A Great Consternation

"Come on, Vikki! We have to make haste!" Bathsheba called behind her as Vikki was far behind. She would stop for a moment to let her friend catch up but the smoke that was becoming thicker in the horizon through the jungle was a clear sign something was wrong. Her Ears started to hear wails and shouts of battle cries.

"Keep going!" Vikki shouted back gesturing with her arm. "I'll catch up!" Bathsheba nodded and quickened her pace she jumped over some logs and pushed through some bushes alerting a nearby group of ankylosaurus.

One of them that was the closest to the Felidae woman stepped back and raised its club like tail in defense from the sudden burst from the foliage but when, Bathsheba passed it the dinosaur lowered its tail when it appeared the being that came out so suddenly was not a threat and the peculiar looking furless creature that came into view a few moments after only followed the same path as the other took.

Out of the corner of Vikki's eye she caught sight of the pack of Ankylosaurus they were a great spectacle to see but there were more pressing matters at hand. This world had many grand sights to behold it was certain but right now if there was a village under a possible siege it meant innocent people were in danger. It was not a time for sight seeing or to marvel about on another dinosaur she happened to see and kept going leaving the dinosaurs to continue their graze through the jungle while the one that acted in a defensive manner only could ponder over the two that came out from the brush and disappeared just as fast.

Bathsheba ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her teeth bared and her spear held tight. Her ears flicked as silence began to come from where she first heard the screams and cries. She didn't like how everything had gone silent as it did. She readied herself as if there was anything left of those that dared attack another village and if it was who she thought it would be she would make them answer for the many deaths of her people and friends.

The Tree's around started to become scattered instead of being congesting. The Lioness noticed that some of the tree's around were only stumps which indicated the village was cutting down tree's for any manner of use that would serve the villagers. She took a whiff from the air and could smell the thickness of the smoke that she could now see from ahead. Her heart began to sink at the sight as she came out from the forest's edge and her eyes went wide at the horrid sight in front of her.

Vikki panted as she desperately tried to catch up with Bathsheba. She momentarily got caught on a hanging vine that nearly knocked her back, but she lifted it up and went under it rubbing her throat while she kept running.

"Bathsheba! I'm almost there!" She called with a hand over her mouth informing her friend who she could she see past some tree's standing with her spear still in hand, but Vikki looked past her to see thick black smoke ingulfing what appeared to be a hut among many others laying in ruins with flames cackling over a couple of them.

The Woman finally came out from the jungle and stood next to the lioness who could only stare at the sight of what used to be a village filled with homes made from the wood of the surrounding jungle laying in inflamed ruins now.

A Wall that once protected the village from most threats laid in shatters. A lot of the pieces of the wall itself looked to have been rammed and crushed by beasts. Behind the tattered remains of the walls where some parts where left standing were charcoaled huts some had all but burned to the ground some were gravely smashed to pieces and to much more of the horrid sight there were corpses of men wearing thin loincloths lying dead among the ruins.

"By the great spirits! Have they no mercy?" Bathsheba shuddered at the sight of the massacre. Over a dozen men were laying dead some of them still had weapons in their hands showing they tried to defend the village and themselves, but they had no chance. Bathsheba slowly approached the charred huts keeping her spear up the fires were fresh and the men around were recently killed the ones who were responsible could be still be near.

Vikki slowly followed the lioness her eyes darted all over becoming ill at the sight of the one poor men that died in a fight that looked to have been one way. This wasn't a battle it was a slaughter. These men had no chance against whoever or whatever had attacked them.

All over the men who had tried to defend the village laid in their own blood having been stabbed or chopped with what had to be sharp blades. One of the men had a spear lodged right into his chest where his heart was as his body laid against what remained of a hut.

"Who could do this to people?" Vikki lamented feeling both disgusted and saddened that these poor men died such cruel deaths. Either this was their home they tried to defend, or they were assisting those in need and yet they couldn't, and they paid the heaviest price of it all. They may have failed to stop the attack, but they stood their ground in trying to protect something. True men who now were in peace for their courageous stand.

"The Worst of it, Vikki." Bathsheba growled keeping her eyes out tightening the grip on her weapon. This atrocity of a sight reminded her of when she woke up back at the fortress. She had done what she could but ultimately she and her fellow defenders were overwhelmed and only she managed to live through either luck or the blessing of the spirits. "I know fully well who did this! I swear to the sacred spirits above I will carve the names of everyone she's murdered into her skull when I find her!"

