He nods and follows her lead. He sidesteps in the other direction also trying to pull the monsters attention. "I suppose you know how to stop this thing?" he calls out over the monsters heavy breathing and growling.

Hearing what sounds like twelve different and heavy feet shuffling around in the darkness underneath the seemingly massive beast he quickly understood what she meant by 'morphing' "I tossed the torch I had when we were still in the woods or I would light it." he grumbles under his breath.

She nodded hesitantly, "In theory, sure I can stop it. Unfortunately this isn't a good time or place, we just need to wound it enough to drive it away."

The beast, apparently bored of all the chit-chat, lunged towards the girl while simultaneously forming a long spiked tail with an eye in the center which attacked the man.

Dodging desperately and barely moving fast enough, the girl evaded the creature's attack and slashed out with her sword.

Watching as the girl jumps out of the way he misses spotting the creatures tail and is swatted backwards as it slams into him. The force from the monsters tail is enough to toss him into a tree about five yards away. Dazed and very confused he slumps to the ground and just sits there trying to catch his breath and let his mind catch up with what just happened.

Twirling her sword in her hand, the girl and the beast began to circle each other, sizing one another up before launching into their attacks. Their battle became much like a deadly dance, each time as the girl struck forward the beast would turn to smoke and then suddenly appear behind her but before it could attack she rounded and met it's horrible claws with her blade.

It was as though they had known each other for years, dancing this battle constantly. Every attack was countered, every defense calculated, they were evenly matched. The only difference seemed to be that the beast did not tire while the girl was beginning to sweat as she fought to keep up her pace.

Finally pulling himself together the man got to his feet and watched as the girl and beast exchanged blows. Noticing that both had forgotten him he took advantage of the situation and ran off making his way around to the other side of the monster. Before leaving the safety of the forest he cut a branch off a tree and fashioned another torch.

He prepared to light it as he stepped back onto the road. The mass of darkness that made up the beast seemed endless and he felt like he could be swallowed whole if he got to close. Taking a deep breath he pulled his flint stones from the pouch on his belt and started to strike them against each other when the beasts tail appeared and wriggled against the dirt road. Looking into the darkness he felt his heart stop for a moment as he wondered if the monster knew what he was about to do. Not seeing the monsters eyes he quickly light the torch and then shoved the burning tip into the monsters tail.

The deafening sound of a demonized animal screams out and the tail quickly disappears. The man raises the torch in one hand and holds his sword up in the his other hand and rushes into the darkness. Cutting his blade through the darkness as he goes he can't help noticing that his sword isn't hitting anything.

The next thing he knows he's standing near the girl. He quickly turns to face the monster expecting to get hit by its large hand again but quickly notices that its gone. Looking around he holds his sword out waiting for it to attack from the trees but the darkness that followed the monster was gone.

"I think it's gone for now. We should go." he said and started to walk down the road. He slipped his sword back in its sheath and held his torch up.

For the moment she had actually forgotten about the knight that was there, so engrossed in facing off against the beast that when his light came out of nowhere she startled and backed away. She didn't quite move fast enough though and in the creature's pain it lashed out and swiped her from the side.

Falling to the ground she quickly pushed herself to her knees and raised her sword but by the the creature had run off. With one arm wrapped around her stomach she looked up to see the knight standing there with his torch. "Good thinking," she complimented through her panting breaths as she pushed herself back to her feet and wrapped her cloak around herself tighter.

She followed him again and finally they were reaching the edge of the forest, when she started feeling very dizzy. She kept checking her side a bit worriedly for the creature's last attack had actually bludgeoned through her armor and now she was bleeding.

He cursed under his breath at the lose of his horse it could be anyway now. He would have to barter for a new one once he reached the next town.

Noticing that the girl was starting to slow down he looked over at her. "Let me help you." he said moving closer to her. His intention to let her lean on him until then got to the next town where she would get the medical care she needed.

"I uh... I'll be fine" she replied, wavering a moment as another bout of dizziness swam through her vision. As he came close she found herself falling against him and promptly passing out against his chest.

There was now a small trail of blood that had run along her side and down her leg. It was impossible to tell how bad it could be because her armor was in the way and at this point it was probably causing more harm than help with rubbing against the wound, not to mention the weight of it.

He caught her as she fell against him and helped her to lay on the ground. Jabbing the torch he held in the ground he looked around to make sure they were really safe for them to stop like this. Not seeing any signs of the monster he turned his attention to the girl. "I have to look..." he told her thought he didn't think she could hear him.

Pulling her chest plate off he lifted her shirt revealing the wound. "If I don't bandage it you'll bleed to death." He whispered to her. Pulling his drinking skin off his belt he carefully rinsed off the blood and then set to work bandaging her up.

When he was done he gathered his things and sat her up. He laid her chest plate in her lap and then scooped her up. With his hands full he had no choice but to leave his torch. He kicked it over and then kicked dirt over it before finally continuing on down the road.

