The Hero of Downways

Once
there was a Hero who confronted the dreaded Daggertooth and slew it.
Unfortunately he was also slain by it - but the legend persisted. If it
could be done once, then another Hero could be raised to do it again.
Because the Daggertooth was dangerous to hibernating humanity. All
people - all that anyone knew of - lived far underground in tunnels
built for safety and hibernation. The Daggertooth was a mass killer -
more so even than the hideous Oddlies, the outcasts of the darker
tunnels.
So this is the story of John-A, the "vatkid" who was
trained to be a second Hero. And the story of "trukid" Shirl who taught
John-A what to do. And Threesum, the Oddlies' leader, who scoffed at
heroes. And the Elders who frowned at all the risky goings-on. This is
the story of a mighty strange world and a mighty strange future...