The Lioness kept her senses sharp and her eyes open. Those responsible for this treachery could still be around. As they always would do they would slaughter then pillage as if they couldn't disgrace those they murdered anymore. Taking in the pleasure of the lives they brought to ruin and rob them of their belongings.

Suddenly Bathsheba's ears pricked and then there was a loud shout coming from around some of the huts that still stood with visible damage on some of the wooden walls and singeing of the straw and wooden roofs.

"Vikki! With me now!" The Lioness whispered behind her with Vikki hearing her friend and stepped up behind her.

"What is it?" Vikki asked kneeling low with Bathsheba's hand on her shoulder making her stay low.

"There are still men here. I heard something!" Bathsheba said lowly before there was another spiteful shout and then came a cry of pain coming from around the corner of a hut.

"Oh no! Someone needs help!" Vikki rose and ran past the lioness.

"Vikki wait!" Bathsheba tried to stop the green haired woman, but Vikki got out of reach too fast, and she ran around the hut to see who it was that sounded in desperate need of assistance. Just across a small path riddled with the destructive remains of the village around was two dark tanned men cackling almost ape like wearing blackened loincloths approaching a wounded man white skinned and wearing tiny pieces of armor that were torn to shreds and his body was covered with open cuts. He was groaning from the intense pain as he backed up into one of the sides of another ruined hut and tried to reach for a small sword laying next to him but one of the men in front of them stepped on his hand as shot out a painful scream as the other dark tanned man raised up a club made from a stick with a rounded metallic ball at the top end as he raised it up and the man beneath him moved his arm over himself protectively though in his wounded state it wouldn't make much difference.

Vikki didn't know everything at the moment but what she saw looked to be two savages about to kill a helpless man. She couldn't let it happen. She was without her bow and all she had was the little amount of clothing she had on. She looked down to her left and picked up a piece of toppled wood and threw it at the one who had the club raised high. The Piece of wood hit the arm of the dark tanned man who causing him to drop his club and grab his arm as he cried from the sudden strike.

He along with the other man next to him turned around to see what would dare attack one of them. They saw a peculiar green haired woman that was very pale in the skin and the outfit she had on didn't seem like it had come from any animal of the realm, but she made an assault against them, and it would not stand.

The one near the club wielding man growled angrily baring his teeth that looked like some were carved out to resemble tiny fangs in the front of its mouth. Vikki was surprised by the sudden hostility by the two. They growled and wheezed acting more primate than human. Were they even human? They stood and walked like men, but something was different about them and it was monster like.

She backed away slowly as the two men advanced on her growling sinisterly with the one who she stopped from hurting the wounded man who watched from the ground near the hut he laid against. He saw the woman who had just protected him he worried for her and saw she was without a weapon. He tried to get back up, but his wounds were very deep and severe that he was unable to stand, and he could feel his life starting to fade away.

The Two dark tanned men then cried out at Vikki like apes before they charged her with their arms held high one of them holding a spear and the other pulled a knife out from a sheath tied around ankle.

Vikki immediately turned around and ran as the two chased her. Something about those men were indefinitely wrong and they were howling like savages. They were monsters and were the ones that brought this village to ruins and killed those that gave their lives to protect it. She ran fast and looked behind her to see the two were chasing her, but she failed to watch where she was going and when she looked back forward she nearly collided with the wall of a hut. She turned around pressing her back against the wall as the two men approached as they snickered at the sight of the human trapped herself.

"Go away!" Vikki demanded but the men still approached. Now that they were seeing the female up close she looked rather lovely. Her beauty was something of a define perhaps they could see more of her if they could subdue the one who stopped them from killing the last defender of the village.

The Men did not adhere to the demand and continued to approach the woman with dark desire and their eyes shown a devious nature behind them but before they could come within arms reach a roar followed by a spear that pierced right through the throat of the one who held the knife. He gurgled from the sharp object that was now stuck in him from the back of his neck and pierced out from the front before he collapsed dead.

Just when his companion turned around he was met with a pair of furry hands that belonged to an enraged Bathsheba who snarled madly as she grabbed the head of the man and slammed it hard against the wall right next to, Vikki who backed away fast to give the lioness some room.