It took awhile but he finally made it through the forest and to the next village. Finding the village doctor, clearly indicated thanks to the sign above the door. The lights were out and he was sure that they were fast asleep but he knew she may need more help then what he gave her. He kicked at the door until ever light in the place was on and someone finally came to the door.

An angry man yanked the door open and started to curse but stopped when he saw the injured girl. "You're the local doctor?" The man nodded and quickly moved out of the way. "On the table. What happened?" the doctor asked coming up on the other side of the table.

"We were attacked while going through the forest." he said carefully laying the girl on the table. "You're lucky you both weren't killed. Those woods are home to a monster." The doctor shock his head and pushed the man out of the way. "I need to clean her up and see how bad it is." he nodded at the doctor and did his best to do everything the doctor needed.

Finally thanks to the doctor the girls bleeding had stopped and her side had been sewed up. "She'll need to rest here moving her now might pull at her stitches. I'll get her a pillow and blanket. You'll have to go." He just stared at the doctor as he went off to get her a pillow and blanket. He watched as the doctor tucked in the girl. "I said you had to go." he shook his head. "I can't leave her like this." The doctor sighed. "Fine then stay but I don't have any extra beds." "It's ok. The floor's fine." "Suit your self." The doctor went around turning lights off and then went back to bed.

He watched the girl rested on the table for a few minutes before he finally laid down on the floor and managed to get a little sleep.

Sleeping soundly the girl didn't wake until there was light streaming in through the window. Her eyes opened slowly before startling awake as she did not recognize her surroundings. Sitting up far too quickly a yelp came from her lips as she grasped at her bandaged side and looked around.

Calming after a moment, she held the blanket close to her chest. Her shirt hadn't exactly been kept in tact from the battle and furthermore it would've been in the way for her to be bandaged so she was no longer wearing it. Because of this however there was full view of her back and a strange tattoo that covered it from the base of her neck down to her tailbone. It appeared to be an intricately designed family treeline, although most of it was obscured by her hair at this point there was a single name at the bottom that was visible: 'Zeta'

Hearing a scream he jumps to his feet with his sword drawn before he really realizes whats going on. Blinking and rubbing his tired eyes he focuses on the girl who clings to the blanket on top of her. "Are you ok?" he asks putting his sword away.

turning abruptly to look at him she paused and then slowly nodded, "where are we? what happened? Where's the beast-where's my armor?" he began looking around, lifting herself carefully off the table and to her feet. One hand held the blanket in place while she searched for her things.

"Don't the doctor said you could rip your stitches." he says and helps her sit down. "We're safe for now. The monster disappeared I carried you to the next village. We're in the house of the villages doctor. He patched you up. I took your chest plate off last night after you collapsed. I had to you could have bleed to death." he points towards the door where the rest of her armor sits. "It's all hear. Just rest and let your body heal. You can continue your fight in a day or two. You're not going to be any help to anyone if you die." he says helping to pull the blanket around her more. "It's still early try to sleep more. I can go get you a new shirt once the shops open and get you a room at the local inn." he says trying to encourage her to lay back down.

"I... but..." she sighed, "alright, alright." she laid back down gingerly, "Heh... you know, all this and I don't even know your name." she smiled slightly as she curled up under the blanket. "I'm Zeta by the way."

He smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you Zeta I'm Dago. Just rest for now we can talk in the morning." he said moving away from her. He moved the rest of her armor and weapon to the legs of the table and then sat in one of the chairs that he and the doctor had moved away from the table before the doctor started working on Zeta and watched Zeta as she went back to sleep.

Zeta smiled, "It's very nice to meet you Dago. Thank you for your help" she closed her eyes and hugged the blanket close to her as she fell back to sleep.

He drifted in and out of sleep until he noticed light started to come in through the window. He yawned rubbed his heavy and tired eyes and sat up forcing himself to wake up. A soft rustling drew his attention to another part of the small house. Getting up he spotted the doctor rummaging around in what looked like the kitchen.

Making his way over to the doctor he cleared his throat. The doctor jumped and turned to look back at Dago. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to say thank you for helping us last night. I'm going to go see if there's room at your inn and then we'll be out of your way." he whispered to the doctor. The doctor sighed and then nods. "Fine but if you insist on moving her you have to be careful. I haven't looked at her yet but I can guess that her wound is swollen and moving her around to much will only cause her more harm." Dago nods and then leaves the house.

After a while of walking the streets he finally found the village inn and was glad when he saw that it was open. A few minutes of talking with the innkeeper he paid for a room and then was shown up a narrow set of stairs just to the right on the front door. Once upstairs he followed the innkeeper down a hall that was lined with doors. "You're in luck this is one of our better rooms. It gets the sun through out the day." the innkeeper said opening the door and looking back to smile at Dago. Dago smiled back and gave the innkeeper a fair tip for showing him to the room. The innkeeper nodded and handed over the key before leaving.

