Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ but it would be a lot cooler if I did...

AN: So I got back the rest of the chapters from my beta froglady, as such I decided to release this one a bit early. It's actually much easier since I've written it all at once. Enjoy!

It was dawn at the grassy plains outside the city. The first few rays of light penetrated the sky. The six remaining knights gathered around a large funeral pyre for their fallen brethren. It had not been an easy task to gather the necessary wood and tinder before daybreak, yet it was the least they could do for him.

To the captain's surprise, Adrestia had volunteered to clean and prepare the body. He was prepared to do it, but she insisted that she be the one to do it. She had cleaned his wounds and dressed him in a fresh tabard. The boy merely looked like he was sleeping peacefully. In a sense he was, or at least that's what the captain always hoped death was like.

The captain stood six or so paces in front of the pyre, ready give the simple ceremony to his fallen warrior. Beside him was Varro as he clutched their banner as it waved gently in the breeze with its pristine folds. To his front the remaining knights stood in a single rank, hands clasped behind them in formation. Two torches burned on either end of the rank.

As Bardock looked at his soldiers, he could see them all taking it hard in their own ways. He could hardly blame them. They had never lost a comrade before. To them battle was something they played at, not participated in. Kakarot had a serious look on his face for a change. Adrestia looked rather somber. Nerine tried to hide it, but she was on the verge of tears once more. Vegeta wore a stoic mask of grace. Royals often bore such out of necessity. Varro was smart enough to wear his helm for the ceremony and closed the visor to hide his true expressions, so not to face ridicule.

Captain Bardock addressed them, "We commend to the afterlife Lord Tarble of House Baelo, henceforth promoted to Knight of the Order of the Celestial Blade. He served honorably and died nobly in the course of his duties. We honor his courage and sacrifice for our great kingdom in this time of peril."

In his helmet Varro let his tears fall openly. He didn't want to made fun of by anyone. He was actually surprised no one else wore their helmets. Being the standard bearer, his position in the ceremony would only make his weakness more noticeable for all to see.

He could not help how he felt. Varro had witnessed the boy fall before him. The beast was faster and powerful than he ever dreamed possible. None of his training prepared him for the sheer terror of the moment. Upon seeing the boy being mauled, his first instinct was to flee and praise the Great Mother it wasn't him.

Varro didn't feel heroic at all in that moment. He didn't want to save the boy. He just wanted to get out of there. Moreover he didn't know what that meant. In all his life and his training it had always been stressed that nobles did not shirk their duty. He could never imagine his father fleeing from battle. Did that mean I am not worthy? He pondered. As he looked upon the banner of the order, he felt shame. He always thought he would be a great warrior. It turned out he wasn't. He only felt unworthy of holding it.

"Cybele, Mother of All Saiyans, we beseech you to smile upon this noble warrior, as he journeys to join his ancestors in your celestial garden. Zelus, First Warrior of Saiya, recognize his bravery and admit him to the eternal proving grounds," Bardock orated, and then indicated the two torch bearers to finish the ceremony with a wave of his right hand.

Vegeta and Adrestia broke formation and each retrieved a torch on the ground. They held them up high and marched in unison over to the pyre. If one were to pay enough attention, even in the low light, tiny pools of sorrow could be made out in the corner of Adrestia's eyes. Vegeta struggled to maintain a dignified countenance, yet you could see flashes of his true pensive expression every other step. They reached the pyre and held the torches over their heads once more before saying their final invocations.

"Great Mother, grant him your loving embrace," Adrestia prayed as she lowered her torch into the pyre.

"Glory to the victorious fallen," Vegeta recited as he did the same.

Vegeta was unsure of what to make of all this as he marched in silence back to the formation. He had been drilled on the importance of funeral processions as a prince from his early days. Yet the last war was over before he was born. He had never actually been to one before.

Why was it so necessary to lie to the gods? He contemplated as he reached the formation. As far as he was briefed, the boy died almost instantly during the events of last night. Surely the Warrior knew it was an exaggeration to call that kind of death glorious. As Vegeta understood it, glory meant something more akin to slaying foe after foe and then succumbing to your wounds. The Great Mother he could understand, she was more forgiving than Zelus. Perhaps she would embrace the boy in her eternal garden.

This whole debacle only sought to prove his point. They should never have taken on this assignment. Honestly, the captain should have left this assignment to the regular soldiers of the nearby lord. He would surely be stripped of command upon their return at the very least, for having caused the death of a lord under his protection.