Bathsheba continued slamming the head against the wall until blood began to show and when the man tried to raise his hands against her she then went around him wrapping his arms around his reaching under his chin and over his head before twisting it with great strength snapping his neck and within a second his body went limp, and death had taken him along with his comrade.

The Felidae snarled loudly dropping the deceased body taking many deep breaths her eyes full of rage and hate. Vikki watched her friend looked to be in a blood lust but when Bathsheba's eyes looked upon her she calmed down and went over the woman.

"Are you alright, love?" She asked taking hold of her shoulders and looked her over to see if she was injured in any way.

"I'm fine. Thanks to you." Vikki sighed and tried to smile but the shock of what those men were and what they tried to do to her made her realize this world is far more dangerous than she first realized. But then she remembered the injured man.

"Someone was wounded! We have to help him!" Vikki exclaimed putting Bathsheba's hands down and ran for the man who still was laying where he was with Bathsheba following her.

The Wounded man was barely holding on. He knew his time was drawing to a close his eyes starting to waiver but then two pairs of hands grasped his arms and held his chest. He opened his eyes to see a Felidae and the human woman who 'saved' him from the two that remained in the village to finish off any stragglers.

"Hold on!" Vikki said as she looked over his blood ridden body. All over from his chest down his legs he had series of cuts and heavy bruises. This man was on borrowed time at best, but she had to do something.

"We're going to help you." Bathsheba whispered to him holding his head she tried to think of what they could do to help but the man raised his left arm and Vikki immediately took it.

"Its…too late for me." The Man wheezed as the pain was immense.

Vikki grasped his hand and held it close. "Don't say that. We're going to try." She consoled she knew man was right, but she couldn't let him feel that way. If only she and Bathsheba got there sooner.

The Dying man gave her a low smile. "Thank you…for trying." Vikki tried to smile but her heart was breaking for him. She had seen many battles before and even partook in some but no matter if it was a friend or ally it broke her within to see someone who had every right to live soon lose it.

His eyes then turned to Bathsheba who continued to hold him giving him a sympathetic look. Again, she was haunted by the sight of those that she lost. Yet another group and village has fallen to her devious enemy fueling her rage within. "I thought all the only Felidae left were with King Jarrol?"

Bathsheba gasped when he mentioned her race. "With the King? Do you know who was with them? Please tell me what you know." She begged holding him closer.

The Man's head was moved next to the lioness's ear. "A Group…a child was with them. Firekeep…beware the sub-humans. Beware of Roleil…" With the final words being spoken the man's body went limp and his head leaned back as death claimed him as the wounds were too much for his body to no longer bare.

"Oh…" Vikki whimpered looking down sadly closing her eyes kneeling beside the man. "I'm sorry." She apologized feeling responsible for not being able to protect him before he was wounded too severely.

Bathsheba sniffled as she felt yet more loss upon her shoulders. She raised hand and respectfully shut the man's eyes and carefully laid him down on the ground. "Thank you. I swear to you that your death will be avenged. May you find peace with the spirits and your soul be granted to eternal peace. Find your home in spirit realm." She blessed the man before giving him a soft kiss on his forehead slowing standing up and looked down at Vikki seeing she was gravely upset over his loss.

The Lioness looked around to see the many of the fallen who died defending the village. They fought bravely but in vain, but their sacrifice will not be forgotten in her eyes, and they deserved to pass on from the living world.

"Vikki please assist me." She asked offering her hand down to the young woman who wiped a tear from her eye. Even though she didn't know the man to see someone die such a death in the name of protecting someone or something was still hard to watch no matter how many times she has seen it.

"What is it?" She looked up and asked with Bathsheba helping her to her feet.

"We cannot leave them here to rot like this. These men deserve to pass with the honor they have. And this one here has now given me truth. My Son is safely with the King as I had hoped I will not let his death be without proper burial nor the others here. Please help me in this matter."

Vikki understood what she wanted to do. Every soldier deserves to come home, and either be given a hero's welcome or if they don't come back alive they should be buried with all the highest respect and honor they had. She nodded to the lioness who told her what they had to do.

