be A Hero

Somehow, the slain monster got back to its feet. This creature was still alive, it seemed like the wound in its back had no effect on it at all. Its eyes burned with rage as blood spurted out of its back.
Yeng quickly said to Beowulf and Ayda, "Quit fooling around! Our job is not finished." He turned and faced the creature, who was now focused on Yeng.
This was not just some random monster. Yeng recognizes it from long ago.
He spoke to the beast. "We meet again, Terral. You bit me and left the poison of your curse in my veins, now it's time for me to return the favor." He brought his long katana up to chest height. "And this time, you won't get away."
Yeng engaged the beast and both of them attacked with almost inhuman speed. It seemed that their strengths were evenly matched. The others regrouped from behind.

Ayda wiped the vile blood from her face. She was sure she had killed the monster while Beowulf the Great had tired. The newcomer called the monster by a name Teril or something.

"Hey! That's my monster! I'll slay him!" she spat the words out angrily and ran towards the monster. She notched an arrow and aimed at the creature's eyes. The thing squealed and blood oozed from the wounded eye.

"Good shot!" Karma shouted.

Beowulf grunted. "Not jealous, are you?" Ayda laughed and let fly her arrows at the creature.

Someone struck her from behind.

"Hey, leave her alone, you beast!" Karma shouted.

Ayda blinked and saw the blurred form of Karma tackling Beowulf and the newcomer was still fighting the beast. She had to do something, she would have time for Beowulf later!

"Um.. excuse me!" She called. "It'll be a good idea to lure the creature away from the swamp, otherwise we'll all vaporise!"

The newcomer wasn't listening and neither was the creature. Suddenly she felt cold and heard a call of distress. Her face fell as she saw another one of the creatures approaching. Now she would have a chance to prove her strength!

Yeng saw the second creature aproaching the group. He wasn't worried though, he knew that it was only a weaker manefestation created from Terral in an attempt to distract him. He wouldn't alow himself to be fooled by that trick again. He was sure that the others would be able to handle it.
He continued to slash at Terral. The beast moved and swayed to easily evade Yeng's sword. Even with one of the creature's eyes prodded out with an arrow, its sense of sight and evasion didn't seem to be effected. Yeng forced the monster further into the swamp.
Yeng tried to slash the creature's head off. But, Terral ducked and evaded the sword. It threw two slashes from its claws at Yeng. The first one knocked his katana out of Yeng's hands. Yeng leaped backwards to evade the second claw attack. He tried to find his sword, but he saw it land within the swamp water. He could hear a fizzing sound as the acidic swamp water ate away at its metal.
Yeng was left unarmed to fight against this strong and terrifying creature. But where others would quiver in fear, Yeng only smiled and started to laugh mithotically. "I've been waiting a long time to use this on you. I'm going to end your life with the same curse that ruined mine." Yeng's eyes changed from white to red and his pupils disappeard, just like Terral's. Sharp, blood drenched claws shot out of his fingertips. His silver hair changed to a dirty black, the same color of Terral's scales.
Yeng shouted at Terral. "Time to die!" His voice had changed. It seemed like he was speaking with two different voices in sync. When he spoke, long fangs could be seen from his mouth.
Yeng charged at Terral. Both of them slashed and clawed at each other like wild animals.


(OOC: How's that for indepth? Also, this is only a "cosmetic change." It doesn't mean that he's any stronger. You'll find out exactly what it is later though.)

(Haven't got time to think of the next part but woah! what an entry! )

Karma quickly bounded for the second creature, leaving Beowolf still spitting mud behind her,
She quickly slashed at the creature with the broadsword that was strapped across her back. Surprisingly, she met no resistance.
"Hey, this thing isn't real, " she said, "It is made out of smoke and nothing els---"
The thing had ambushed her from behind, biting her in the shoulder. Karma's eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell over and turned a sickly pale color. The creature stood over her, panting slightly,
"Care for some more, human weakling?" it asked,
Karma made no reply, as she was so weak. The thing's poison was slowly seeping through her veins, and she knew that if she could not find help soon, she would die.
The last thing that she said before slipping to unconsciousness was this: "Is anyone here a healer?"

(OOC: is it ok if the thing has vampire-ness?)

