The Dark Ones Creature

Crispin winced with pain as he ran further into the cave. Pain shot through his right leg with every step he took. By now, the swelling on his ankle was worse. The muscles on his left leg were sore from supporting his body weight. The creature was not far from him. Silently, it moved through the maze of tunnels within the caverns with astonishing speed, tracking the Elven hunter.

The tunnel before Crispin split into two ways. The Elf paused for a moment, then took the right one. He was relying on instinct now, the pain in his right leg already clouding his mind. Abrubtly, he stopped running. The tunnel was more wider and spacious than the previous one. It would do him no good to continue running, Sooner or later the monster would catch up to him.

It was here the Elven hunter would make his stand. Crispin's eyes had already come accustomed to the darkness of the cave. Yet, it was still too dark to see clearly. Crispin strained his eyes, making use of his years of training to view the surroundings. The creature should have caught up with him by now. But where was it? He was about to find out.

A massive form moved silently through the opening of the tunnel, dark and forbidding. It resembled a wolf, yet it couldn't be one, because it was much larger and its claws were about a foot long. Scales covered the the entire body of the creature, like an impenetrable armor. Crispin immediately recognized it. It was a Hell hound.

The Elven hunter shuddered at the thought. He had heard many stories of the terrible creatures. Few who ever saw them lived to tell the tale. Summoned from hell, these creatures never failed to do their master's bidding. They were best for what they were made for, to hunt and to kill. No one ever questioned their ferocity. Once a Hell hound started a hunt it would never give up, unless it was killed and it would fight savagely to the death.

Someone had ordered the Hell hound to slaughter his entire patrol of Elven hunters. But why? A dozen Elven hunters set out that mourning, making their way to patrol the outskirts of the city, Arborlorn. However, there was no sign of the previous shift of Elven hunters. While searching, they found the bodies in the forest surrounding the outpost, or atleast what remained of their bodies. Then it came for them. One by one his Elven hunters fell to the evil. Now it had come for him. In a flash, Crispin had drawn his broad sword. even if he were to die he would not give in easily, thought Crispin bitterly. Despite his injured ankle, the Elf made his way towards the Hell hound steadily, sword swaying in his hand. It was a fight to the death. Only one would come out alive.