The Demon Hunter's Bond

The male gave a pained grunt as her body crashed through the shrubs, slightly limping as he ran. The pressure on his ankle almost unbearable, but he went on, glancing back at the almost heart breaking sight. There lay his sword, broken, shattered, and useless. It left the demon hunter defenseless and vulnerable, which was a feeling he wasn't fond of. He was someone that was used to being in control, used to being the hunter, but now fear struck through his entire core, as he was now the one being hunted. The demon hunter gripped his arm, his hand tightening around the wound which made him wince. Between his frantic thoughts and running, he hadn't noticed the thick crimson trail the gash was leaving, allowing the demon to follow his every move. Brown eyes darted back as he slowed for a second, a slight glimmer of hope filling his slowly failing body, only for it to vanish as a tree came crashing down too close for comfort. "Shit." He cursed, the demon getting closer. A wary sigh escaped his lips as he pushed himself on, her vision beginning to blur from too much blood loss. He staggered, his already throbbing ankle hitting a tree root and causing him to fall. A groan of defeat and agony slipped passed his lips as the overwhelming smell of sulfur invaded his senses, the demon was upon him. His eyes began to slip closed, he was so close, the village was not much further away.. Tears wailed in his eyes, how could he have been so careless? He would shame his clan by dying to such an inferior demon. But all that wouldn't matter here soon.. He was taking what he thought to be his last breath when he thought he saw something. People..? He couldn't tell. The male was sent into a blissful state of unconsciousness, enjoying the painless sleep. *** Two days had passed since he had slipped away into oblivion; he blinked his muddy colored hues, trying to clear the blur that had possessed them. Eventually, when his sight cleared he looked around, the surroundings were foreign to him, and there was a smell he couldn't place. The room was small and cozy. but it was nice. He was obviously in a guest room, the walls were bare and practically nothing was in the room but the bed and a nightstand. He glanced over, pain filling his heart as he noticed the shattered pieces of his sword. He reached over, tenderly picking up a piece, a frown finding his lips. He couldn't believe it.. His ancestral sword broken.. Like it was nothing.. "You're awake." That made him jump and he looked up in surprise, there was a woman standing in the doorway. The male gave a small nod, his eyes examining her a moment. A flicker of slight amusement developed in his eyes, she was so tiny. The woman had flowing black hair, chocolate brown eyes that mirrored his own, and a face that held beauty and elegance. She was definitely attractive. "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine." "You didn't seem fine laying at my feet." A slight sigh of annoyance escaped him as he noticed her really was better. The fire in his arm had been extinguished to a dull burn, and his ankle was wrapped snugly. Suddenly the smell clicked, he had smelt this before when he was little, they were herbs. She must practice medicine. "What you did was reckless and stupid, bringing such a foul creature close to our peaceful village. Then getting your only weapon broke? Do you know how many people we lost trying to save you? What kind of demon hunter are you?" Although she didn't yell at him, he could sense the hidden anger that she possessed. Before the male could utter a reply, she cut him off. "I won't tell you what I did to save you. I threw everything away to save a man from a neighboring village on a whim-" "And for that, I give you my deepest apologies." "Your deepest apologies won't bring back my father, or my brother, or my best friend since birth. You owe me, demon hunter. You owe me many lives of debt." "I will do everything in my power to return your gratitude, I am deeply and truly sorry.." She lifted her hand to silence him. "Your name?" "Duncan.. Walker." "Duncan Walker, from this day forward, you will pledge your services too me. Your life if need be. You mustn't question my actions, but to follow me until you are released of this pledge, and if you are not released, will be passed on to your children and there's as well. Do you understand?" "Yes, Malady." "I, Nara Dawning, bind you to this statement."