"I am so happy that all of you are alright. I almost died seeing the mansion burned down to the ground believing you guys were still in there.", Rosch said kissing and hugging his mother and females.
They to got a bit teary-eyed, because they didn't think about the possibility of Rosch finding Silvana and Yvonna so fast and even making it back to the mansion on the same day. They thought he would be gone for some days and they had to fight on their own.
"What, you were there? How are our soldiers that stayed behind?", Vilcet asked with fear in his voice. Lumen truly was a close friend to him, not just a subordinate anymore.
Rosch told them what they found. Brave elves, stronger than their enemies, taking more than twice the amount of themselves down with them. All soldiers present swelled up with pride and determination. Not wanting to let their sacrifices become useless.
Vilcet was seemingly down. He couldn't believe his friend died, but had to go on.
"Luchs, come to me.", Vilcet said looking into the group of soldiers.
A young lad came out. He had short silver hair, with thick silver eyebrows. He looked more like a teenager, probably just recently became an adult.
"This is Roschar. My grandson. And Roschar this is Luchs. The pupil of Lumen and our Vice-General. He is young, but unbelievable talented. You two will take care of the back, as I will look after the civilians, making sure everything is going well.", Vilcet introduced them and went into the front of this large group of refugees.
Both nodded and looked at each other. Rosch told him what he saw at Treetops City. Making Luchs proud of being the pupil of the silver Demon.
" You guys will protect the back by defending from attacks, the enemy soldiers on the ground do. I will take care every attack that comes from the treetops.", Rosch said getting approval from Luchs.
They wandered for an hour, as Galia came back to him on a white stag. She didn't want to be carried around and somehow talked someone into giving her a mount. Behind her bonded to the animal was the Orc mixed guard. He looked hurt, but didn't look like he would die.
"Orosh here, will get some rewards when we return. He took a horrible wound for me. Probably saving our child.", Galia said happily slapping Orosh on his chest. Orosh himself looked fearful, because Galia would try to take care of him, but she just isn't the type of female that was good at taking care of someone, always hitting his wound accidentally, while praising him and how he was bonded to the animal didn't look comfortable either.
" Why didn't Schajana heal him?", Rosch asked confused.
"She only can heal the people a bit. They already attacked twice, those cowards from the Sunshine crap lord. It were smaller units, but we believe the main army will surly attack soon. And Schajana shouldn't use all her magic from the get go.", Galia explained.
Rosch nodded. It's true, they don't know how often they will get attacked. When they traveled to Treetops City, they rested in the nights. Now they want to travel back to the Goblin village, without rest and they hope to make it in two days, but through the sheer amount of Elves, the way they travel gets worse and worse, because of the wet ground. The tail of the elven caravan are the soldiers and they have to fight the most on such a swampy way. They have to protect the back, while the attackers will probably take different routes in smaller groups to travel better.
"Galia, tell the others that I will be away most of the time, protecting us from above. I need to take care of some rats in the treetops.", Rosch said chillingly, while dashing away. Galia looked surprised, while rising her head looking around, as if they could be attacked at any moment.
They marched for hours, as Rosch jumped down a tree, landing besides Luchs startling him.
" I got twelve of them, but most of them weren't equipped well. They rose in numbers recently, too. Seems they are getting ready for something.", Rosch told Luchs. Who looked surprised.
"To catch scouts so easily. You truly are terrifying. But no, I believe the real attack comes tomorrow night. This night only skirmishes may happen or scouts will attack and harass us.", Luchs said completely sure. That's how he would do it.
"Good, then I will go up and try that they won't dare to haress us. They will learn to fear the night.", Rosch answered with a smile.
Luchs was surprised. He heard that Rosch already fought with the Vice-General of the Sunshine troops, while running from one place to another and is still willing to go on. Impressing Luchs greatly.
Rosch wanted to move on, as he was stopped by a hand. Rosch was almost on a tree again, as an air grasping Silvana stood before him.
