Crunch , Crunch , Crunch
Thin twigs snapping under the heavy boots of the 8 guards slowly walking through the dense forest.
"Listen up youngin's" spoke the old guard , his every step having a slight limp and wince. "We are looking for the foragers , now we all know they went missing in this direction, but we are going in blind here. Look for any trails they could leave behind. Think footprints, bushes missing their berries , and any bad smell that those berries pickers might have left behind"
"Yes , Sir!". Responded the other 7 guards , while not as injured as the old guard , they all had bandages on varying body parts.
Slowly but surely , they made their way through the thick brush , looking for any kind of trail that could help find their missing friends.
"I think I found something " announced a guard whose hand was bandaged , while pointing down at a footprint .
"Idiot." Whispered another guard , this one with a bandage on his leg , "That's a footprint from a deer. That's not even close to a humans how could you get that wrong?"
"Hahahaha " the rest of the guards laughed , seemingly enjoying picking on hand bandage man.
Slightly blushing, the man slowly stepped forward continuing to search for more trails , until chancing upon a collection of footprints , all heading to the same direction .
"Here , here , definitely human this time!" Exclaimed the man , before having his head chopped by the captain.
"Quiet down. There could be something dangerous here"
"Oh come on , what could there possibly be , even the foragers come out here on the daily. "
Said the bandaged hand man. As his stomach lurched .
His hands slick with cold sweat , struggling to grasp his spear .
For a while , the group followed the footprints silently , with their weapons unsheathed , and their eyes scanning the surroundings . The air slowly picked up a faint , and then thick metallic stench.
The forest growing silent , as if luring in prey.
Eventually they reached what seemed to be a battle ground. The footsteps stopped here , the ground having been covered by a thick reddish black liquid.
"What is this? " Questioned a guard whose nose had been bandaged .
"Blood." The old Guard stated with a calm coldness. He was no stranger to blood , and now his heart was sinking thinking of the situation the foragers could be in. After all they were all his friends, having lived in this village for years .
"Let's turn back ! We found it , blood. They must be dead , must be! Let's go , no need to keep going forwards." The hand man exclaimed , having reached his daily limit of bravery. Not every man was built to be a guard , but it was an easy job , sitting on a wall, collecting coin.
So many guards were cowards. Never truly protecting the villages that looked up to them.
"No." the old guard sent him a death glare. "They could be alive , and I will not abandon them."
The rest of the guards silently nodded , some of their wives were among the foragers too , they wouldn't leave them to die.
"Let's go." Commanded the old guard.
They picked up their pace , taking strong strides in the direction of the bloody trail. Littered here and there was pieces of cloth , as if purposely to leave a trail.
"Wait! This... This is her ring.... My wife's ring.... " Exclaimed a guard , falling to his knees , grasping at every nearby cloth as if trying to piece her back together .
"We cannot delay! Stand up and march . We will bring her back. That's a promise! " Barked the old guard. His voice even, his back broad.
"Yes.... Sir." The dazed guard replied , planting his feet and brandishing a short sword. His eyes fiery and his mouth twisted into a snarl.
As they progressed down the trail, there was more cloth , more jewelry, more blood. By now the metallic stench was sickening, the faint outlines of flesh dotted about the pools of blood. Even the trees had deep grooves seemingly made by claws that seeped dark amber , appearing in the faint light of dawn as no different to blood.
"Halt" Commanded the old guard. His fist raised and his stance low. "It's too quiet."
Crunch , Crunch , Crunch
"I thought I said Halt."
"That wasn't any of us , sir." A shaky voice replied , finally realizing something was wrong.
"READY YOURSELVES!" Shouted the old guard , having realized it was too late to be tracking anyone. They had been walking into the trap since the beginning.
What responded wasn't a human voice. A low chuckle, slowly surrounded them.
In front , behind. To the sides and above. They were completely surrounded .
"Back to Back Now! Stay close , watch each other's back. This is what we trained for !" While he himself was panicking , his training had kicked in . Trying his best to muster up what little courage was left in the group.
Slowly , they scanned the thick forest. The light of dawn not fully lighting up the surroundings . The dark shadows flickering , some darker than they should've been. Glimpses of sharp reflections throwing shapes across the trees . The faint rustling of leaves and bushes slowly growing , alongside the ever present laughter.
The guards were trained to keep wild beasts out of the village , doubling as a mini army in times of need. But they had not been trained to deal with whatever it was they were facing . Infact in all the years the old guard had lived , he had never felt so lost. His mind wandering quietly trying to find a way out. But he couldn't find an opening . Not when he didn't know what he was facing. Think . Think. Think. His sword quietly shaking in his palm. Ahhhh if only he had sharpened his blade more often. 100 different regrets flowed through his mind , as he stared death in the face.
"Hold" He had made his mind up , if he couldn't escape then he would fight his way through. Like the oldtimes , when he was still a Bluescale Knight.
"Brace" He had 7 men , and was in a tight area with not many angles to be attacked from . He could do this
"Get ready" He just needed them to trust him.
"I'm sorry but I can't!" Screamed one of the guards, Sprinting towards the village with reckless abandon.
At the same time the shadows seemed to come alive as they pounced the seven remaining guards. However being abandoned, they had a weak point. And the shadows knew it too.
The old guards eyes widened . Then dimmed. Knowing he had no clue escape to be had today. His dull blade being the first to meet the enemies.
His dull blade was also the first to be sent recalling as a scaled foot slammed into his gut. The old guards back collided with the guard behind himself . Sending both tumbling , just in time for them to dodge a sharp whistling that passed over their heads. In an instant , the formation had been broken. "Regroup!" The old guard struggled to his feet. His side still aching from Valens underhanded attack. Finally catching a good look at what had attacked them , his eyes widened . It was no human , it's maw dripping blood , with a few fingers dangling loosely between it's crooked teeth. Webbed , scaled feet . A broad hairless chest and a bald head. And what seemed to be a sharp horn, gripped by four short fingers.
It threw it's head back , catching the remainder of the hand it was lightly chewing and swallowing it in one go. Then , it tilted its head sideways and grinned before swinging it's abnormally long arms down. Aiming to pierce the top of the old guards skull.
"Captain!" The nose bandage man exclaimed , before barely parrying the horn aiming to end his teachers life. However , that left him open , as two smaller horns pierced his back.
As the body of his comrade fell, having sacrificed himself unknowingly, the old guard raised his sword and slit the first scaled abominations throat. Hoping that would be enough to end it , he spun and delivered two quick thrusts into chests of the other two. However it was not enough , his side failing him , falling to his knees . He clutched his side and spun , trying to see the fate of the others in his group. To his dismay , they lay , battered and broken. Each with a horn sticking out of their bodies , some with two.
A light shine from between the thick trees. Falling gently on the old mans face . He stayed on his knees for a moment , then stood. Surrounded on all sides by an unknown enemy. He stood proud, and fought until his last breath. Taking as many down as he could , and maiming the legs of those who he couldn't.
"Hahahaha, go to hell . I'll meet you there! " He shouted for the final time, before half a dozen horns pierced him. Each noticeably smaller than the first that attacked him. Lying motionless around him were his 6 loyal comrades. And countless abominations. His eyes melancholic, but a grin never left his face in his final moments.
Falling to one knee, he propped himself up on his sword one final time. Letting the warmth of daylight caress his face. Eyes locked on the clouds rolling in from the distance.
The shadows moved. Too many to count. Too close to flee. And though his breath hitched at the realization, he did not flinch. Steel met claw. Fangs tore. Yet even as the rendlings descended, tearing and gnawing, he remained upright, a knight to the very end.