The flames grew higher and higher as it slowly engulfed the pyre. The sun rose over the horizon bathing the pyre with its light. It was believed that a funeral held at dawn would send the soul of the fallen into the bosom of the Great Mother. On this day, all hoped that the boy had been taken by her. Perhaps with a little luck the Warrior would favor him, he did die in combat after facing a fearsome enemy.

Nerine felt lost as she watched the fire. She had been too much of a coward to comfort the boy in his final moments. She wanted to, but seeing him there, so helpless only made her shun him. She felt a little envious of Adrestia in that moment. Adrestia had held the boy until his last breath unfazed by any fears.

Perhaps everyone was right, she was nothing compared to Adrestia. She had always thought she was just as good as her friend. She assumed it was only the male libido that made them prefer Adrestia's bigger bust and ample bottom. Now the little seeds of doubt they had tried for years to plant in her finally took root.

Adrestia was brave when it counted, and did not flinch when their comrade was wounded. She even volunteered to clean his body to prepare him for his journey to paradise. Something Nerine could not do herself. Nerine could only watch and hand Adrestia supplies as she worked. Her body seemed to fight her every time she went to touch the body. Great Mother is this truly my path? She could not help but wonder.

Kakarot, who stood next to Vegeta, had unfamiliar emotions boiling within him. A rare feeling of anger seeped in his very being. While he had wanted to go on real missions, he never expected to lose anyone. It had just never crossed his mind.

He wasn't stupid, contrary to what Vegeta and Varro might insist. He knew that in the chaos of war lives were lost. This was not supposed to be like that. When they had received the briefing for the mission, even he believed it to be a simple march into the country and beast hunt. While the nobles thought it beneath them, he genuinely loved the idea of getting out and doing some actual work.

Now he knew that it was their duty to put down all these beasts. Not just for the sake of the townspeople, but also for their fallen comrade. The boy was younger than Kakarot. He had just completed training a few weeks ago. He'd had his whole life ahead of him and it was cut short by the beasts of this place. I will do what it takes to avenge you, he promised.

Bardock pulled out his sword raised it on high and addressed them once more, "Our noble brother will not leave this world alone on this day. We will send each and every one of those beasts to join him."

Vegeta crossed his arms, and turned his head to the side. The man is mad! He thought. They should just cut their losses and go. No one cared what happened to this puny village in the outskirts of the kingdom. It was insane to further risk their lives for this place. Was this funeral not proof enough that things had gone too far? He would speak to the Captain at the next briefing and insist they leave. Surely even he had to see reason.

0-0-0

Captain Bardock gathered his remaining knights into an empty hall that was once where the magistrate dispensed justice. It was one of the few stone buildings in the town. The wooden beams of its columns were unadorned and simple. Its hall was large enough to make room for villagers to be heard and rudimentary trials to be held.

This morning the hall was empty. No villagers would come. No justice needed to be served. Yet the meeting inside was of utmost importance. All eyes were on the knights who gathered there even more so than before. For the rumors had already spread amongst the commoners, two beasts were slain and one knight had fallen. Yet that was not the end of it, more would come. The night promised more blood and more death for them all.

Bardock stood behind the great oak table in the hall. It was rather plain for a courtroom. A map of the city layout on the table before him to draw up battle plans with. The map looked outdated, but that was to be expected given the nature of how the majority of the homes were constructed here. Still with the few resources he had at his disposal, it was not like he could use complicated plans anyway.

The other knights were gathered around it, looking pensive and impatient. He could see by the looks on their faces, his knights all were dealing with their rookie's death in their own ways. They were shaken; it was their first real taste of death. Bardock remembered after his first major battle he felt much the same having lost so many of his friends. While these were different times, they needed exactly what his old commander had given him, they needed purpose.

"Captain, we should just leave this place," Vegeta suggested before anyone could speak.

Kakarot slammed his fist on the table uncharacteristically and asserted, "We are not going anywhere."

Vegeta was stunned and uttered, "Are you insane?"

What's gotten into him? Since when does Kakarot get angry about anything? Vegeta pondered with a raised brow. This wasn't like him at all. Seeing him so forceful took Vegeta completely by surprise. The blissful idiot was gone, replaced by someone he wasn't familiar with. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Adrestia crossed her arms and agreed, "He's right we are not leaving."

"You too, Adrestia?" Vegeta responded with an equally shocked tone.

