"Come on, we need to go. I know we just run that way to the cave, but now we can't rest we need to go back to the ruins. We don't know if more will show up.", Roschar said in a hurry. He knew something was at its way towards them. He could feel it. Thulpina was at her limit, but Galia dragged her again and they started to run back.
On the way they saw the other dead apes and were shocked. They looked back with teary eyes, while having a light smile on their faces, but that smile faded, as they saw the serious face of Rosch. It was telling them to go faster. They got a bit scared and dashed ahead again.
Everything went fine for half an hour, as a first scream was heard. This scream was so loud almost deafening. Rosch was shocked, because that being was to fast. Half an hour ago, he felt the being only a bit but now, he felt it as if it was right behind him.
"Galia, Thulpina run. Don't look back. It doesn't matter what you hear. Don't look or come back. Just run to the ruins.", Rosch said, suddenly halting, while looking back.
"No we will fight, too.", Galia stopped suddenly saying to Rosch.
"Listen Galia. If you fight with me, curtain death is awaiting us. If I fight alone, there may be a small chance of survival. Because I am sure that I could flee if something goes bad." Rosch said calmly. Both females looked for a second, then turned around and started to run again. They both didn't say anything, but tears welled up.
" I need to hold it for an hour at least, even that may be not enough for the two of them to reach the ruins.", Rosch thought, giving himself a goal.
He didn't have to wait long, as the big horned ape appeared. Slamming it's chest with both arms, and shouting at Rosch. But what was weird is that the ape didn't see anyone. It looked around, but nobody was there. It took a deep breath and smelled Rosch, but it couldn't find him.
Rosch on the other hand was right above the big horned ape and was ready to strike it down. Rosch did everything like he did with the other apes, and as he was flying down from the tree on top of the head of the big horned ape, a light head movement to the side blocked his bone blade with the apes horn. It didn't look at Rosch, but it felt him. Rosch was shocked, but not because it knew where he was. No because the horns were harder then his bone blades. His bone blade got cracked, but he reacted quickly sliding down the horn, giving the ape a deep cut on its face taking the left eye.
The ape screamed and trashed around, but with its remaining eye, it looked closely at Rosch. It was confused. The smallest being of the group, they thought were their prey, actually killed all the big horned apes minions.
It was a huge mismatch, as the bigger than 3 meters horned ape and the smaller than 1 meter big Rosch were standing towards each other. Glaring at each other, without backing down. The horned ape got angry, by being disrespected by such a small creature. It ripped a smaller tree out of the ground with one hand throwing it at Rosch, who was shocked because it was such a fast and smooth motion, from ripping it out of the ground to throwing it at him.
Rosch dodged by going down on all his fours making himself as small as possible. He sprinted forward at the horned ape with a terrifying speed, which shocked the ape. Rosch being so small and fast could be a real problem for the big heavy ape.
Rosch gave the legs of the ape some cuts and before retaliation from the ape hit Rosch, he was already gone at a safe distance, again. But that method wasn't good either. The hide was to thick, so the 2 till 3 centimeters deep cuts only drew small amounts of blood. If Rosch wanted to cut deeper, he would get smashed. It was a fine line between attacking and getting killed.
The fight went on for almost an hour. Everywhere huge boulders, smashed trees and plants were lying around. Rosch was getting tired. He was on the edge for an hour and his mind almost exploded from sheer exhaustion. The horned ape had many cuts, but non were fatal. On the other side, every cut made it madder and madder.
"Are they safe? Fuck how much time went by. I am completely exhausted, my magic is running out, if I want to flee I ha....", Rosch thought to himself, dodging everything that comes his way, as he trips.
His eyes opened wide, as the hammer like fist came down on him, but his small size came in handy, as he tripped backwards not getting smashed to death. But he couldn't dodge the following move, as the ape recovered instantly grabbing him with only Rosch's head and right arm showing out of the horned apes left fist.
