The Crew Slowly made their way towards the sound. If they wanted to get out of this place, forward was the only way they could go. Sure, someone like Leroy could smash the ceiling into rubble and move everyone out that couldnt move quick enough, but then what was the point? They'd have to keep fighting anyway.
With the sky sprite leading the way, The crew eventually came to a stop in what looked like the back of the cave, a large chamber with stalactites and stalagmites that were crooked and jagged hanging from the ceiling and reaching up to the roof.
At the peak of the chamber was a large hole that allowed the red light of Hard Rock to beam in. "So was this where that noise came from?" Kirk questioned, Holding his staff close to himself.
The crew took a few more steps in before being stopped as a noise filled the room. It was a light pattering, coming from the right slowly approaching out of the shadows was–!
A…Dodo Bird?
A Dodo Bird. The flightless bird with its distinctive head and beak, grey feathers, and curved neck
"Is– Is that? A Dodo bird?" Raven asked, hands out to the side in a pose of awareness. "Aren't they supposed to be extinct?" Jeanne asked, only for the birds call to snap her back to attention
"Grauo!" The bird made a medium pitched call that sounded nasally as if vibrating the back of the throat. It turned it's head to the crew staring at them
Slash! Suddenly where the Dodo stood a fountain of blood erupted! An Explosion of feathers spewing through as something had dashed from the darkness and revealed itself in the light!
"Gnnr!" The deep guttural vibrations shook the walls as the noise came through the creature's teeth! This must've been what had been awoken by the roar of the Sea Bear!
It was dark, almost like a shadow. It's body was tall and lanky, despite having a humanoid shape, it was on all fours with long spindly arms out in front of it, one large hand crushing down on the birds skull as it's gnarled teeth ripped at the flesh of the bird! Muscles twitching as it pulled it apart!
Its eyes seemed to be shrouded, what looked almost like a cloak, but ragged and ripped to shreds, hung from its broad shoulders and covered its head, only exposing the mouth, field with rotting teeth and drooled a viscous black fluid.
What looked to be a beard hung from its jaw
It was covered in fur, matted in sweat and blood, its nails were were long and sharp. Parts of it's skin that was exposed had boils and pot marks across it, claw like scales covering as well. Small spikes like thorny ivy covered it's skin, and on the back of its feet and hands were spurs like a bird.
With the black saliva mixing with the bright red blood, the creature began to look toward the crew.
"Heh…Okay. Lets take care of this quick…" Leroy said as he began to walk up, fist tightening. Then! A moment later the creature had shot across the distance and slammed the back of its hand into Leroy! Sending him flying and slamming into the cave walls with such force it shook the entire thing! Stalactites falling and shattering to the ground!
Every Nail, Claw-Scale, spur, spike, welt, twisted tendon and tensed muscle was like steel! No iron could be hard enough to pierce this things blood caved form!
"Grah! Ah!" Leroy shouted "Leroy!" Jeanne screamed, pulling her new bow up and knocking an arrow, and barely pulling the string back, not strong enough to fully draw it! But it was enough to send the arrow out faster than any normal bow!
But to no avail, the shaft shattering against the things skin!
"Damn! This thing's tougher than I thought it'd be!" Leroy grimaced as he held a hand to his back.
Leroy stumbled to his feet, resting a hand on his knee and forcing himself up. Kale drew his two swords, readying himself as the monster began to prowl back and forth almost like a lion about to pounce.
"Grendel!" A ragged fried voice sounded out, echoing from behind "Stand down!" As soon as those words began to echo on the granite, the creature ceased it's movement and began to move back to the left chamber.
As the thing known as Grendel came to a stop at the edge of the Shadow, another figure came forward. It was a woman, she was lanky, but tall. At least 6'6 or 196 cm.
She wore a ragged dress, but it was not a fancy dress. More like a dress from long ago, a simple piece of fabric that was like an oversized shirt that fell to the ground.
It was stained with mud, muck, and blood. Clearly it was originally supposed to be made of cotton, but now looked almost made of black fabric.
"You…You all!" She said in an accusatory tone. "You are trying to hurt me and my dear boy Grendel!" She said pointing a jagged nail at the crew, despite her hair being frizzed and knotted all over the place, covering her eyes and almost all of her mouth, her eyes could be felt piercing the crew
"The hell are you talking about lady?" Leroy said as he began to walk forward. But before he could make it back to the crew, a giant ball of water slammed into the ground! Having been flung by the woman!
"Stay back! I am Hilda! The great witch of the forest, feller of men, and killer of all those who dare to trespass on my land! Have you no Idea who I or my son are?"
"He is the Shadow Walker, The Mark Stepper, The Night Goer! He who is made of shadow and prowls like no other predator!"
"Grendel!" Hilda yelled, reeling her head back in a manic way "Attack! Destroy these intruders! Make your mother proud!"
In a flash, the Monster was on the move! Dashing forward and attempting to make a giant swipe at the crew! Quickly however, Kale jumped into the fray and blocked the strike with his swords!
"Look at you…You're quite the beast! Taking you down will be quite the spectacle and achievement for myself!" He declared as he pushed back and sliced! Cutting deep into Grendel's flesh hand! The barbs on his palms causing a spark to be released!
"You guys handle this things mother! I'll handle this beast!" Kale announced, running forward to clash with the beast again!
"Handle us?!" Hilda screamed "I'll make sure that you're all waterlogged and trapped in the deepest bog on this wretched Island!"
"Sumpf-Horror!" A murky ball of water formed in the witches hand as water beneath her began to lift her up off the ground! Like a beam of pressurized water from a hose, the green liquid shot forward! Leroy leapt out of the air! The water cutting clean through the 100 foot thick granite wall behind him! The trees able to be seen from the other side!