06-02-2017, 01:31 PM
A small deer drank from the river near the mouth of the cave. Its one good eye scanned the water, watching for danger. A ripple formed less than ten feet away. The wary animal stiffened but didn't move. Suddenly, the troll lurched forward and up out of the water, arm stretching toward the woodland creature. The deer was ready though and jumped back just out of reach. As the troll crashed forward, the deer bound away into the trees.
"Hey Ugly," Freya said when she stepped out from behind a tree near where the deer disappeared. The troll roared and charged her. The goddess raised her hand and channeled her energy. Their eyes locked, and the troll smashed into the shield, shattering it. The monster was left stunned, however, and Freya released her curse on it.
Just then, the werewolf form of Odin flew out of the woods and crashed into the beast, knocking the dazed troll on its ass. He raised his spear, Gungnir, and brought the tip down on its chest, but his target had recovered. It raised a gangly arm, and the blade bit into it. Then the troll planted a foot in Odin's chest and kicked him back. He flew a couple of dozen feet in the air but managed to roll it into a backflip and landed on his feet.
The troll clambered up with a growl. The hand attached to the wounded arm was limp, but the monstrosity didn't seem to notice. Suddenly, Freya struck out with her sword, bringing it across the creature's Achilles tendon. A giant, floppy paw swung toward her, and she was forced to abandon her attack to defend herself. She brought her blade up and crossed the flat end across her other arm in an X. The strike drove her back, but she maintained her footing.
Bounding forward, Odin took the chance to strike. He grabbed the troll's good arm, yanked it out of the way, and drove his spear up under its ribs. It howled in pain and rage. The spear was stuck, and Odin couldn't get out of the way of the coming retaliation. So, he released his weapon and held onto its arm with both hands. It turned and punched Odin in the face with its bad hand. There was a loud crack as both Odin's nose broke and so did the troll's wrist.
Freya brought a two-handed strike down on the beast's back. It tore a long, bloody gash. The attack should have severed muscles, but it was only skin deep. Her curse was ended, which meant....
Odin started to transform back into his human form. The troll ignored the attacker at its back and head-butted Odin's bloodied face, driving him to the ground. Odin was left sprawled and stunned. The troll grabbed him around the waist and lifted him up.
Freya had to do something. She saw Odin's spear still hanging from the troll's side and sheathed her sword. She grabbed Gungnir and shoved it as deep as possible. The troll roared and dropped Odin back to the ground, and he immediately started chanting.
Freya held on as well as she could as the troll twisted and turned, trying to shake her off. After a few seconds, something washed over her. Her pupils dilated and mouth twisted into a snarl. She redoubled her effort, breaking the bone the spear was stuck in, and driving the spear deeper. The spell now taking effect on his companion, Odin climbed to his feet and charged the troll. He threw his shoulder into its chest, driving it back and to the ground. He rolled off it, took his place next to Freya, and helped drive the blade into the monster's heart.
The troll thrashed and lashed out at them. But with a sudden shudder, it went limp and died. The two gods fell back onto the sandy riverbank and laughed.
"Hey Ugly," Freya said when she stepped out from behind a tree near where the deer disappeared. The troll roared and charged her. The goddess raised her hand and channeled her energy. Their eyes locked, and the troll smashed into the shield, shattering it. The monster was left stunned, however, and Freya released her curse on it.
Just then, the werewolf form of Odin flew out of the woods and crashed into the beast, knocking the dazed troll on its ass. He raised his spear, Gungnir, and brought the tip down on its chest, but his target had recovered. It raised a gangly arm, and the blade bit into it. Then the troll planted a foot in Odin's chest and kicked him back. He flew a couple of dozen feet in the air but managed to roll it into a backflip and landed on his feet.
The troll clambered up with a growl. The hand attached to the wounded arm was limp, but the monstrosity didn't seem to notice. Suddenly, Freya struck out with her sword, bringing it across the creature's Achilles tendon. A giant, floppy paw swung toward her, and she was forced to abandon her attack to defend herself. She brought her blade up and crossed the flat end across her other arm in an X. The strike drove her back, but she maintained her footing.
Bounding forward, Odin took the chance to strike. He grabbed the troll's good arm, yanked it out of the way, and drove his spear up under its ribs. It howled in pain and rage. The spear was stuck, and Odin couldn't get out of the way of the coming retaliation. So, he released his weapon and held onto its arm with both hands. It turned and punched Odin in the face with its bad hand. There was a loud crack as both Odin's nose broke and so did the troll's wrist.
Freya brought a two-handed strike down on the beast's back. It tore a long, bloody gash. The attack should have severed muscles, but it was only skin deep. Her curse was ended, which meant....
Odin started to transform back into his human form. The troll ignored the attacker at its back and head-butted Odin's bloodied face, driving him to the ground. Odin was left sprawled and stunned. The troll grabbed him around the waist and lifted him up.
Freya had to do something. She saw Odin's spear still hanging from the troll's side and sheathed her sword. She grabbed Gungnir and shoved it as deep as possible. The troll roared and dropped Odin back to the ground, and he immediately started chanting.
Freya held on as well as she could as the troll twisted and turned, trying to shake her off. After a few seconds, something washed over her. Her pupils dilated and mouth twisted into a snarl. She redoubled her effort, breaking the bone the spear was stuck in, and driving the spear deeper. The spell now taking effect on his companion, Odin climbed to his feet and charged the troll. He threw his shoulder into its chest, driving it back and to the ground. He rolled off it, took his place next to Freya, and helped drive the blade into the monster's heart.
The troll thrashed and lashed out at them. But with a sudden shudder, it went limp and died. The two gods fell back onto the sandy riverbank and laughed.