by Jackson Bale
And---even,---if---in---some---way---you---find---a---tree,---you---still---have---to---be---careful.---For---that---may---not---be---a---tree---but---a---treant---in---disguise.---A---monster---that---attracts---prey---before---killing---them---and---depositing---the---body---within---the---gastric---juices---underneath---it.
Zoteal---moves---and---grabs---his---bow---from---his---herd's---armory.---His---hand---touches---the---smooth---surface---carved---by---a---[Boyer]---using---the---strong---wood---from---the---second---floor.---The---bow---is---over---a---meter---in---length---and---allows---a---maximum---draw---length---of---two---meters.---Zoteal---strings---his---bow---and---places---it---in---a---holder---on---his---side.
He---then---grabs---a---quiver---of---bone---arrows---and---placed---it---on---his---other---side.---Such---positioning---will---allow---him---to---unload---his---bow---and---to---grab---an---arrow---with---incredible---speed.---He---then---adds---an---emergency---bone---spear.---Rarely---used,---but---good---if---something---happens---to---your---bow.
With---one---last---check---to---make---sure---that---the---leather---is---firmly---strapped---around---his---body,---he---exits---the---armory---before---moving---towards---where---the---three---herds---are---waiting---at---the---gates.
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“A---large---number---of---thrashers---are---near---our---city,”---Dragken---says---as---he---trots---back---and---forth---by---the---gate,---his---eyes---focused---upon---the---three---groups---of---centaurs,---all---wearing---different---emblems---dictating---to---which---herd---they---belong---to.---But---here,---within---this---city,---Dragken---is---in---charge.---He---is---an---old---man---with---black---but---quickly---graying---fur---across---his---body.---A---piece---of---his---left---ear---is---missing---and---his---tail---has---all---but---fallen---off.
But---none---would---call---him---weak.---Dragken---is---one---of---the---few---surviving---people---of---the---‘Herd---Wars’---which---had---happened---over---a---hundred---years---ago.---It---was---a---bloody---time---where---centaurs---warred---and---fought.---Many---lives---were---lost,---herds---were---killed.---Dragken---had---lost---his---herd---in---the---wars.---He---alone---wears---his---herd's---emblem---now.
Zoteal---gazes---at---Dragken---with---utter---respect.---A---centaur---which---has---surpassed---the---hundred---level---barrier,---gaining---a---class---of---[Heavy---Halberdier].---His---specific---level---is---unknown,---but---Zoteal---would---bet---his---tail---on---it---that---it---is---extremely---high.---High---enough---that---the---[Herdmasters]---can't---actually---do---much---to---persuade---him.
“Which---is---why---you---all---will---be---heading---in---to---track---them---down---and---to---lower---their---numbers.”---he---says.
“As---for---the---reason---why---I---am---sending---three---herds.---That---is---because---I---have---a---very---bad---feeling---about---this.---Something---does---not---feel---right.”---he---stops,---eyes---looking---at---the---centaurs---lined---up---with---their---herds.
They---stay---silent,---waiting,---barely---listening---to---his---words.---Believing---themselves---capable,---that---nothing---would---go---wrong.
But---Zoteal---has---found---the---old---centaur---never---wrong.---That---the---old---man's---warnings,---though---few,---seems---to---be---always---on---point.
Which---is---why---he---has---decided---to---take---his---time---and---to---not---rush---into---the---hunt.---As---the---leader---of---his---herd’s---hunting---party,---decided---on---by---the---[Herdmaster],---Zoteal---will---make---sure---his---people---do---not---do---anything---stupid.
Zoteal---looks---to---the---side,---looking---at---the---two---other---herd---groups.---The---‘Echoing---Mare’---and---the---‘Arrow---Point’---watch---disinterested,---waiting---for---Dragken---to---finish.
And---the---old---centaur---knows---this,---which---is---why---he---sighs---before---lifting---his---hand,---causing---the---gates---to---open.
“Hunt---well---and---stay---safe,”---he---says---before---moving---out---of---the---way.
