Author's Note:

Hey! This is Chapter 10, so yay! I didn't think I'd get this far, but here it is nonetheless. It's time for Ean to get some powerups!

-Tangent

If Ravenwood had been ominous, the Shadow Woods were positively filled with evil. The trees creaked in the wind, and Iya imagined the branches reaching out to grab them. She shivered unconsciously. In front of her, Rye was scouting around, searching for any sign of enemies, and Ean was carrying up the rear, his claws ready. It had begun to rain, a few odd drops spattering on the mossy ground of the forest, creating a quiet background noise. They hadn't seen anybody else in the woods, but Rye had pointed out that the hunter likely lived near the path. And so they followed the narrow road, twisting in and out of the woods. They had just approached a larger clearing when Rye held up his hand. They froze, and he pointed ahead of him.

There were several large shapes in the clearing, including one in the air, wings flapping lazily. It was an ugly creature, with a thick, bulbous body and a short head. It had wings like a mosquito coming out of its back, and it emitted an odd buzzing sound. The several creatures below it had four legs, and it had red fur, with a long nose.

"What are those things?" Ean hissed, looking around.

"Well, the small thing is a fox. I don't know what the big thing is, but it looks like a dragonfly, I guess. Let's call it that."

"How dangerous is it?"

"I don't know, but it's blocking our path forward. I can try to shoot it, if you can handle the foxes. Iya, guard us in case something goes wrong." They nodded, and Rye rose from his position, nocking an arrow. He pulled it back, grunting with effort, and the dragonfly turned towards them only to receive an arrow to chest. It flew backwards, dead before it hit the ground, and Ean rushed in, moving towards the foxes. The battle was brief, and none of the foes survived.

"Good shot." He said to Rye, who nodded and picked up the coins dropped by the monsters.

"These things are like coin-filled pinatas."

"What's a pinata?" Iya asked, confused.

"Oh, it's… Well, I'll explain in Thais, okay?" Ean was looking around the small clearing, and he turned back to them, pointing at a nearby cliff face that had a man-shaped hole in it.

"Does that look important?"

"Oh, most definitely. After you, my friend." Rye said, bowing sarcastically to Ean, who grinned.

"Actually, why don't you go first? I already know what's inside. Doesn't the entrance look similar?" He said, and Rye's brow furrowed.

"I…"

"It's one of those teleportation stations!" Iya said, realization dawning on her. Ean nodded, and they stepped inside to reveal the same room they had seen back in forest near Ryva. He flipped the switch on the wall, but nothing happened.

"I'm not sure if it worked, but now we should be able to travel between here and any other levers we've flipped?" Ean picked up the paper on top of the donation box, and saw that a price was written on it now.

Ryva – 100 Gold

"This must be the price." He said, showing the others.

"We don't need to travel back right now, but that will save us some time in the future, I bet." Rye said, and they exited the cave. The trio continued following the path, killing any monsters that they saw and looting their remains.

"These new weapons are powerful." Ean said, flexing his claws. Rye nodded, picking up a bag of coins. Iya agreed, liking the feel of her new staff. It helped her concentrate, and could keep enemies at bay in an emergency. They had just finished off a group of dragonflies when Ean spotted a small side path with a marker:

Beast's Lair – Stay Away!

"Maybe we shouldn't go in there." Iya said nervously, looking around the dark forest. "I don't think-"

"Hey!" The shout rang through the trees, and the three whirled, their weapons drawn. A giant man had appeared on the path, and Ean's eyes widened. He towered over them, with only grey pants and a massive bear skin covering his muscles. The head of the bear loomed over his own like a helmet, and his eyes were dark and emotionless.

"Who are you?" Rye demanded, but the man merely looked at them.

"You shouldn't be out here. The beast comes out in the afternoon and night."

"We're trying to find it, actually." Ean spoke quietly.

"You'll die if you try to fight it. Come on, come back to my hut." Without a further word, the man disappeared between the trees, and Ean looked at the other two.

