She tried to steady her erratic breathing as she nestled herself as far into the shadows as she could go. Her nostrils flared at the rancid smell permeating around her, the dampness of poorly carved earth dripping from the rooted ceiling and mixing with the rot beneath her, leaving a film across her tongue that taunted her stomach. Fingers scarred and calloused gripped with rhythmic beats against the handle of her sword as she pressed her back against a cool rock wall, fear trickling with the sweat across her skin at the sound that was echoing closer. Many creatures had crossed her blade, their chilling cries and shrieks of madness leaving lyrics behind in her mind as permanent notes to some haunting tune. But none had pierced her soul like the grinding and clicking of bones shifting against one another that was drawing ever closer. She had encountered Harpies and monstrous Trolls , she had snarled back at massive attacking Dire Wolves and dove...