At---once,---the---three---herds---accelerate---out---of---the---gate,---running---into---the---forest.
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Jump,---swerve,---avoid,---traversing---the---second---level---of---the---dungeon---is---a---difficult---task---for---centaurs.---Unlike---the---third---level---where---there---are---many---open---fields---of---grass,---the---second---level---contains---a---multitude---of---ways---for---a---centaur---to---lose---their---footing.---And---if---footing---is---lost,---chances---are---you---will---also---break---a---leg.
And---as---many---a---centaur---has---been---taught,---their---greatest---asset---is---mobility.
Which---is---why---every---herd---which---sends---members---down---to---the---second---level---must---have---all---members---with---a---dexterity---exceeding---fifty.---It---is---vital,---otherwise,---the---risk---of---broken---hoofs---is---too---great.
With---exceeding---mobility,---Zoteal---leads---his---brothers---in---arms,---following---his---pace---and---speed---as---he---passes---trees---and---beast---alike.
This---is---what---he---loves.---What---he---enjoys.---Running---through---a---jungle---of---monsters,---always---risking---that---broken---hoof---with---each---increase---of---speed.---But,---it---only---lasts---for---a---minute---before---he---remembers---the---warning---and---slows---down,---keeping---his---eyes---open---as---he---looks---warily---around.
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Where---are---they?---We---haven't---even---found---smaller---groups---of---thrashers.
Swerving---around---a---tree,---Zoteal---stops---at---a---resting---stop,---a---place---with---a---large---lake---of---clean---water.
His---herd---follows---his---lead,---doing---the---same.
Getting---near---the---water,---Zoteal---bends---down---and---refills---his---waterskin,---drinking---the---warm---liquid---and---refilling---again.
He---takes---a---moment---to---admire---the---lake,---the---clear---water---that---hides---no---dangerous---beasts---or---poisons.---Unlike---his---home---floor,---where---monsters---wait---for---prey---near---water…---or---sometimes---under.
It---has---been---half---a---cycle---and---still,---we---find---nothing.
“Halistos,---your---thoughts?”
“I---share---your---confusion.---No---thrashers---were---found.---We've---found---their---nests,---but---they---were---old.”
Zoteal---nods,---a---feeling---of---dread---coming---to---him.---He---looks---up,---finding---a---flock---of---birds---moving---from---a---direction.---A---large---flock.
Something---spooked---them.
“We're---moving!”---he---yells,---a---bad---feeling---in---his---gut.
He---swerves---from---the---pond---and---starts---to---run.
“[Accelerating---Charge],---[Leading---Movement],---[Sure---Footing].”
Three---skills---he---activates,---one---allowing---his---herd---to---move---very---fast.---The---other---allowing---his---herd---to---follow---his---movement---exactly.---The---third---is---for---himself,---to---make---sure---his---extreme---speed---does---not---cause---him---to---fall.
His---body---glows---a---sheen---of---red,---flowing---behind---him,---touching---his---herd,---covering---them---in---his---wake,---leading---them---behind---him.---Like---a---split---stream---of---red---dust.
It---doesn't---take---them---long,---but---long---enough---to---find---that---they---are---too---late.---The---battle---has---begun.
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Zoteal---rushes---into---the---clearing---where---he---finds---a---grizzly---scene.---A---massive---swarm---of---thrashers---surround---two---hunting---herds.
No,---there---is---only---one---left.
Zoteal---quickly---notices---the---dead---bodies,---finding---that---most---of---‘Echoing---Mare’---are---dead---while---half---of---‘Arrow---Point’---stand---guard---in---a---circle---around---the---remaining---injured---members.---Many---are---bleeding,---using---s
pears---instead---of---bows,---their---quivers---already---empty.
With---practiced---movement---and---a---Dexterity---of---87,---Zoteal---unsheathes---his---bow---and---nocks---seven---arrows.
He---could---do---more,---but---accuracy---falls---off---too---much.
“[Arrow---Storm],---[Splintering---Arrow]!”
