"Wait. What? You're not seriously thinking of taking on the hound again are you?" Karla said indignantly. I simply looked at her with a slightly embarrassed grin and nodded. "Weren't you the one that was the most reluctant last time? And now, suddenly, you're up for the challenge? Just because you came up with a new idea?" she continued.

"But you said you hoped that I could find answers by coming to the abandoned farmhouse?" I asked. "Answers yes, but I didn't expect to re-challenge it. I hoped for answers that would give us a reason as to why we didn't beat it. Something we could blame our failure on. Something to brush off the encounter and permit us to move on to other things. Not one that would put us back at risk again." Karla said.

"Wow. I didn't think you would get cold feet. You seemed pretty keen the first time." I said as I puffed in resignation. "I think we'd be safe enough with a second go at it, but I won't push it. I must admit, I don't want to ask you to do something you're not sure of. Just forget I suggested anything." I said. I smiled trying to conceal my disappointment.

I stood up and dusted myself off out of habit, and offered my hand to help Karla up. She refused it. "I'm not being cowardly you know." Karla grumbled as she got up. "I didn't say you were. Where's this coming from?" I asked. "You insinuated it. You said I was having cold feet. I'm just not sure if I want to take that kind of risk again. At least not yet." she said. "Ok, ok. I didn't mean it that way." I said. "You shouldn't say things you don't mean." she complained as we made our way down the road.

It took a while for Karla's mood to improve, but eventually things got back to normal. Nothing like a few successful encounters to let off a little steam. So by the time we headed back we weren't thinking about the hound, the farmhouse or any events of the previous day. We were at this point more interested in the loot we had acquired and what we were going to do with it.

But as it so often happens, loose ends tend to rear their ugly heads when you least expect them to. Karla was dealing with a vendor when she stopped cold and turned towards a couple of players close-by and listened to what they were saying. I turned my head to where she was looking. " ... they took on the hound, but didn't manage to kill it. It might be worth the risk, the col alone would probably last me weeks." the first player said. "You'd have to get a large party though. If we could get the group we had last week, then we would be good to go. I'll talk to them and message you later, it'll take me a couple of days to track them down." he said.

Karla grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to the nearest alley, out of earshot of everyone else. She looked left and right to make sure that no one was coming. Karla got up close to me and whispered "They're going after the hound. It's not fair, we were first. I didn't think anyone else would even care." Karla said. "So what are we going to do about it?" I asked. Karla looked at me in the eyes and smiled broadly. My eyes widened as I realized what that meant. "You want to go after it before they get to it, is that it?" I surmised.

Karla nodded and poked my breastplate with her index, "Earlier, you said you thought you could pull it off. Before we go any further, I need to know that you still feel that way." she said. Through her commanding tone I sensed the tinge of a plea. The ideas I had at the farmhouse came back clearly in my mind. "Yes, I truly believe we can." I said. Karla smiled in satisfaction.

I activated my menu, selected messages and started typing. "What are you doing?" Karla asked. "I'm messaging Thunder to meet us at the keep as soon as he can, and to bring Ironfist along with him. If we're going to do this we'll need all the help we can get. Ironfist will find it hard to resist a chance to have a second shot at this." I said as I completed the message.

Less than a minute after I sent my message a reply came in: "We'll be there in ten." the message said. "They're coming. We've got ten minutes before they get to the keep. You want to head there now?" I asked. "I'll quickly sell some of our stuff first. You go buy the potions we wanted while I do this." Karla ordered. "Why do I get the feeling I got the bad end of the deal?" I joked.

"Ironfist, are you still game to beat Soul Biter?" I asked. "Is this some kind of joke? I'm not in the mood for jokes like that." Ironfist said. "It's no joke. I'm deadly serious. Are you ready to fight? Could you do this again?" I pressed. "We failed last time. Heck you're the one that forced the retreat. What makes you think anything will be different this time?" Ironfist questioned.

"I know how to beat it this time. But I need your help to do it." I said. "Help you? Help you! Why on earth would I help you? Now that you've thought about the last hit bonus, I bet that's what you're going for. I'd have even less chance of getting it now." Ironfist complained. "You can have it for all I care. I don't even know why I try to get through your thick head." I said angrily. "I'm wasting my time here, I ..." Ironfist started.

"That's enough!" Karla shouted. "There's no time for this. Right now there's a party of players that's being formed who's sole purpose is to take on the hound. They're going to waltz down here with a big team and they're going to beat it by sheer force. We have maybe two days before they get organized. This is our last chance, if we don't act now, everything we went through will be for nothing. Help us make it mean something!"

Ironfist walked up to Karla, his face looked angry. He peered into her eyes, searching for a reason to refuse. Her resolve was complete, her desire unwavering, and perfectly aligned with his original plan, whether he liked it or not. "Two days you say? All we've got is two days?" Ironfist hissed. "Argh! Why do I get myself into these messes! You, my lady, are going to drive me crazy. Your buddy here better know what he's talking about." He said before turning to Thunder

"Thunder contact the guild! Get everyone down here prepped and ready by tomorrow morning. No exceptions! I'll contact the other players and convince them to come. You two, get your strategy together and be prepared to explain it clearly to everyone. I want everyone to know exactly what they have to do. And this time," Ironfist said,

"We'll beat it."