This wasn't my first time outside the fortress with a group, but this would be the first time leading a group into battle. Even with our logging going on, invaders such as the Hoshidans still deal with our forests, since everything else is just mountain.
"Everyone. Search the area for a bit, and meet me up ahead where the trees start. Two minutes."
[Yes, ma'am.]
We fanned out and off in our directions, and I was able to think deeply whilst walking. Down the mountain, it was all tree stumps, dropped axes, and abandoned hauling instruments. But no blood was shed as they were running, and any damage that was done was just to the trees-all of our loggers were just running scared.
I stopped just before we reached the tree line. A brief look behind, and there was no sign of any invasion. In fact, all of the soldiers reported back with nothing out of the ordinary.
Captain would have me report back at this point, but what if the Hoshidans were planning something out there? If one logger managed to get one Hoshidan star, then where were the other stars that were left behind?
"…Ma'am?"
Promotion was on the line. We can do this.
I nodded. "Everyone. We're going deeper in the forest. Keep an eye out for our markers. Stay close and remember your training."
[Yes, ma'am!]
Both of the spear fighters would take the front.
The Priest and I would be in the middle.
The swordsman and the axman would be in the rear.
We were about to go beyond the area safe for the loggers.
。。。
We would travel at a marching pace through the woods, using the trees we marked.
With only moments to prepare for the excursion, it was just whatever we were carrying, but it wasn't cause for worry. As part of the regimen, Captain had checkpoints in the area for anyone using the forest to train, and we were nearing the first checkpoint, just a few hundred meters into the forest.
A quick look at the supplies, one of the soldiers remembers he was on an empty stomach, so he ate some of the ration from the drop box. It would be his duty, once this whole thing calmed down, to request a restock of the same item, and go to this checkpoint's drop box with what he took from it.
So far, none of the Hoshidans had shown up.
。。。
The second checkpoint. We couldn't see the fortress from here.
"Ma'am we should loosen up a bit. Let's not bunch up."
The priest was right; I nodded and motioned everyone. We all moved a few steps away from each other.
swish* *swish* *tok*
Throwing sta-ninjas. "Get behind the trees! Don't let them pass you!"
We all stayed behind trees. We were looking around, even though the stars originally came from our left.
"Thirty paces ahead! Two ninja!"
One of the lancers.
"Spotted!" shouted the swordsman, while he was pointing up at the trees.
My orders. "Lancers! Loose javelins!"
The spear fighters started throwing them at the ninja, giving the ninja the trees and our javelins to dodge.
"Augh!"
One of our lancers managed to get one of them to collide into a tree and fall down. Two Hoshidans from different trees went to assist that ninja.
"Two more of them!"
"Everyone, advance! I'll keep the priest safe!"
[Yes, ma'am!]
Both teams would make use of the trees, while I would stay back and guard the priest from any attack at the checkpoint. If he dies, then we're all forced to retreat. Sword out. "Get my back, and I'll get yours."
The priest nodded. "Okay."
With a good view of the battle in front, I could see more Hoshidans were joining the fight against our four guardsmen. But our axman's presence was scaring them off-
The priest grabbed my arm. "Behind us!"
Priest. His direction. Two of them, a swordsman and ninja, coming this way.
"Get behind me!"
Keep the blade close to you when dealing with a group. Point the blade towards them.
The swordsman quickly got out of the ninja's way. Shuriken were flying.
zip* *zip* *clank*
Miss. Miss. Block.
Eugh, it feels like some part of you is missing after you block one of those things. But I could still fight.
The swordsman was too close. Step. Parry. Kick. Injure.
He could be saved. Now, the Ninja. I run into the trees. It throws more shuriken, but misses. I run at it.
"Yah!"
Right to the heart. I couldn't save this one.
"Look out!"
A third one? Spear! Too late to do-!
clang*
The priest parried it with his stave-"Hah!"
"Augh!"
thok*
"YAAAHHH!"
thok* *thok* *thok* *thok*
The priest bludgeoned the spear wielder in the head multiple times. Despite that, maybe I could save this one?
I caught my breath. "Thank you. Are you alright?"
I was alright, but was the priest?He was breathing heavily, but he nodded. He grabbed the beaten-up spearfighter's lance. "I…I can fight. Ma'am, we should tie up whoever's alive before we help the others."
