Chapter 2: 7 Hours after Chapter 1, on the road to the capital of Lon Ke Raj (Capital of the United Kingdom of those fighting the monsters, Men, Dwarves, and Elves, and some gnomes...)
Arothmir yawned, the exercise of seven hours of walking unknown to a Ranger like him, always stationed in one village. That isn't to say he was unused to walking, just this amount of walking began to grate on him. Claudia, on the other hand was fluid, and her position changed, and a new Ranger was due to take her place the next day... had the village only survived. As they rounded a bend, however, they came face to face with her replacement.
"Cousin? When did you join the Ranger Corps?" Arothmir asked the familial face. "Not long before I left. Why are you both here? Has something happened to the village?" Claudia stepped forward. "You are Adlar, yes?" The high elf nodded in the affirmative. "The village... we are the only survivors. We were attacked yesterday. Do you know the story of the Kingdoms of the Waste?" Adler gasped. "Attacked? And yes, I know of the story of the fictional kingdom of monsters." Claudia replied "It's true. I overheard one of the monsters speaking its name. We head to the capital to collect a team and avenge the village. For now, it is just Aro and I. Would you lend your aid?" By this point, tears of rage filled Adlar's eyes. He dashed them away, and stated firmly, "You have my bow and my swords. I will join this team of avengers." (Author's Note: Totally didn't mean for there to be an Avengers reference, just happened that way!) Aro and Claudia smiled, and he replied "Welcome to the team, Point Break." Adlar winced, "I'm never going to live that down, am I?" Arothmir smirked, "Probably not, cousin!" Claudia raised her eyebrow, confused and the boys told her in unison, "We'll tell you later." As she snickered at the boys unintended unison, they both turned to glare at each other.
Author's Note #2: I'm probably going to work in as many Avengers references as I can, first a reference to the team itself, and then a reference to the iconic Point Break nickname for Thor given to him by Tony Stark in the first Avengers movie!
3 Days Later...
As our heroes approach the capital of the United Kingdoms, something moves in the still untamed woods, and Arothmir draws his bow as dozens of monsters begin pouring from the woods. He blows his horn in the hopes the capital guard can hear it, and give their help. He can't hold the note for long, as the new team is soon overrun by monsters, and he must draw his really swords. As the three deal heavy losses to the monsters, more keep coming. "We can't hold them for long!" Arothmir cried. "Get to the capital, both of you. I'll hold them off as long as I can." Adlar gave him a look of concern. "Just go! Even if I don't make it, I'll did knowing you all are safe." Thankfully, Claudia and Adlar didn't have to make that choice as no fewer than a dozen of the elite Capital Guard, led by their captain, appeared and turned the tide of the battle. By the time it was over, more than 200 monsters lay dead at the feet of fifteen warriors. The captain of the guard came up to our three protagonists, "It seems like you Rangers might need an escort into the city. We haven't had an attack this close to the city in years. It's a miracle you had your horn," he said with a nod towards Arothmir, "or you might not have survived." Arothmir have a grateful smile. "We're glad to give you boys a taste of battle, and we will take you up on that offer of an escort." The captain nodded, and gave a sharp whistle to him, and they took the signal to fall in around the Rangers, and the captain led them to the city.