ARC 5 - Oblivions Edge Part 2: Break of Dawn

Chapter 8

Clavis and Vell woke everyone a few hours later, a bit rushed, but not panicked.

The ground beneath them began shaking slightly, accompanied by a light tinkling noise filling the air. It reminded Kaet of rain on a starships hull. 

Clavis assured them that if they moved aside from the trail and into the foliage, they'd be alright.

They waited as the noise gradually grew louder.

It grew and the ground shook until a small herd of animals came into view. 

They didn't move fast, but in large numbers, they sounded loud. A contributing factor being their size.

They were large, standing almost six-feet tall, and were almost entirely covered in green, glowing moss. Several plants budded from various spots on their moss-covered bodies but they were not normal plants. They were shaped and sounded like small bells connected to each one. 

They had horns at the end of their noses that budded more moss and flowers instead of sharp points. 

"It's alright everyone," Clavis called out as the beasts slowed to munch on nearby plants, "it's only a herd of Tortuns."

"Come on out and pet them if you like. I assure you, Gathen and I have encountered them many times. Hardly a creature on the planet could be more docile."

The group carefully came up to the beasts, who occasionally raised their heads to look at them, but did little more.

"They use these as farm animals in certain parts of the city. Mostly for their strength and this." Koldar began petting one and bumped a few bells, causing them to ring softly, "they're easy to keep track of."

"Can we ride 'em?" Dave looked a bit excited. 

They all eyed Clavis, awaiting a confirmation. 

He sighed. "Yeah, sure. You can lead it gently by putting pressure on its side with your heels."

"Alright!" Nasri said, climbing atop one.

"Double up!" Koldar commanded them. "It'll be easier to keep up and keep together."

"You can ride with me." He said, sliding up next to Kaet.

She rolled her eyes and nodded at Mrax.

"Sure."

He climbed on one and put out a hand to pull her up. She used his arm as leverage and sat behind him.

Even Vell managed to get on one, proving the strength of the creatures, but he and Elm rode one alone.

A few hours later, after many tales of battle and many laughs from Griddel, Breknaf, and Sumav, the group came upon a thicket of large briars that blocked the path so completely, that even the Tortuns could not trudge through.

They were black, and the vines of the briars were more than a foot in diameter, with thorns nearly equal in length.

They tried to peer through them, but could see nothing due to how densely the briars had grown.

They slid from the great beasts and allowed them to wander off.

"Was this in the way last time we checked?" Koldar asked Rachlax.

Rachlax shrugged. 

"We checked the old images and maps, but no telling how old they are. For all we know, these bushes sprang up as we were walking out of town."

Griddel walked over to the bushes, while the others chatted about which way to go.

Some of them recommended going back a mile and seeing if they could find an adjacent trail, others said to cleave through the thicket.

"They'll be no need for that!" Griddel shouted as he hoisted a mass of briars over his head, "these are dead, have been for awhile. Best bet is they were placed here as a-".

Suddenly, a dart shot out from the Foliage around them, and caught Fenyr in the neck. 

"Trap!" Koldar yelled, shoving Kaet and Nasri to the ground

As Fenyr drop to the ground, grasping at his throat as he died, several dozen small, blood red creatures emerged from the foliage. They were armed with spears and daggers, crudely shaped and formed of rock and bone. Their bodies were covered in fluorescent paints and dyes, no doubt derived from the plants themselves.

"Goblins!" Someone shouted and the group began firing at them. 

Kaet got up and shoved Koldar aside as she manifested two blasters from portals at her side.

Mrax turned his fist into a large array of spikes and barbs. 

Kaet pulled out another, larger blaster, and handed it to Elm, as Vell did his best to stomp as many as he could as they began to climb on him. 

Elm leapt from his best friends shoulder and tried to continue blasting goblins, but it became too risky. 

As they watched, the goblins managed to knock Vell off his feet and began dragging him back in the foliage.

They fought off as many as possible, until the goblins retreated back among the plants and out of sight.

They closed in, back to back, checking for more attackers. After ensuring there were no more, they turned and began to count each other. 

Of the enforcers, seven remained. Two laid dead at their feet; Fenyr, with the dart in his throat, and Rachlax, who was covered in several dozen lacerations and wounds. 

For these, there would be no burial.

"No!" Griddel cried out, falling to his knees beside his brothers corpse.

He stripped off his helmet for the first time, revealing handsome features and long black hair. His skin, though still dark, was pale compared to his brothers, probably due to his time in the armor.

He cried, yelling into the forest as he cradled his brothers body.

"I swore to protect you. I swore!" He screamed. 

Sumav came over and put a hand on his shoulder.

At first, Griddel almost jerked to attack Sumav, but stopped when he saw that Sumav made no further move than resting his hand.

The other enforcers, following Koldars actions, quickly started looting for supplies off Fenyr and the dead goblins, only to find that most of their packs had been stolen, or cut open, leaving only sparce resources.

Vell had been taken by the goblins, but he was not the only one. 

Gathen was missing as well.

"Gylfrich!" Clavis exclaimed, apparently a curse in his native tongue.

"We've got to get them!" Exclaimed Elm, clearly angry and shaken that his best friend was gone. 

"No." Koldar spoke coldly, "That is not the mission. You knew the risks when you took it, now let's go before they return."

"No," Clavis half mocked his tone, "Were it only their companion missing I may be more inclined to continue, but that boy is the nephew of your ruler! Imagine how he will react if you return without him and I tell him you had a choice!" 

"Clavis is right." Griddel said, standing as he slipped his helmet back on.

"Besides," a click was heard as it locked back into place, "my brothers not dying for nothing."