"Joy." He repeats. He takes a breath to give his own name. "My name is--" He stops. Snap. He thinks. Will she suspect if I tell her my name is Temptation? It's not that usual, and maybe someone told her about the spirit that haunts these parts, luring travelers away. . . I'm not doing that now, but still-- to avoid complication. . . "I'm. . ." What about your old name? A little voice pipes up in his head. The one you had before you became Temptation? ". . . My name is. . . Luke." The word came out as a little gasp -- as if he had just released a great burden from his shoulders.
"Luke. That's a nice name." Joy replies, completely unknowing of the depth of his other name. She asks another question, "What do you usually do as a job?"
"I. . ." Temptation lifts a gnarled brach out of the way of his face, and stands back to allow Joy to pass through first. He thinks quickly. ". . . I'm sort of. . . in between jobs right now. One of them being helping young travelers find adventure." He adds with an unexpected spot of humor.
Temptation's face flushes upon the unexpected praise. It had been a long while since anyone had said anything good about him like that. Not for the first time, he is glad his large hood hides most of his face; the only thing that Joy can see are his lips and the pasty-white color of his chin. Abruptly, he stops, suddenly realizing where they were. "We're here."
Joy looks around. There's a sign that says "Froggy Leg Swamp" on her left that is carved into a plank of wood. The swamp was very green, with tall trees, a dark green river, lots of vines and branches covered in moss, and lots of leaping frogs, some of which leaped very close to Joy and Temptation. "How do you usually cross this river?" Joy asks.
Temptation scans their surroundings, then points to their left, along the bank of the dark, murky river. Running in a crooked, haphazard pattern several feet above the river, a narrow wooden bridge stretched out to the other side. The ropes holding up the ancient, rotting structure were old and covered with moss and vines, while the dark boards were moist and cracked with age. A small, warm breeze murmured through the trees, causing the bridge to sway and groan wearily. "That's the easiest way to get across." He announces. He casts a glance at Joy, recalling that she is new to the parts. "When we're crossing that thing, remember one thing; be very, very quiet."
"Got it." She whispered back as she began to slowly walk across the bridge first. Every step she took generated a creaky sound that she could not control, and it became louder as she got towards the middle. She wasn't sure about what would happen if they crossed the bridge loudly, but she figured she could ask after they had crossed.
Temptation cringes at every creak and groan at Joy's footfalls, though his own footsteps are no less loud. Cautiously, they make their away across the ancient structure, which sways uneasily by their movement. By and by, the opposite shore draws nearer and nearer. Temptations' confidence begins to grow. We're going to make it! SNAP. One board, rotten through by age and termites, collapses beneath his weight and plummets down below. Temptation steps back from the gap and grabs the ropes in time to save himself from stumbling, but the single board falls into the lake with a single splash that sounds as loud as a thunderclap. A moment of silence passes. Temptation stands very, very still, feeling his heart pound. He shoots a warning glance at Joy, bewaring her not to move. Then. . . something beneath the surface of the dark, murky water stirs.
Temptation cringes at every creak and groan at Joy's footfalls, though his own footsteps are no less loud. Cautiously, they make their away across the ancient structure, which sways uneasily by their movement. By and by, the opposite shore draws nearer and nearer. Temptations' confidence begins to grow. We're going to make it! SNAP. One board, rotten through by age and termites, collapses beneath his weight and plummets down below. Temptation steps back from the gap and grabs the ropes in time to save himself from stumbling, but the single board falls into the lake with a single splash that sounds as loud as a thunderclap. A moment of silence passes. Temptation stands very, very still, feeling his heart pound. He shoots a warning glance at Joy, bewaring her not to move. Then. . . something beneath the surface of the dark, murky water stirs.
Something began to slowly circle around the splash of where the board fell, and Joy began to feel afraid as she turned around to look at Temptation. She's encountered numerous creatures before, but each new creature she fought seemed to be stronger than the one before. She pulled out her shortsword and held it in a defensive position.
For a few seconds, it was quiet. Temptation and Joy smiled at each other thinking it was over. Then all of a sudden....
A giant tentacle splashes out of the waters and through the hole from the fallen board. It was now in between Temptation and Joy, and it curled around the air.
Temptation cringes at every creak and groan at Joy's footfalls, though his own footsteps are no less loud. Cautiously, they make their away across the ancient structure, which sways uneasily by their movement. By and by, the opposite shore draws nearer and nearer. Temptations' confidence begins to grow. We're going to make it! SNAP. One board, rotten through by age and termites, collapses beneath his weight and plummets down below. Temptation steps back from the gap and grabs the ropes in time to save himself from stumbling, but the single board falls into the lake with a single splash that sounds as loud as a thunderclap. A moment of silence passes. Temptation stands very, very still, feeling his heart pound. He shoots a warning glance at Joy, bewaring her not to move. Then. . . something beneath the surface of the dark, murky water stirs.
-last edited on Aug 14, 2018 10:36:46 GMT by LordTigress: angry jerry
Post by LordTigress on Aug 14, 2018 10:36:24 GMT
"Ohh, snap. . ." Temptation mutters. He looks at Joy uneasily from under his hood. He begins to feign confidence. "Hang on, Joy, I got this." He turns toward the water from which the great tentacle protrudes, faking a broad smile. "Ayyyyy, Jerry! My man! What's up? Been a while, huh? You're looking good. How's the wife--?" The tentacle snatches Temptation by the waist, wrapping tightly around him and yanking him off his feet. His sentence ends with a startled yelp as he finds himself hovering in midair above the water, feet dangling. He coughs, feeling the tentacle squeeze dangerously tight around his torso. ". . . OK, you got me. Yeah, I was crossing your bridge. . . Um, I know this looks bad, but allow me to explain--" He chokes when the grip tightens further. "Um, Jerry? I-- can't-- breathe. . ." Jerry begins to draw his prey closer to the water.
Something began to slowly circle around the splash of where the board fell, and Joy began to feel afraid as she turned around to look at Temptation. She's encountered numerous creatures before, but each new creature she fought seemed to be stronger than the one before. She pulled out her shortsword and held it in a defensive position.
For a few seconds, it was quiet. Temptation and Joy smiled at each other thinking it was over. Then all of a sudden....
A giant tentacle splashes out of the waters and through the hole from the fallen board. It was now in between Temptation and Joy, and it curled around the air.