They were both mad! What was the point in staying here? He thought. Adrestia was usually far more reasonable than this as well. Unlike Kakarot, she usually acted based on solid reasoning rather than pure instinct. As he gazed into the dark pools of her eyes, he only saw fire and not reason. He had never seen such fervor in her before. She glared back at him with an uncompromising stare that suggested she meant business.

"Vegeta, I know you don't think we should stay. As my prince I cannot technically make you stay," Bardock informed him. "However I want you to ask yourself are you a knight of Saiya or not?"

"I…" Vegeta began to say, but Bardock merely placed a hand on his shoulder to silence him.

"You don't have to answer yet, think about it," Bardock told him, then directed his attention at the rest of his knights. "I know you are scared. I was too after my first big battle. I wasn't a knight back then just a common soldier, but the lessons I learned as a warrior and soldier earned me a knighthood. I have tried to pass those lessons onto you, the next knights and commanders of a new generation. Have you learned nothing over the past few years with me?"

Nerine thought Vegeta was right. All her instincts told her to run with him, that this was a fool's errand that would lead only to her premature end. Yet something inside her also pulled her in the opposite direction. As she looked at her best friend, she didn't think she could handle abandoning Adrestia in her hour of need.

Then she thought about the last two years she spent with the captain and the rest of the squad. At times she hated them and bickered with them over petty things like work details, assignments, and training regimens. She also realized over the last two years she interacted with them more than anyone else in her life, especially Adrestia. Adrestia was like a sister to her now.

Did that make the rest of these male idiots her brothers? The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to her that they were. They trained together, lived together, went through the same hardships together. She picked on them as she would brothers. She couldn't leave them now. Adrestia was right, besides they were a team. Where she goes I go, Nerine reminded herself.

"I will stay too," Nerine declared with extra bravado, nodding to Adrestia.

Vegeta pondered to himself with a hand on his chin. What should he do now? He wondered. No one had ever asked him that question before. He had always thought of himself as a prince and a knight. Perhaps not the idiots from folktales who go on mad quests, but he considered himself a skilled warrior of Saiya.

Should they be separate? He had been groomed since birth to strategize, to fight, to broker treaties, and to make good decisions. He was a warrior before he ever joined the knighthood. As a prince, he should leave this place and send the royal guardsman here.

However he spent the last few years training to be a knight, to work as part of a team and not fight by himself. He honestly thought it was stupid at first. Over time though, he could see the wisdom of teamwork and embraced learning to operate as a team. He had accomplished things simply impossible as one man.

He had always thought leadership was something you were born with, but here he learned it was something you aspired to. He had to learn through successes and failures how to lead warriors. Leadership was an art. There was more to it than simply ordering people around as he had thought before joining. He had his answer, as a prince he should leave them, but as a knight his duty was to stay and fight.

"I am a knight of Saiya," Vegeta proclaimed.

"Of course you are," Bardock reminded him. "Each and every one of you are true sons and daughters of Saiya. I never doubted for a moment that you would shirk your duty."

Emboldened by the captain's faith, Varro asked, "What is the plan, captain?"

"We are going to have to ask the villagers for help, we need all men and strong lads who can defend themselves. We should have plenty of spare weapons in the wagon. How are we looking on that Adrestia?" Bardock said to her.

"We have plenty of spears, axes, arrows, and bolts. We even have some spare armor for those who can fit into it. We also have lots of crossbows and longbows," Adrestia reported in.

"There aren't enough skilled hunters to use all the longbows. Luckily we do have crossbows that should not take too long to teach anyone unfamiliar with bows," Kakarot informed him.

"We will be working with civilians today so let's not make things complicated. We split into the standard three teams. Each team leader is responsible for his team as well as instructing the civilians of the basics of the weapons they are issued," Bardock reminded them. "The enemy is most likely coming from this forest west of town. We are going to funnel the enemy into to town and ambush them in the center."

"How are we going to funnel them?" Nerine questioned.

"We are going to empty the houses of every piece of wooden debris they have and put them between the wood and thatch houses leaving only a path to the center," Bardock told them. "Vegeta's team will be perched on the rooftops in the center of town with bows and crossbows for fire support. My team will be beneath them, primarily as an infantry force."

"What about my team?" Adrestia wondered.

"Your team will gather what horses are available and be stationed at the east end of town as a cavalry unit. Once all the beasts are in town, we give the signal, then you ride around the town and set fire to the woods," Bardock revealed. "Use anything you can to make it happen, torches, oil, pitch, fire arrows, anything. Just keep moving in case there are more in the woods."

