Smooth among us
By Skreetz The Rat

Prologue

Horn sound woke me from my slumber. A Long and deep tone, forcing my eyes open.
I quickly sit on my bed and listen to figure out what it is.
I taste the air with my serpentine tongue. I couldn't taste anything out of ordinary, no flames, no blood.
However, one signal on the war horn means we're in danger. Most usually, it's the Flame, consuming the wood from our houses, skin from our backs, and anything that stands in its way.
Or it was a flood, which didn't come that often, and since we've had no rain for days, it was very unlikely.
Another sound, this was getting serious. When the first horn blows, we're supposed to grab buckets and fight the elements. When two horns blew, we were supposed to fight the enemy.
What kind of enemy, that was to be seen.
I quickly put on my armor.
No , I wasn't chieftain, and I concur, calling it an armor was a little over the top.
segmental spaulder on right shoulder, held by three leather straps, joined at the chest with a buckle. greaves, and leather bracers.
Our skin was tough, but it couldn't hurt to have more protection, especially now when we were being raided on almost weekly basis.
The horn was silent. Grabbing my spear, I pushed aside the leather I had in the doorway. This was the only place in my house which could become very dark at night.
My brethren always spoke to me behind my back, saying that I was crazy. That no self respecting Lizardman would sleep in the dark corner of his own tree house
It was true that most of the tree houses were open air ones. Roofs and low fences, but if you decided to look down from your tree house you could choose any side you wanted and lean over the fence.

cont.

I didn't have it like that, you see, I was originally a tent dweller. When you would look down from the tree house, you would see a village of tents. covered from two or three sides. Those were meant for the honorless. In some cultures they were called with the weird 'Non-combatant' title. The weak, women without mates, children, runts.
However, there were also gatherers, water fetchers, metal shapers, wood shapers, diggers and fishers.
Warriors, priests, chieftain or hunters were permitted to build a tree house. Warriors to look over the tribesmen, priests to be closer to the many gods, chieftain to rule over us, and hunters, like me, to spot prey from distance, however only chieftain and hunters had the tree houses for themselves, chieftains to think, hunters to hear better.
As I got out and on the main of my tree house platform, I saw my tribesmen already looking around to see why did the blower sounded the alarm.
Most of them were looking towards the east. However few of them were looking towards the north and west too, just in case. To the south was the lake, and it was unimaginable to think that Fishfolk would attack us, they were too scared of us, even though we weren't monsters.
The real monsters were advancing from the eastern forest.
I knew in an instant that this was going to be a long battle.
The Ancient ones were coming once again to try their luck.
Who were the Ancient ones? They were saurian, as we were, but unlike us, they were bigger, had four legs and two strong arms with very sharp claws.
If our best warrior went alone against the weak Ancient one alone, he would surely fall. Their raw strength couldn't be overcome.
However, as they were Ancient, so were their ways of thinking, their ways of battle.
They would charge forward like furious storm, trampling and cutting apart everyone who dared to stand in their way. However, if you managed to stop them, they were defenseless from behind, and I knew how to do that.

cont.

With that I grabbed the net I had for the hog hunting.
As I rushed down the wide ramp with the spear in my hand, I quickly looked over to the tree house next to mine. I saw Rr'jap running down with his shield and sword, a true warrior, unlike me.
As we both rushed to the bottom, we could already see that the honorless were already running to the tree houses.
It was a system proposed by the chieftain two winters ago. The honorless were to either help with fight, and if they did well, they would gain a place among the honored. Or they were to get up on the tree houses of the warriors, to prevent unnecessary death.
It was a wise choice, especially now when only few clutches survived through first three years of life.
Me and Rr'jap were down on the ground, we both ran together towards the eastern part of the town. However, we were too late already, as the battle has already started. I saw two Ancient ones nearby, curiously, this time around, they brought female too.
That was not a good sign, as their females were larger still.
It was an uneven fight here, only three warriors and four hunters against the two of them.
The rest was probably fighting elsewhere, but there was no time to stop and ponder about it.
Rr'jap, me and Trum, who was also a hunter, decided to stop the enraged Ancient female.
As we approached, she let out an earsplitting screech and then charged.
I quickly gave one end of the net to Trum, and had Rr'jap taunting her.
As she madly approached Rr'jap, we were counting seconds, each beat of a heart was one, and at five we would throw the net upwards, to catch her claws and as the net would descend, her legs too.
"Come, fight me, or I'll find your eggs and smash them" Rr'jap taunted, and she screeched even more.
She approached Rr'jap with outstretched hands, prepared to slice him in two with her massive claws. Yet as she was nearly upon him, he jumped sideways, and she carried onwards, towards us.

cont.

The net was ready. My heart did the fifth beat, and I knew it was the time.
Throwing the net upwards, I saw that Trum did the same almost half a heartbeat later.
One day, his slow heart will get us all killed, but today was no such day.
As we threw the net, we let go, and grabbed our spears.
The Ancient one shrieked in anger and confusion as she tried to get her hands from the net, but two steps later, she was tumbling to the ground as her front legs finally found the holes in the net. She crashed into the Cro's tent. The woodworker Cro will not be happy.
However, she would have no time to recover, as we were running the Rr'jap managed to catch up with us. He was faster than us, but we did reach the Ancient one almost at the same time.
I wasted no time and stabbed at her legs. However, the spear just scratched her skin, not drawing any blood. It is as I have feared. The Ancient ones were sturdy, however this was my first attempt to kill a female, and warriors spoke of their iron skin.
"The soft spots!" Rr'jap advised, as he jumped on her back.
He was clearly going for the eyes, but what soft spots could I attack from here? Her belly was not exposed, besides, she would have thicker set of scales there, like we do.
There was only one place that came to mind eventually.
"Trum, get her tail!" I said, finally figuring out how to get to her.
She kicked with her rear legs, and almost got me good, while she was trying to claw the net apart, Rr'jap was already standing on her lower back, He'll have to climb her upper back and then get to the head.
Trum didn't know what I had planned and so he tried to stab the tail. Which agitated the owner and it swung against him. Breaking his spear.
It was my chance however, and as the tail was to the side, I saw the opening.
I stabbed her through the opening we didn't have in common with Ancient ones, the cloaca.

cont.

