Braden cradled her young face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “That means this will all be over soon, and we’ll be able to go home. Brandt has gone south to recover his herd. Hundreds of Aurochs should be waiting for us, waiting for you to show them how to be free, how to live. They will need you to nurse them back to health from eating the tainted grasses. They will need you.” He saw a small spark of life in her eyes, but it disappeared quickly. Her sadness tore at his heart.
Hers was the purest soul he’d ever met, and he put her into the middle of a battle for humanity, a life or death struggle. He caressed her hair and thought of Micah. G-War purred and rubbed against her leg. She petted him, staring into the distance.
After the short rest, Akhmiyar suggested they find a place to the west to hide while they spent the night. First thing after sunrise, they’d head for the stronghold, find the Overlords, and finish it.
Loper and Sunny were both limping. Ferrer and Brigitte were still in perfect health. The four swordsmen, all injured, were still carrying their swords and claiming they were ready to fight. Zyena seemed strong and the three Amazonians never let an injury hold them back. Plus Braden. It wasn’t much, but it’s all they had.
They followed Akhmiyar as he led them from the battle site to a dense part of the rainforest.
The Herd
Brandt didn’t bother stopping at Trent or Cornwall. He, two cows, and two bulls, one being Lomen, ran at a steady pace, taking regular breaks to feed as they found grass and bushes to their liking. When they reached Toromont’s Run, the herd was where they left them. They grazed lazily, not taking notice of Brandt and the others.
Lomen’s eyes crossed as he looked at the lush green of the grass. He lost focus and leaned down to take a bite. Brandt rammed him with his shoulder and knocked the young bull off his hooves. Lomen grunted when he hit the ground, waking up from his daydream.
‘We must hurry!’ Brandt told the group as he glared at Lomen. ‘And you, stay next to me.’
They trotted toward the herd, Brandt in front, then two and two, making an inverted V as they approached.
‘Queen! Are you here?’ Brandt asked in his booming thought voice.
‘I am, my King,’ came the quick reply.
‘Good. You are all coming with us, because this grass is bad for you and holding you back in everything. We have a journey of many turns before us. We will move you to the Plains of Propiscius, where you will return to health, and we will grow the herd until we fill the lands with our people,’ Brandt spoke confidently, standing tall and towering over the others.
‘Tomorrow we go. Yes, that okay,’ the Queen said.
‘We will leave now, and that will be better,’ Brandt stated firmly. The Queen sighed and ambled toward him. She took a few steps, then laid down in the grass, head drooping as she prepared to take a nap.
Brandt Earthshaker, King of the Aurochs was incensed. He bugled his displeasure and then bugled more until his throat hurt from his efforts. He ran to those farthest away and with the tips of his great horns encouraged them to run. Eyes wide, they started to panic. The King ran back and forth behind them, driving them toward the mouth of the valley. Others joined the race, then more. The Aurochs who arrived with Brandt saw a stampede approaching. They turned and ran as well. Fear drove the herd forward as if they ran before a wildfire.
It was only Brandt and he was pleased they showed that much energy. He continued pushing them, noting that the Queen had shaken herself awake and was running with the rest, no idea why but running nonetheless.
‘Make sure they turn north when they reach the mouth of the valley,’ Brandt commanded the others, who turned on his order. Two of them ran north to lead the stampede and the two largest of his old Earthshaker Herd stopped and blocked the running Aurochs from turning the wrong way. It only took the first few and the rest followed. They ran out of steam quickly, slowing to a walk. Brandt kept them going until they reached the first stream. He huddled them there and let them drink their fill.
He’d force them to sleep and with the new dawn, they’d continue their journey. He also set up a watch schedule to make sure none of the new herd wandered back to Toromont’s Run.
Brandt looked at the sea of Aurochs and smiled.
Where Have You Been?
Micah was instantly alert. It was nightfall when the casual slopping step of someone approached their position. She raised her blaster, ready to fire. Pik Ha’ar walked into the area, his hands behind him as if taking a stroll around the oasis lake.