"Alright. I'll get the swordsman. You get the spear fighter."
"Yes, ma'am."
I checked on the swordsman I injured. He was unconscious. I bound him up and propped him near a tree, but not too close to where the priest left the spear fighter. While I was doing that, the effects of that shuriken were waning.
Back with the priest, I got our bearings based on what I could hear. The fighting was further deeper in the forest. And judging from where we were in relation to the last checkpoint, and the footsteps we didn't make, we would be nearing a clearing in the forest.
"They're near a clearing. Let's go."
The priest nodded.
。。。
"Get out of our lands, Hoshidan filth!" "Bleed like the colors you wear!"
There my team was. And the Hoshidans were forced to comply with the order as they were being attacked.
I had the priest and I stand back a bit. Those who were fighting them could manage, and while the priest could fight, he was the only one who could heal.
Looks like we were doing well against the odds that stood ground and fought us. Impressively, the axman looked like he led the charge with a stick as an offhand along with his axe.
All of the Hoshidans were on the run.
"Run, you cowards!" "Go home to Mommy!"
We've won the fight. It was safe to bring the priest up to them. The axman noticed us, and went over to us, in need of the priest's healing powers.
The two spearmen were good.
The sword bearer with them.
The axman, with thepriest and myself.
We were all here. Not one soul was lost.
It was suddenly getting darker I was looking up. No clouds, but it was turning to night? We hadn't been fighting for long, why-?
"AUGH!"
The sword bearer. There was a strange darkness emanating from the ground and he was too close to get away by himself. The spearmen ran to him and started helping him back. From the darkness, a figure was pulling itself out of the ground with two hands.
It was taller than any person or creature that I encountered. It was large in stature, with a strange mask covering its face.
"WRROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!"
It only had everything above its torso!
"What is that!?"
"Hiyah!" "Rah!"
Our spearmen charged at it with their lances. One of them got its chest, and the other one managed to land a hit on its neck. Even with that attack, it did nothing to it. It also took their lances!
"Keep your distance! Don't retreat!" I shouted to the men near that monster. Now to the men with me. "Let's give them a hand!"
The three fighting that monster is now seven fighting that monster.
"Find a weapon and circle it for an opening!"
The spearmen grabbed what was left by the Hoshidans. We all moved around it for an opening. The monster, seeing our movements, started thrashing wildly to distance us.
"Yaaah!"
As soon as the axman saw an opening, he charged at the monster with his axe and stick, and then the swordsman stabbed it. They started attacking it with everything they got. The monster took damage and noticed the attack.
The rest of us-the priest, the two lancers and I-took that as an opportunity. The priest joined the two lancers in stabbing the monster as many times as they could. When their lances broke, they kept their distance and started throwing javelins, while the priest stepped back to get weapons for them.
The monster's size allowed me to climb on it, and deliver a blow to its head.
WROOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!
It was thrashing about again! Hang on!
With the amount of weapons stuck inside it-
WROOOOAAAAARRR!
It wasn't enough!?
ROAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa…
It was enough. Thank the Gods.
It fell down, and then it turned into that shadowy essence that it was before. All the soldiers started cheering over their victory. I raised my sword in triumph, and smiled as well.
"Spoil the dead. Bring everything you can."
Everyone got to work looking through the bodies, pulling weapons for the guard to study in case another attack happens. We also picked up the weapons that were absorbed into that strange monster. They were strangely cleaned from any form of grime.
"Sergeant! We've found some conscious bodies. We've bound them up."
The count of unconscious was now four, with the addition of the ninja and a Flame Tribeswoman, bounded and unconscious. "Good. Let's head back."
[Yes, ma'am.]
"Sergeant Weiss!"
Suddenly, some riders and Gunter were appearing into view.
"Gu-Lieutenant Gunter!" I have to use his title in front of the soldiers.
"I see you've cleaned up well, Sergeant."
"Yes, sir. We were attacked, but we took care of the invading force, and we have some prisoners."
"Well done, Sergeant. Take them to the fortress for interrogation. Iago should be there."
"Yes, sir." I looked to my group. "Get them in the fortress' stockade."
"Yes, Sergeant."
The riders that were with Gunter offered their horses to saddle the ones that we have.
And we were headed back home.