"How do we keep them inside once the beasts are in the town?" Vegeta pointed out.

Bardock drew a circle on around the town, "We fill this, make a perimeter of wood, oil, and tinder. Once they are all in we burn the perimeter trapping them inside."

"What about reinforcements?" Vegeta asked, not really knowing how close they were to anything out here.

"The nearest lord's castle is a half day's ride from here," Bardock announced. "The villagers who cannot fight are being evacuated there. We will send a dispatch with them to the lord to muster his troops and rendezvous with us as soon as possible. Hopefully they will be here by nightfall; otherwise we are on our own."

"Looks like things are all set. What could possibly go wrong?" Vegeta commented.

"Try not to bed another beast whore," Adrestia remarked dryly, earning some much needed chuckles.

"I didn't bed her. I merely lured her into a trap," Vegeta quipped.

"Yea the trap in your pants," Nerine added, earning a good laugh from everyone.

"All right people, we've got a lot of work to do and not much time to do. Stay focused and we will accomplish our mission," Bardock declared with pride.

0-0-0

Vegeta stood, arms crossed, next to a brazier atop the tallest building in town with an annoyed look on his visage. A light breeze ran over him, it waved his hair and tabard in the moonlight. The standard flew proudly beside him, though he was sure Varro was agitated to have given it up. For symbolic reasons the captain ordered it with his team on the tallest building in town.

Beside him was Kakarot, his second in command on this mission, and the only other skilled warrior he had. On the rooftops next to them were a team of twenty hunters and hurriedly trained crossbowmen in mismatching armor and helmets. Braziers were stationed on each of the adjacent roofs to set the darkness ablaze. It was a shame no trained troops from the castle were joining them, these men would have to suffice.

It took him years, but he could finally tolerate Kakarot's presence. This day had been intolerable, so he relied on the man a lot. Vegeta wasn't really the teaching sort. Yet the captain insisted they train the civilians to fight. The hunters had been simple enough; most of them already knew how to use a longbow properly and had the requisite arm strength. Longbows were not for the weak of strength. It took proper conditioning and technique for someone to become proficient. So all the hunters needed to be taught was to shoot in volleys, and simple commands.

The others had to be trained on crossbows. Any fool could learn to fire one with a little training. With teams of two with one firing and one loading constant fire could be rained down upon the enemy, or so the theory went. It really tested his patience to teach these peasants how to use them. After a few hours he pawned off most of the responsibility on Kakarot, while he cooled his temper.

Vegeta knew the beasts could easily jump on the rooftops. So each man had a backup short range weapon. It was mostly axes and spears as swords were more expensive. The order carried no spare swords with them, each soldier was issued their personal sword, and if it broke or got lost they had to get it replaced back at the barracks. The rookie's sword was not in use, but tradition demanded it be returned to his family, so it was wrapped in his tabard and stored in the wagon.

"What's got you in such a bad mood?" Kakarot asked scratching the back of his head.

"Maybe it's the barely trained peasants acting as soldiers. Or it could be that we have no choice but to use them to defend against an unknown number of beasts in the dead of night," Vegeta explained, trying not to get too worked up.

"When you put it like that it does sound bleak," Kakarot admitted with a grin.

"How would you put it?" Vegeta commented with a curious look.

Kakarot thought for a moment and said, "I'd say we got a lot of eager volunteers here to defend their homes."

"Barely trained volunteers in poor armor," Vegeta remarked sourly.

"I think you are underestimating them," Kakarot claimed with a shrug.

"Oh am I?" Vegeta responded, unsure what insight if any Kakarot had.

"You haven't spent much time actually talking to commoners," Kakarot expressed as he gestured to the men. "Your only interactions besides lords and ladies are with servants. Common people might seem simple, but they have strong desires. One of their biggest desires is for home and hearth. Men will fight for it. Men will die for it. Home is one of the greatest motivators of men's hearts."

Vegeta chuckled and quipped "When did you get so intelligent?"

Kakarot pointed to his head and laughed, "My father lectures me a lot, some of it has to stick."

A symphony of bestial dread interrupted their conversation. They both turned their heads to look at the imposing forest in the distance. A huge river of savage shadows streamed towards the city in mighty wave. There were far more than they had estimated to be in this pack.