He smoothly stepped behind a tree and disappeared in the way of the Lizard Men. Aadi swam over and the two began to talk. The rest of the companions joined them.
‘Where have you been?’ Micah asked, at wit’s end from the long wait.
‘I’m sorry. They hold a rather extensive position. I walked it all, without getting too close to the stronghold itself. We are in a good position here, if they run. This is the most easily accessible route to the south. I have good news, too. While I was “inspecting” their positions, many warriors were pulled out and dispatched to deal with enemy coming from the north,’ he said and waited for their response. Everyone knew what that meant.
Micah slapped the Wolfoids on the back, smiled, and nodded.
“Braden comes,” she said proudly, a glint in her eyes.
‘I could not tell if the Overlords were preparing to leave, but I know where the enemy’s positions are. I believe that if I remove a single sentry, we can all get inside their lines and attack the stronghold ourselves without encountering further resistance. We can end this,’ Pik said confidently.
“We can end this,” Micah replied. The Wolfoids nodded, throwing the ever present water from their hides with every movement. “Tell us what we need to do, Pik, and let us get ready. Go at first light?”
‘Yes. First light is best. Even I can’t see a Lizard Man hiding in the dark. I will go first, check to make sure the sentries haven’t moved, then I will create the breach. I will call to you over the mindlink and you will come, exactly along the path I made from here to there. If they have moved, I’ll find a gap, then come back to get you, lead you through where it’s safe. Then we attack the stronghold. From what I saw, it consists of three small buildings of ancient manufacture. They are old, but seem to be functional. They have power like the oasis. Strange lights come from within. Those lights will guide us as we get close. Spare nothing as you approach. If it moves, you must kill it. Only the Overlords and their followers are there,’ Pik ended without emotion.
‘You’ve spent a lot of time with Braden, I see,’ Micah exclaimed. ‘This sounds like one of his plans. Well done, Pik! Well done.’
‘Sleep now. Dal and I will watch. You need your rest. What we all do in the next daylight will determine the course of the war.’
Micah nodded, her earlier anxiety replaced with new concerns. She tried to sleep, but found it elusive as she worried about Braden, Bronwyn, and the rest of the companions. Even without the neural implant, she expected that she’d know if Braden had been hurt or worse, killed.
When she did sleep, her dreams were haunted with pain and sadness from Bronwyn, a stream of images with the blood and horrors of war.
Prepare to Attack
Braden’s dreams were interrupted by Bronwyn’s descent into darkness. She was surrounded by lakes of blood while green-skinned creatures pointed sharp sticks at her. Screaming faces bared their fangs, prophesying her doom.
The little girl tossed and turned, despite Ferrer, Brigitte, and G-War’s best efforts. Bounder and Gray Strider slept like they were dead. Braden worried, until he nudged them and they struggled awake, blinking bloodshot eyes at him. Maybe they hadn’t slept that well either.
Braden could never tell with Akhmiyar. After all this time, he was still unable to read the body language of the Amazonians. If there could be a bright spot in their journey, they had plenty of rations remaining. They recovered food from those who had fallen and still carried a
comparable amount to when they started. It was the bleakest bright spot he could think of. Braden was ashamed of himself.
Akhmiyar joined the rest as they ate. He leaned toward Bronwyn to ask her to interpret, but decided against it. He stood up straight, looked at Braden, and pointed in the direction of the stronghold. He raised his spear and made a thrusting motion, then waved at the group to follow. Braden put a hand on his arm to hold him up for a heartbeat or two.
The others all looked to him for approval. He closed his eyes and said to himself, For you, Micah, and Ax and ‘Tesh. We finish this war now.
‘Braden? Are you there?’ Micah’s thought voice came through loud and clear to all of them. Bronwyn perked up, her eyes sparkling at the sound of her second mother and revered friend.
Braden held up his hand for all to hold their positions. Bronwyn told Akhmiyar that Micah and her group were near.
‘We are just north of the stronghold. Where are you, lover?’ Braden asked, feeling instantly refreshed and full of energy.