"He has to be the hunter. Maybe we can work with him." They nodded reluctantly, and they set off after the man, following him through the trees to a small wooden house in a clearing. There was a pile of wood near the door, which was left open for them. They stepped inside, and Rye shut the door. The hunter was standing next to his bed, leaning against the walls covered with various animal skins.

"What do you want with us?" Ean asked, and the hunter grunted.

"I'm trying to keep ya alive, kid. That beast is ferocious, more'n anything I've ever seen."

"Are you trying to capture it?" Rye asked, and the man nodded.

"I've been a hunter my whole life, and I'm going to catch that thing if my life depends on it. I've got a trap set up, and I'm springing it today." Ean looked at Iya, who had a nervous look on her face.

"Can we help you at all?" He asked, but the man let out a short bark of laughter.

"That's funny, kid. I'm not saying you're weak, but you don't know the first thing about hunting. I'm trying to keep you safe." He strode forward, grabbing a massive axe from the shelf above the door. "It's time. Stay here until I come back, you hear me?"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Ean said, but the door had already closed. He looked at the others.

"What if he gets hurt?" Iya said, but Rye shook his head.

"He's experienced, though. He could probably handle it."

"I'm getting a weird feeling from all of this. Like there's something more going on." Ean said. "Iya, don't you feel it?" The girl nodded hesitantly. "I think this is something we have to do." Rye leaned against the wall.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Positive." Ean said. Rye let out a deep breath and stood up, grabbing his bow.

"Then let's go."

They were facing the entrance to cave, trying to listen for the sounds of a very angry animal.

"I don't hear anything. Is that good or bad?" Iya whispered, and Ean shrugged.

"I guess we go in? Get your magic ready." Iya nodded, holding her staff, and they crept into the cave quietly. It was small and dark, with low-hanging ceilings. It was composed of an odd blue stone, and Ean peered around in the dark. Somebody had lit several candles in the cave, and he could see the faint outline of a path. He motioned to it, and the others followed him, creeping quietly through the cave. As they rounded a corner, he heard a quiet groan from the floor. He turned to see the hunter lying there, his torso covered in blood.

"It got me… Get out of here, quick!" He whispered urgently.

"We can't leave you! Is it in the trap?" Ean whispered back.

"No… It ambushed me on the way in. It's never done that."

"How do we spring the trap?" Ean asked urgently, and the man looked at him with pain-filled eyes. He pointed to a bridge over a pit nearby.

"Get it onto the bridge, and pull the lever up there." He pointed to a lever on the opposite side of the cave. "But you'll have to cut off its escape first…" His head lolled, and he spoke no more. Ean heard a faint snuffling noise approaching, and he grabbed the others.

"You two pull the switch. I'll lead it onto the bridge." Before they could say anything, he darted off towards the sound, vanishing from sight. Rye and Iya moved towards the lever quietly, until they were right next to it. Now they had to wait.

Ean moved stealthily towards the back of cave, but froze when he heard a loud sniff. He peeked around a corner to see the largest creature he had ever seen. It was a cross between bear and wolf, with massive claws and a bulky body. Its eyes glowed red in the dark, and he could feel it searching for him. He spotted a boulder up above the beast, on a little outcrop of rock, and began climbing up to reach it.

If I block the passage behind him, he'll have to follow me. Suddenly, his foot slipped, a rock fell to the ground with a loud clatter. He heard the beast whip around, moving toward the noise. Moving quickly, he clambered onto the outcrop and pushed against the boulder. Ean felt the boulder move a little, and he redoubled his efforts. The boulder slid to the edge of the cliff, and heard the beast howl loudly. It had spotted him, but too late. With a crash, the boulder fell behind it, cutting it off from the rest of the cave. The beast growled angrily, but Ean was already sprinting back through the cave, and the beast gave pursuit.