The vanguard of beasts leaped over the first barrier of wood. Vegeta had hoped they would underestimate the simple barrier as a last ditch effort as it as haphazardly made of firewood, broken furniture and rubbish. That was the key to the plan make them think it would be easy. Though he was also unsure about how likely the success rate of the plan was.

He eyed his men cautiously. The required discipline he had enforced seemed to be holding up. It was tempting for them to simply start firing on the beasts now, but arrows worked better fired in volleys at masses of enemies. While their faces paled and took grim features, he did not read any signs of breaking. Good, he thought. At least these peasants learned something today.

As the tail end of the beasts leapt over the barrier, he nodded subtly to Kakarot. It was time for the signal. He didn't need to order Kakarot to do it. No words need be spoken. As the most seasoned warrior on his team, Kakarot also happened to be the most reliable. So the task of signaling Adrestia was entrusted to him. An orange comet streaked through the night sky above his head as Vegeta drew his sword.

"Be sure to aim for the perimeter," Vegeta instructed Kakarot.

"No problem," Kakarot responded.

Vegeta raised his sword high and called out, "Archers! Ignite!"

His orders were repeated down the line. His men calmly dipped their resin covered arrows in the braziers settling them aflame. Vegeta noted the shaky hands and restless spirits among them. He could hardly blame them. This whole plan was insane if you stopped to think about it.

"Load!" Vegeta ordered them as he looked around.

A smile graced the prince's countenance as he noted that though the men shook, they didn't fire their arrows prematurely. He really hadn't enjoyed training them today. One thing he hated more than that though was when he had wasted his time. This didn't appear to be the case.

Vegeta shouted out, "Take aim!"

All the bows and crossbows took aim at the moving horde making its way across the town. Already they could hear the inhuman snarls and yips of the creatures. Fortunately fighting at a distance gave courage to men who did not have to face the ferocious teeth and claws face to face.

Vegeta lowered his sword and called out, "Fire!"

Arrows and bolts sang a sweet song as they left their confinements. Fire rained down from the heavens upon the creatures. Many fell over. Some just shrieked and growled in pain. Some fires failed to find their targets and struck thatch and wood instead, including piles that were left in the streets intentionally between houses. Fires began to erupt as the kindling was set aflame.

The beasts paused their advance momentarily. Each appeared to be looking around at the houses with a more cautioned eye. Their confusion and obvious hesitation elicited cheers from the men. The creatures merely snarled and growled and resumed their advance.

Vegeta raised his sword once more and ordered, "Reload!"

As the ordered echoed among his men, Vegeta noted the beasts would close on their position fast. They had time for one more volley, maybe two if they got lucky. The creatures looked ferocious in the moonlight. He could just barely make out yellow orbs out there.

Vegeta looked around to be sure his men were ready then lowered his sword and called out, "Fire!"

Weapons sang in unison once more as streaks of searing justice sailed towards their bestial foes. Vegeta grinned ghoulishly as more beasts were felled in yelps and screams. The flames of the first volley near the outskirts had now spread, engulfing half the town below them in a cleansing inferno. Whatever was left in there beast or man would be cooked alive.

The beasts did not stop this time. They ignored their fallen brethren and increased the speed of their assault. Mournful cries filled the night as wounded creatures were left to burn slow deaths by fire. Their kin continued on towards their prey, a little over half their number remained to reach them.

Vegeta could now make out ivory knives in their long snouts and predatory gazes. He estimated there would be no time left for a proper volley. The beasts were now only a few streets away. The battle would soon rage out of his control.

Vegeta instructed his men, "Fire at will!"

"Is this it?" Kakarot asked as he aimed another shot.

Vegeta picked up a spare longbow and replied, "Hopefully not."

"I wish I could have eaten one last meal," Kakarot commented as he fired.

"You should be wishing for something more like one last night with a woman," Vegeta retorted as he fired his own weapon.

"Is it as great as good food?" Kakarot said curiously as he took aim.

"Better," Vegeta retorted with a laugh.

"Maybe I'll have to try it then," Kakarot responded as his bow sang.

"I suppose food isn't the worst answer either," Vegeta chuckled puckishly. "I've changed my mind. I wish to have a beautiful woman feeding me exquisite food, before I taste her."

"Now we're talking," Kakarot agreed with a grin.

0-0-0

Captain Bardock walked proudly among his newest recruits with Varro, inspecting them before battle. They were stationed on the dusty streets bellows the archer contingent above. Small groups of two or three soldiers huddled together besides the fiery braziers at strategic points. Each man chattered about in mismatching armor and helms.

