The three moles pushed them back to back. The horses knickers and tries to kick at the moles. The moles don't bother moving, continue to close in.
Alred rushes forward, he ducks under a moles arm as it swipes at him. He thrust his sword for the moles stomach. It jumps back letting its claws met the flaming sword.
As the sword and claw meet, red and yellow sparks jump from the impact. The moles reaches for Alred with its other claw. Yellow bolts of electricity dancing on it.
He knows he need to dodge it or it can kill him. The electric claw closes in, the mole pushes hard with its other claw keeping his sword there.
The claw stops in its track with a bang. Alred sees Jep has rushed forward, his sword just blocking the claw. Three arrows whiz pass his head striking the moles head. It whimpers and hurries back underground.
The next two moles rush forward. Agis jump in front of them. He thrust his spear at each one. Changing his attack pattern keeping the moles at bay. Two more arrow land on the end of the moles noses.
"Fire-ball." A orange ball passes Agis. The impact into the moles chest pushing it backwards. Agis steps forward swinging his spear, the blade slicing into its stomach. Both moles hurry back underground.
"Get back on the horses, we need to go." All four race to a horse. They can see each one has a minor cuts, they can fix them up once they are free.
The horse take off in a gallop. The ground around them rolling after them. Alred looks forward and sees that the plains they are in are filled with eleco-berries.
"Get in front of me." He slows his horse just a bit, letting the others pass him. He leans out of his saddle, holding his staff out. They race pass a bush, he swings his staff hitting a eleco-berrie. The yellow barrier flies back hitting the ground.
The berry sparks, zapping the ground. The moles turn chasing the sparks from the berry. He pushes his horse to catch up with the others.
"Hit berries with a weapon and knocking off the bush. They will discharge and draw the moles in."
They continue to push the horses, each taking a turn to hit berries. They race to the top of a hill. The moles seem to stop chasing them. Once they top the hill, Alred sees why.
Sitting in the middle of a small valley, three huts sit around a larger building. They race the horses down. As they get closer they can hear the horses hoofs clacking on hard ground. They slow the horses down letting them catch their breath.
Alred hops off his horse leading them towards the buildings. The closer they get the rougher they look. The roofs of the huts missing pieces while the large buildings doors have been ripped of its hinges. Claw marks that match the moles can be seen all over.
Burn marks where the moles release a charge of electricity burned the wood. Broken glass and wood lay all over the ground.
"Let the horses rest, each of you check a hut. I'll go into the bigger building."
Everyone hops down. Letting the horses stop and rest. They each hold their weapons at the ready. The moles have already shown they can reach this place.
Alred walks into the larger building in the middle. A couple bodies of moles lay on the ground, long gone. Only their bones remain. More broken glass and wood all over the place. In the middle of the building a large glass tank filled with eleco-berries. The yellow berries have turned into a black sludge. Only a few remain with a dull yellow.
"Guess this explains why the moles attacked. These berries must be their main source of food."
He sees a bunch of table set up along a wall. Test tube and tools lay all over the place. Pieces of paper with scribes in a different language are stacked in order.
He picks up the paper up and sticks them in his bag. Even if he can't read them now, hopefully he will either find some one who can or learn it himself. He sees a ladder at the far end of the tunnel. It looks like a room was built up there.
He climbs the ladder, pushing the hatch open. Just as his head clears the opening. Bang. He loses his grip falling back to the ground. A red mark across his fast. He looks back at the hatch to see a small figure shutting the hatch.
The other three come rushing in at the sound of Alred falling.
"Master?" Laena was the first. She kneels next to Alred who's eyes are locked on the hatch.
"Someone is inside the that room." He points to the hatch. "Who ever they are, they gave me a good wallop in the face."
She pulls a arrow out, nocking well she twist aim at the hatch. She inches closer to the ladder.
"Calm down. If they wanted me dead, they would killed me on the spot." He place his hand on her shoulder. "Go find the boys and get camp set up."
She puts the arrow back and walks out of the large building.
"I'm not sure if you understand me. We mean you no harm. There will be some left over food if you want some."
He turn then walks out of the building. Most of the building had been trashed and burnt. It looks like the moles attacked it but seeing how they fled this area when chasing them. He's not sold on the moles attack by themselves.
"What in the world are they do here?" Alred sees that they already have a fire roaring. He walks up to the group well Agis is skiing another jack.
"What did you all find?"
"Nothing much, clothing and armor all over the place. Most of it dwarfing size." Jep spoke up.
"I found some tubes filled with yellow substance." Laena pulls three tubes out.
"Hmm. I need to figure out what we can do with these."
"Those der are eleco-bombs." A light dwarfen voice spoke up. All four of them jump up pointing their weapons at the new voice.
Her held her hands up already, like she knew what the group would do. Her burnt copper hair, freckles cover her face. Although she's short and built a bit thicker. Her body, has a grace few ever see in their people.
"I is Helga. Dis, here." She waves her hands to the large building. "Is mi fatherkins works shop."
"My name is Alred, I'm a Mage of the Southwick Kingdom. I noticed this place was attacked, are you the only survivor?"
"Aye, my fatherkins, theyd took him. I be in the room. I…" Tears start to flood down her checks.
"Its ok, come and get something to eat, we will keep you safe."
Helga walks over and sits next to Laena. Although dwarfs and elves don't always get along. Helga probably felt closer to a another woman, then strange men.