The elf ran like mad through the cave, dodging behind rocks and leaping over other obstacles. Behind him, the beast howled over and over, desperate for blood. He heard the claws on the stone and he ducked, the animal soaring over his head in a pouncing attack. It got to its feet, facing him. He knew his weapons would be useless, and so he sprinted forward instead. As he got close, the beast lunged, and he dove to the side. It collided squarely with a rock, and he burst past it with a rush. He was on the bridge now, and he stopped at the end.

"Rye! Get ready!" He bellowed over his shoulder as the beast stepped onto the bridge, red eyes burning with anger. It was unsure of what to do, and Ean brandished his claws menacingly. When the beast got closer, it decided to attack, and Ean saw two sharp claws coming right for him. The beast's eyes glowed, and it sliced down upon the elf. Then, with a loud crash, the section of the bridge gave way, dropping the beast into the cage below. It howled with rage, slamming against the bars, but it was stuck. Ean fell to his knees, breathing hard.

"Ean!" Iya grabbed his shoulder, looking him over for any injuries. "Ean, are you okay?" Her voice was high and panicked, and he touched her hand tiredly.

"I'm okay, Iya." Her hand withdrew, and he stood up, still panting slightly. Rye approached the cave, making sure the beast was secure. Satisfied, he stood up, and turned to see the woodsman approaching them, still bleeding heavily.

"Whoa, mister! You shouldn't be-"

"Stop." The man interrupted, raising a hand. "There's no time." He turned to Ean. "There is a room in the back of the cave. On the table is a wooden statue. Bring it here." Ean didn't know what the man was talking, but he was deadly serious. The two men ran to the back of the cave, slipping around the boulder. There was a small hole in the wall, just big enough for them, and they slipped through to find the den of the beast. It was littered with piles of bones, and Ean saw an old wooden table near the back. Oddly enough, there was a candle lit on the table. Illuminated by the light was a crude wooden statue. It was carved in the shape of the beast, and Ean picked it up. For a second, he felt his strength drain, but then it returned, and they exited the den, heading back to the cave where Iya was tending to the hunter.

"Is this it?" Ean said, holding it up. The hunter looked at him, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

"Yes. And now you shall take on… the mantle of hunter from me." His voice grew fainter. "The statue will give you power, young one. But it is also a terrible curse. The beast is what happened to a man who could not control it. But you can do it…" With a final breath, the man fell to the floor and lay still.

"No… no, no!" Ean said, crouching down next to him. The man's eyes were closed, and he seemed at peace. Rye laid a hand on his shoulder.

"It is what he wanted, I think. But what was that about the statue?" As he spoke, Ean felt a terrible pain pass through him.

"Agh… Ah!" He moaned, clutching his head. He felt as though he was about to burst, and he saw Iya reaching out for him. Then everything went black, and he felt no more.

His head was pounding fit to burst as he blinked once, then twice. Something was off… something had happened. His vision was blurry, but the cave suddenly seemed much lighter. He could see ceiling in vivid detail. He shook his head to clear it, but stopped when he heard a low growl echo through the cave. It seemed to come from right behind him, and he turned to see… nothing. His paws crunched on the ground as he stood, crouching on all fours.

Wait, paws? Ean looked down, and his eyes widened with horror. He had four legs now, thick with fur and tipped with razor sharp claws. They flowed smoothly into his chest, where he saw the powerful muscles of an animal. Through his senses, he could feel his tail behind him, lightly touching his forelegs.

What happened? Is this real? He had become the beast. Ean heard a whimper behind him and whirled to see a girl backing away from him, a green-haired boy next to her. At the sight, an urge awakened in him to bite, to kill. He growled under his breath, his eyes glowing red, and the boy nocked an arrow to his bow.

Kill… Must kill… He took a step forward, then another, baring his sharp teeth. The woman with pointed ears shrank away from him even further, terrified. She was mouthing something, but he could not hear over the roar of blood and hate.

Rip them apart. But he knew the girl, or he thought he did. Wasn't she…?

No. They are prey. But another voice had started calling to him, and it was the familiar sound of a male voice.