The horned ape almost squished the guts out of Rosch, as it got a better idea. The ape rose its arm above his head and wanted to smash the head of Rosch into the ground. The ape swung down, which shocked Rosch and he instantly used his free right hand to cut through all the fingers of the ape, only its thumb was left attached.
Rosch went so fast that he still crashed into the ground, but on his side to protect his head. His right arm twisted completely in the wrong direction and his right leg was hurt, too.
The horned ape screamed, holding his hand with the missing four fingers. Its bloodshed eyes looked at Roschar, with a hateful gaze. It wanted to kill Roschar so bad. First losing one eye and now a hand, because without the fingers the hand is as good as useless. The ape jumped behind the limping Rosch, who looked up and saw death in form of a fist descending.
"At least my females are safe. Mother and the rest will take care of them.",Rosch thought, while thinking of the good times he had with his family, even starting to smile a bit.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO", a familiar shout woke Rosch up. He looked to the side and saw Galia jumping out of the bushes, cutting the hand off at the wrist, which almost hit Rosch. She used one sword with both hands to hit the ape with all her power. The apes scream was terrifyingly loud, but it was already numb to the pain and hit Galia with his left fist, which hadn't any fingers left. It still hurt the ape, but it was enough to smash Galia against a tree 10 meters away.
Rosch's eyes opened wide and he couldn't say anything, but his eyes went red instantly as he jumped on the back of the horned ape. His bones and muscles made snapping sounds, but right now Rosch didn't care. He instantly started to hack and cut into the neck of the horned ape. Flesh and bone pieces dropped everywhere, as Rosch finally saw the ground between the body and the decapitated head of the huge horned ape. Without its fingers it couldn't get a hold of Rosch and could only scream till it finally died.
Rosch dropped on his knees and started to crawl to Galia. She didn't look that bad only some blood was flowing down her nose. He finally reached her, taking her head and lying it on his lap. He traced her cheek gently.
"Galia please wake up. Come on I beg you. Don't do that to me.", Rosch said holding his tears back. He touched her forehead with his own and tears flowed down his face on top of hers.
"R.. Ro.. Rosch don't be sad. I am still alive.", Galia said really weak, as if the part of being alive isn't true for much longer.
"Galia, Galia you are alive thank Masarath. Listen stay with me. We will make it and you will live by my side okay. Just hang on.", Rosch said fast as he took Galia on his back. He started to go to the ruins, but was really slow.
"J.. Just.. go alone, I can't feel my legs. I... a.. m probably paraplegic. W... Who needs someone as useless as that.", her voice was really weak as she said that.
Rosch heart clenched together almost stopping. It hurt him, not being able to protect his females from harm. More so, because it happened again. First with Suz now with Galia.
" Listen Galia. Even if you can't use your legs anymore, you are mine. You will live, give me many children and be free like you always wanted to be. I will carry you just like now, everywhere you want to go. I promise.", Rosch said his voice cracking up a bit.
Galia smiled, while closing her eyes. It was such a beautiful idea for her. Getting carried everywhere, living where ever she wants with her new family. Rosch talked the entire time to hold Galia awake, but he didn't even walk 100 meters, as his legs got shaky. His eyes started to get blurry, but he didn't give up.
The magic he regenerated got used up to heal him instantly, which hold him awake a bit but the functions of his body became weaker and weaker. As he suddenly tripped and cursed himself for being so weak, but to his astonishment a hand grabbed him saving him from falling down. Rosch looked up and saw Thulpina. She had tears flowing down her face without stopping. She grabbed the two and sprinted as fast as she could back. The time for the ruins to send them back was almost there.
Up in front, the ruins started to shine. Symbols appeared, starting to encircle the entire ruins. Thulpina started to cry even more, because she wouldn't make it.
"Hand him over", a voice from the back shouted. Thulpina looked back and saw that it was Gerhard. He grabbed Rosch in one hand and dragged the head of the horned ape on the other hand. Thulpina got a bit faster thanks to that, which made her smile for the first time on this horrible day. They finally reached the ruins before the shine of the ruins stopped. Thulpina jumped into the light and everything went dark for a second, as they were teleported back home.