The spear went very deep. Her shriek was so loud and desperate, that even the other ensnared Ancient one, who was already slumped on the ground, gave a last cry.
I quickly pulled the spear and stabbed again, before the tail hut me square across the chest. Knocking the wind from me, and sending me tumbling into the muddy ground, and the mud was very cold.
I risked with the second stab, and I lost. This hit probably broke something in me, and while our skin was tough and resistant to cuts and bites, broken bones would mean that I will never rise again.
I however refused to give up. I was too keen on living, and it was possible that females would find me as a suitable partner after a fight like this.
I saw the tail of the Ancient one swishing above me, that meant I wasn't far away from her.
I rolled to my stomach, trying to get up.
Rr'jap managed to get on her upper back by now, and was hitting her in the face with his sword. He seemed to have lost his shield somewhere on the way, but I could not tell where.
Ground shook as the tail hit right where I was laying before.
The pain was strong, but I managed to get on my knees.
"Watch out Hotam" Trum yelled, but I couldn't turn around in time. Instead I dared the fate once again. I did what little movement I could, and I fell to the right side, hoping that it was enough.
The tail smashed right next to me. however, instead of lifting back up, it stayed there.
I was grateful to all five gods. The pain in my stomach was hot as a molten rocks, yet the ground was so chilly I started to feel cold and slow. This is why Ancients were attacking at night mostly, they knew we were slower at night, and that coldness can kill us all.

cont.

I put a hand to the ground, trying to push myself away from the cold embrace of the ground. It was to no avail. The demon of eternal sleep was trying to lure me into his domain. By closing my eyes I would accept my fate and die where I lay, and I tried to resist his temptation, but my eyes closed.
It felt like eternity, when I closed my eyes, I immediately felt like I was falling down, probably to the abyss of which the priests spoke. To the coldest place in the earth.
My hands were however suddenly lighter, and I felt strange, like I was falling and not falling all at once.
Suddenly, there was a loud sound, a deep one. However it seemed very short , it must have been from a war horn.
Long signal meant danger, while the short one meant it was over.
I dared to open my eyes again, only to find myself standing up.
"Walk Hotam, or you will die!" I heard voice, and I knew it was Trum, he must've picked me up.
Now that the fight was over, it was time to save the wounded or cold ones.
"Here!" I heard another voice, and tried to look, but I was very heavy. Trum must've been much stronger than me, if he could support my heavy body.
Suddenly, I was being dragged towards the dead Ancient.
I saw Rr'jap cutting into the neck of the dead Ancient one as if it wasn't dead already. Yet with each cut, he removed the head a little more.
In the end, Trum dragged me to the side of the Ancient one, I could feel how warm she was. Even though she was dead already. I was sat next to the front legs.
Trum tried to get the mud off while I was trying my best to press against the warm body of a dead Ancient, like a hatchling that didn't know its mother was already dead.
Something wet was falling on my head, wet and hot.

cont.

I couldn't raise my head, but Trum smeared that liquid on my face. I managed to stick my tongue out and taste the air once again. What I tasted was blood, nothing else, just an overwhelming taste of blood.
So that's what they've been doing.
The warm liquid that was now steadily flowing upon my head, and with which Trum tried to wash me with was blood. Blood of the Ancient one that we've killed together.
With each passing second, my body was feeling slightly lighter.
"You gave me a scare" Trum said with a hint of a faint smile appearing on his face, as Rr'jap climbed down from the felled beast and looked at me.
I looked back, raising my now lighter, but still heavy, arm on my face, to shield my eyes from the blood.
Trum however didn't stop and tried to wipe the rest of the mud with the slowing trickle of blood that was coming from the corpse. I realized that I have not only killed her, I've taken her life for myself.
"Let's get him to the great fire." Rr'jap said, and both of them lifted me up. However this time around, I was capable of putting one leg ahead of the other one.
As we've walked towards the heavy bonfire that was now getting stoked by the honorless, I could look around me as we've walked.
The warriors were all going towards the bonfire, some uninjured, some bleeding. There were also hunters, and I could swear that there was a hatchling, barely five years old, dragging himself towards the fire as well, walking next to the hunters.

cont.

He must've been brave, normally the hatchlings try to prove themselves against wolves, rarely against werewolves. However against ancient ones? That was true bravery.
As we were closing in, I also saw other ancient ones, I counted seven, not a small group. Sadly, next to some ancients I could see dead tribesmen, how many, I could not tell. If Ancient one manages to strike you, you will be torn apart like an old tent in the season of winds.
There were many injured and just as many cold ones approaching the fire.
As I was nearing the fire, my thoughts were becoming clear, and I knew that I will probably survive the night.
However as it was possible to take lifeblood from the Ancient one's corpse, she might still claim my life, as it was reminded by the excruciating pain in my stomach. I doubled over, and my eyes closed once again.

cont.

It ends.
The endless night will finally be over, the monster will be slain tonight!
The reckoning was at hand, as we've reached the inner sanctum of the Elet castle. The sole purpose of our visit was to the owner of this place. His name, while not known to many was Golba. He was probably just doors away, it was said that he sits on his throne In a chapel made out of bones. Bones that he could force to fight for him. Many knew Golba by the name citizen of Magica gave him.
The Necromancer
Evil forces he did command, the deathless were a myth until fifteen years ago. Would you believe that there was an army, which grew stronger with every fallen enemy? The horrors of undeath were unleashed on Magica by Golba's will. However, where evil tries to flourish, good will try to regain its rightful place.
For the life is endless struggle for equilibrium, or as my companion Zanon used to say "Balance, in all things!"
I would gladly tell you the story of how I came to be, how I begged for scraps as a kid, how I drifted from place to place, how I grew while on the run from Deathless scourge. Where I first raised my Pollaxe, or funnily enough, where I first thought that it was just slightly longer axe, but do not judge me harshly, for I was younger back then.
I'll spare you the story of how I met Zanon the mage or Lumiae the bard. Nobody however really wants to know how I've crossed my paths with Isol the Wicked.
What I cannot omit from my story is however this final act, when the fate of the Magica was to be decided. Nobody ever got as far as I did, cutting down the horrendous Deathless apart, until their wicked appendages were no longer capable of causing harm. Spawned from the felled soldiers and citizens of Magica, these critters were neither men nor monsters, yet they looked like both, eating nothing and requiring no sleep, they proved to be the mightiest foes one could ever encounter.

cont.

But I digress, you wanted to hear of the castle's assault
When I opened the doors in haste, I spotted the mastermind behind this misery, behind the years of war against death itself. As I stepped through the door, Luminae followed me, and then locked the door from inside.
By this point Isol was no more, he died bravely while we were still fighting on the ramparts, holding of dozens of Deathless, however before we could reach the trap doors, he was shot with an arrow through his neck. Last I've seen Zanon, he was telling us to rush to the inner sanctum, as he chanted one of his magical incantations as the whole castle was trying to stop us, Luminae tried to stay with him, but he only gave her something and then shoved her away without breaking the chant. After that, I've only heard a loud explosion, and I knew deep in my heart, that Zanon was no more.
Golba was sitting on his throne of skulls, surrounded by four ghastly figures. It seemed like you could see right through them, those were the four Black witches, the assassins who have murdered the king Errath in his sleep.
"Welcome, you are the first ones to get this far, I applaud thee." Golba clapped slowly, a wicked smile appearing on his pale face.
"However." His face suddenly lost his smile. "If it is my life you've came here for, then I'm going to disappoint you. I am not going to give up my dream of peaceful Magica that easily."
"How can you speak of peace?" Luminae yelled, while I only gripped my pollaxe even more.
"Have you seen the lands I rule? I eradicated famine, everyone is equal under the king! Crime is at all time low!" He said, while his stupid grin reappeared on his face.
"Too bad you won't be able to sing about my beautiful kingdom, bard." He chuckled, looking at Luminae. "For your story ends here."

cont.

