Ashera had decided to bring Lyan a small detachment of five beastites from her unit, the rest she sent with Rothar to the North, from Seises team she brought three scouts and one trap expert, Artemis, Suntiana, Praxis the pantherite who was from the slums around the city and lastly, Seslyn who was of course bringing them to her home. It was a small group but all of them were impressive, except for Seslyn and Praxis who Ashera hadn’t gotten a feel for yet. Ashera hoped they wouldn’t be problematic if the worst were to happen. For now, they would travel as a group until they got closer to the city.

  They were headed in a mostly North-Eastern direction, they spent most of their first week sticking to the woods and covered areas, moving only at night to avoid unwanted attention. Moving the supplies on makeshift waggons made it slow going, especially with this many people. They resupplied as much as they could from elven outposts along the way. Most were abandoned and in desperate need of repairs. As the area was largely untravelled and unused in the rural areas of the elven territory the group felt safe stopping and plundering. Most of the supplies they found were spoiled, but better carts and a place to sleep out of the elements were welcome just the same.

  On occasion the scouts up ahead would come across elven patrols that would need to be avoided. With this group it was not always practical. This was when Tyrnal and the other elves in the group earned their keep. Already wearing elven uniforms taken from the outposts they had previously looted they would interact with the patrols stating they were moving labour camps. Sometimes the patrols bought it, other times it ended poorly for the patrols. Artemis and his group would always make it look like a magical beast attack. Something not too uncommon in the more northern reaches of the elven territories where the elf's kept the magic beasts contained. Hayami’s intel on these parts was proving invaluable as it turned out.

  The elves enjoyed a good match between bestites and magical beasts. Even going as far as to promise the beastites a better position and posting if they won. What the elves did not tell them was the better life only came after they were done being entertainment, which meant their death. They would tell future competitors of the success of the predecessors.

  With a group this large, encounter with magical beasts were an inevitability. They tried to avoid it as much as possible to stop elves from thinking anything unusual was going on. When they did fight them, they used only weapons the elven soldiers would have on them. The goal always being to drive them away rather than kill them. With a meal as enticing as their group though, it rarely went that way.

  ***

  Rothars voice boomed over the roar of the oncoming Dragolisk’s, “don’t let them surround us! Archers go for the eye; Healers prepare to deal this partial petrification do as Suntiana has instructed. Those of you with stench bombs uses them to distract them.”

  The group moved with precision against the magical beasts now. Artemis was running wild darting around one of the Dragolisks distracting it and obscuring the creatures as others with his speciality took on the others. He quickly changed up his attack hearing arrows headed right for them. He swung around Infront of the monster drawing its attention right into the path of the arrows.

  “Damn,” Artemis thought not one had hit the eyes.

  The beast reared up, more in frustration than pain and slammed itself down right where Artemis had been not a moment earlier. Artemis thanked the gods that this thing was almost blind. While still avoiding attacks he crinkled his nose, the smell from the bombs finally getting to him.

  “Everyone, moveout!” Rthar boomed as he started to move the groups of non-combatants and groups not suited to this type of combat through the chaos.

  Rothars team worked as guards for the groups. Those who could help stuck closer to the outside of the group while those who couldn’t were protected in the centre. Thanks to the work of Artemis’s team the group was able to make it quickly through the skirmish to safety. They had encountered only a single juvenile Dragolisk that was hanging out behind the adults hoping for scraps.

  Rothar and a small group of soldiers went to intercept it before it could attack them. Fortunately for Rothar, it took off when they ran at it. Rothar re-joined the group and continued to get them out of danger. Once sufficiently far from the Dragolisk’s, Rothar yelled out for the others to get away. Artemis and the others engaging the Dragolisk’s quickly withdrew tossing more of the bombs to cover their escape.

  “Good work everyone,” Ashera said, once they were safely away. “Once we get past the next outpost according to Praxis we split up. The city is to the North-East.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  It took them three days to get there, coming across a few more elven patrols but nothing they couldn’t talk their way out of. Otherwise, it was an uneventful trip. The substantial portion of the group was grateful to be out of the area. Hayami had explained just a day ago that they were clear and ninety percent less likely to run into the more aggressive magical beasts that were used for the elf’s entertainment.

  **

  Travel was much faster after they split from the main group. With a newfound sense of urgency, they strove to make up time as they headed for the city. The much smaller group moved quickly but cautiously, the path grew more arduous the closer to the city they got. Preferring the cover of night still they sought shelter where they could. Outposts were no longer abandoned making it impossible to pass on the roads undetected. For this reason, the group stayed to the edge of the forest where, even if it was uncomfortable, it was safe from the elven patrols.