Bardock had given them all the shields he brought with them and any the town had lying around. While novices, he knew men felt better fighting with a shield and armor. Each one also carried a six foot spear with him. This was also chosen as a strategic weapon to put distance between his newly trained soldiers and the beasts they would face tonight. While they did have back up short range weapons, it would embolden the men more to be able to stab the monsters from a distance.

The old soldier couldn't help hide his grin. While he was a knight now and technically a lord, it seemed like just yesterday he was one of them, just another peasant boy donning ill-fitting armor and marching off to war. He was reminded of his friends in his first unit. Each boy thinking he was a man and wanting to claim his piece of the glory of war. Most were fed tales of bravery from the previous generation and were looking to prove their manhood just like this lot.

Bardock recalled he had the same wide eyed look they were giving him when he first saw a knight. The lords were always outfitted with such fine armor and weapons. They practically glimmered in the sunlight when they passed. Of course that was before battle. He also learned during the war that knights can die just as easily as soldiers.

"What do you think Varro?" Bardock asked the younger man as they walked between groups of men.

"I'd prefer to have properly trained warriors with us," Varro commented.

"It would have been easier had we received those soldiers from the castle," Bardock admitted. "I only wish we had enough tabards to give them all proper uniforms."

"Seems like a waste to me to hand them out," Varro remarked dismissively with a wave of his hand.

Bardock posed the question, "What do you think the purpose of a uniform is Varro?"

"I've never really thought about it," Varro revealed.

"A uniform is more than just making men dress the same," Bardock explained. "A uniform is a symbol and an important one. When he puts it on, a man becomes more than he once was. It emboldens him in battle and makes him realize he is part of something greater."

"Is it really that important?" Varro pressed.

Bardock laughed and teased, "I sometimes forget how young you are."

Varro a raised a brow and remarked, "I don't get it."

"Let me put it this way," Bardock told the younger man, "Feeling alone is one of the scariest feelings you'll ever experiences in battle. Seeing someone else in the same uniform erases that fear because as dire as things could be, at least you have another person to count on."

"I've never thought about it that way," Varro admitted with his hand on his chin.

"That's because you have never experienced it, but you will," Bardock informed him.

A terrifying sound interrupted them, causing the knights to stop in their tracks. It was the same terrifying howls Bardock heard last night in quick succession. He could not tell how many but it was enough to know this was not going to be an easy fight. He gritted his teeth in frustration.

Bardock wished then that the space between the buildings were narrower so his men could take advantage of their numbers. Right now there was too much space around eight to ten paces between buildings. This greatly favored the beasts with their increased mobility. Still with long spears and in groups of three his men would put up a fight.

Bardock looked upon the sullen faces of his men. Despite the training they had received, they looked on the verge of breaking. Their hands tightly gripped their shields and spears. He knew they just needed a little encouragement.

"This is it men!" Bardock shouted. "Take heart for you are not alone this day. We have the weapons, and a good plan. The beasts will not succeed this day."

As Bardock gazed into their young faces taking in his words with courage blossoming inside them he was struck with a wave of nostalgia. These young unfamiliar faces were replaced with ones he knew in days long past and battles fought long ago. He merely grinned as the faces turned back into in the modern ones.

Above him and his team Bardock could hear Vegeta ordering the archers to open fire. Things were going according to plan. With any luck they could thin the numbers of the pack before it reached the ground troops in his position. A familiar whir sounded as he knew scores of arrows were on their way.

Men around him let out hoots and cheers at the sight of comets of fire streaking through the heavens. He could not blame them. It was always better to be on this end of an archer volley than on the other. In the distance he could already see the flames spreading with all the debris they left in the outskirts of town.

"Captain, can I ask you something?" Varro inquired in a strange manner.

"Of course Varro," Bardock said with icy confidence.

"Am I a worthy soldier?" Varro asked him with a serious look on his face.

"You are an anointed knight of Saiya with three years of training in the order. That means you are more than worthy," Bardock encouraged the man.

"Thank you captain," Varro remarked before putting on his helmet.

"Why did you ask me that?" Bardock questioned, a little curious as to the man's state of him.

"This might be the last chance to ask you," Varro mentioned with a shrug. "I wanted to know before the end."
Bardock donned his own helmet and told him, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Bardock eyed the now ominous flames in the distance. He took solace in the fact that he knew some of the beasts would be roasting inside them. However the closer they came, the closer the beasts were with them. He could just barely make them out now. Inhuman figures bounded towards them in the night.

