Soul's Pov
I was ready! We had to kill this guy; nobody is allowed to hurt Maka as long as I'm around. I didn't even care that it was freezing or that the odds of beating this freak was eight to an army of monsters and their magical master.
Those odds where even worse now that most of us where weapons but I don't care. I'm not letting this chance slip by.
I snapped out of my thoughts because I could smell the monsters coming. I smelt awful everyone held his or her noses.
"Well at least we know that they're here the smell is a dead give away" Kid spoke up quietly his voice sounding funny as he was still holding his nose.
The foul smell drew closer and closer. But nothing happened everyone was tense awaiting an attack, after another five minutes Black Star broke the silence "What the hell! Where is this army did they turn and run back?"
Black Star looked so angry and puzzled it caused everyone to laugh lighting the atmosphere, sadly it didn't last long grumpy Stein stiffened making everyone look at him intensely.
"Professor?" Tsubaki asked gently from her weapon form.
Before he could even open his mouth a hideous monster appeared shooting out twigs and mud.
The monster was huge no wonder we didn't see it coming it was a giant tree similar to those around the mountain with roots as arms and feet, random twigs around his back and waist leaving deep green leaves.
The creature howled threw its hallow mouth directly under his twig nose and small hallow eyes.
It reeled back preparing to shoot again. "Take cover!" Stein called.
Kid and Black Star leaped up into the air while Maka hid behind the tent "This must've been why we had to wait for this attack, why he didn't come for us himself, coward"
"I'm pretty sure manners aren't that jerk main issues but the fact remains how are we goanna beat this thing?" I asked her. From what I saw it had no weak points its bark was a strong guard against kids bullets and Steins soul force.
Maka smiled suddenly "You've got a plan don't you" I stated knowing what she was like her green eyes sparkled brightly and she was grinning.
"What can hurt a tree? Soul think about it" it didn't take long looking over at the dimming fire.
"Stein, Black Star, Kid!" I have an idea Maka cheered wildly.
"About time" Liz commented, "our bullets are doing nothing"
"Each of you grab a hot branch from the fire expect for Stein hold him tight that area" She called while pointing to the general area where the tree thing was standing.
But then we smelled it before we saw it an army of those disgusting blobby thing with the horrifying stench oozing out of their mouths. Maka and I glared because we'd seen them before but for the others it was a different story.
"EWWW!" screamed Liz wildly.
"What the heck!" Black Star raged as he'd just stepped the glop.
"No symmetry at all!"
Maka stiffened before charging wildly to attack the creatures. This made me get a headache from thrashing around out of control killing the monsters.
"Maka take a breath," I said trying to keep the worry in the back of mind. She'd managed to destroy a good number but she'd still be outnumbered.
"RETREAT" Stein called out I look towards the sound of his voice to see him higher up out of harms reach. "Kid use that skateboard to lift them up here"
"YAAAHHHHHOOOOO! Try and catch me creeps" A hyper active assassin called down after climbing up without any help from Kid.
I was expecting Kid to come and get us but instead he left Liz and Patty on the ledge so that they where safe.
"Umm Kid could you help us out?" Maka called anxiously trying to keep the inclosing swarming of monsters away from her. But we'd forgotten something. The Tree man/monster was no longer held back and I could tell it was going to shoot.
And its target was Maka.
Maka Pov
'Oh shit!' was all that went threw my head. The tree guy was closing in and I had no idea what to do, my breathing hitched and I froze I stared up briefly relieved to see my friend's safe.
'But what about Soul?' I mused looking at my weapon. I wanted him to be safe too not to have the same fate as me, I mean the curse the swamp man enchanted me with had already sealed my fate.
"Her leg won't heal if I'm dead the infection will eat away at her causing her nothing but pain its how I torture my victims"
His words echoed in my mind I had to face up to my fate no matter how hard it'll be to let go I'm not letting Soul go down with me!
"Maka!" Soul called out in urgency "Use me to block!" my eyes widened that was what he said when we first fought chrona.
I tried to hold back tears but I was failing miserably out of the corner of my eye I saw the tree guy preparing to shoot I held out my arm preparing myself.
"Maka what are you doing?" Soul asked. I turned to look at my loyal weapon, "I'm sorry," I sobbed. before he had the chance to say anything I did something I never wanted to do.
I threw him.
I was happy to see Stein catch him. He was safe.
Turning to face the tree man bracing myself for his attack and the sudden pain that would follow. I noticed his roots where underneath the ground and vastly coming for me.
In an attempt to escape I leaped high into the air and inexpertly found myself in Kids arms. He meet my gaze "Hold on" He told me. I blushed deeply when I noticed his arms where around my waist.
But the tree man was not going to let us escape that easily.
He lashed out in anger like a wild animal trying to hit us like an irritant fly.
He did manage to strike us down in a huge crash I sat up to see Kid was unconscious with his skateboard lying loyally beside him.
I was about to try to wake him when my leg intensified in searing pain. "OW" I yelped looking at my leg it was still swollen but was once again glowing.
Suddenly the tree man paused before grapping me with his rooty hand keeping me in a vice grip and carried me off.
"MAKA!" An anguished Soul called out desperately. That's when I allowed my tears to fall freely.
It was hours before we stopped. Near a lake the tree man released me but watched me cautiously. I took my time stretching my legs and had a drink.
I also decided to take a closer look at my captor, he too was having a drink putting his feet into the water smiling happily…. Wait what?
Yes he was smiling 'maybe he isn't so evil' I thought but I still wasn't going to let my guard down.
My guard went down when I saw it. Around the elbow area of his right arm it was in the same condition of my leg, I stared between the two for a while.
'It's the exact same he must be a prisoner to the swamp master!' I thought. I gathered up my courage and walked over to him.
"Does it hurt?" I asked pointing at his elbow his eyes saddened and he nodded curtly.
"Did your master ask you to bring me to him" I tried to keep calm. Again he nodded.
I shuddered at the thought of what he wanted me for and why? Does have something against the DWMA?
Snapping out of my thoughts I turned my attention back to the tree beside me it occurred to me that the tree was in a bad way not only the curse but there was dead bark peeling back.
To be honest I felt sorry for him he was different from the minions. He had a soul. I felt it. I closed my eyes and used soul perception, it was there medium sized I sensed bravery and a close connection to nature.
Well that make sense he is a tree!
I took a step closer to him and gently peeled a piece of dead bark off, He flinched suddenly and crouched back afraid.
"Oh its ok it will make you feel better I won't hurt you" I soothed him then smiled gently.
I may have just been imagining it but I could have sworn he smiled back. He relaxed and allowed me to continue.
After a while my hands where filthy but the job was done. Yet he never looked better.
I was wonder what to do next when the memory of the flower came to me it could cure the curse it was suicidal for me alone without a weapon, but with a little help.
"Want to make a deal?" I asked cheerfully. My sudden outburst seemed to alarm the shy tree man "I know a way to cure the curse" I announced pointing to my leg "If you come with me we can both get cured and you'll be free"
The tree gazed at me he looked touched, he smiled then gently lifted me up onto one of his strong branches sheltered with leaves. "Its like a room" I commented.
There was a bed made of leaves against the trunk I sat down on it and it was very comfy! "So do we have a deal" I asked happily.
I looked towards the horizon seeing that he was watching the sunset. I felt him nod slightly (properly so I didn't fall off) "Big softie" I completed before heading to bed.
I think I've made a new friend!
Well there it is chapter 11! Please feel free to review and tell me what you thought I'm enjoying writing this so I'll update as soon as I can!