With that the four witches started moving towards us.
I knew we were at disadvantage, for there were four of them and only two of us. Not to mention that our weapons seemed to bother them little. Their daggers however had problems piercing my armor, as I was wearing a full set of heavy armor.
Trying to fight them off with the pollaxe was however a hard thing to do, not only that there was not that much space to swing around, but whenever I did so, the weapon sailed through them.
"You cannot win!" Necromancer gloated, but at that very moment Luminae, who was looking much worse than I did, pulled something from her pockets.
I recognized Zanon's pendant. He told me about it, it was an artifact of immense power, capable of stopping Golba when everything else would fail, how it worked, he never explained, at least not to me.
Luminae raised the pendant above her head and yelled something I could not understand.
In an instant, the room grew colder, and her hand started to turn to stone. She turned her head to me, and I could see a single tear coming down her cheek.
"Goodbye A..." She never finished my name, before her mouth turned to stone too. The witches who struck her, however, were turning to stone too. It was spreading across their bodies like a water flowing over rocks.
Golba's smile disappeared, and was replaced by fear.
He immediately started to chant a spell too, but stopped a few seconds later, and started chanting a different one.
Meanwhile I tried to get away from the black witches who were assailing me, and leaped toward Golba.
He finished his chant, and his throne behind him disappeared, instead it opened to something that resembled a doorway outside, however it was night out there, and when we entered the castle Elet, it was broad daylight.

cont.

He stepped back and into it saying "Farewell fools." However I reached out to him, and before the doors vanished, I entered right after him, catching him by his robe.
"No, you fool! You'll kill us both!" He protested. He was standing on a small tile on ground while I was not standing on anything, this spell was probably only for one person.
It no longer mattered to me, my friends and companions were dead, and I refused to die without freeing Magica.
The heavy armor was pulling me down to void below, and he was no longer standing , my weight pulled the frail necromancer to the ground, which consisted of a small floating platform.
Left hand around his surprisingly sturdy robe, one holding my pollaxe.
Letting the pollaxe slide further between my fingers, I reached the end and I shoved it in the throat of the necromancer.
"NO!" he gargled, as his blood fell on my helmet.
"For Magica!" I yelled and stabbed him again, with that my hand slipped and I fell into oblivion.
I could feel the air swishing right beside me, as I fell to my certain doom. as I sped towards my inevitable demise, my consciousness started to slip away, the last thought was about the grim reaper himself.
With necromancer's death, the millions of deathless will finally die, and grim reaper will have to collect every single soul.
He is also probably standing below, waiting to catch me.

End of prologue

The Smooth Among Us
Chapter 1

I opened my eyes again, but my sight was veiled. What I could've seen however, is bright light, meaning that it was already a day.
I tried to blink the fog away from my eyes, one blink and everything was still covered with a fog so thick you could confuse it for milk.
Second blink and the fog started to clear up a little, but it was still fog so thick I wouldn't dare to hunt in it.
Third blink however didn't change the scenery at all.
I tried to sit up and figure out what was going on. However the pain quickly prevented me from continuing my attempts.
That is right, I almost forgot that Ancient one hit me.
"Another one awakens." Raspy old voice says, and I immediately recognized Issa, the High priest himself.
If I could, I would stand up, lower my head and bang my chest with a fist in a sign of respect. However I was in no position to stand up, much less bang my wounded chest. That however didn't prevent me from trying though.
"Stay still Hotam. No ceremonies." He said, moving himself in front of me, however to me, it looked like he has emerged from the fog like a ghostly figure.
This ghostly figure was rather small lizardman, with bright green color, wearing feathers on his headdress and loincloth so long and wide, many would consider it a skirt. He was oldest one in the village, his life spanned over thirty five winters, an unnaturally long lifespan for lizardmen. While his spirit was indomitable and his mind knew more than everyone else in the village, his body couldn't endure the onslaught of time.
Shriveled and crooked high priest laid his hand on my muzzle.
"Good, you are not cold, and your bones do not creak. You are strong!" He said, and I realized that its why my chest hurts so much.

cont.

Priests were not only our spiritual leaders, but also healers. To find out if your bones are broken and if you even deserve medical attention, they will prod you skillfully with their declawed hands to find if the bones creak. Very painful procedure if you were injured, but without pain, there can be no healing.
"Rest now, later you'll get food" He said and right behind him I saw priest and priestess carrying away one of the tribesmen, if my eyes told no lies, it was Ocke, blood dripping from his mouth, and his eyes opened in a sightless glare.
Every time Ancients come, they take someone away from us. one moon cycle before they took my older brother Blet, a mighty warrior.
I obeyed the high priest and closed my eyes again. Resuming to lay down on the bed, covered with a fur.
I know what you may think, fur covers cannot offer warmness to the Lizardfolk, we are cold blooded.
That's where the Issa's genius produced a solution.
The bed I was laid upon was made of thin stone, like a box. Priests brought smoldering wood from the giant bonfire and placed it inside. The wood made the cold stone warm, the warm stone made the furs warmer, and injured lizardman between them too.
If it weren't for Issa, I would surely be dead like Ocke. "Our Tribesmen need heat and rest to heal" He always said to the Chieftain Re'ativ and the Chieftain agreed.
As if invited by my closed eyes, dreamscape appeared in front of me. I was alone, in a grassy meadow, the sun was purple and the so was the light covering the place.
In that dream, I looked around, and picked up my spear, while my tail was nervously lashing around.
Then I've heard it, a booming voice out of nowhere. Looking around I saw a headless Ancient one run towards me.
I prepared my spear, only to find the head of the headless monster already impaled on it.
"Betrayer!" It said, and I opened my eyes in the real world once again.

cont.