‘We are just to the south of you. Pik has already walked around their lines–they thought he was an Overlord. I’m sorry, we couldn’t bring the Aurochs, but we have everyone else, for better or worse,’ she said.
‘No Aurochs for us either. As for the rest, we have enough,’ was all Braden responded with. He looked at G-War, who nodded to let Braden know he was talking to both groups. ‘Here’s what we need to do…’
With corrections from Micah regarding Pik and Dal’s roles, the plan took shape. Their chances of victory had just vastly improved.
Micah and her group waited while Braden kicked off the attack.
Akhmiyar and his two warriors were a few paces to the front, and Braden followed with the Wolfoids to his side. The Rabbits were behind with Bronwyn between them. The female swordsmen were arranged in an arc around the Rabbits.
Akhmiyar set off at a quick pace, spear point forward. The others had their blasters, laser pistols, and lightning spears ready to fire. The swordsmen held their blades in hand, ready to cut any enemy within reach. Zyena circled through the branches overhead, waiting to dive on an unsuspecting enemy.
Braden’s group rushed forward into the front lines, catching the enemy as they prepared to attack. Braden’s blaster mowed down the bunched Lizard Men. Akhmiyar and his two warriors drifted aside to protect Braden as his single blaster cut through the enemy without mercy. When it ran out of power, he calmly holstered it and pulled his second blaster, firing anew.
Thrown spears came at them from the shadows. They dodged, continuing to fire but slowing their pace so they wouldn’t expose Bronwyn and the Rabbits. Enemy Lizard Men started to regroup and came at them in small waves.
Like We Belong Here
Micah and her companions followed at a distance, waiting for Pik to wave them forward. Pik and Dal walked with purpose, comfortable in the rainforest and seemingly unafraid. They inspired the others who fingered their weapons nervously. Blasters and spears were charged and ready to fire.
Micah bobbed anxiously as she waited. Her partner and their friends were somewhere ahead, preparing to fight the enemy, distract them so Micah could sweep in from the hopefully unprotected south. They intended to catch the Overlords between them, preventing them from escaping. Braden believed that the Lizard Men were overconfident and wouldn’t run. Micah assumed she would have to shoot them in the back as they watched their forces fight Braden.
She was angry after having traveled for so long in the rainforest. She was wet and fed up and most importantly, the Overlords forced this war. If they hadn’t attacked Braden and Micah using the cold-water crocs or their Lizard Men warriors, none of this would have happened. It wasn’t her usual way to shoot an enemy in the back, but these were unusual times and these were not her usual enemies.
The Overlords commanded an army that they unleashed on her family. It was time to make them pay. She talked herself into being okay with shooting them however she could.
She knew that Braden wouldn’t approve, but she couldn’t shake her anger. A dark smile transformed her face. She was delivering justice for those who only wanted peace. For them, she fought the life and death struggle. Now they Overlords would understand how they’d gone wrong.
A Lizard Man joined Pik and Dal in a clearing ahead. They all looked as the newcomer pointed. When Pik looked back, he nodded, then in a flash, had the other by the throat, driving him backwards until he fell. She heard the splashing as he fought, but it was already too late. Pik’s iron grip held him tightly until he was no more. Pik waved while Dal watched something to the side.
The others walked forward, careful not to trip while their eyes scanned the dark of the dripping rainforest. The perpetual rains seemed lighter here. Maybe that was why the ancients had picked this place to put their buildings and why the Overlords made it their home.
Micah carried a blaster in each hand. Her heart raced as her eyes jumped from one movement to the next, water dripping from a leaf, a bird on a swinging vine, ripples in a puddle.
Pik waved at them to get down. They’d bunched up as they moved forward. The Wolfoids were touching her and she was nearly in arm’s reach of Dal. She was helpless to move and only able to crouch lower. The Wolves laid down, becoming one with the swamp. Their eyes scanned the trees while their spears pointed toward the rainforest. Aadi floated over them, protecting them from above with the armor of his shell.