He took a breath to steel himself. Fear of the unknown only aided the enemy. He knew they could be killed. It was unclear how much it took to bring down one already transformed. They were not immortal nightmares from legend. Last night proved they were as mortal as he was.

Bardock unsheathed his sword, held it on high and roared, "All right lads, tonight we dine on wolf soup!"

0-0-0

Adrestia waited in the shadows outside the city atop her mount. They had hidden their force in a field hidden from the moonlight. Beside her as always was Nerine. Behind them waited twelve volunteers in various spare armor they had. It was almost laughable since they did not have enough for all. Rather than wearing the traditional layers like the knights did, each one was given parts. Some were wearing mail hauberks. Others donned the leather brigandines they had brought in the supply wagon. A few even had their own old armors worn by their fathers or grandfathers in the previous war.

Set fire to the forest. Adrestia was left to her own devices to figure out how to accomplish the task. The captain was not someone who had to oversee every step. It sounded like and easy enough task. Yet there were loads of complications. Simply throwing a few torches would not do. They could be put out with ease. She decided to go with a combination approach, and every way she knew how to start fires were brought with her and in each horse's satchels.

This was dangerous work to be sure. Even if the enemy was all gone, carrying flammable materials was hazardous. One of these farm boys could set himself aflame or the rest of them on fire by accident. What she would not give for a proper siege engine, catapult, trebuchet or anything that could reach the forest from afar.

From their vantage point they looked to the lights on the roofs of the tallest buildings in town. Though she could not see him, but she knew Vegeta was there around the braziers with his team, probably scowling and waiting to fire the signal. It brought a much needed chuckle to her. Her own team seemed restless. She could hardly blame them; this was the calm before the storm. Part of her wanted to get it over with; another was terrified at the unknown that awaited them after the signal.

I have to at least appear calm for their sake, she remembered as she looked over them. So she put on her best stoic face. She might have been shaking on the inside, but it was important not to show it on the outside. Her trooper's inexperience and innate fears were hindrance enough without seeing their commander worried.

"This mission is crazy," Nerine commented, as if she were brought the wrong soup at a restaurant.

"You ever play with fire?" Adrestia asked her nonchalantly.

"A few times, I think all children do," Nerine remarked with a mischievous smile on her face.

"I remember once I was mad at my older sister so I burned all her favorite dolls," Adrestia recounted, with a chuckle.

"You devil, here I thought you were a virtuous soul," Nerine quipped, with a giggle.

"I never said I was virtuous," Adrestia pointed out with a shrug. "Besides you never met my sister."

"What could she have done to warrant such behavior?" Nerine wondered as she raised her brow.

"She kissed a boy I had a crush on," Adrestia revealed glibly.

Nerine laughed, "That's all?"

"The heart wants what the heart wants," Adrestia recited the common maxim.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Nerine mentioned in a half serious tone.

Adrestia just shrugged and said, "Good advice for any occasion."

A chorus of howls interrupted them leaving a chill in the air. Nerine immediately turned her head. It was a sound that would haunt her forever. She wasn't terribly fond of normal wolves, much less these beasts. Not that she had seen many they existed in places she never went.

Their inhuman cries alone sapped her courage and threated to send her fleeing. She imagined the others were all feeling the same. It seemed suicidal to ride anywhere but the opposite direction of it. She mere gripped her reins a bit tighter so the others could not make out her shaking.

She looked at the edge of the forest, just on the edge of her sight and saw scores of feral forms emerge and run on four legs towards the city. She had no words for it. It was a far larger pack than she had imagined. How can we hope to stop all that? She wondered.

Nerine looked over at Adrestia and saw look of steel determination in the moonlight. It raised her spirit to see her team leader as such. It looked as if this were just another training mission for her. She supposed it was in a way. Nerine took a deep breath. If she can do it, I can do it, she reasoned.

"Steady now, wait for the signal," Adrestia called out to them.

Adrestia's heart beat furiously in her chest. Her hands shook either in fear or anticipation, she wasn't sure which. It was likely a combination of both. It actually wasn't a terrible feeling. Perhaps this is what the songs and stories always told about, the thrill of war, the rush of battle.

A fiery shot streaked across the sky. It was time. A resolute smile graced Adrestia's beautiful countenance. She gave Nerine a nod then turned to face the rest of her team.

"Light the torches," Adrestia ordered them.