Time passed quickly when in dreamscape. I straightened up a little, taking care not to wake up the pain in my chest again.
I found out that it was incredibly difficult thing to do. However I took my time, and I managed to get into comfortable position. Meanwhile, the young hatchlings were assembling in the middle of the tree house.
It was a new rule proposed by chieftain and high priest together. Priests would no longer carry the food to the wounded, but children will. This way they'll be able to see what it means to be honored tribesman.
To see what price we pay to protect honorless, and allow the young ones to consider that there is also a price to pay once you ascend from honorless to honored.
As the kids assembled with the food, an old Usma came, he was the village's storyteller, his age second only to Issa.
"Alright, give the heroes their meals." He said, his voice sweet and golden like the purest honey, deep enough to make any female reconsider her choice of a mate, yet his voice did not match his body.
Although technically younger than Issa, seasons were not so considerate to Usma, if I told any outsider the age of Issa, he would guess that Usma is at least forty seasons old
The hatchlings between two to six years old took off, there were eight of them, that means there will be three or four injured here.
The question of how many injured were here made me look around.
First thing I've noticed is that my neck is incredibly stiff, and that there were three others, all hunters like me. Unlike me however, they were fast asleep, and the children placed their meals by their beds.
This was bad, if there will be many injured hunters, we will have problems with food.
"Honored Hotam?" The hatchling asked me, while standing next to me with a wooden plate with fish on it, it was a boy, probably three seasons old, and right next to him stood a female with a small bucket of water.

cont.

"Thank you, young ones." I nodded to emphasize the thanks, but my neck reminded me that it was not the smartest thing to do. However the smile that appeared on both of the hatchlings were without peer. They looked at each other, very happy that I, a honored one thanked them. It wasn't that rare, but still I remember the happiness and pride I felt when honored thanked me, when I was still honorless.
First I drank the water, then I examined the dish, Fish with some berries around it.
Lizardmen were mostly carnivorous, but there were roots, berries, and a very specific fruit that we could eat and which could help us. Those berries were one of those.
"Now, gather around me, young ones, for I'm about to tell you a story."
Oh, now this will not be a bad day, everyone loved Usma's stories, me included. Sometimes they were about the braves of this tribe, or other tribes. He even had stories about Wolfsmen valiantly assisting us in the great wars thirty seasons ago. Against Weredeers. However, everyone's favorite stories included the mystical humanoids, the clever Elves who were hiding among the trees, and on whim they would help lost hatchlings, of proud underground half men who would provide us with plentiful metals or even help us to grow food in exchange for our reverence and prayers.
"Today, I'll tell a story I haven't told in many years." He started, and I immediately knew which story it was.
He told this story rarely, but then again, it wasn't years, two moon cycles tops, however he knew many stories about humans and changed them around, so I guess not even Issa knew all of them.
"A story about the proud creatures, long forgotten. Creatures who are the strongest among the Mystical Humanoids." You could already see the glint in the eyes of the hatchlings. They sat down on the floor, legs crossed and listened.

cont.

"Of the race older than Ancient ones, the creators of cities of stone. Benders of natural rules, and." He gave a pause, and looked at me with a faint smile. "Ability that Hotam and the rest would like the most." I chuckled, because I knew what was coming, however that was bad idea as my body reminded me why am I lying in bed in priest's tree house. "To regenerate from deadliest of the injuries."
"The story of..." and here comes the dramatically pause. "Humans." gasps were heard from the youngest ones, but the glittering eyes of the older ones were shining brighter than the stars in the night.
"I'll tell of particular one, called Ironside, a mighty human who tricked the Sun Lord into chasing the Moon Lady." And Now I knew which story this was. To keep it short, Ironside didn't like the way moon and sun battled with each other during the endless days, which was a period when Sun Lord decided that night is useless, and only he should remain in the sky forever. That however brought plague on the world, as nobody could sleep. So Ironside tricked the Moon Lady by telling her that Sun Lord secretly loves her, and fights with her only to get closer to her in hopes of groping her, eventually trying to make her his. Disgusted by this, the Moon Lady retreated, and kept on running.
Sun Lord was pleased to finally have sky for himself, until Ironside explained that Moon Lady actually learned of a better world and went to rule the 'Other side'. Still convinced that Sun should be the only ruler, he went after her in vain attempt to rule all. Thus Ironside managed to return the Day and night cycle.
This story went on until dusk. Usma told it to the Hatchlings who were enthralled, only he could manage to keep the hatchlings motionless and concentrated for this long.

cont.

Meanwhile I was trying to remember another story, the story about human Rulebender who came thousand of seasons ago, during the Ancient wars, where ancient ones were fighting with the rest of us the anthro men. You see, Ancient ones came in all shapes and colors, there were Ancient ones resembling foxes, horses, crows, wolves and many other animals. They then created us to serve them. How they did it, the stories didn't tell, but they did tell that Ancient ones were smarter back then, and that we, the Anthro men were losing our rebellion.
Then out of nowhere, a pale man appeared, and he heard our ancestor's plea. He then stood upon a mountain and cursed the Ancient ones to make them dumb. While our men pleaded him to make the Ancient ones weak, he said that pure strength is no match for smarts, and that's how he is going to win, without throwing a single punch.
His curse carried through the land, and one by one, the Ancient ones and their offspring were born dumber and dumber, turning into a little more than wild animals.
The day was won, but by the time the war was over, nobody could find the man who was responsible for it. However the stories mention his look and his name. A humanoid with little hair everywhere except on his chin, a pointy hat and a gnarly staff, and this man was named Sue.
"That is the story of Ironclad." Usma said, and I wondered for a second if I was hearing right.
"Ironclad?" I asked "Wasn't he named Ironside?" to that Usma just smiled and said "It seems that you have fell asleep Hotam, I finished the story of SunLord quite some time ago, I was telling the story of Ironclad the hoarder of metals." That made all the hatchlings turn around and look at me.
"I apologize, It is as you say, I must've fallen asleep." If it was possible for us Lizardmen, I would be turning red, I just looked away.

cont.

"It's nothing to apologize for, you did defend our village, and Rr'jap says you've singlehandedly defeated an Ancient one." Usma said, and I looked at him with confusion and bewilderment.
I did no such thing! "What? You do not remember the fight? Rr'jap swears that you have delivered the killing blow, although calling it single handed is an overstatement. Trum did help you with the net, and Rr'jap did blind the beast." As he clarified what happened yesterday, I felt like Rr'jap's yesterday was different from mine.
After all, All I did was to stab the ancient one in the genitals.
"I think I'll need some more rest." I said, and Usma smiled knowingly.
"It's getting dark hatchlings, let's bother the heroes of yesterday's battle no longer." And with that, Usma lead the hatchlings away.
At first I wondered why did Rr'jap said such a thing, and why didn't Trum challenge his words.
However instead of figuring it out, the Dreamscape once again appeared in front of me.

I awoke with horrible pain in my stomach, not to mention that my face was numb.
Opening the eyes, I saw ground. Which means I must've landed here. Or so do the rules of gravity dictate.
Not wishing to spend the rest of the day on the ground, I put my hands underneath me and pushed myself off the floor.
Good, even though it was very painful, I managed to get up. That was the first step in trying to figure out what just happened.
As I've just regained consciousness, it took quite some time to realize why was I here, where is here, and how did I get here.
Well, to be completely honest, I had no idea where 'Here' is and I only had vague idea how I got here.
Looking around, I found the Pollaxe on the ground, and took it from the grass.
The grass was what was weird. Last time I was standing on solid ground, it was a sanctuary slash ossuary kind of room, skulls and bones, no grass.

cont.