The sloshing of a creature moving quickly through the swamp came to her first. She saw two Lizard Men half running as they headed north. They didn’t notice the companions as they raced past. She waited until Pik nodded and motioned them forward a second time.
Attack the Weakest
“Bronwyn! Tell Zalastar’s men to move left into that opening. Now!” Braden yelled as he fired his blaster at a shadow that darted between the large trees surrounding the Overlords’ stronghold. He missed, but the Wolfoids had cleared the resistance in one area and the enemy was trying to fill in the gap.
Bronwyn screamed so intensely he thought she was going to explode. She covered her ears and continued to scream with all the strength her small body could muster. Braden fired rapidly into the trees before him as he moved toward her. She’d fallen from behind a tree and was exposed to the spears the Lizard Men threw.
Braden was vulnerable as he moved into the open. The enemy appeared from the face of tree trunks and leaned back to unleash a killing barrage toward him. ‘DOWN!’ G-War ordered and Braden dove into a puddle behind a small root. Most spears sailed over his head, one embedded in the root and the other bounced off the armor covering his back. It still hurt, but he wasn’t cut and bleeding.
He popped up and fired short bursts at the spots where he’d see the Lizard Men appear from the trees. He was rewarded on three of his five shots as enemy warriors toppled from where they’d been hiding.
Braden ran through the remaining short distance to Bronwyn and scooped her up as he passed, ending with a jump behind the trunk of a great rainforest tree. She panted until she had a full breath and then screamed until nothing was left in her lungs. Again and again, she screamed. Braden held her, rocking as the scream of an attacking Hillcat penetrated the sounds of fighting all around him.
“It’ll be okay,” he said over and over, hoping that he was right. He had no idea what was wrong, but the Overlords were near. Braden expected they were behind her pain, using her capabilities against her, against all of them. Without her, Braden couldn’t coordinate the attacks of the friendly Amazonians. She whimpered and shivered in his arms. Tears flowed from her closed eyes. Then she started screaming again. ‘G-War, I need you to help her,’ Braden passed over their mindlink. Another scream from the ‘cat as he slashed into a Lizard Man.
Rage built within Braden. He wanted to stop Bronwyn’s pain, and the only way to do that was to stop the Overlords.
The ‘cat ran down the tree, his orange body covered in Amazonian blood. He hovered over the young girl, then walked onto her ch
est and wrapped his ‘cat arms around her. His ears flattened against his head and he spasmed when he finally touched her mind. He pinched his eyes closed and shook with fear and anger. Braden saw one of Akhmiyar’s warriors nearby and waved him over. The Amazonian dodged as he ran. When he made it unscathed, Braden grabbed him and pointed to G-War and Bronwyn. Then he pulled on the Lizard Man’s spear and pointed back to the two huddled against the tree trunk. The Amazonian nodded and stood behind the two, spear ready to protect them.
Braden readied his remaining blaster, changing its setting from a narrow beam to flame. It used more power, but he wouldn’t need it for long. With a mighty yell, he burst from behind the tree and headed straight for the Overlord’s lines. Ferrer and Brigitte jumped from their hiding spots near Bronwyn and bounded after Braden. As Lizard Men materialized from their hiding spots, Braden sprayed them with short bursts of flame. He waved his arms like a wild man and continued high-stepping through the swamp of the rainforest.
Akhmiyar saw the human run past. He’d been preparing his last two men to storm the quickly closing gap, but Braden was creating a new and bigger hole. With a hiss and a wave, the remaining Amazonians bolted after Braden as he ran toward the ancients’ building half-buried in the trees, brush, and wetness of the rainforest. The Wolfoids were caught unaware by the ferocity of Braden’s charge. They followed the rest, lightning jumping as they covered the final attack.
The Overlords
Pik led the group toward the rear of the enemy’s lines. He could see the buildings and the fighting ahead of them. The flame from Braden’s blaster was lighting up the rainforest. Lightning spouted into the trees. Barely visible laser beams licked behind it. But Pik wasn’t focused on the fight. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the buildings, wondering which one contained the ancient Lizard Men known as the Overlords.
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