Don't let him control you, Ean. He saw the image of a handsome elf smiling at the female one, and it shattered whatever hold the beast had on him.

No. With an effort of will, he grabbed onto the image of himself and pulled. Instantly, Ean transformed back into an elf and collapsed to the ground. Iya shrieked and ran over to him, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Ean… what was that?"

"I… I became the beast. I could hear it." Ean said, dumbfounded. The statue of the animal was laying next to him, and he picked it up, studying it. "This must have transformed me." Rye was next to him as well, looking at him closely.

"Do you feel alright? Are you going to transform again?"

"I… I don't know. But I think I could, if I needed to." Ean stood, placing the transfigurine in his pack. "It must the legacy of the hunter."

"What do you mean?" Iya asked. Ean pointed to the beast still trapped in the cage.

"They couldn't control it, so they're stuck. I'm guessing the hunter was the only one who had it mastered, but maybe I can control it too."

"Perhaps. But for now, let's get out of here. We can send the villagers to retrieve the body and bury him how they'd like. They can also decide what to do with the beast." Rye said, and the others nodded. As they exited the cave, the beast growled ferociously behind them, shaking the bars of the cage.

When they arrived back in the village, soaked from the rain and blood all over them, Linia had something just short of a full-blown panic attack. She immediately rushed them inside, fussing over the trio while they tried to tell her that they were alright. After telling her that they had trapped the beast, she looked at them in awe. She was speechless for a few moments, but regained her voice to say:

"You… you aren't just ordinary kids, are you?" Ean grinned at hearing her call them kids as he shook his head.

"No, we aren't, but… we can't tell you anything else right now. But seriously, thank you for everything."

"Oh, it's no problem. If you're ever in Ryva, tell my family I said hi!" Rye paused, staring at her.

"You're from Ryva? I don't remember you!"

"Oh, I left when I was a little girl. Moved to Thais, and later to here when I met my husband. Is Grandmas still acting like an old bat?" She cackled, and Rye grinned.

"Great-Grandma Nora is exactly the same." They laughed, and she turned to Ean and Iya, who did not fully understand the joke. "I'll get men from the village to go bring the cage here, and we'll decide what to do with the beast."

"That sounds great, Linia. Thank you. But there's something else…" Ean said, and everyone stared at him, including Iya and Rye, who were just as confused.

"What is it?"

"I… We found some… evidence, I suppose, that the beast was once a human. It may be possible to turn him back, but we do not know." Linia clapped her hands over her mouth, gasping.

"How… No, you'd better not say. I'll try to convince the villagers to keep it alive for now, okay?"

"Thank you, Linia. Maybe somebody in Thais knows what to do with it." They stood, grabbing their packs.

"Leaving so soon?" Ean nodded.

"We need to make good time to Thais. Watch out for soldiers, and take care, Linia." She nodded, giving them each a hug.

"You've got antidotes and healing potions, right?" They nodded, and the three strode out the door into the cold air, wrapping their cloaks around them. The sky was still overcast as they left the village, walking along the fringe of the Shadow Woods. Without the beast, the woods felt much less ominous, and more mysterious. As they were departing the village, Ean dropped several coins into the donation box of the Goddess statue. At this point, it had become a reflex for him to donate when he saw one. After all, the little girl in Shaenlir had mentioned some sort of "karma."

"So, Ean… About the beast statue..." Rye began. "Can you transform again? It'd be nice to have a rampaging beast on our side in a fight." Ean thought about it for a moment.

"I think I could, but there's something I didn't tell you. When I transformed, there was a voice in my head, trying to control me or something. I think it was the beast spirit." Iya looked at him with concern.

"Is that why your eyes glowed red?" Ean nodded. "Then we should be careful. As long as you aren't touching the statue, I don't think there's a danger."

"You're probably right." Ean said with a sigh. "I wonder if there's other statues out in the wilderness somewhere. The hunter called it a curse…" They fell silent, thinking about everything they had learned.

After a few hours, the sun began to set, and Rye stopped them.

"This is a good place to stop for the night."