His---body---moves,---the---skills---guiding---him.---He---aims---his---bow---at---the---group---in---front---of---him---and---releases.
A---whistling---sound---warns---the---thrashers---of---impending---doom,---but---it---is---too---late.---Arrows---slam---into---their---hides,---striking---and---splintering---in---two,---striking---even---more---of---them.---Screams---of---pain---and---warning---release---from---the---thrasher---mouths,---but---Zoteal---had---succeeded---in---what---he---was---attempting---to---do.---He---has---cleared---a---path---and---now---runs---through---it,---uniting---with---the---two---other---herds.
“Zoteal,---thank---god---you’re---here,”---one---of---the---centaurs---exclaims,---blood---seeping---from---several---wounds---across---his---body.---Zoteal---cannot---even---imagine---how---much---endurance---it---takes---to---even---be---standing.
“What---happened---here?”---Zoteal---asks,---watching---as---the---bridge---of---bodies---he---had---created---are---closed---in---by---the---massive---horde---of---thrashers.---A---truly---significant---number---that---Zoteal---had---never---seen---before.
The---bloody---centaur,---Zoteal---now---realizing---is---the---leader---of---the---‘Arrow---Point’,---frowns---as---his---eyes---gaze---at---the---dead---around---him.
“‘Echoing---Mare’---was---ambushed.---They---found---a---group---of---thrashers---and---chased---them---here…---but---it---was---a---trap.---They---swarmed---them.---I---heard---the---sound---of---fighting---and---came---with---my---herd,---but---by---then,---it---was---too---late.---Too---many---of---them---had---fallen---and---I---found---my---herd---trapped---as---well.”
Zoteal---looks---at---the---empty---quivers,---even---the---ones---on---the---bodies---of---the---‘Echoing---Mare’.---All---are---empty.
“And---you---fought---them,---but---there---was---too---many.”
The---bloody---centaur---nods,---his---eyes---gazing---at---the---thrashers---staring---at---them,---showing---their---sharp---teeth.---Seemingly---wary---of---the---new---individuals---which---surround---their---prey.
“They---can---avoid---our---arrows.---The’re---learning---much---too---fast.---They---waited---for---us---to---expend---our---own.”
“This---is---too---coordinated.---They---shouldn’t---be---this---smart,”---Halistos---voices---out,---his---arrow---pointed---at---a---thrasher---which---seems---to---bend---its---digitigrade---legs,---waiting---to---jump---out---of---the---way.
“You---haven't---tried---to---escape?”---Zoteal---asks,---nocking---an---arrow---to---his---bow,---aiming---it---towards---a---thrasher.---But---right---before---he---releases,---Zoteal---retargets---and---fires,---striking---a---surprised---thrasher---in---the---head,---killing---it.---The---swarm---takes---a---step---back,---wary,---but---learning.
“They're---aiming---for---our---legs.”---the---centaur---says.
At---this---moment,---Zoteal---realizes---that---he---may---have---made---a---big---mistake---in---coming---to---the---rescue.---He---can---no---longer---escape,---which---means---that---his---men---are---in---serious---trouble.
Zoteal---clicks---his---tongue,---grabbing---another---arrow---and---nocking---it.
“All---we---can---do---is---fight---them---off---and---hope---we---can---kill---off---enough---of---them---to---leave,”---Zoteal---says---as---he---flicks---his---bow---and---shoots---an---arrow,---this---time---striking---a---thrasher---in---the---direction---it---attempted---to---dodge.
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Zoteal’s---rams---his---spear---into---a---thrasher---skull,---killing---it.---But---another---quickly---takes---its---place,---attempting---to---strike---his---legs.
With---a---jerk,---he---moves---and---flicks---out---his---leg---towards---the---thrasher,---which---evades---the---strike---by---jumping---back---and---growling---at---him.
Zoteal---takes---a---moment---to---look---around,---finding---that---half---his---men---are---dead---or---dying.---The---leader---of---‘Arrow---Point’---had---fallen,---having---lost---too---much---blood.