For a good portion of the day the two friends worked together to gather the bodies of the fallen men. One by one they gathered them up and placed them in one of the last huts that still stood among the ruins. They laid each one out with their bodies straightened and their hands together. To those that still had a weapon in hand they placed the very weapon upon their bodies a warrior who still held a weapon should hold it when he is given his passing.

It was rather grotesque having to do the job a coroner would do but Vikki wanted to help. This world was far more insane that first imagined. Populated by more than just dinosaurs but to find out there were more than just humans but creatures such as Bathsheba and the apparent war against this peculiar enemy that she had yet to know about but what the dying man had said to Bathsheba, Vikki overheard, and she would ask about it when the time was right.

After a few hours of gathering the fallen only leaving the two men that tried to attack Vikki where they had fallen. Vikki had put together one final pair of hands on the last man they gathered from the ruins of the village and placed in the hut.

Seven men in total who all died trying to safeguard the village. Men who fought to protect their home and loved ones. They did not deserve to die as they did. Some of them only just at the age of becoming adults. Lives that were gone far too soon due to the tyrannical actions of someone. It was truly a sad sight.

Bathsheba checked over everything and made sure the hut was prepared for the ceremonial passing. She called Vikki from the hut as it was time.

Vikki left the hut after she looked at the first man they put in the hut which was the very one they tried to save before. A Man in his middle thirties. Muscular and even handsome she would admit, and he died tragically. No one should ever have to leave the world in such a way.

Once she was out and standing by the lioness's side as she held a piece of wood that was had a flame ignited on the top she tossed it into the hut and after a couple of minutes the hut became ablaze in a great flame. Bathsheba and Vikki watched side by side as the men within it were given a funeral as their bodies faded to ash and one could hope that their spirits now will find peace that they did not have in life in their final moments.

Bathsheba had her hands together with her head lowered in respect and said a prayer that was foreign to Vikki, but she followed Bathsheba in the same gesture. Either way she would give her due respect to the fallen.

Eventually the burning hut collapsed, and the flames began to flicker and die out. The Makeshift funeral for the group of soldiers had come to an end and, Bathsheba looked around the ruined village. Now that she had thought about it, Vikki would need a weapon to help safeguard herself as they continue the journey. Already it was long past midday and the afternoon had come in. It will be dark soon and they soon before that would need a safe place to rest.

Under some rubble she found a wooden bow that must have belonged to one of the soldiers who must have lost it when the attack was going on. She picked it up and carried over to Vikki who still remained in the spot as she watched the last bit of the flames on the hut die away.

"Vikki I think you will be needing this." Bathsheba handed her friend the bow which Vikki gladly took. She tugged at the taught bowstring feeling it was good and tight.

"Thank you. I actually was going to say I would need a new bow since I lost mine when I helped you. This will do." Vikki thanked holding out her hand and Bathsheba smiled back and took her hand.

"You're welcome, love." Bathsheba sighed as she took one last look at the hut they burned and then turned to the side and looked out southward. More mountains and jungles awaited them as the journey was beckoning them to continue.

"Come Vikki there is nothing more we can do here now. Find yourself a quiver and any arrows that may still be left. We have to continue before it gets dark, and we will need time to find someplace to rest safely." Bathsheba explained getting a nod from Vikki.

Vikki looked through much of the wreckage of the village. It was difficult to search through so much of the ruins and time was of the essence already the sun was starting to go down and the evening was only a few hours away but eventually she found a quiver in what remained of a cart that had empty buckets in it with a lot of fruits in it that were burned to the point where they were inedible.

"I found one! Only problem It just has four arrows in it." Vikki called out to Bathsheba who patiently awaited her near the burned hut standing up from the spot she sat at.

"It will have to do. We can make more arrows for you. Right now, we have no time. Let us be off." Bathsheba gestured southward and began to walk Vikki followed right next to her.

They left the boundary of the ruined village both stopping once they were a good distance away and gave it one last look. A True shame such a place was lost. Once home to dozens of people and filled with families and now it was nothing but a ruined left to rot and just as quickly forgotten.

The two continued their journey heading into the jungle in silence for awhile each not having much to say since they left but then a question came to, Vikki's mind as the silence was starting to upset her.

"Who's Roleil?" She asked but when she said that very name, Bathsheba gritted her teeth growling in deep anger.

"That vile despicable witch!" She seethed tightening her fist and grip on the spear so hard it nearly snapped it.