(continued from the Black Beech)

The cave was dark and smelly. I took out a box of matches and lit a dry piece of wood that I found on the floor. It didn't really help.

I saw that the walls of the cave wer smooth, as though it had been hollowed out by water, probably the sea years ago. The floor was wet. There was dampness in the air.

As I coninued to walk I realised that something had recently been in this cave. There were scrarches on the walls and the ground was disturbed in certain areas. I hoped that whatever it was had gone. I hoped that it was not a werewolf... if it was though, I would be ready for it.

I could hear thunder outside. I could also hear the sound of the howling from the wolves. I would have to search this place ni a hurry.

As I made a uick look around I found nothing so was about to go back and tell the others. Thats when I heard it. A faint sound... almost like a hissing - but it was no snake!
It was coming from the shadows at the back of the cave where I had not yet checked. Slowly, and very carefully, I heade dtowards the area.

I could see somehting in the corner... it was larger then a human but not as large as a werewolf. I could not see it for it was in shadow but it looked like it was wounded.

I crept closer. What was this thing? It began to hiss and wail when it saw me approaching. I got even closer.

"Hello?" I asked, "Are you alright?"

Suddenly it leapt forwards at me, knocking my crossbow out of my hands. I was one o the flying creatures that had attacked the Kingston! It was wounded but still very strong! It pinned me to the ground and with two great fangs protuding from its mouth, it lowered it's head to bite my neck.

It was so strong that there was nothnig I could do... I shouted out for help...

I jumped forward out of the dark. The vampire I had been tracking was attacking a man!

I had hunted this beast for days. I had spotted it feasting off a dead child in the forest and had made my move. That first encounter I had wounded it badly - driving my wooded stake into the vampires chest. I narrowly missed its heart - which was my downfall. The vampire had lashed out, cutting several deep cuts into my face with its claws before fleeing.
since then I had tracked it through the forest, not letting it return to the safety of the it's Queens castle. It had run to the BLack Beech and then eventually into this cave where I had managed to corner it.

THe appearence of this man had changed everything. Now I had to protect him!

I raised my stake into the air. THe vampire, which was about to kill the man, turned and spotted me.

"You'll never feast on the flesh of humans again!" I growled before plunging my stake into its body.

This time I did not miss it's heart.

The vampire wailed and thrashed about, foam bubbling from its mouth. With a loud scream it's eyes burst and then, in a sudden flash, it's body set alight and crumbled into dust.

I gave the man a helping hand to his feet and saluted him.

"Bruce Freedom," I said, "vampire hunter at your service."

I remebered that Mister Johns had to give us the all clear before we could move in, but hearing the screams I ran throught the dank cave, scimitar raised to the air.

I could smell a foul stentch of rotting corpse, then I walked to see the vampire hunter. Dust lay beside him, from a recently dead vampire.

I dropped Andor on the hard surface of the cave, he went down with a thud and a whispering groan.

I looked at the hunter and Mister Johns

A vampire hunter? So we were now in the company of a werewolf hunter and a vampire hunter!

My thoughts turned instantly to the people back on the Kingston. Where they aware that the creatures that had attacked us were vampires? Surely we could not trust them now. I wondered if the captain was still going to go to that castle...

"Mr Freedom," I said to the man, "thank you for saving the life of our friend."

I looked at the ash remains of the dead vampire.

"So vampires really do exist..." I continued, "I always wondered. Ever since I first saw and killed a werewolf many years ago I had wondered if other such creatures existed. Now I know."

All of our party had now entered the cave. Darren Blank helped Emmsi onto a rock. She was still feeling groggy.

"Obviosuly now we cannot trust anything that came out of Gor'an's mouth. He was a vampire," I said, "We will NOT go to that castle to meet their Queen - which would obviosuly be a trap. We must get back to the Kingston at once and get the hell out of here!"

I wondered just how we would do this. We could now hear heavy footsteps outside the cave and the occasional growl. The wolves must almost be ontop of us...

I shook Bruce Freedoms hand. Bruce Freedom... a name I had heard before but never actually met. He was a very famous hunter, one of the most famous in fact.

"My name is Johns," I said, "but most people call me Mister."

Thats when the noise of the wolves outside became even louder. I knew that we would not be able to take on that many wolves. I wondered if this was the challenge that that voice spoke of set by the Queen.

"We must block the cave entrance," I said, "stop the wolves from getting inside!"

I rushed to the cave mouth and looked at the rock closely.

"We should easily be able to smash this down... block the entrance with rocks. Phoenix, Sleepy, Pete... help me!"

I picked up a strong club like stick from the ground and began to beat at the cave mouth, in the hope that it would collapse and secure us inside. I just hoped that we would be able to get back out...

i started to help the others, welcome Mr Freedom, i am sleepy i, and thanks for saving our friend. feel free to ask me anything.

we was blobking up the enterance, i started thinking how are we going to get out of here.

I too helped to block up the cave entrance. Soon it was almost complete. We could shadowy figures moving outside... prowling the night.

I looked over to Mister Johns.

"I too have heard of you," I said. He seemed a little shocked, "the werewolf hunter. Oh yes... it is a good idea to keep a check on ones allies!"

I wondered if we would really be safe in this cave once the entrance was blocked and how long we were meant to stay in here. Still... if anything tired to get inside I would be ready for them. I was a specialist in killing vampires, but that didn't mean that I could not take care of any other foul beast.

I found at the back of the cave, water running down the side of one of the rocks. It was fresh which meant there must be a stream nearby. I checked the rock... if needed we could probably break down this rock which would lead us straight to the stream - as escape route should the wolves get inside.

I tested the water. It was fresh! I took a long drink. As I did I thought about the things thath ad happened. I could not beleive that my ship was destroyed and all my crew were probably dead. I also could not beleive that I had dropped the Lost Map into the sea... I wondered who the next person would be to come across such a treasure.

I took my hip-flask out of my pocket and filled it with water. I then moved back into the cave over to Emmsi.

"Here," I said, "drink this. It's fresh... it will make you feel better."

We had managed to block the cave entrance. We could still hear the wolves outside but so far it seemed as if they didn't know we were in here. Maybe we were going to be lucky. Maybe they hadn't seen us at all.

I walked over to Andor and put my hand on his shoulder. "Darren Blank has found some water. Maybe you should drink some," I said to the old man.

I then sat down myself. I was shattered. It was still the middle of the night and none of us had had any sleep.

"May I suggest that we try and get some sleep? We should always have one person awake on guard.I 'll go first if you like. Try and get some shut eye."