Ike recovered quickly, and without hesitation, sent his troops forward, bellowing with a lion's roar "Let's finish this fight quickly! All units, attack!"
He swung his sword towards the defenders, signaling his army to attack. His own warriors, the snarling half-humans, gladly obliged, running past him with fangs bared and claws gleaming sharply.
On the east and west sides, where the stairs led up to the catapults positioned on elevated platforms of stone, the Daein soldiers bellowed, their shouts rivaling that of the blue-haired man's cry.
The catapults let loose their loads, striking Laguz left and right. Blood and gore spattered the battlefield, with the Laguz whining as pebbles struck their forepaws and crushed their bones.
But still the mass of living fur charged along, dodging, and crawling along with blood and revenge in their eyes.
The soldiers stood their grounds stalwartly. Staring straight into the oncoming horde, they hooted their derision, howling as madly as the animals themselves.
A shout of "Lock shields!!" then a clatter of metal. The soldiers had locked their shields, placing them on the steps themselves and pushing, sending the tumbling.
Their swords clashed against flesh and fur, and their own armor was stained with crimson blood. Wolves and lions clawed at their foes in vain, before being swept away by their giant weapons.
Tigers jumped past the crenulated walls that defended the center passageway. Their howls alerted the Daein Lancers, and they came with speed that rivaled those of horses they were used to riding. Their javelins flew, and it ended many a foe's lives beneath the sharpened blades of the spears.
But it was not a one-sided battle. Slowly, The east side was being lost as the lions broke through the shield wall. A soldier, swiping clumsily at his foe, missed entirely and landed on the ground, where the creatures finished him off. Another fell as two clawed his neck, scratching past the leather gorget and drawing scarlet blood. Yet another fell as his enemy, a ferocious yellow tiger, lunged and knocked him to the ground, biting his neck.
The west fared no better, their ranks falling to the ferocity of the enemy. They inched back slowly, bashing heads with their giant hammers, but it was retreat nonetheless.
The individual sides, both fighting for what they believed in, struggled ferociously. Rallying cries were heard in the Daein lines, shouts of "Kill the sub-humans!" and "For our country!" echoed in the air, its hollow tone only made more empty by the groans and cries of dying soldiers as they succumbed to their wounds, or finally met their end beneath sharp claws.
"The east wall has given way!"
Micaiah, from her elevated position, turned, and saw that the position had been overrun, the men forced back by the ferocious animals. The sniper armed on the catapult, brave Michael, had already fallen, as the Light Sage saw, with golden eyes that dropped a single tear, the flash of bloody metal beneath the swarm of animals.
"Defend the walls!"
The flash of white steel told the commander all she needed to know. Taureneo, with ashen armor and silver lance in hand, lumbered through the mass of bodies, pushing soldiers away while, with precise aim, stabbing at the enemy through his massive flawless shield.
Beside him, fought another, one armed with a golden halberd that caught the sun's gleam. Aran, pallid face twisted by the blood spattered over his eyes.
Here and there, Dawn Brigade members fought with the golden armored soldier of Daein. Edward and Zihark slipped in and out of battle, weaving through the swarm of bodies with sleek swords that tore through the gray fur and the yellow mane. Nolan split through the ranks of the soldiers, heartily laughing as his axe cleaved skull and bone alike.
Leonardo, from the higher levels, sent arrows that sang through the air, before landing, hitting the enemy from above and ripping holes through their flesh. All fought with Micaiah, knowing full well where their loyalties lie.
Then, a sharp realization hit her. Everywhere she looked, there was a face she knew, one she had encountered at least once, wither they were that of a foot soldier's or that of her friends, but, scan as she might, she could not find Sothe.
It tore at her that she could not speak, that she could not whisper and hear beside her the comforting voice of the green-haired rogue she loved. It tore at her that she could not hear, through the roar of battle, her own soul telling her. Inside she bled…
But outside, she was the Shining Maiden of Daien. She is the symbol of hope for the soldiers now fighting….
"We will not lose! We cannot lose! If we lose today, everything Pelleas as done will have been in vain! In the name of King Pelleas, fight for Daein!"
Micaiah encouraged. She wanted to cry, but to do that would mean death for her soldiers. It would mean the destruction of Daein. It would mean to let Pelleas down…