(OOC: Sorry for the long delay, so busy with uni starting that I havent really been able to post properly - looks like you've been having fun in my absence, though! Regarding the monster, anything goes ^_^ It's a rabid fiend from hell and the exact powers it has are never described in the poem, so I guess we're free to make it up as we go along. Speaking of which, I'm going to insert myself into the tale right about now....)

The creature stood over the woman's body, her blood dripping from its mouth. Its reptilian gaze flashed with triumph as it bent down to make the kill. At that moment, however, a loud yell split the air, and a mud-covered figure detatched itself from the melee surrounding Yeng and Terral.
"Hey!" It shouted at the beast. "Over here!"
The creature looked up, peering dimly towards the flashing steel that was suddenly flying through the air towards it. Metal struck bone with a sickening crack, and the creature staggered - then fell.
The man who had killed it ran forward and crouched beside the still figure of Karma.
"Nasty," he murmured, examining the festering wound. Then, raising his voice to be heard about the shouts and screams behind them, he called: "Is anyone here a healer?"
At least, that was what he tried to shout. His words were cut off abruptly, however, as a blow from behind sent him spinning into the mud, head ringing. Dizzy and staggering, Asgeir pulled himself out of the muck. The foul marsh air seemed to stick in his throat as he looked back.
The monster was still alive.

(OOC: I know, I know. I'm in a hurry )

Ayda was still recovering from her blow when she saw Asgeir take a dive into the mud. If it had been at any other time she would have laughed.

Beowulf glared at her. "Help the others, I'll deal with Karma." For the first time the man actually followed her order. Asgeir and Beowulf could deal with the new creature while she attended to her new-found friend.

An old snake charmer had shown her how to suck out the poison from a snake bite, she wondered if it would work the same way with this creatures bite.

She sat behind Karma and pulled the woman backwards, the wound was still fresh but time was running out. Holding back her disgust she sucked at the wound and spat out the rush of poisoned blood, the body of the older woman weighted her down but time and time again she continued sucking and spitting. Karma cried in agony.

"Help!" she cried in a confused state.

Blood trickled down Ayda's mouth. She was breathing heavily and did not know if Karma had been saved or not. She slumbed backwards, away from her and wiped at her mouth, The blood was warm and tasted salty.

Stay awake! Just stay awake!

Karma looked at Ayda and smiled weakly, "Where did you learn that?"
Thankfull that she was alright Ayda smiled for an instant.
"I will tell you once this battle is over, right now im missing out on my own battle."
Karma watched as the young women lept back into battle, there was more to this Ayda than she let on.

Yeng beggining to tire knew it was now or never, if he was going to kill Terail he had better do it quick.
"Need some help?"
Yeng looked back in time to see Ayda unsheating a sword. He really didnt want her to become injured but he knew she probally wouldnt listen even if he told her to not to join in.
He was right she entered the battle with him, taking some of the work from him. She was a fierce creature and he was glad for help even if this was his battle.

Beuwulf looked over at Ayda and shook his head, she never knew when to quit and sooner or later she was going to wind up hurt or dead. She listened to no one and was as wild as an unbroken stallion. He bent to check on the women Karma, he had watched as Ayda drew the poison from the womens body.
"Are you alright?"
"Ill be fine I suppose, thanks to that Ayda."
Beowulf scoffed, "Shes nothing but a spoiled brat."
"Well she may be that, but she is a rather strong, and smart spoiled brat."
Beowulf said nothing, deep down he knew Karma was right yet he's never admit to it.

Finally the creature lay dead, and Yeng was able to breath a sigh of relief. He looked over to Ayda who was covered in the monstors blood as well as her own. She wiped away sweat and used her tunic to wipe away the blood on her sword.
"Well Ive had just about as much fun as I can stand." she said in a cheerfull voice.
"You could have been killed." came a gruff voice.
Ayda smiled and turned to face an unhappy Beowulf.
"Would you mourn for me, dear Beowulf."
"Can you be serious for one minute?" He said with his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I thought I was." Beowulf narrowed his eyes and glared at her. "Oh calm down, you dont have to answer questions I already know the answers to."
She walked off to join Karma.
Beowulf watched her go, he shook his head. She would never learn.