"You can't go. You need rest and some healing. You didn't rest since taking the drug. I am really worried Rosch.", Silvana said looking him eye to eye, while lowering her front because she was tired.
"I am fine. Look at me. I am full of energy.", Rosch said back with a smile.
"DON'T LIE TO ME. I saw, how you washed blood from your lips and you got a bit paler, too. I know you aren't alright, let's go. I will take care of you.", Silvana said angrily even rising her voice at the beginning. She grabbed his hand and tried to drag him with her, but
Rosch didn't move. He looked at her with a smile.
" You know, I can't just stop. I have the feeling, that if I stop much more will die. I can't just do nothing, sleeping till we eventually make it back..... You truly are a fine female.", Rosch said again, while grabbing her juicy butt and kissing her deeply.
She went weak for a second and didn't stop him, but eventually got herself together pushing him away.
" You little.. ", Silvana wanted to say, but got cut of.
" I noticed, you are helping everyone you can, but only to the degree that they don't die not more, since you need as much magic reserves as possible, if the enemy attacks. But my wounds you heal completely even to the last small cut.", Rosch said teasingly, while giving Silvana one last deep kiss, before disappearing into the treetops.
She stood there for a while, completely flushed red.
" That.... That brat. How dare he plays with me like that. Silvana get your shit together. That is a youngling and I am a grown ass woman. I can't be falling in love with a child, right?", Silvana asked herself shocked.
Rosch went from tree to tree till morning. He again took out 5 enemy scouts, as he went back to Luchs. They talked about their next steps.
And at the end Luchs gave his prediction.
"Rosch, I believe they will attack as soon as they sun goes down. That would be the smartest decision, since we wouldn't see their attacks that well.", Luchs told him getting nervous. His people get tired the longer they march. Such a situation attacks them psychological, too. Their feet get heavier, because of that. Rosch knew that they finished half the way, but now fighting against tiredness will be their main problem. To make it in two days won't be possible like that.
"They just need to go. I know it is hard, but every meter forward is one meter closer to our survival.", Rosch said, reminding him how thin the line between extermination and survival is.
Luchs knew that, but it was hard. He is new, leading as the Vice-General, while he has learned much and is talented, his actual experience is shallow. He tries his best to hold moral up, but even that has his limits.
The hours went by marching non-stop. Complaints didn't come, since everyone knew that there's no other way, but older and weaker people started to lag behind. The white stags were at their limits, too. They carried elves and stuff.
Rosch, Luchs and Vilcet made a decision that could cost many lives, but save, if lucky all of them. They rested for two hours.
After the rest they marched again. Till the sun started to slowly go down again.
And as if planned, shouts and trumpets echoed through the forest, scarring the civilians. The enemy was near and they made themselves visible showing of that they were many.
"Tell the civilians, they should take their legs into their hands. We need to be faster.", Rosch said to his grandfather. He himself run around looking, if everyone was on their positions. 70 soldiers on both flanks, while 110 protected the back of the civilians. Even though 250 sounded much, it wasn't.
But 250 soldiers, of the Moonshine family were handpicked strong warriors. The Sunshine family had more soldiers, but didn't have high standards. They are known for healing, while the Moonshine family was known for their cavalry and strong soldiers.
"I guess the Sunshine family will come with around 400 soldiers. Since their casualties are over a hundred already, thanks to Lumen and you Rosch and they still need some to protect the city. Because normally they dispatch around 500.", Luchs analyzed. Rosch was shocked. That they still had so many at home. They truly were strong. Together with the Moonshine family, their military force would be over a thousand soldiers easily.
Rosch went back up to the trees, but nothing happened. Seemed like no more scouts were needed. The real battle would be fought at the ground it seemed. Midnight passed and the first enemy soldiers were seen.
Their golden armors were seen in the moonlight, shining back at the silver soldiers from almost everywhere.
The attack was probably going to happen at any moment.