Dago looked around the room. It was simple and could do with some fresh paint to cover the tanned faded walls, the floors were simple wood and the only furniture in the room was the bed that stood against a wall that was across from a set of windows that looked like they would swing out if unlatched. He nodded and locked the door again, it would work well enough.

Making his way back out onto the streets he wondered the streets going from shop to shop until he found a women's clothing store. He couldn't help being nervous as he went inside. The female shop keeper eyed him and seemed annoyed by his presence. "Please I just need a shirt for a friend of mine and then I'll leave." she seemed to stick her nose in the air at him, her plush dress and hair style was enough to tell him that she was used to a wealthier dressed clientele. Tired of her behavior he looks around the story spots a nice shirt and goes over to get it. "Hey!" the woman calls out and starts to move out from behind the sales counter.

He quickly grabs the shirt and marches up to the counter. Pulling out several gold coins he slaps them on the counter and eyes the woman. "Forgive me Miss but you really need to pull your head out your ass. My money is just as good as anyone else." he says then turns and leaves.

Making his way back to the doctors house he enters quietly trying not to wake Zeta. By this time though the entire house seemed to smell of the mouth watering scents of breakfast. Placing the shirt on the chair Dago was sitting in before he left he made his way back to the kitchen and watched as the doctor divided the eggs and bacon he cooked between three plates.

Zeta rested fairly soundly, although a few small noises on occasion disturbed her sleep she soon dozed off again and again until her stomach began to growl with hunger. Finally she opened her eyes, squinting through the light that now streamed in through the windows.

Carefully, she sat up and inched herself off the table and onto her feet. Finding the shirt she could only assume it was there for her so she put it on. It was a little bit big for her but it would do just fine. Zeta folded the blanket she had been given and placed it on the chair before turning to where Dago had left her armor.

She knelt by the armor, inspecting it as a frown crossed her face. It needed to be repaired, she would have to find a blacksmith before she could go up against the beast again. If it hadn't been for her armor, she would have needed much more than a few stitches.

The doctor gave a polite smile but Dago could tell how put out he was with his two unwelcomed guests and handed Dago a plate of eggs and bacon. Dago bowed his head politely taking the plate. "Thank you." Hearing movement behind him he quickly turned on his heels and spotted Zeta as she tucked her shirt in. "It looks like the kind doctor will be providing us with breakfast. Can you eat?" he asked offering the plate of food to Zeta. The doctor came out from behind Dago with the other two plates and placed them on the table and then placed the chairs back in their spots next to the table. Eying them both for a minute the doctor sat and began eating.

Running her fingers through her hair a moment, Zeta nodded and accepted the plate gratefully. "Thank you" she spoke quietly as she moved to join the table and turned her eyes to the doctor with some curiosity. "You may well have saved my life doctor. I owe you a debt."

The belt that she wore had a leather pouch attached to it and she took a minute to reach inside before pulling out something wrapped in a large leaf. "I don't carry much gold with me, but this is just as valuable" she offered, "and I believe someone like you may actually appreciate it's worth."

She slid the item across the table before turning back to her food, "it is the root of an Ambila plant from the far north. The people there used it to cure the strongest of diseases and infection. I have yet to see it grow in these parts however."

The doctor looked at her and then at the leaf. Pulling the small package closer he unwrapped the root and looked back at her. "That wasn't necessary but thank you." he said picking up the root and disappears into the next room.

He returns a few minutes later with a small pot that looks like it was just tended and places it in the window. "I'll put it to use. Thank you." he says sitting back down. Dago looks at Zeta and then back at the doctor as he hunched over his breakfast and continues to eat.

When they were done eating Dago helped the doctor clean up the table and then returned to Zeta. He picked up her armor and sword and managed to hold it all on one arm and offered his free hand to Zeta. "I'll help you to the inn now if you'd like."

"Good deeds should never go unrewarded" Zeta replied firmly to the doctor before turning back to finish her meal.
As dago offered his hand, the girl looked up at him a bit curiously, "The inn? How long do you intend to be staying here?" she asked as she accepted his hand and got to her feet, although after that she was determined to walk on her own.

With another "thank you" to the doctor, Zeta stepped outside of his house and looked around the village. Her eyes scanned for anything of use, particularly the boundary and their defenses-which quite frankly seemed to be nothing of note.

Following her out onto the street he pointed down the road and then started to head towards the inn. "You'll be staying long enough to heal and get your armor mended." he told her keeping a somewhat slow pace so she can keep up.

Zeta gave him a bit of a look as she followed, "I will be huh?" she repeated his words in question, "Are you saying I do not have a choice in the matter?"

He stopped and looked at her. "You need time to heal and if there any kind of blacksmith in this town they'll need time to fix your armor. It may take more then a day for all of that to happen, so yes in a way I don't think you have much to say about that." he said shifting the armor and sword in his arms and then continued on his way.