forum Experimental cross-genre idea

Started June 10, 2019 by @Leo-Valdez-Is-The-God-Of-Chaos

tune

"Alright." Mai said, spurring her horse, turning west. "We have to go that way. It'll take a few days to get there, and we'll have to go through those woods." She pointed at the woods next to the path.

"You know, I've never been a huge fan of woods, probably because I know what's in them." Bjorn matched his horse's pace with Mai's, and followed close behind.

"Yeah. I get it." She said. "Goblins and such."

Bjorn chuckled. "Yeah… but I'd say the 'such' is much worse than goblins, y'know, with the dragons and the boarbears and wolves." He sighed tiredly. "and such."

"Uh-huh." Mai said nodding. "Well, let's get it over with." She said as the entered the woods.

About an hour into the woods, Bjorn slowed his horse in a clearing. "As impossible as it seems, it's still getting darker. You want to set up camp here?"

"Sure. Let's do it." Maid said as she got off her horse.

"Great, I'll make a fire, you set up the tent." Bjorn pulled a hatchet out of his satchel and climbed off the horse.

"Got it." She said, setting to work on the tent. She kept her weapons within reach in case she needed them while Bjorn was gone.

Bjorn was chopping away at the limbs of a tree when a strangled cry echoed through the woods. Bjorn dropped his hatchet and looked around.
"Do you see anything, Mai?" he said.
The cry sounded again. He dropped to one knee, letting his axe fall and pulling his sword out.
"Use you daggers, and follow my example." Bjorn raised his sword above his head vertically, like a flagpole. "It's not human."

Mai grabbed her daggers, and looked around. "I think I've heard that sound before. But I'm not sure." She thought back to when her family was killed. "It might be Kaine. He's got some hell hounds that hunt for him."

He turned to her in shock. "Hellhounds? Those are real?" He stood up. "As bad as that is, I feel like this might not be necessary." He stood and picked up his axe.

"Yeah, they're real. I saw him use them once." Mai said, sitting down.

"should we be worried?" Bjorn pulled out a notebook and a small stick with its end burned to charcoal.

"Probably." She pulled a folded paper out of her bag, unfolded it, and looked at the picture of her family. "I would definitely be worried."

Bjorn made a few notes and looked up. "In that case," He put the notebook away. "We should be ready to fight."

"Yep." Mai glanced at Bjorn. "I could stay up and keep watch."

"If you want to." Bjorn lied down. "Wake me up in about an hour."

"Got it." She said, folding her picture, and sticking it bag in her bag. She stood up and leaned against a tree, holding her daggers.

Bjorn lay down, and after a few long minutes, was promptly asleep and snoring quietly.
meanwhile, the howling was getting more frequent, and sounded closer… (sry, I couldn't think of anything)

(It's fine.)
Mai slipped her daggers into their sheathes on the sides of her legs, grabbed her bow, and knocked an arrow. She turned until the point of the arrow was pointed in the direction of the howling. Then, she heard branches snapping, and low growling. "Bjorn." She whispered, "Get up, now, but no sudden movements."

"Can do." His eyes snapped open, and he very slowly raised himself off the ground

She stepped slowly closer to the trees, focusing on the sounds she could hear from within.

As Bjorn stood up, he noticed something odd. "Mai!" he whispered. "I've got an idea."

"What's is it?" Mai whispered back.