Black Forest Dreams

by Skwish

An air patrol of the 501st sets out in the early morning to locate a downed aircraft carrying important cargo, but instead find an ambush waiting for them. A downed Yoshika and Lynette must survive in the Karlsland forest until they can find rescue, against the Neuroi and the elements. Next chapter delayed to to RL complications.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

~6:30 AM, Western Karlsland

Yoshika scanned the horizon once again, tense and on edge as they neared the point of last contact. She, along with a few other members of the 501st, including Trude, Lynette, and Shirley, were on a mission to locate a vital transport that had been lost early that morning. There had been no radio contact since around two in the morning. Of course, it was suspected to have been shot down, either from the air or the ground, so the witches kept their guards up as they searched.

The tense silence was broken at last as a voice rang out. "Look over there!" called Barkhorn, the formation leader, pointing to a glare of sunlight on metal. The area, in a rather large field surrounded by dense forestry, was littered with debris, some of the larger chunks easily identifiable as airplane parts. She descended slowly, losing a bit of altitude to observe more easily as they flew over. The others followed closely, every eye searching for movement on the ground that would indicate survivors... Or attackers.

A bright flash erupted from the treeline below, followed by an all-too-familiar screech as a red beam shot up at them. The formation scattered quickly as more beams fired from the forests surrounding the field. Clearly realizing that they had flown right into an ambush, Barkhorn ordered them to turn back, but it seemed too late. Lynette watched as Shirley struggled to block a direct blast of neuroi beam. The young Brittanian witch ducked and weaved, but the volume of fire coming up at them was simply overwhelming. As she raised her shield to block a beam, another came in from a different angle, blowing through her left striker. She let out a yell as the unbalanced thrust caused her to veer off of her course, headed to the ground.

At once, the others began diving to help her, but were called off by Trude. "We just can't, there's far too much fire coming in. I hate to say it, but we have to get as far away as we can before anyone else is hit!" Yoshika stared down in horror as Lynette tumbled lower, struggling to regain control.

After a glance up at Barkhorn and a moment of thought, she broke off from the formation against orders and dove after Lynne. She neared the trees, only to see the Brittanian witch crash through the roof of the forest. Yoshika slowed, looking down frantically to try and locate her, but couldn't get a good look through the trees. Just as she thought she caught a glimpse of the fallen witch, a beam lanced by right next to her, causing her to wince from the heat of such a close encounter. She threw her shield up just in time to stop most of another incoming beam with surely would have blown her apart, but her hasty shield gave way under the explosion of the laser, causing her to tumble downwards. She waved her legs wildly, trying to regain control of her flight but to no avail. She watched as the rest of the flight hurried away, before crashing through the trees.