However, whatever sorcery did the necromancer use, I did not die, and judging by the two stab wounds I remember clear as a day, not to mention the stains on my armor an pollaxe, I can be pretty sure that he was dead.
"So was everyone I ever held dear" I spoke out loud, trying to figure out what to do next.
I might wait for the night and then try to navigate with the help of the stars. However, as the sun was sitting high above, it seemed like a bad idea just to lounge here and wait.
I had to quickly check my inventory. To see how shall I proceed.
I unbuckled my cloak, which was only line of defense for the backpack, and then I dropped the backpack too.
Examining the backpack, I found that it has suffered some damage, but then again, it was still holding its contents. The contents included, but were not limited to salted meat, stale bread, oil, few pieces of fabric, sewing kit, bedroll and flint and tinder. Meaning that I'll last a few days before I have to hunt, which is not my area of expertise. The bread winner in our group is Isol the wicked.
"Was" I murmured, and quickly closed the backpack, putting it back where it belonged, however, the cloak was harder to put on now that nobody helped me with it.
Quickly checking my pouches , I found out that one of the three was ripped. Among the pouches was hanging a dagger.
"DAMN!" I cursed as I realized that it was one of the two money pouches, the third one was for salt.
Looking inside, I found seven silver coins and at least dozen of copper coins. Which could mean that I broke the bigger pouch.
One quick look around confirmed that there were indeed no gold coins on the floor, and that I have no way to return and search for them.
Deciding that it is better to find out where I am, and then worry about possible monetary issues. And with no way to figure out which way to go, I set straight ahead.

cont.

There were many questions I had, and nobody to answer them. Yet, I still wondered if I'll meet any deathless, for it was said that it's the Necromancer who was directly responsible for their ability to exist.
As I walked into and through the dense forest, I've heard a noise. Noise that made me hide behind a tree.
Although I was hardly sneaky, donning a plate armor drenched in blood of the necromancer and by filth of the deathless, meant that sun could find one non-dirty piece of metal and make me shine like a star.
Peeking behind the tree, I looked around.
To left, there were trees, to right, there were more trees, but what was happening in the center was something I would rather avoid.
bloody hog stumbled through the underbrush, and in a matter of seconds, a hellspawn jumped from the same underbrush and landed on the hog.
The hellspawn was covered in fur, and possessed huge claws and fangs.
He bit into the boar's neck and clawed at its face.
My heart started to race. I had my encounters with monsters, but hellspawns were formidable foes.
Luckily, this one seems hunting, and I might as well sneak away from it.
Then again, should I leave this monster roaming the... whatever is this place called?
The true question was, how good was this thing's hearing, I wasn't that far away from it, and truth to be told, the armor left much to be desired when it came to quiet withdrawal
The beast raised its head, and sniffed around. I knew the time for retreat was over.
Moving away from my hiding spot, I stood there in a silent challenge to the beast.
The furry bastard climbed off the hog warily, and growled in my general direction, while slowly walking towards me in slightly crouched position.

cont.

Preparing my pollaxe I started walking towards the beast, the clicking of my armor, or maybe the fact that I started to advance against it made the creature reconsider, it stopped dead in its tracks, lowered itself more and then growled louder.
There must've been 15 meters between us, and I was walking forward, with my pollaxe raised.
9 meters and the beast jumped forward.
Not fast enough though, I quickly swung my pollaxe with the hammer part, instead of the axe part, hitting the beast in the shoulder with bone shattering force.
the beast's flight was interrupted and promptly redirected to side with a painful howl. Not wanting to risk another swing. I attempted to stab the now prone creature. Managing to score a hit on the chest. Quickly pulling the pollaxe away and preparing for a new assault. The beast stood up, it's arm bent awkwardly at the shoulder, started to scamper away, leaving trails of blood behind it.
I did not pursue. Mostly because I could not in this heavy armor, but there was no honor in killing a retreating enemy.
With the fight over, I checked my surroundings for any potential ambusher, but all seemed quiet.
The hog was dead, and I briefly considered having a lunch, but then again, who knows what kind of foul beast sunk it's teeth into it.
Lest I be consumed with some hellish disease, I should leave the carcass alone.
So I did, and once again picking a direction mostly at random, and started walking.

So ends the chapter 1: The Myth Awakened.

The Smooth Among Us

Chapter 2

Two days have passed since the necromancer's fall, and since I came to this land.
Two days without any human contact. While normal for the trappers or rangers, was nothing I was familiar with.
Sometimes, I could swear I heard the voices of my companions. Mostly Luminae, her voice haunted me at nights. Each and every night when I closed my eyes, I could hear her sing. Her voice seemed to come from the darkest corner of my mind, and thus every night I closed my eyes, I was reminded of the price we paid to get rid of the Necromancer.
Today has been a little more bountiful than yesterday, as I have managed to catch a hare.
It was more of a stroke of good luck actually, On my way through the forest, I saw a hole, in that hole I found a famished hare.
Thanks to that trap, I now knew that there were trappers about, and I will sooner or later find someone who'll be able to tell me the way to the nearest city.
Meanwhile however, I had to eat and what little remained from my salted meat was supposed to last me till the day I can replenish my supplies in a shop.
despite being able to skin the hare, a more difficult task was ahead of me.
Thanks to morning's rain, all the wood I have managed to gather was damp.
This was an attempt number three to make a fire, and I was running low on tinder too.
Cursing under my breath as the spark once again failed to set tinder ablaze.
"Damnation!" I cursed loudly this time around as the spark once again failed.
After few more moments however, the tinder caught flame, and I saw movement from the corner of my eye. Something was on the prowl.
I turned my head around to look where I saw it, but saw naught. The lack of wind however made it impossible for the bushes to move on their own.
Now was a time to choose, what shall I do. Shall I risk losing the fire for some mouse? Or should I die because I underestimated the dangers?

cont.

