Wraith Flight
Brother Xavier of the Iron Fists ran quickly through the thick foliage of a dark forest, something was pursuing him, something fast… His breath came harshly, the wound on his side burning like hell fire.
Xavier had been separated from his squad when a creature that towered over them all had sprung, no, appeared, in front of them. They had stopped dead in their tracks as the creature eviscerated Brother Talos. Talos had cried out in pain as his intestines spilled out onto the wet ground. Before Xavier had time to react the thing had already felled three of his men, and was already sliding its delicate blades through the helmet of Tassadar, a young marine just out of scout training. Xavier was the last man standing, he had run. Run into the forest, visions dancing in his head. Visions of his brothers being cut down by things not of flesh and bone.
He had staggered over a dead marine and continued running. Hearing the thing crashing through bushes and shrubs, following him closely. Brother Xavier didn't understand. The creature was certainly much faster than him. Why hadn't it just run him through with its blades and let him die? The abomination was obviously toying with him, somehow getting some kind of sick pleasure of watching him flee in terror.
He had dropped his bolt pistol long ago and almost thrust the same fate upon his chain sword, but if Xavier would die, he would die with honor. He would die fighting for his Emperor! Xavier turned quickly and swung his sword high in the air, where he imagined its head to be. His sword struck air, and nothing more.
The marine quickly turned in all directions but saw nothing. The creature had left him. As Xavier's frantically beating heart slowed, he looked down at the nasty cut on his side. The monster had lashed out with its tail and cut his flesh to ribbons, passing effortlessly through his armor. Xavier was about to begin the healing process when he heard a noise, a tiny noise, as if a mouse clearing it's throat.
He swung without looking and this time struck the creature in the chest. It fell to his feet with little struggle. Xavier was surprised by how fragile it had been and lowered his chain sword. He chuckled lightly and kicked the metal carcass. He began to slowly walk away when he heard more rustling. Slowly turning around he saw, to his horror, two more of the things gliding out of the woods, their skeletal faces gleaming in the light of the setting sun.
The thing that he had slain with little problem shook violently and lifted itself up off of the ground. Xavier gasped and raised his sword once more, wishing he had kept his pistol, as the things closed in on him.