  This presented to be more formidable than Ashera had anticipated. Their chosen path was covered with difficult terrain, slowing their pace once again and forcing them to focus intently on every move. They were tested with every move they made as the terrain grew thick with undergrowth, hills gave way to steep inclines more akin to cliffs and the trees grew so dense forcing them into a single file formation. Their desire to reach the Seslyn’s home and see what was going on in the city kept them moving forward.

  Elven patrols became more frequent, some even pushing into the dense forest looking for potential escapees. The small one tower outposts now replaced with bustling forts. As they grew closer to the city the forest grew further from the road. As they crested over a rocky out cropping Artemis happened to notice the sound of water. Artemis crouched down and motioned for the group to stop.

  “I hear water ahead,” he began, “we should investigate. It might lead to a way into the city, or as Seslyn might be hoping under the city.”

  Saeslyn Jumped for joy and let out a loud cheer that sounded more like a squeak than anything else. Everyone turned to her, shushing her. She clasped her hands over her mouth.

  “Sorry,” she whispered.

  As they approached the river they looked towards the city in the distance, Artemis and a few others with keen eyes were able to perceive water flowing from a lifted grate, likely a sewer, from under the city. The sewage flowed directly into the river, which flowed beside the beastite camp.

  “Lovely,” Suntiana said sarcastically. “Our people get to drink the filth the elves don’t want. Once we’re under this city please tell me there is a plan to destroy it, Ashera.”

  Turning her tattoo from magic cercles that were acting as binoculars back into a tattoo Ashera said, “it wasn’t the plan. I think now it will be.”

  Everyone grumbled their agreement. This was too much for them to ignore. Artemis stepped into the cool water its deepest part the water was up to his chest. The only one who would have trouble in the water would be Seslyn he thought. Much to his surprise Seslyn jumped in and began to swim.

  “It’s cool, but between the water and the bank of the river we should have good cover,” Artemis said, shivering slightly. “We should cross for now and sleep behind the opposing bank. It will be easier to travel at night.”

  They rotated watch shifts, being ever vigilant. Even in these circumstances there were some who made time to enjoy themselves. As Artemis slept and Suntianas shift on watch ended she roused Lyna to take over. Crawling over to Artemis she curled up next to him, one arm strown across his chest. He roused just enough to take her hand.

  Lyna smiled; it had been so long on the island for some of them. To see her friends so happy, even in these times, it made her hopeful for the future. On the island to form a friendship was rare, but a relationship was never going to happen. Not so long as everyone was forced by the environment to look out for themselves. No one would risk the chance of being double crossed like that. Not till Suntiana had come along, she changed things. She brought people who couldn’t stand up for themselves alone together where they could make a stand together. Her ideals also attracted strong people who saw the benefits, like Lyna and Rothar. Lyna had joined to protect Quade. Thinking of Quare brought a twisted look somewhere between fathomless grief and unbridled rage. It passed, she would have time to grieve once they were safe, all of them. She wouldn’t let anyone else suffer.

  Her mind went back to its previous thoughts. Suntiana had brought people together, forging friendships with everyone she had joined together. Before they knew it, she had become the leader of the group. Some joined with wicked intents, and they were quickly removed, usually to their detriment or demise, by Rothar and his group of followers. It was the closest they had been to peace in a long time.

  Lyna was brought back to her current situation when she heard movement on the other side of the river. Ducking down so her eyes were level with the bank she peaked at where the noise had come from. She sighed with relief; it was just a wild boar coming for a drink. Before she knew it, the sun was setting, and it was time to rouse everyone and start moving again.

  They moved under the darkness of night providing cover and safety for them. Along their way down the river the sought cover in, caves, alcoves and notches in the river. Getting rest where they could. It also offered Suntiana time to tend to the exhaustion and mental fatigue brought on by always being on edge.

  As the city grew larger with their approach so did their anxiety. Looming on the horizon the city grew ever imposing. Ashera kept the others spirits as high as she could, telling stories from her time. A time unknown to everyone here. The elves having wiped it from history over the centuries.

  They really seemed to enjoy the stories about the simple things, like people living in cities with free running amenities and of shopping in the large shopping centre’s that were always full of people. Some enjoyed tales of when the war started and how the humans had originally been a match for the elves. Most wanted to hear more form before the war though. Talks of cinemas and home theatres had their interest peaked. They wondered if there would be anything like that to the north.

  ***

  The final approach on the city, had their senses on edge. Every noise, every smell, every shadow they saw made their hearts pound. Patrols crossed the outer wall in steady intervals. They matched their pace with this trying to ensure there would be no guards when they made their way into the sewer. Seslyn was leading the way up the embankment towards the sewer. Instead of going into the sewer grate she moved over to the wall beside it. She looked around, making sure no guards were coming, then with practiced ease she took out a brick and spun the wall sideways.