The tinder was smoldering and I couldn't see anything. Making sure that my Pollaxe is by the ground next to the fireplace, I continued to warily blow into the tinder.
Looking left and right, straining both my eyes and my ears trying to pick up on the intruder.
Suddenly everything seemed to move, the grass, the leaves, even the bushes.
The fire started and I slowly put it on the ground among the driest of the twigs.
Quickly reaching for the not so damp twigs, holding them above the fire, I could feel the warmth rise from the small fire.
It was like feeding a stray dog, the more you gave, the more hungry it became and stronger it has grown.
After I was sure that the damp twigs would not smother the flame I placed the twigs in, and once again I saw movement at the same place.
This time however I waste no time.
With uncommon swiftness I grab my pollaxe and strike at the place where I saw the movement.
Scared and screeching the enemy turns to flee. Jumping away from the bush and onto a tree. Quickly clawing its way up its trunk.
This place seemed to ebb away my sanity. For it is the first time I missed so badly, and the first time I attacked a small squirrel.
With the monstrous enemy retreating, I could afford to celebrate my victory by returning to the carcass of the hare and its preparation.
It had little meat on its bones, not enough for a satisfying roasted hare, better suited for a soup, however there was no pot. Unwilling to take off my helmet and use it as an impromptu pot, I decided to roast the hare anyway.
When I prepared the makeshift holder for the hare, I stood up. Stretching my hands.
"I'm not as young as I used to be." I mumbled as my aching shoulder slowly stopped hurting.
There... To my right, a noise was coming from the right.
Slowly turning my head to ascertain the situation, and prepare for another assault by the abominable squirrel.

cont.

There seemed to be something hiding behind an outcropping of a big boulder.
Judging by the size I was rather certain that it was not a squirrel, even though it had the rodent's face.
I quickly grabbed my Pollaxe and prepared for a battle. The rodent slowly walked around the stone, revealing huge furred body with two pairs of strong legs, and one pair of clawed hands.
He might've been a cousin of the squirrel I chased away a few moments ago, however his size predicted a little less one-sided fight.
It seemed like this is going to be a day full of first times.
First was the miss, then the squirrel, and now this rodent of unusual size.
"I didn't think you would exist." I said, and with that the animal leapt forward with a screech.
I knew that this fight is going to be much harder than the last one.

The darkness has came and it seemed that today I'll return empty handed back to the village.
After resting for a day, Issa made me stand up and checked my body. Deeming that there was nothing broken, and that I got incredibly lucky, and that I'll be able to leave the tree house, and return to my daily life.
I was glad that I could do so, lying in a bed is not only boring, but it feels disrespectful towards the elders.
Nevertheless the pain was still there. High Priest Issa said that the broken bones hurt less so the dying can pass on without too much trouble, but that the bruises hurt much more and longer for such is a price to pay for life.
I was glad that I could and once again prove useful, but the pain made sure that I'll be in no shape to hunt with spear. Instead I was preparing traps for smaller animals, but I took the spear with me nonetheless.
It of course included digging holes throughout most of the day. Now that the Sun Lord was chasing the Moon lady over the horizon, and darkness was slowly creeping into the land, my job was nearly over. Fifteen traps have been prepared.

cont.

Some of them were however already dug out, and only needed some maintenance, others were completely new.
I was especially looking forward to see if the traps near the hill of the ancients had any good game.
Unlike other hunters, my day was not over when I set the traps, no. I went back to the first trap and checked upon each and every last one of them. This was my secret of a good hunter. It meant that if the trap caught anything, the prey had less time to escape.
Walking through the night was one of the less pleasurable things in my life. Darkness creeping from every corner meant that hunter could easily become the hunted.
It was also the time at which the Ancients were also more active.
"They come at night" the Chieftain always said, and he knew what he was talking about.
The first trap was still prepared and the bait was untouched by the smaller animals.
Turning away I started walking towards the second trap which I prepared. Warily looking around and stopping dead in my tracks quite often due to noises which the forest made at night.
The crickets were chirping, flies were buzzing, but birds, birds were silent.
It was a bad sign, where insects have no care for the world and their predators are away, it means that there is something larger lurking around.
But the second trap was just a few more steps away.
I crept through the bush towards the trap, and found that the trap has sprung.
Smiling to myself, I crept over to see just what I managed to catch.
Bringing food to the village the same day would be a giant stroke of luck.
Looking left and right to see if anyone else is here, I found nobody, but there were some footprints.
Footprints this close to the trap meant that it was probably going to be looted, and by looking over the corner, I found only the leaves and some broken sticks.
Turning my head, I looked at the footprints and examined them thoroughly.

cont.

The paw which made this mark was lacking in fingers, it looked more like a hoof, but it was much longer than hoof.
Judging from the depth, it must've weighted around or more than 100 kilos which was on the heavier side considering that it was walking on two legs.
I have got no idea what this thing was. The only known bipedal aside from us who would be able to walk in here were Horse people, Wolfmen, and Catfolk. Fish kind didn't stray far from water, and the others had different feet.
The night was almost upon me, yet I felt curiosity which was slightly tugging me, whispering in my mind to follow the trail and see for myself.
However where is curiosity, there must be vigilance. It might've been a trap.
Once again, straining my ears to pick up anything that would give me a clue about what was going on. Not forgetting to taste the air too
There were bugs, there was a slight gust of wind, but nothing that would suggest any imminent danger.
If I had come here earlier, I would no doubt rush down and track the thing, but with limited light. I had to turn away.
Then my ears caught a sound of footsteps.
Turning around, and prepared for anything that was slowly coming my way.
However, one second later, I knew who was coming.
"Trum." I said as he emerged from the bushes.
"Hotam?" He was slightly surprised to see me here. Then he looked between my feet and back up at me.
"Are you also tracking the beast?" He asked.
"Yes, it has strange feet, but I doubt it's because of injury." I added, and he nodded.
"I thought the same." was his answer, and I felt once again the need to go and explore.
"Let's go." He said, and I agreed without thinking about it.
We had a little light to go on, but since we were together now, there was almost nothing, short of group of ancient ones, which would dare to attack us now.
We've tracked the beast for only ten minutes more, until I stopped Trum with a gesture.

cont.

He looked over my shoulder, but saw naught, I licked the air again, and he did so too.
There was a fire somewhere close, we couldn't see it now, but the hint of smoke was in the air.
We continued to prowl onwards until we've heard the screams.
Bestial screeches that meant only one thing, the Ancient ones, and probably the rodent Ancients.
I hesitated, whatever was up there was being attacked by the ancients, and not one, but at least two from the sounds, but it was still far away.
There was also a fire, but it produced a lot of smoke.
"Should we go there?" Trum asked and I looked at him, unsure what to tell him.

this has been going for quite some time.
Those beasts, they are way beyond dangerous. Not only they are slightly bigger than regular knight on a horse, but they also had way too many limbs.
Me on the other hand. I was heavily armored target for them. Which didn't help at all, but I had reach where they had only strength, and their tails, must not forget their tails.
Right now the second Squirrel warrior was circling around me, while the first one was screaming in my face.
My cuirass was bent inwards from the sheer force he used to hit me, but his clawing was for naught.
That was before the second one showed up.
Since then, lot has changed. I was still in the fight, but breathing was slightly harder and I was getting tired. However, the first squirrel warrior one was clutching his broken elbow on his upper limbs.
If he circles around me completely, I'll be at huge disadvantage.
To my right was a tree, to my left was a bonfire which managed to get burning quite nicely, and the hare was burnt already.
The second one was right next to the fire. In my reach but If I swing the Pollaxe towards him, that'll leave me open to his injured friend here.
However, there was no other choice, so I took a step back, and swung the bladed part against him.

cont.

