Disclaimer: I don't own digimon!!

A/N: please R/R.

----------Chapter 5------------------------

            Kale drew his orange broadsword and braced himself for battle.  Standing on the castle's stairs, he was in a precarious position, but had a distinct advantage, as he stood higher up than his foes.  He waited as the first orc began to climb the stairwell.  Arrows were whizzing around his face, but he held his position.  Finally, the orc in front of him was close enough that it raised its black scimitar to attack, but not before the quicker Man thrust his blade deep in the foul creature's chest.  He ran down as fast as he could, slaying any creature that crossed his path.  He finally cleared a path to get outside the castle and into the smaller fight below.

            It was surreal to him.  Only hours before, he had delivered the message that the enemy army was drawing nearer.  Then he had volunteered to stay behind in the castle to try and fight with the other soldiers.  And now, here he was, in the heat of battle.

            All thoughts were erased from his mind, however, when he looked out in front of him.  Not seven feet away stood Yelsand, smiling deviously at him.  Kale could feel a deep rage boiling up inside of him.  He charged ahead, his sword raised up, ready to cleave the evil king's head from his shoulders.

            He never made it.

            Instantly, he felt a sharp and immense pain in his back, and on reflex dropped his sword.  His mind was swimming, but then he tried to pull himself together.  His vision slurred as he realized that there was an arrow in his back.  As he dropped to his knees, he remembered what the king had said to Yamato only minutes before.

You'll be dead before you hit the ground.

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            Yamato turned and expected to see orcs running at him, weapons drawn.   Nothing.  He sheathed his sword and continued to run toward the town.  His mind drifted towards his brother, Takeru.  He was probably completely oblivious to the fact that his older brother was fleeing from a losing battle; that he was leaving his comrades to die whilst he sought shelter.  As the town below rose closer, he stopped and wept.  Would he ever see Takeru again?

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            "We should be nearing the town of Garind in an hour or so," Koushiro called from in front of the Troupe.  Ash snorted.  He was disappointed by the trek so far.  He had grown up in a small farm village only a few miles from Ontak City.  He hadn't been satisfied with the life his parents had left him.  Leaving his elder brother to work the fields, he joined the Ontak Army.  He had advanced in rank quickly, becoming a lower-ranking Commander within six years.  At thirty-two, he was the oldest member of the Troupe, and also the most war-happy among the twelve.

            "What's that?" asked a voice from behind.  Ash turned to see pillars of black impenetrable smoke rising high into the sky.

            "I don't know.  Maybe a bonfire or something," Rando suggested.  He and Chen were orphans and best friends.  They had grown up together and even fought together in the War of Sentäh, better known as the War of Men and Elves.  Both warriors at heart, the two were the same age of twenty-one.

            "Too much smoke.  And it seems to be coming from the direction of Ontak City," Jib exclaimed.  Extremely humble, Jib was the youngest man in the Elite Army, only fifteen, one year below Hikari and Takeru.  He carried an extremely large broadsword [A/N: For those of you Final Fantasy VII fans, imagine Cloud's Buster Sword a little bit bigger].  He was really a pacifist, but he joined the army at an early age to defend his kingdom, if necessary.  He never really thought that it would come to that, however.

            "Ontak City?" Takeru asked.  "We have to go back!"

            "No," Koushiro answered sternly.  "It would be suicide.  Anyways, we have more important matters at hand than to mess with the affairs of the Kingdom.  We must make it to Lako Kula and find the next Rune.  If even one falls into Yelsand's hands, that would hinder us."  He turned to face the rest of the Troupe.  "Especially if he is really Ohlash."

            "But what if that did happen?" Hikari asked.  She had remained quiet for most of the trip, but she spoke up now.

            Koushiro smiled.  "Then we'd be pretty goddamn screwed, wouldn't we?"

            Really, really bad ending to the chapter.  But I haven't updated for a while, and I have a good idea for the next chapter.  Please review.