Next morning they had already 132 people recruited, men and women. But they didn't have enough gear and weapons for everyone. So they called Tanana for help.
"You wanted to see me?" the shaman said as she entered on Havoc's tent.
"Yes, in fact we need your help" Davis
"You see, we don't face arrows and spears but guns"Blackburn"Weapons capable of killing at long distance and with more precision"
"We have protection equipment and weapons but they're not enough for all the recruits" Mandy
"What are you trying to say?"
"In fact, we want to know if you could use some kind of magic to...provide gear and weapons" said Davis a little embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, but white magic only works for good. Using dark magic, even for good purposes could be dangerous and bring bad consequences"
"So...could we use neutral magic?"Blackburn"You know, not good nor evil"
"It's not a bad idea, there's a special neutral magic stone. But the bad new, is that it's hidden in the caves of The Valley of Death. It's called like that because all the ones that entered never came back. That place is full of fog and mortal sharp rocks"
"Would you show us where is that place?"
"Right here, a day from the village on feet" said Tanana pointing at a map.
"Is gonna be faster with a vehicle"Davis"Now we need a team to get that rock"
...
The team was composed by Jason, Clay, Chayo, Trent and the three brothers who wanted to help. They even brought three spears, which wouldn't be too helpful but it was better than nothing. The team got to the vehicle from the Russians and left to the forest, ready for any danger that might cross their way.
"Bravo team this is Havoc base, radio check, over" Blackburn.
"Seven days"
"Pretty funny Bravo seven"
"Oooohhhhh, guess who's no longer Bravo five" said Clay looking at Chayo.
"Como si eso me afectara"
"Deny all you want new girl, I know the truth"
"Alright, knock it off"Sitka"You're acting like kids"
"Fine Dad, fine" Clay
After a short, mostly an eternity, quiet moment, Sonny was heard by the radio:
"(Instrumental We will rock you playing)"
"Really Sonny?"said Jason smiling.
"Come on, who doesn't love this song?"
But Chayo started to follow the lead, she taped the floor with her feet and clapped next, soon Clay and Trent joined her as she began to sing:
"Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday You got mud on your face, you big disgrace Kicking your can all over the place"
"We will, we will rock you" the rest started to sing"We will, we will rock you "
"Hit it Clay"Jason
"Buddy you're a young man hard man Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day You got blood on yo' face You big disgrace Wavin' your banner all over the place"
"We will we will rock you (Sing it out!) We will we will rock you"
"This is for Jason"said Trent as he took the next part:
"Buddy you're an old man poor man Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day You got mud on your face Big disgrace Somebody better put you back into your place"
And now Sitka, Kenai and Denahi joined the chorus:
"We will we will rock you (Sing it!)We will we will rock you (Everybody)We will we will rock you We will we will rock you"
As the song finished, the group arrived at their destination: The Valley of Death.
"Havoc this is Bravo one, passing The shire"
"Roger Bravo one, passing The Shire" Davis
They made way through the heavy fog, everyone was still in the vehicle until they would be close enough from their target. The fog was covering most of the environment, only few sharped rocks, close enough to them, were the only visible thing.
"I feel like in the movie The Mist" Chayo
"Me too"Clay"Now we just need to find some giant mutant animal creatures."
Sitka, Denahi and Kenai saw them with shocked looks, not knowing it was just a reference of the movie The Mist. Suddenly Jason stopped the vehicle and talked to the group:
"This is as far as we can get with the vehicle, we'll have to walk from now on. Havoc this is Bravo 1, the mission keeps on by walking"
"Good copy Bravo one, still on touch" Blackburn
"Alright guys, lets go"
Everybody came out of the vehicle, but then Kenai triped over with something on the ground.
"Are you okay Kenai?" asked Clay as he came over to help him up.
When they both saw the reason of Kenai's fall: A decapitated body with a big scratch on the chest, they realized by his clothes it was one of the russians. The bulletproof vest was badly damaged and sodden of blood. Sitka approached to the body and he started to examine the wounds. When he showed terror on his eyes at recognizing the owner of the marks.
"We have to get out of here. Now!"
"Why?"Jason"What's going on?"
"Those marks are not from an animal. They're from a creature known as Amikuk"
"Oh shit"said Clay"I heard about that monster before. In Inuit mythology is described as an eel with four human-like arms and slimy leathery skin. It usually lives in the water but it can also swim in earth."
"What? That doesn't make any sense."Jason.
"Let's say that the ground becomes a moving sand"
"Okay, then let's find that stone and get the hell out of here. I don't want us become dinner for that thing, Alvarez, dog on"
"Roger that"
The formation was Chayo and Saya at the front. The K9 was looking for anything that could represent a threat for the group. Behind them was Clay, in the middle were the three brothers and at the back Jason and Trent.
Saya barked when she found the cave.
"Havoc this is one, passing Bree"
"Good copy Bravo one, passing Bree"Blackburn
Everyone, except the brothers, putted night vision binoculars. The formation was still the same, Saya was guiding the group through the darkness of the cave, everyone with their weapons ready, spears and M4.
Saya finally stopped at the entrance of a small chamber, this one had rubies emerging from the rocks.
Sitka stepped forward when he saw Saya sitting by his side at the same time he felt something under his foot.
"Uh...guys..."
"What? What's wrong?"asked Kenai since he didn't like his brother's tone of voice.
"I think I stepped on something."
Chayo saw Saya sitting beside Sitka, she knew what that meant.