Whether---the---man---is---dead,---Zoteal---does---not---know.---He---does---not---have---the---chance---to---check,---especially---since---the---thrasher---numbers---are---still---extremely---high.---They---had---killed---over---two---hundred---of---them,---and---still,---Zoteal---cannot---believe---how---many---are---left.
But---that---changes---as---something---walks---out---of---the---clearing.---A---thrasher,---larger---than---its---brethren---with---a---yellow---crystal---horn---atop---its---head.---Its---eyes---seem---to---glow,---looking---towards---Zoteal---with---uncanny---intelligence.
One---thing---he---has---been---taught---is---that---monsters---with---a---crystal---on---their---body---are---extremely---powerful---and---tend---to---be---leaders---of---their---kind.---The---third---floor---has---such---beasts,---many---of---them---guarding---their---territories.---If---a---centaur---were---to---be---able---to---kill---one---and---obtain---a---crystal,---he---would---bring---great---respect---to---his---herd.
Unfortunately,---the---tales---of---centaurs---defeating---such---creatures---are---rare.
But---Zoteal---cares---little---for---glory.---Especially---since---he---finds---it---useless.---Sure,---it---could---help---him---get---a---mate---or---a---higher---standing---in---his---herd,---but---those---things---can---be---gotten---with---hard---work---and---significantly---less---risk.
*Cough*
“Is---that---an---Awakened?”---his---cousin---asks---with---a---limp---hand---while---the---other---holds---a---spear.---One---of---the---thrashers---had---bitten---him---on---the---arm,---dislocating---it---and---breaking---bone---in---the---process.---Blood---can---be---seen---coming---from---his---mouth,---a---possible---internal---wound.
“It---is.---I---didn't---know---they---could---form---on---this---floor.”---Zoteal---says,---aiming---his---spear---towards---the---massive---beast.
“Damn,---that's---why---they---aren’t---giving---up.---It’s---the---alpha.”
“Indeed…---do---we---have---any---arrows---left?”
Halistos---shakes---his---head.
The---massive---beast---continues---moving---towards---them,---the---thrashers---parting---in---its---way.
And---then---it---stops---and---shows---its---teeth.---Zoteal---gulps,---the---teeth---are---bloody---and---sharp.
It---opens---its---mouth,---takes---a---big---breath---and---screams.
And---then,---what---Zoteal---had---been---dreading---happens.---The---thrashers---all---charge.
Zoteal---quickly---moves---his---spear,---stabbing---and---jumping---back,---blocking---strikes,---kicking.
Screams---and---yells---can---be---heard---behind---him,---but---Zoteal---cannot---turn---to---look---as---he---stabs---quickly---and---fights.---Unfortunately,---when---he---stabs---into---the---skull---of---a---thrasher---in---the---air,---he---finds---that---he---cannot---remove---his---spear.---Another---thrasher---jumps---towards---him,---its---mouth---open.---Panicking,---Zoteal---lets---go---of---the---spear---and---blocks---the---strike---with---his---arm.---The---thrasher---latches---on,---biting---through---the---leather.
Zoteal---screams---and---trips---over---the---corpse---of---a---fallen---brethren.---He---falls,---hitting---the---ground---hard.---Before---he---can---get---up,---a---thrasher---jumps,---jaws---open---in---midair.
He---watches---it,---in---slow---motion.---His---coming---death.
Or---it---should---have.
The---thrashers---body---parts---in---half,---straight---down---the---middle.---Blood---and---guts---splatter---on---his---face,---the---rest---passing---over---him.
Zoteal---blinks---and---turns---his---head,---finding---that---the---thrashe
r---which---had---been---attached---to---his---arm---is---not---biting---as---hard.---It---only---takes---a---moment---for---him---to---realize---that---it---is---dead.---Everything---below---its---head---is---gone.
With---erratic---disorganized---movements,---Zoteal---unclenches---the---jaws---and---releases---his---hand.
And---then---he---hears---it.---Screams---of---pain.---Of---whistling---wind.