THE 12TH DAY OF THE 9TH MONTH - AFTERNOON -
(We are starting off with the point of view of the leader of a group of bandits called the Mountain Kings)
"So, what are we going to cap'n?"
"Wait, be quiet first."
I look down at the calendar and the map that is lying down on the table in the middle of our hideout. It looks like there won't be any people coming through the mountain path this month. There is too little time before the little competition called the Proving, meaning there won't be any carriages coming through because if none have passed our hideout by now, it means that either no one is coming or there are just some who are definitely going to be late.
There won't be many tourists around either during this season as Alsius is about to end and Ruina about to start, meaning there won't be a lot of places that can be counted as a beautiful place to go to at this time of the year.
"It looks like today is going to be a bust as well."
"What! I thought that we would at least be doing something. I'm bored. I want to steal some treasures or kill someone already!"
"Be quiet! The boss is talking right now!"
"Heh! You want to fight me! I'll beat you to pulp then."
"Stop it!"
These guys are always fighting. It gets on my nerves every time and it makes me want to kick them out and throw them down the mountain. But, they are valuable assets to the group so, I can't kick them out now as it would be bad for our success rate when we raid carriages.
"Sir, I spotted a carriage!"
"What!"
I turn around quickly and look at the person who reported that. Oh, it is the new guy who just joined last month. He was never good at anything and was mostly just a meat shield for us but, it seems like he has proven himself this time.
"Where is the carriage you spotted?"
"Sir, I was patrolling around 60 meters away from our hideout when I spotted the carriage moving from a distance. I ran as fast as I could back here so, I think they will be passing by in around 30 minutes or more!"
They will be arriving earlier than I expected. But, this is a good time to let everyone blow off some steam and get their hands on something.
"All right then! Everyone, prepare your weapons and cold-resistant cloaks and get ready to leave in 5 minutes!"
"Yes! I will be able to get to beat up some people! This is going to be so much fun!"
"The man who gets the most money will win!"
"I am going to win, no matter what!"
After motivating the rest of my group, I walk out of the room and start heading to the room holding all of our weapons. This hideout was a good find, as it is an extensive cave network that prevents too much cold from entering us. It is also very big as it has at least 20 different small chambers we excavated.
While I was walking towards the weapon's room, I glance to a chamber that has a door with bars on it. The prisoner inside is quiet today for some reason. I think she may have died already.
I look through the bars and see her. No, she is still alive. Good, we will still be able to sell her once we find someone is willing to buy her. That would be easy as she is quite a beauty.
Oh well.
I'll need to focus more on the people who will be coming over very soon.
********************
(Switches back to Alex's point of view)
"Ahh!"
*Cling*
*Clang*
You might be wondering what is actually happening right now. Allow me to explain. Right now, we are getting attacked by some Freeze Hawks. They are monsters that look like very big birds.
They are white in color but have wings that are tipped with black. They have this specialized sac on their chest that stores a kind of super-cooled liquid which freezes their prey almost instantly. Incidentally, that sac is also their weak point as popping it will deprive them of their method of attacking and some have the liquid inside might seep onto it's feathers, freezing them, rendering it unable to fly.
I am pretty sure that these monsters are migratory as this mountain isn't permanently cold. They might be visitors from a colder place than this one. Though, I don't think that this kind of information would be that important in a fight.
Where am I?
I am just safely tucked away inside of the carriage, underneath the seats and inside the place where our food and water is stored. And yes, I am able to fit in there and perfectly hear everything that is going on outside.
*Screeching*
Oh man!
Those things are way too loud! I was able to make my hearing better but, this is just torture for me now.
*Popping Noises*
It looks like one of the guards was able to pop the sac of one of the Freeze Hawks. There were 3 of them when they attacked us so, that means one of them is basically out of freeze attacks.
*Thud*
*Rattle*
Ah!
Did one of the Freeze Hawks just violently bump into the side of the carriage!? Don't do that, please! It almost scared the heck out of me.
- 10 minutes later -
Oh my Death God!
I think the battle is finally over. The past 10 minutes have been very scary as I have no idea what is happening because the guards didn't allow me to join them in the battle against the Freeze Hawks. Then again, I think that it is common sense for the adults to tell the child to take shelter as they fight off the aggressor.
"Hey, who are you guys!"
"Ha ha ha!"
*Fighting Noises Resume*
Wait, what was that all about. Did I just hear extra voices just now? Are there other people there? Are they fighting us? But, why would they be fighting us when we didn't do anything wrong? Oh wait a minute. No, they can't be bandits or thieves, right? How would they be staying here? I am too full of questions right now. I don't think I am capable of interfering with the fight now.
"Yes, yes, more!"
Stop yelling! I know that the guy who keeps yelling is some sort of battle maniac. I don't know which side is winning right now because of all of the noises that are happening all at once.
*Fighting Noises Stop*
What?
There is no more noise. What happened? It was so sudden so, I don't think anyone has lost yet so, why?
*Footsteps*
Are they inside of the carriage now!? I need to stay quiet now. I hold my breath, trying to make sure that they don't find me.
*Opening of a hatch*
"Hello, small child."
Oh no. It looks like I have been found rather easily. I...
I am so powerless. I can't even do anything now. Knowing bandits, they might use a child like me as a hostage to keep the other guards from attacking them.
Damn it! Plus, if I attack or show some sort of resistance, they will either harm me or a guard. In the worst possible situation, they might even kill them.
I grit my teeth and raise my hands up to show surrender.
"Hey, it looks like you know what is going on, kid. That makes this a whole lot easier for us."
That was the day I was captured by bandits.