Beuwulf spoke to Yeng, who had just turned back to normal. "Alright, you've got some explaning to do. What manner of creature are you?" There was anger in his voice.
Yeng calmly looked at the man and replied, "I'm human, just like you."
Beuwulf was irritated. "If you're human, then what exactly did you turn into back there? No normal man can fight as fiercely as you did."
Yeng decided that he should tell them about his curse. But before he could speak, Terral got back to its feet and slashed Adya in the back. Yeng spun around and saw the creature run past the trees. Ayda dropped to the ground and fell uncontious due to the extreme pain.
Beuwulf shouted, "I thought that thing was dead!"
Yeng said, "He never seems to die." He looked at Ayda's motionless body. Her back was sliced open and bleeding at a threatening rate. Yeng took off his shirt and covered her wound with it. With both arms, he picked up the girl and began to carry her. "If we don't get her medical attention soon, she'll die. We need to take her back to the village."
The others agreed and they all headed back to the village as fast as they could.

Karma, with a quickly reddening bandage over her wound, follwed the rest of the party.

"Wait, " She cried, "I have some herbs that may staunch the bleeding!"
The others turned to look at her in surprise, butYeng gently lay Ayda down on a patch of moss.

"Don't worry, I was trained as a healer ever since I was small." Karma laughed bitterly, "That was, I was a healer until the monster came with his horde and burned my entire village, slaughtering everyone in i while I was athering herbs and other medicines."

Karma quickly sent Beowolf and the others to go and get water. They complied, although Beowolf was fuming in indignation about having to follow a woman's orders.


(OOC: I'm not sure if we should get ambushed or anything aso I'll leave that up to you guys, and, sorry beowolf, I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to make you look bad, just kdding, but not really )

Pain. That's what Ayda felt. Pain and the sound of rasping voices. Everything was dark and her head throbbed as she tried to stand.

Something spoke but every sound and movement caused her to sink into darkness and even the beating of her heart was unbearable.

She tried to speak but the sound that came out matched the rasping of the other someones or somethings.

"Don't move," Karma said. The young woman on the ground stared at her surroundings, she did not seem to know who or where she was. You saved my life, Ayda, I won't let you down!


(If anyone decides to kill off Ayda, please don't let her die a crazy woman.)

Ayda looked weakly up to Karma and smiled
"Its not as bad as it looks." she grit her teeth through the pain.
"As usal you had to get wise and now look, exactly as I have reapeted more than once you have found a way to get hurt." Beowulf knew he was being jerk about the whole thing, but deep down he was scared of what might happen to Ayda.
"Would you for once quit being such a boar, or is that just a man thing?"
Beowulf glared and walked away.

"Whats with you two?" Karma demanded.
"He's always been like that. I suppose its men horomones."
A splitting pain shot down her spine as Karma applied the healing herbs. Ayda wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"That smells horrible." she than passed out from the pain.