"Hijo de la chingada"
"By your language I asume that's something bad"said Clay
Chayo turned her lights on from her helmet and saw Sitka over a hidden mine.
"He's stepping on a mine. Los pinches rusos must have put it here"
"What's a mine?" asked a very anxious Sitka.
"In few words, if you take your foot off, that thing is gonna explode and kill us all"said Trent.
Hearing this Sitka started to have a panic attack, so Chayo made an efford to calm him down. Next to that, Jason and Clay secured the entrance while Trent and Chayo started to work on Sitka.
"Is there something we can do?"Kenai
"Stepping aside would be very helpfull"Trent
Denahi and Kenai looked at Sitka who gave them a nod, they stepped back and watched their friends work on their brother. They had burried two sticks near the ground and tied a wire to the tips, making the wire apply the same pressure than Sitka's foot.
Now, it was the moment of truth.
"Okay, Sitka"Trent"At the count of three, you'll lift your foot. Okay?"
"Okay"said Sitka to next take a deep breath.
One, Two, Three!
Sitka lifted his foot but nothing happened.
"BOOM!"
Everyone jumped and yelped from the scare Chayo just gave them.
"Is not funny!"Denahi
"For me it was"
The girl then marked the mine with orange paint and then went to pick up one of the stones. She then communicated to Havoc base they had passed Rivendel and now they were leading to the exit. Just that now Jason and Clay were on the front and Chayo and Trent on the back. They finaly came out of the cave, but after few minutes of walking Saya started to bark, dragging the attention of everybody. But she wasn't barking at the environment, she was barking at Denahi.
"Chayo what's wrong with her?"asked Denahi
"I don't know. Mami calm down, it's just Denahi"
But Saya's barks became more frantic...
And soon Chayo discovered the reason.
"¡DENAHI QUÍTATE DE AHÍ!"she yelled at the same time she pushed Denahi out of the way. She then got knocked down by a shot in the chest.
"CHAYO!"
"Behind the rocks! Hurry!"ordered Jason.
Next, him along with Trent dragged her behind a big rock by the handlers of her bulletproof vest while they were being shot. Once everybody safe, Trent started to do a med check on her.
Denahi's eyes showed fear and shock at seeing Chayo unconsious. No, that wasn't happenning. It couldn't be happening.
"Is she..."
"There's no penetration on the gear. The impact hit her respiratory system."said Trent to next put two fingers on her neck"She's got pulse but she ain't breathing"
After a moment Chayo gasped for air and started to cough. Denahi sighted on relief knowing her friend was fine. Trent and Jason then helped her so sit down so she could breath properly.
"Alright, now Yes No questions"said Trent to her"Are you in Virginia beach?"
Chayo shook her head.
"Are you in Alaska?"
She nodded.
"Is Denahi your boyfriend?"asked Clay trying to tease her.
Chayo just sent him an annoyed look and showed him a middle finger.
"She's fine"said Trent looking at the group.
But then were heard some human screams from where they were beeing shot. Along with reptilian hisses and the soud of a body being butched, Kenai and Clay took a look and saw with horror one of the russians being eaten alive by two Amikuks.
"We gota move, now!"said Clay.
"I'll hold them off. Get to the vehicle"said Chayo.
"Are you out of your mind?! Those things are going to eat you alive if you stay here!" said Denahi, it was clear he cared about his friend by his tone of voice.
"Better one of us than all of us"she replied.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?"asked Jason.
"Who gives a damn shit about a simple rookie?"
Jason didn't like her plan either, but at some point she was right. They needed a distraction.
"When I call you you retreat"
"Roger that"
Then Chayo started to shoot at the Amikuks and everyone started to run back to the vehicle. Once they were close enough Jason ordered Chayo to retreat, so she stopped shooting and ran back to the vehicle along with Saya. But they had to move faster because Clay had started to drive, even if he was not driving to fast so they could reach them, he wasn't going to stop. And less now that they had three Amikuks behind them. It seemed they were going to make it, Saya jumped first to the vehicle but at the moment of Chayo's turn her prosthetic got loose and she hit the ground, rolling due to the speed.
"CHAYO!"
Without thinking, both Denahi and Saya jumped off the vehicle to go back for their friend. Even Clay stopped and he, Jason and Trent began to shoot to the beasts giving their elements some cover.
"I'm fine, I'm okay"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
Saya barked, they saw she had the prosthetic on her mounth.
"I'm sorry Chayo but I'll have to carry you"
"On your shoulder this time"
"Could you please forget about your-"
But before the words pride and dignity could escape his mouth, Chayo loaded her M4.
Denahi then understood why she wanted to be carried on his shoulder.
"On your shoulder"
"On my shoulder" he nodded to then pick her up "Gosh you're heavier with this thing"
Denahi told Saya to follow him, he started to sprint off while Chayo was shooting at the Amikuks. When the rest of the team saw them they entered the vehicle again, the first of the trio to jump was Saya, she was received by Jason. Then Denahi threw Chayo, who was caught by Sitka and finally Denahi jumped in helped by Kenai.
Trent was shooting with the 20mm every Amikuk crossing their way. But they were more comming behind them and they were moving fast.
"Guys, there's more coming" said Kenai
"Don't worry, I took care of it" replied Chayo
"What do you mean you took care of it?" asked Sitka
Chayo just opened her hand and showed five safety pins, next to that there was an explosion behind them, killing all the creatures following them.
"Alvarez you crazy fucking insane! That was beautiful!"said Clay filled of excitement and adrenaline.