Within moments, their lights cut through the shadows. With the fire came renewed vigor, as if the fire in their hearts was lit as well. Fire was their ancestor's weapon against the unknown. Tonight it would be their weapon as well.

Adrestia waved her torch and commanded, "Follow me!"

Adrestia rode across the field, with no fear or hesitation. Hooves pounded the earth behind her in succession. Her own lifeblood pulsed within her, each beat louder and faster than the last. She could practically hear her own heart. For the first time in all her life she felt alive, truly alive. Time slowed, as if every moment demanded to be savored. Sounds were muffled, all except the pounding of her life within her.

It seemed like an eternity and also a moment they reached the edge of the forest and reached a halt. Its tall trees and dark shadows threated them with the horror of the unknown. It loomed over them ominously with a primordial foreboding that lurked in them. Lucky for them they brought with them the one true weapon to combat the ancient abyss.

Adrestia turned around to face them and instructed her team, "Burn this abysmal place to the ground!"

They used their torches to light crossbow bolts afire and shoot them into branches. Oil and firepots were launched into trunks, shrubs and anything that caught fire. Soon their tiny sparks of light began to grow and the blaze began to catch on. The cracks of burning wood and hiss of boiling sap could be heard. Loud crashes could be made out as no doubt some older rotten trees fell over. Smoke filled their noses and glorious light filled their sight. It was a light that broke through the darkness as if it were a new dawn.

Adrestia's spirit danced with the flames. It might take all night. It might take even a few days, but with a fire like this, soon these dangerous woods would be no more. She felt nothing but elation as she watched it. She could watch it all night and never be bored, as something about it nurtured her very soul. A familiar howl finally broke her trance.

"Lady Adrestia, beasts are coming," one of the men shouted and pointed towards the city.

It seemed a splinter group of about a dozen or so creatures had broken off and were on their way at full sprint towards them. Or these creatures must have been held in reserve somewhere. Adrestia looked beyond them and saw the entire outskirts of the town on fire. No matter she would kill them all.

Adrestia called out confidently, "Formation!"

It had taken a few hours patience, but now these farmers could form a basic cavalry formation. Too bad she didn't have more time. She would have preferred to go over a few maneuvers with them so they could practice moving as a team. Still, being able to form up and charge without stumbling over each other was good enough.

The men formed around Adrestia and Nerine. Grim looks bathed their faces. For some these would be there final moments and they knew it. She could hardly blame them for their trepidation. Perhaps this was her last moment as well, her last and final command assignment.

"Has it been a good life?" Adrestia asked Nerine, as she threw her torch in the forest and drew her sword.

"I don't know about good, but it certainly has been interesting," Nerine answered as she drew her own blade.

Adrestia gazed at the beasts bounding towards them and remarked, "I'm fortunate to have met you."

"May the Great Mother grant us her righteous fury," Nerine prayed.

Adrestia raised her shining sword in the celestial light and shouted, "Prepare to charge."

Her men nodded to her, emboldened by her spirit. Despite the fear they all felt, this was the kind of moment all little boys dreamt of and Adrestia knew it. They were being led by knights of Saiya on a heroic charge. It was as close to any of them would get to living out a fairy tale.

Adrestia pointed her blade to the enemy and shouted, "Charge!"

Adrestia surged towards her enemy, looking every bit like a painting from legend. The fluted armor on her arms gleamed in the moonlight as she galloped perfectly balanced on her brown steed at the head of the formation. Her raven hair had broken free of its bonds and waved wildly around her. Her silver sword was raised above her head ready to strike down her foes. She appeared to be a heavenly warrior sent by the Great Mother to dispense divine retribution. An artist would have given anything to have captured the moment.

As her enemy grew closer, she could make out more features. Gleaming amber eyes pierced the night. Ivory teeth gleamed dangerously from their mouths. Black claws glistened threateningly on giant paws. Beasts of all different colors could be seen, mostly dark brown and black, but a few crimson and even a golden haired one were among the bunch.

None of it mattered to her. She should have been scared. Matter of fact she should have been terrified. She was not. These were no longer the unknown nightmares from legend. They could be hurt, they could be killed. Despite all their power and monstrous appearance, they were still mortal just as she was.

The two sides were only a few strides away from each other now. Untold carnage would begin in moments. The essence of legends and nightmares coexisted in such moments. A dark haired creature singled her out and bounded towards her.

Adrestia merely taunted, "Come at me, you toothy bastard!"