When Karma patched up Ayda's wound, Yeng walked over to her and gave Karma two vails. "Give her this when she wakes up. The other one is for you."
She asked, "What are these for?"
Yeng replied, "It's an antidote. Creatures like Terral put poison into the blood of those he injures. If it's not treated immidiately, in time the victom will turn into a creature like Terral. This is a concentrated antidote and will cure the curse for both of you"
Karma took the antidotes from Yeng. She drank one vail and put the other in her pocket. She asked, "If you have more of this stuff, you should take some too just to be safe."
"The antidote will only keep the poison in my body from taking control of me, it will not cure me. I wasn't able to find an antidote until it was too late after Terral first bit me."
Beowulf marched up to Yeng. He tried to keep himself from yelling at the stranger. "I think its about time you told us who you are."
"Who are you?" Yeng asked.
Beowulf was surprised that Yeng hasn't heard of him. "You don't know me? I'm Beowulf the Great, the strongest warrior in the land!"
Yeng wasn't impressed at all by Beowulf's claim. "Can't say I've ever heard of you. Your name is of no importance to me."
Karma found it amusing that this stranger made Beowulf look like a fool.
Yeng began his introduction. "My name is Yeng. But it doesn't matter to you who I am."
Asgeir shouted and interupted Yeng. "Wait a minute, I've heard of you! You're 'Silvereyes Yeng'!"
Karma asked, "You know this man?"
"Who doesn't? He's only the toughest mercinary on this side of the planet! He's killed a record 400 monsters and infultrated 2 fortresses all by himself in less than 2 years. He's never failed a mission once in his life, he's so strong that kings would gladly give up their treasuries to have him lead their armies."
Beowulf couldn't believe what he heard, nor could anyone else. They've been in the presence of the most dangerous mercinary in the land all this time. Beowulf asked, "You're saying this guy is the famous 'Silvereyes Yeng'? Why would he be in this part of the Kingdom?"
Yeng said, "I'm surprised that people like you would know more about my life than their own. I came here to kill that very creature you were hunting."
Beowulf asked, "Why would you go through so much trouble to kill just one creature?"
Yeng replied, "...Revenge."
Karma inturupted the conversation. "I don't mean to inturupt you two, but we'd better get back to the village before that creature comes back."
Beowulf said, "I agree." He spoke loudly so everyone in his group could hear him. "Men! Let's head back to the village. We'll get some rest and come back for that monster tomarro!"
Yeng inturupted, "Don't bother."
"Say what?" asked Beowulf.
"You'd might as well go home. That creature has probably left the marshes by now. He always runs and hides whenever I get close enough to kill him. Besides, you'd be better off staying away from him in the first place."
"We won't get payed unless we bring back that creature's head."
"What good is money if you're dead? That creature is too much for you too handle. You're simply too weak to even hurt it."
Beowulf accused Yeng. "And I suppose you're strong enough? You've been hunting this creature longer than we have and you haven't killed it either!"
Yeng stayed silent and started at Beowulf. A few uncomfortable moments of silence passed before Yeng turned around and headed towards the village.
Beowulf shouted at Yeng's back. "Hey! I'm not done talking to you!"
Without looking back, Yeng replied with a calm, but annoyed voice. "I am."
All throughout the conversation, Yeng kept the same stiff expression.

When Ayda woke again the pain had reduced a little. She was laid on her front and she turned her head to see Karma.

"You should drink this," Karma said. "It's an antidote." In her hand she held a brown vail. "Can you get up?"

She tried her best, but the pain shoot through her body like lighting striking a tree. "OW!"

"I'll get you a straw reed."

The woman came back with a bamboo stick that had been cut like a straw. She held the vail in one hand and dropped the straw in, with her other hand she held up Ayda's head.

"Yuk! This is disgustings, it tastes like... Who gave you this?"

"Yeng did, he said it'll help."

"And who is Yeng?"

"The newcomer. He got bitten by the creature before. I don't like him much, he keeps things hidden from us and only when things go wrong he tells us what not to do and such."

Ayda sighed. This was not how things were suppose to be. One way or another I'm going to kill that thing.

"What if he's in league with it, the creature I mean, and all this is an act. They might want to kill us all."

Karma was about to reply when Yeng came in.

"Are you all right?" he asked seeing Ayda was awake.
"Ill live. Who are you?"
"Ask your friends who Iam, they can explain it thourghally." he said and looked away.
"Most of them are not my friends, they more of a nuisance. They dont believe I can do anything, espacioully Beowulf."
"Beowulf thinks to highly of himself."
If it werent for the pain coursing like a river after a storm through her body she would have laughed. Instead she smiled.
"Whoever you are I suppose I could come to like you." she decided to get up and try to walk.
Karma tried to help her up. Ayda only slapped at her hands and snapped.
"I can do it myself, I already have some respect for you. Dont ruin it by treating me like a child."
Karma backed off and let her try it on her own, Ayda managed to get to her feet.
Yeng could see the beads of sweat forming on her head, he admired Ayda she was strong firey creature.
He already liked her, she seemed to be down to earth and he even greatly admired her for giving Beowulf a taste of his own medincine. He than realized she looked like she were going to faint and if it hadnt been for his great insticts she would have fallen. He caught Ayda just as she passed back out, gently lifting her into his arms he layed her back on her bed.
"Shes still real weak, but that potion will help her also regain her strength that never seems to fail." Yeng said covering her back up.
"She seems to think shes indestructable." Karma told him.
"No she just wants to prove to the others she can be just as good as the men, can you blame her? Shes right, the others do treat her like a child. Ive noticed Beowulf is the most outspoken one on that subject."
"He's only trying to protect her, deep down I believe he had concealed feelings for Ayda."
Yeng nodded, "Maybe so."