Thread: The Myth & The Man {KayLove & RippledStatic}

He was at his limit, the creature slipped past every attempt, like it was toying with him, but he was closing in each swipe or stab almost struck home. So it nearly caught him by surprise when his blade struck something that was neither stone nor air, something that gave way like leather armor with flesh underneath, he would later find it to be the scales of her tail. Almost in reaction to his long sought blow suddenly she was gone, stealing back the distance he had so slowly gained up on her he cursed to Ares under his breath, the god of war had led him here, seeking greater conquest so his family might be remembered and the god had him here fighting in the dark? it felt more and more like a tomb and his body seemed unable to keep warm in the dark underground room even with his severe motions. More sounds of motion but something he could not place, scales on scales...he braced himself with his shield raised and head lowered, ready to blindly face whatever threat she was bringing upon him. His hair stood to attention and his skin felt as if blasted by a chill wind as she yelled, her voice terrible to behold. But he was a stalwart warrior a powerful brave soul and he held strong. However he did not hear the arrows being loosed in time over the echoes of her scream and two buried themselves into his shield but the third dug into his calf, cutting a harsh wound into the side of his right leg and travelling past him to skitter off into the hallway he had entered from. Acadius set his jaw and groaned a low noise as he felt the blood soiling his sandal, he quieted himself and listened but heard only the soft sounds of her movement leaving the room. He let out a heavy breath and kneeled down, sending more pain through his leg but quickly he tore a piece of his tunic free and tied it firmly around the wound and another just above, slowing the bleeding and allowing him to stand on it without doing much more damage to it. But he did not give up, another might have fled at the scream, the horrible bellow of a woman in pain yet horrific to behold. A wiser man might have stolen back as she had to the upper temple and perhaps tried to return to shore to rest heal and come back with the knowledge he had learned. But Acadius was as headstrong as he was physically and he pressed on. He followed her up the steps, stumbling his way through the tunnel until exhausted threatened to make his body collapse against his will, he couldn't let it escape it could speak...perhaps it was intelligent enough to row, intelligent enough to steal his boat... He dropped his shield, the metal and wood proved too much and he relegated himself only his Kopis, dented and dulled by too many strikes to the stone pillars and walls of her home but still viable enough to wound and kill if he could strike well enough. He stumbled out into the light, the doors opened before him, she had a head start on him but had the disadvantage of her snake-like blood, he did not know this but knew well enough he could not look at her. So another strip of his tunic was torn free and wrapped across his temples, sealing his eyes from the blinding light save the top and bottom of his vision, enough that he could see where he was going and possible even get some idea of how she was moving but blocking enough to make it very difficult for her to lock eyes with him unless he was on his back or his front or she somehow tore it free. He could only hope that his calculated guess was right and that the whole back and forth in the darkness showed she had to be able to see his eyes to use her cursed sight. Acadius was fairly certain he would not leave the island but he'd be damned to Styx if he would let her best him so easily. He heard soft cries, prayers to Athena...this almost stayed him. She sounded so very human her voice full of suffering and pain wracked with both guilt and fear, but she'd killed so many even if she was cursed even if she was undesiring of her newfound traits a murderess she still was and the very least she could do would be to let him end her wretched life. The goddess will not save you... his voice was hoarse, exhausted, his grip on his sword shuddered as he tried to force it to be steady, he approached her blindfolded, his sword now no more useful than a club, albeit a heavy one, heavy enough to kill. just....just stop resisting and perhaps the goddess will smile on you one last time. he approached, seeing the long tail, the feminine shape of her hips where her body began to change from human to snake, he raised his sword and tried to hold himself steady. Thunk The blade sunk into the dirt near her head, he'd missed...his last chance and he missed. Acadius crumpled to his side, his injured leg giving out from under him and he let out a low groan as he attempted to pull himself back up.