Urses freed the axe from the guaradans skull with a crunch, wiping the material off with the creatures clothing before taking a look over his shoulder. Fire crackled and roared, burning tents, bodies and anything else that stood in its path, devouring the village in flames. The cave was the only thing left, and that is where she wound be. Deep in the heart of the stone, her offspring protecting the darkened halls and waiting for the intruder.
The stone was damp, and unnaturally dark, the halls seemed to resonate with an evil that could be felt even in the air. Urses knelt, wrapping pieces of oiled cloth around a piece of wood before taking his axe and striking a small piece of flint with it, watching the flames engulf the make shift torch. A chill ran down his spine as a hushed voice echoed inside the tunnels.
"Man of bear, or bear of man? It dares to set its paws upon our stone? Go now my children, rip its flesh, gnaw upon its bones! Kill! Kill! You will die here, heir of Bulivye. The Iaurmenel who sent you has withdrawn her children... You stand alone, do you fear the darkness now that you stare it in the eyes?"
Urses stood and continued to make his way down the freezing tunnels with a smile, carrying the torch in front of him. The halls had become silent, not even the patter of water falling upon stone echoed down the tunnel. The Urses paused for a moment, taking a long look down the tunnel before turning around, stopping in his tracks.
The creature that stood before him was taller than any man, its legs could have been tree trunks, his arms the branches. Its teeth like gnarled knives, needle sharp and as long as a man's finger. It moved before Urses could blink, wrapping its fingers around his neck before slamming him into the stone. The Urses Coughed and sputtered, trying to get his breath back as he reached for his axe but only found the guaradans foot upon his chest. The tunnels filled with a howl as Urses plunged his dagger straight into the creatures thigh, giving the blade a hard twist as the creature raised its foot and vaulted back into the shadows.
Urses laid there for a moment, clenching his chest tightly as he looked down. A hunk of flesh had been torn out, a marked out tattoo had been there before. He groaned loudly before turning over and grabbing his axe, yelling down the way. "I will wear your skull as a loin plate, little ones!"
