Marksman

A war has left a nation torn and its remaining heirs escaping with their lives. Little did the Admiral know that by taking them in, it would alter the life of his daughter drastically, especially when her curiosity draws her closer to the budding marksman. One night, after receiving news of her abduction, the ranger departed on an arduous journey, vowing to bring her home safely.

Previously:

"Natsuki'll see soon enough. Father and the Councilor have already approved our plans. I believe the best demonstration would be one as close to reality as possible, am I right?"

Chapter 5

Italics – Thoughts

Atop the gates, the commander chewed her lips nervously as she watched the chaos unfold before her. The attack had come swiftly. Miya had expected opposition from Chryzan; they would not lay down arms just like that; but she had planned for a quick and easy defense, planning to use her scorpions' bulk and armor to her advantage. It worked before – the town's defenses had succumbed so easily. Right now, as she looked on, her mounted troops were scuttled, easily flipped over and gored right through by the large Horned Striders. Her anxiety grew as the battle dragged on. She couldn't let them push through. Tomoe would never forgive her. "Release the damn Katapults! Light them up!" she scowled as she saw the blonde commander of the Chyrzan army take out yet another two scorpions.

"But, commander.. Our men are still there.."

Enraged, Miya picked the soldier up by his collar and shook him around roughly. "I'll ask for your opinion when I need it! Get to it!"

He nodded, scrambling up when she released her grip, disappearing from sight.

"How many men are there left holding the town?"

"About two foot companies, excluding your personal guards."

Miya paced around her chair, running a hand through her hair in exasperation. "Fire the Katapults. I will engage them with the remaining forces. Get ready to move out. We will ride the chaos."

"Commander Clochette, if we do so, our position will be vulnerable."

Miya tossed her hair and snorted, "I don't believe they can hold out under the Katapults fire. We felled even the largest Strider in our onslaught previously. We have superior numbers." Sensing his hesitation, she sneered as she exited the room, "If you want to be responsible for the loss of this town, be prepared to answer to General Marguerite herself."

He thought about for a mere second, before swallowing uneasily and quickly strode after her.

XXX

Shizuru's extended naginata whizzed past and the soldier collapsed. Spying the opening, the long haired ranger leapt forward. She pulled the bowstring taut, taking a split second to carefully calculate the wind before she sent an arrow flying. A sharp clang and the projectile lodged itself within the cogs, rendering its mechanism stuck.

"Next one, Natsuki!" Shizuru exclaimed as she dodged a blade.

Natsuki nodded once, firing another arrow that struck a soldier that was creeping up on Shizuru.

With the sightings of the Katapults and Natsuki's explanations, there was to be a change in tactics. As the main army engaged; a duo had set off on a mission to disable the potent siege engines. Shizuru knew that Natsuki would have preferred not to decimate her father's inventions and proposed this idea, volunteering to aid her. Natsuki has also opted to keep Duran behind in camp as his appearance would alert Arixia of the survival of Kagen heirs. They didn't want to risk underestimating the enemy.

It had been going according to plan so far, until a bellow echoed. "What the hell!"

Miya bristled as she eyed the path of destruction before her – strewn bodies, jammed up Katapults and slain arthropods – in the very base of their operations! The brunette was busy cutting an opening through the remainder of the troops stationed below for her companion to get a clear and calculated shot at the Katapults. Miya heard another sharp crunch, watching another Katapult succumb; her hopes of turning this battle around grew farther and father way. She would be completely doomed if Tomoe found out the Katapults had been lost. Try as they might to reconstruct it, Arixian engineers never could get it right. "Get that damned archer!" she screamed, hopping on her scorpion and charging straight toward the wielder of the naginata.

The command issued, all remaining soldiers turned to concentrate on the bowman, who had noticed the focused attention on her. She frowned, her eyes darting across to Shizuru when she heard the reverberating clang of metal as Miya engaged Shizuru. The sparks flew as both broadsword and naginata met, sending a sharp, shrill screech. Her emerald eyes caught sight of movement to her right and she leapt aside, dodging the slash and countering with a low kick that sent the first soldier dropping on the ground. She pulled two short, slightly curved blades from her side and quickly eliminated the threat, knowing it would be better to conserve her arrows to maintain ranged combat as long as she could.

Thud. Thud. Another two soldiers sprinting toward her were felled.

Shit, she cursed silently when they quickly gathered strength in numbers and charged toward her together. She turned and sprinted away, using a barrel beside her for a boost. She grunted as she pulled herself up with the hanging sign by the street, deftly landing on the temporary perch.

A windowsill to her right. A good foothold.

She leapt for it, barely dodging flying swords that the soldiers below were flinging as they ran toward her.

Teetering on the small ledge, she jumped and grabbed the edge of the roof. She hissed in pain as a sword nicked her left arm, but she grit her teeth, ignoring the pain as she hoisted herself up. Her arm trembled as she arched the bow, picking off soldiers and dodging the aerial steel projectiles from above.