He expected it and jumped back. I was reversing the direction already when the first one took a step forward in an attempt to kick me.
Taking a few steps back and two to left, I was trying to place the fire between us, when the hammer missed him and struck the tree with loud thud.
The second one attacked through the fire in an attempt to bash my head in.
Instead of doing so I dodged to the right, and hit him with the spike on the butt of the pollaxe.
The spike went deep in his forearm.
However that left me open to the first one who grabbed the other end of the pollaxe and tried to yank it away from me.
He had strength, but I held on and tried to drive the spike at the head into his shoulder.
Missing completely, I got bashed once again, this time in my back. However with his injured arm, it didn't have much impact.
Still holding my weapon, I had no other choice than to let go with left hand and grab the dagger.
Once he sensed that I had let go of my weapon, it tried to yank it away again.
By that time however, I had lodged my dagger in his...
His...
What is the damnable name of the part where humanoid body joins with that of a horse? belly?
No matter the name, for it bleeds just the same.
Pushing the dagger all way in and then twisted the blade.
The monster let go of my pollaxe and screamed in pain, clutching the nameless body part in agony while spurting blood.
I hoped that this would put him out of action, but then I felt excruciating pain in my lower back.
It felt like I was kicked by a horse. I would fall over if the first monster wasn't right in front of me.
Quickly pushing myself to the side, away from the two.
I landed on my pollaxe. rolling from top of it, and hearing the screeching monster behind me, I raised it up just in time to stab the...
The belly of the horse part, I don't care how you call those body parts!

cont.

The Pollaxe got lodged in the ground and a loud snapping could've been heard as the pole snapped in half.
The monster however gasped, and fell. Much to my dismay, on me.
My pain was so intense, that I saw white and then I saw nothing more.
Trapped beneath a horse-squirrel thing, I blacked out.

"Am I dreaming Trum?" I asked, once we've managed to come to the campfire.
Ancient ones usually didn't make fires. However, they were the strongest things in the forest, at least to my knowledge.
So when we've came to the scene of two dead Ancient Squirrels, My mouth was left hanging.
"They are dead." Trum said, less shocked than I am.
We've slowly crept closer to investigate.
There was a lot of blood, whatever killed those two knew exactly where to strike.
There was also this strange shiny doll, or a metallic fetish, or whatever it was. Looking like upper half of a faceless bipedal.
Whoever killed them was either hiding or ran away
The second Ancient Squirrel was lying on top of it.
"They were preparing a hare." Trum said, and I looked over, to see what was he talking about.
There in a fire was laying a charred corpse of a hare.
"When they got attacked." Trum finished his theory, however there was a slight problem.
"Ancients don't cook" I said. "Anyway, it's getting really dark, let's take as much meat as we can from these, before whatever killed them comes back."

cont

Eating ancient ones was a delicate matter. However High Priest Issa managed to make it clear to us in a simple statement. "If it is not Ancient one that looks like you, it is safe to eat it."
It was also said that eating a flesh of an ancient one who looks like you would ruin your mind and turn you into living carcass.
When I wanted to cut the meat from the one with the big doll, I noticed a metallic weapon lodged in the corpse. Pulling it out, revealed an intricate ornaments decorating the incredibly long axe with a hammer and a spike.
This was definitely not a work of Ancient ones.
Then my heart froze, as something started coughing right by my feet.

So ends the Chapter 2: The Iron Man.

The Smooth Among us:
Chapter 3

Trum managed to react faster than I did. In a matter of heartbeat he was standing next to me, with his spear raised.
In a second heartbeat his spear was going down with intent to kill.
Although heavily armored, his spear found a place between the armor and pierced the flesh.
A silent wet noise could be heard and coughing stopped.
"Hotam!" he growled. "If you stand still, Ancients will surely kill you." Lecturing me on the ways of the battle, he retrieved his spear from the dead Ancient one.
"Its..." I mumbled, looking down at the metallic doll. Trum turned his attention to the doll too.
"It was this thing." I said, looking on the doll. Gripping the spear, I squatted next to it.
Lowering my face to see through the small slit on the head, as if the little space could enlighten me about the nature of this doll.
I saw two eyes, both of them closed, or so it appeared. The lack of light was proving to be a problem.
There was however person inside all of this metal, however, it was no lizardman, for it was far too small for any lizard face to fit in. It was also not one of the wolves, but I couldn't tell with certainty that there was not a cat inside.
Whatever it was, it was breathing, silently, but regularly.
"It's alive, whoever is inside has killed these Ancient ones." I deducted.
Trum seemed a little skeptic. "It alone killed two ancient ones ?" He asked.
"I don't know. What I know is, it is injured, and we need to go back." I tried to reason with him.
"You want to bring this back? Instead of the meat?" he asked, not believing his ears.
"It is a great warrior." I said, standing up from the doll and trying to roll the dead ancient one off its feet.
"It might be one of Cat-folks, they might help us if we help them." I said, trying with all my might to push the corpse off it.
Trum was standing there, uncertain.
"We'll take this and as much meat as we can carry, but I need your help Trum." I said once again.

cont.

This time around, Trum moved to help me, but not before he voiced his disproval "I still think this is a bad idea."
With his help, it was still a little difficult to roll the ancient one off the ... Armored one.
When we finally managed to get it off, I saw how badly injured was the Armored one.
the armor on his side was bent inwards. There was also a plate of metal on his thigh that literally bit into his thigh through the chainmail. Blood was dripping through that place.
Suddenly, I was not so sure that the Armored one will survive the whole trek to our village.
Meanwhile Trum was cutting some selected pieces from the Ancient one, and putting them in his bag.
I gave the Armored one another look, wondering exactly what or who was hidden inside the armor.
Then I dropped my smaller sack and was about to gather the meat from the Ancient one too, but something else caught my eye. It was the weapon with which the Armored one fought. The Intricate one, which I pulled out of the corpse earlier.
I had no idea about who was inside the armor, but I knew pretty well that no warrior would want to lose his weapon, no matter how broken it was.
The handle was broken, but the head was intact, so I put it in the sack too, only after that I had Trum to cut off some pieces for me to carry.
Once our pouches, bags and backpacks were full. It was time to lift the Armored one.
"I will take him under shoulders, you take his legs." I said and Trum shook his head.
"You forget your own injuries. I'll take him under shoulders."
Having nothing against that, He moved over while I grabbed his feet.
When he held him under the shoulders it was a matter of strength to lift him up.
While saying "Lift him up" was easy, lifting the armored one was no small feat.
"H-heavy!" Trum groaned, almost buckling under the weight of the Armored one.
I put the Armored one's legs back to the ground and walked over to Trum's side, grabbing the Armored one under the shoulder.

cont.

