We Got Them Good…Right?
Vyle, Smash, and Souris marched forward, Freeport at their backs, along with a legion of savage and brutal warriors and mages.
"So," Smash said, looking towards Vyle. "Do ya' think that these Gnolls will be any trouble?"
"I think this will be like killing bugs. But," he paused, still marching forward. "We should always be cautious. You never can truly tell how a battle can turn out."
"Well said, Capn'!" Souris piped up, using her staff as a walking stick.
Hours of marching passed until they legion finally came in sight of the Gnoll encampment. Vyle curled his hand into a fist and threw it into the air, halting the army.
"Souris," Vyle whispered. "Get the mages to give em' some well placed fireballs, eh?" Souris nodded approvingly and made the single to start firing. In a matter of seconds, half of the large encampment was up in flames.
"Cease fire!" Vyle shouted out. The barrage of flames halted. Vyle leaned his head towards Smash, speaking in a low voice. "Take alf' the army round' the camp, and assault it from behind. I'll cover the front." Smash made the signal and half of the army started marching towards the back of the camp. Vyle drew out his word and pointed at the burning encampment. "CHARGE!" He bellowed as he ran towards the camp with another roar of approval following his order.
They charged into the camp, slaying the Gnolls that rushed them. Vyle had gone of on his own little killing spree, slaughtering anything that got in his way. He made his way to the housings of the beasts and kicked the hut door open. He saw a mother Gnoll and two Gnoll pups on the ground, huddling in the corner, whimpering. He lifted his sword and roared. The two pups began crying, along with the mother. He stopped the battle-cry and looked down at the cowering family. He lost his balance and fell straight on his bottom. His sword stuck in the ground and he couldn't stand.
"Oh my God," he whispered. "What have I done? Have I become as wretched as those…pirates?" He thought back to his childhood, how his family was brutally killed by that beast of a human. 'These Gnolls aren't my enemy.' He thought. He stood up and grabbed his sword. He took a glance at the family, feeling torn. He walked out of the hut and roared, "We're done here. They don't have enough left to attack a small bird." Smash, whose half of the army had done considerable damage, walked over to Vyle.
"But, they aren't all dead…" Smash was cut short by the rapier pointing at his heart. Smash gulped as the blade point didn't shift.
"Are you questioning my authority?" He roared at his companion. Smash shook his head looking shocked. "Look at me; I'm taking my anger out on one of my only friends."
"It's alright, Vyle. You have a lot of stress on you."
"Let's just depart. I'm sick of this foul stench of death." Vyle said, looking disgusted. "By the way, were is Souris?" The look on Smash's face said it all. "No." Vyle whispered.
"She and the mages were ambushed by a group of Qeynosian troops. They didn't stand a chance."
Vyle stared in disbelief, and for only the second time in his life, he shed tears for another. He walked off, stopping only to tell Smash to round up the troops and bring them home and report the victory. Vyle had walked up to the hill in which he found Souris' body. He kneeled down and picked it up and started his march back to Freeport. They had won the battle, but to Vyle the Venomheart, this was a defeat.
End Part 1