Shizuru, she thought and she dashed across the roof, using the ridge as cover. There, locked in a fast and furious battle, both women were trading blows.

The opportunity presented itself – the Arixian commander's back was turned toward her. One look and Natsuki could tell who had the upper hand. Yet, she didn't want to take any chances. So she slid down the shingles, preparing for a shot. Her eyes shifted when she felt a looming presence behind her, but she couldn't risk Shizuru being injured in any way. Instead, her eyes darted back to her original target. She narrowed them and released her arrow.

Miya fell off her scorpion.

Crimson eyes lifted toward Natsuki's position and widened.

"NATSUKI!" Shizuru shrieked.

Natsuki whipped her head back, barely catching sight of the scorpion's large black tail as it poised itself, ready to sting. She rolled, narrowly missing the stab that came bearing down, but tumbled off the sloped roof. She groaned as her body hit the opposite building across the narrow streets with a dull thump, before smashing hard into the ground below.

The scorpion's rider hollered and the foot troops sprinted to her location. She stumbled, haphazardly wiping the trickle of blood away from her forehead. A quick glance around and she knew that she was surrounded. She huffed, pulling out her blades. If it was a fight to the finish, then so be it.

XXX

"Kiyohime!"

The reptile didn't need another instruction. Her claws dug into the ground and she propelled herself forward. With the momentum, she leapt. Her talons dug in through the soldiers she landed on, sending sprays of blood onto her underbelly.

Her rider's whip like naginta curled, lashing out at the ones who had Natsuki surrounded. Shizuru's eyes were glazed over; her focus was only on one target. The dark haired girl was still amongst the enemy. Shizuru knew Natsuki's movements were more sluggish than usual. She didn't have time to waste. It didn't matter that she was covered in blood or soft innards as they came bursting out. She exhaled softly as she easily stabbed her blade through another Arixian soldier, pulling out swiftly to block an incoming attack on her left.

"GO!" Shizuru heard a familiar bellow from behind her.

The main army had arrived.

Loud snorts and the rumble from the Horned Striders' march. An incapacitated commander. The remaining Arixians knew the battle was lost. They scattered. In their hasty retreat, the fleeing Scorpion Rider leaned over and roughly grabbed the injured Kagen Ranger by the collar, hoisting her up on his mount in a bid to use her as hostage in case.

Blood red eyes followed his every move. The chase was on.

XXX

Shizuru dismounted.

The Vitilus Raptors stood to her side, amidst the slain Arixian army along the cliff's path. Picking them off had been easy. Their commanders were right in the course the routed army would take.

Shizuru walked up to the captured Scorpion Rider and bent over, lifting his face and whispered, "Ara, ara. Do you think you can get away with what you have done to my Natsuki?"

He refused to look her in the eye and shook his head out of her grasp, snorting defiantly.

Shizuru closed her eyes, chuckling lightly, "Let him go."

Her captain looked confused, "Are you sure, my lady?"

"Yes, please. The rest of you are dismissed as well. Please bring Commander Kruger back to base and have her injuries treated immediately."

"Shizuru.. Wait.." Natsuki muttered groggily.

Shizuru turned and her eyes softened when she looked at Natsuki. A silent message was sent and a worried look crossed Natsuki's face when she saw the look in Shizuru's before she could retort, Shizuru added, "Please, Captain. I do not wish for Commander Kruger's injuries to get any worse."

XXX

The Arixian scowled as he gripped his axe. His grip was weak as he had multiple wounds on his remaining arm and a severed dominant hand. His back was against the cliff edge. A large canyon separated the cliffs.

His pursuer stepped out from the sparse trees bordering the clearing.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Didn't you tell them to let me go?!" he panted with whatever strength he could muster, feeling his strength drain with every second.

The woman laughed softly, bringing a hand to daintily cover her chuckle, but did not reply. She merely flicked her weapon, brandishing its sharp blade menacingly. He met her gaze, only to shudder at it. He had already figured out he messed with the wrong person when they first clashed. It was clear to him their skills were worlds apart. All he could wish for now was a less drawn out death.

She tilted her head. He swallowed. A rustle of wind and he knew it was coming. He could barely see her movement, just the incredibly fast and blurred out path of the red weapon. He wondered, as he collapsed onto the dirt, just how many times his body had been slashed apart.

XXX

"Amazing," the figure smirked. She removed the binoculars; a good procurement from Kagen lands, amidst many other strange technologies.

She felt a gaze on her and realized the brunette from across the canyon looked up in her direction – could she see her from this distance? The figure felt a shiver down her spine. It was thrilling and exciting. She hadn't felt that way before. She sucked in a breath, "The most amazing woman I have ever laid my eyes on."

Turning back around, she clacked her tongue as she walked off, "Tch. Stupid Miya. Now I'll have more work to do." She looked up into the blue skies and nodded, "But no matter. It was worth it; otherwise I would never have found the perfect woman."

XXX

A/N: Hope you guys like this chapter as much as I liked writing it! :P

Sorry that this chapter's kinda short though.

As always, reviews are appreciated!