This way we'll drag the armored one on the ground, which will not help with his injuries, but we will eventually get back home.
The trip however wasn't going to be easy. We were an twenty minutes away from the Village when our strength ran out.
"I-I can't carry him anymore." Trum said, gasping for air. I was in similar condition.
We needed to rest, but it was already dark. The Ancient ones will be on the prowl already.
Not to mention that they will be angry about the two dead ones.
We needed to get back fast or Armored one will not be the only one who will be badly wounded.
"Leave the food here." I said, and I could already see Trum getting angry.
"Leave it, and leave me, run to the village, bring others, I'll guard the food and the Armored one."
His anger dissipated in a matter of seconds. He seemed to consider it.
"Go, you are faster than me." I urged him.
That got him moving, he hastily dropped the sack, and was about to leave.
However he turned around once more and said "Be safe." before leaving.
With Trum's disappearance, the moon-lady's light suddenly felt dimmer.
Lizardmen could see in the darkness, but even with that It felt like darkness was creeping in.
It will take Trum approximately ten minutes to reach village without burden, and another ten to twelve to return.
For that time, I'm the sole guardian of the food and of the Armored one. With the meat all around me however, I'm a bait too. There was a chance that the smell will attract predators.
However for the time being, I was safe. "Nothing should be this close to the village." I assured myself out loud.
I looked over to the Armored one, whose armor was dirty from the way we've dragged him, it also accumulated some mud making him heavier.
Through the whole time we've dragged him, he was unconscious. Save for occasional coughing fit and bleeding, we wouldn't be sure if he was dead or not.

cont.

The bleeding was a serious problem, and I tried to come up with a way to stop it, but I couldn't find the herbs that help to stop bleeding in the night.
The application of said herbs would also be problematic, because you need to put them in the wound, not on the armor.
We will need to figure out how to take off the armor later.
I had some free time now to rest my feet, however I needed to keep my eyes open. Tasting the wind did not reveal anything, so I risked a little and sat down.
My mind wandered back to the dead Ancient ones, and how the Armored one managed to kill them.
I took out the broken weapon from my sack, and for the third time, I examined it.
It was not a single weapon, but three in one. There was a sharp point like our spears, but there was also a blade resembling the tool which cutters used on trees.
The name of those tools escaped me however. The third piece was a hammer, a metalshaper' tool.
I however remember the hammer, the tool had much shorter handle, even now Armored one's weapon had longer handle than the hammer.
My interest piqued, I put the weapon back into the bag and started to examine the Armored one once again.
That was however cut short, as I heard a twig snap.
Fast as a lightning, I picked up my spear from the ground and turned around to face a wild dog.
It tried to jump on me and tear my throat open. I was unable to position my spear fast enough so I used it to defend myself.
The pounce didn't force me on my back as one would expect. I took a few steps back, but my back hit a tree.
The canine attempted to bite me in my face instead, as I held it away from my face.
Using my tail to push myself away from the tree, I pressed the hound on its back and turned the tables on him. choking him with a spear and biting his nose off.
I however had no time, because wild dogs usually attack in groups.

cont.

Letting go of the spear with one hand I drove my clawed hand into his eye and gripped.
The dog gargled as I put one feet under me while using the hand still firmly gripping his skull from inside and outside to push myself back up.
However I already had another dog on my back.
I could feel it's bite on my backs, the pain was intense.
However just as Ancient one hit me with its tail, I hit the dog, but he wouldn't let go. Holding with his teeth and trying to rip off my shoulder.
Letting go of the first dog I grabbed my spear and drove it into the side of the second dog while roaring in pain, the spear broke at the head.
The dog let go of my now bleeding shoulder. The pain was almost too much.
I could hear an angry barking, there was another one, but he was keeping his distance.
Probably waiting for me to make a mistake, that or die.
It was circling me.
But I still stood on my feet, so turning to face him was not a problem.
Grabbing my the head of my spear from the downed animal, I took a defensive stance with an impromptu knife.
Why is he circling me like that?
Coughing fit from behind me made me turn around for a second, only to see the fourth one trying to sneak up on me.
However as I turned my head, the one in the front attacked.
In that moment, I knew it will fare badly for me, for I was also losing a lot of blood

The pain was intense, and all that bleeding made me feel lightheaded.
For a few seconds I was sure that I lost my weapon, only to find it back in my hands.
The aggressive snarling and barking meant that I was still in danger.
This is no time to seize up and die.
My vision was blurry, but I knew where the enemies were.
It was my duty to offer protection to those who need it.
Standing tall, against all odds, that is how I did it up until now.
So I did just that, Standing tall, with a broken weapon.

cont.

In that moment, I knew that Isol needs help.
The Rogue clad in green was being assaulted by wolves.
Stabbing the one who was clinging on him from front, I knew I had to get the one going for his back.
He was three steps away from me, and my right leg refused to move without excessive pain. My ankle was probably broken and I was injured somewhere around the thighs.
One step with left foot, and one with the right one. Just doing those two things would get me close enough to kill the wolves.
Two steps from hell, to save Isol. I could see his face, distorted in pain and in fog. I felt lightheaded and my vision was leaving me.
One last thrust with my trusty pollaxe, that is all I ask for.
Jerking forward I stab the wolf who landed on Isol's back in the neck.
"Isol" I wanted to yell, but it came out as a gasp
Losing balance, I fell during the thrust. taking the wolf with me down.
The fall felt eternal, I could swear that I hit the ground, broke through and kept falling. However with the impact, the pain all went away.

Fighting off the third dog, I saw something incredible.
Like an undying, the Armored one stood up on his twisted leg, and just as something landed on my back, he hit it off.
Quickly finishing the third dog who bit my arm several times, I turned around to find Armored one lying face down with a corpse of a hound impaled on his weapon.
He just saved me.
Or maybe not. I looked at my shoulder and at my hand, hoping that it would stop bleeding.
Trum should be here any second.
"Hotam?" I heard a voice and I knew I was spot on.
Trum appeared a minute after the fight was over.
Trum and five warriors.
Good, that means we're safe.
"Here" I said as he entered my line of sight.
"By SunLord, What happened?"
"I'll tell you when we get back." I said, and I stood up.
Trum helped me to stand, he was dead tired, yet he helped me.
The two warriors quickly gathered the bags and the third one grabbed two hounds.
The remaining two were uncertain about the Armored one.
"He saved me." I said, "We should save him too"
With that, they rolled him over, and picked him up like we did the first time.
"He's heavy" Trum said and I chuckled, but the warriors were stronger than us, so they picked him up and carried him towards the village.
"Wait Trum..." I said, pointing towards the weapon still lodged in the throat of the last wolf.
"Armored one is going to need this."

So ends the Chapter 3: Savior Saved