Rising Anew -Chapter 16 The Glory of War-
#3 of Rising Anew
Rising Anew -Chapter 16, The Glory of War-
The world seemed to have exploded to life with the arrival of the Grimloth and their malicious leader, Marcerous. Warriors were running this way and that in a frenzy to prepare for the fight that was now inevitable.
Narina stood at her grandfather's side with Narcenac. His wound mended with some stitching. Together, the three tigers surveyed the masses at the bases of the walls.
Grimloth roared and clashed steel to steel in defiance of the wall. A few of the braver creatures would ram the base of the wall in a show of strength to their brethren. None stood in an organized show of military might. It was all a haphazard mess to the untrained observer.
"Papaw, Why do they act like monkeys fighting over a bananna?" Narina querried to the elder. "It doesnt even look like they know how to fight."
"Do not let their foolish antics trick you dear... They are as deadly as a snake poised to strike." Slowly, a grey paw slid over the pommel on his blade, Carnisian knowing full well the danger they faced now. "Grimloth changed from animals, not from humans, and they were not born as this, they changed in our presence. So they are still very wild, they will fight one another as much as they will fight anyone else."
"That is why they joined Marcerous i am sure..." The voice of their grandmother startled Narina and Narcenac slightly. Both turned to see her walking smoothly along the ramparts towards them. She wore plate armour, Bracers resembling the wrist of a dragon covered both of her wrist, and a wicked curved blade was tied to her tailtip. Resting on her brow was a brilliantly polished helm wrought in gold and inlaid with amethyst.
"P..Purma? Is that really you?" Narcenac managed to stutter. He couldnt believe that even in this day and age, traditional armour like this would have a use.
"Seems strange that we would fight with swords and bows and spears rather than guns and machines doesnt it Narcenac?" Papaw said silently, never having let his sight wander from the writhing masses below. Purma mearly nodded as she took her place alongside her mate.
"Yes Papaw, it does seem a bit bizarre.. But i think i understand why." Narcenac looked out over the tree tops and smiled. "Fighting this way draws little attention to us where guns or vehicles would bring humans swarming through the forests. I guess even the Grimloth understand that."
The two elder tigers smiled with gentle nods. Suddenly the masses below began to grow silent, torches were lit and a large figure began to move through the hordes of Grimloth towards the wall.
"Here comes Marcerous..." Papaw murmured silently.
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Grimloth quickly slipped out of the way as the dark figure moved amongst them. None wanted to be in his reach should he grow angry. The gap quickly filled behind him again. The wretches struck with awe at the monster they called leader.
Marcerous chuckled. The fear he could smell around him amused him. Nothing could compare to this feeling, nothing. Sex, drugs, nothing could compare to the thrill that fear sent through him. These filthy beggars were full of fear. Fear that he would crush them if they didnt obey. Fear that he would take any anger he had out on them. And he probably would if the urge struck him.
As he neared the base of the wall, the vile warlord looked up to see exactly who he expected to. Carnisian looked back down with contempt in his eyes. A smile crept across Marcerous' twisted features as he shook his ragged head.
"Come to tell us you want us to surrender, or that you want us to hand over Narina and Narcenac and the rest of us will be spared? Well just turn around, its cliche and annoying." Purma shouted down at him.
"Shuttup you kreten. I will say whatever i want to. Carnisian, what do you say to killing that old bitch for me? Im sure you would do it quick and painlessly. If i do it, im going to make her suffer for weeks." Marcerous shouted back.
"Id like to see you try you piss stain!" Purma retorted huffily as Carnisian raised a paw to silence her. Narina and Narcenac both stood there stairing at her dumbfounded with their mouths wide open. They had never heard their grandmother talk in so dirty a manner. She saw their stares and grinned wolfishly at them. She was beaming with excitement.
"Who are you and what happened to our Purrma?" They both spouted at once. With a happy chuckle she shushed them both.
"What do you want Marcerous..." Carnisian growled.
"I want... Blood... i want war... i want your death!"
The Grimloth suddenly roared with him.
"Carnisian, your glade is a blight in my path, and what you have is mine. Those.. cubs.. They belong to me, and i want what is mine... And i will have it, along with your head!"
Narcenac growled and extended his sharp claws. "I am not yours, and neither is Narina.. WE ARENT YOURS!!!!" he roared back.
"You will see just how much you are mine when i am finished with you wretch!" Marcerous shouted as he whirled around and marched back through the Grimloth. "YAGAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
Without warning, the Grimloth rushed forward, attacking the gates. Swords and axes hacked away at the heavy oak doors.
Warriors ran to defend their homes as archers and slingers fired off their deadly missiles into the horde.
Narina stood frozen as the weight of what was happening began to sink in on her. Her paws hang limply at her sides as the sounds of hell rose around her. Then silently, Narcenac's paw grasped hers and she smiled. For some reason, she knew what she had to do now, and that it would all be alright. Taking her bow, she ran to the gates and joined the other archers.
"Narcenac, dega ta my student, there is glory to be shared!" Tripoa called out and waved him over. The young warrior grinned and ran to his master, blade drawn. "Be ready to open the gates for use my friends, Menota, let us do battle!"
Together, Narcenac, Tripoa, and Menota flew off of the wall over the gate into the writhing hordes below, shouting. "Bare your claws!!!!!"