"Charlie! Quit slacking off and get back to your position!" Captain Vincent commanded, I sigh and stand straight, I don't know why the captain is always fussy about this kind of things, Bluehaven hasn't had a siege in near 3 decades, the Bandits in the area are more likely to prey on passing caravans than this city, sometimes I wonder why I didn't choose a more lax career, If I'd known the hours were this shite, I wouldn't have been blinded by the gold! Alas it's still one of the best paying jobs in the city.
"Well just one more hour and my shift is done, Hey Pat! when we're off how about you show me that new tavern you've been hopping!" I hollered, "What new tavern? what are talking about?" Pat replied, I give him a coy smile, "You know..... the one with the new foreign girl and her brother, the ones that don't speak the common tongue," I said.
".....I have n-no idea what you're talking about! Let's just focus on our task!"
"Ah yes, watching the grass on the other side of the wall or perhaps that little pup over there! I'm sure if we take our eyes off them they'll come bounding over, scaling out walls,"
"..."
"So tell me, they say the foreign girl is quite the looker, many a gentlemen have come to patronize her, hoping she'll give them something extra, are you one of those poor saps, Pat?"
"Shut up! Isabella isn't som-"
"Oh so her name is Isabella? Tell me Isabella isn't some what?"
".... She isn't some harlots!"
"I never said she was..... Patrick... you really shouldn't be wasting your money on some tavern girl.... your cousin,"
"He and I are not the same!"
".....I know but-"
"Look Charlie just drop it okay?"
".....okay, if you insist...."
We didn't talk much after that, my shift went on uneventful until....
"Oy! Be on the lookout, there's some commotion on the North gate!" Captain Vincent commanded.
"Commotion? A drunken brawl or something?" one of the senior guards asked.
"No..... they're trying to open up the gate.... possibly Bandits," Captain Vincent replied.
"Bandits? are you sure Captain? It just seems so-"
"Unusual? Yes still we-"
The Captain's words were interrupted by a long gnarled hand sticking out of his Chest, We did not see it, we did not see the creature sneak up on him, we did not sense it at all, but now there was a wolf like beast standing right behind him, it's hateful black eyes glared at us distastefully.
"C-Captain!? Everyone attack!" One of the other guards cried, Some of them unseathed their blades but before they could swing it, 4 more of the beasts emerged from the shadows, they rip and tore their way through us, 10 men had died in an instant!
"W-We need more men! we can't face them alone! Someone get us reinforcements!" An elder guard cried.
Yes we were in need, but things were fast, before send a messenger we- "The horns! we could blow the horns! Charlie get to the tower and blow the horns immediately!" Pat cried, "M-me?! isn't there someone there that cou-" "That was Ben! the old bastard was one those that just died! you have to do it!"
"Why me!? why can't you do it!?" I protested.
"Are you stupid!? Before I could get ten feet near the door, they'll butcher me, you smaller and faster, you have a better chance!"
"Ugh!" I cursed under my breath and nodded my head, he was right I had the better chance but I still didn't like it. I took off running towards the tower, I looked around to see..... none of the beasts were paying me any mind, they were more focused on the gates, they leisurely made their way to the gate and smashed it to bits with their sheer strength!
"Sol have mercy on us!" I prayed, I made it to the tower and blew the horn, but at that point, did it matter? the gate was gone was, a new wave of the beasts poured in through the new passage, we couldn't do anything here until the reinforcements came.
"They're coming here!" I cried, 3 of them were making their way to me! I lept out through an open window and began dashing away through the chaotic streets, lucky for me the beasts did not follow me!
"Hah, hah!" I ran long and hard until my legs felt like they'd give out, after that I hid myself in an empty building until someone found me, it was Pat, he had some men with him, they wore heavy Armour and had intricate looking weapons, there was an air of Valor to them, they seemed experienced fighters, a stark contrast to many 9f the guards of the city.
"The main gate..... is lost so are the other gates to the city!" Pat cried, "Ser Dancer and I are going to evacuate as many People as possible before the beasts kill us all!" he finished, "What about me? I'll-" "No!" one the warriors interrupted me.
"You are to come with us girl, we have special plans for you," The grizzled old veteran said. I said my goodbyes to Pat and followed the old Veteran and his men. His name was Ser Donner, He was the leader of a Mercenary group, the Silver sons, They were visiting the City looking for to sign a new contract with a noble in the city when the commotion started, the noble was killed by one of the beasts and his Heir agreed reward them handsomely if they should evacuate as many citizens as possible.
"Can't do that if all the beasts are running around, we need to cull their numbers and lead put of potential escape route..... that's where you come in girl,"
"M-me?"
"Yes! you'll be our bait!"
"S-Surely Ser jests! I would be torn in two before-"
"If you don't do it.... I flay you alive!"
"....Yes ser!"
And now I'm stuck here, on top a building scouting the area in search of potential targets to lure in. "Remember girl, go after the young ones! They'll too quick to prove themselves, that is true no matter the race, they won't think they're being lured into a trap!" Ser Donner adviced.
"Shitty old bastard, if anything happens to me I- Ah!" I spotted a lone wolf... yes, yes I see the irony! It had dull red fur and glowing blue eyes, It looked relatively young toothed! The beast was feasting on a fresh body, "So we're like prey to them..... well this prey won't go down without a fight!" I said preparing my bow and arrow, I aim at the beast ready to shoot it down.
FWIP
The arrow misses..... that's okay, it got its attention! The beast growled at me and began to scale the walls of the building, I turned around and began running! The beast followed chase, we jumped several roof tops until we reached the- "Attack now!" Ser Donner cried, he and the other warriors lept out from their hiding spot and surrounded the beast!
It was a slaughter! The creature was helpless against the warriors, they toyed with it, humiliated it and butchered it, the thing stood no chance against the Silver sons. Once they killed it, it transformed into a young woman with red hair.
"A Werewolf huh?" Ser Donner exclaimed.
"Werewolf? Are they not extinct? we haven't heard of one in centuries," I said
"No girl.... They haven't been this bold in centuries, out there, we have encountered some, most of them flee once they encounter humans, others integrate themselves into human societies, some are even protected by humans...." He muttered.
"Humans protecting this vile beasts?"
"Yes.... they say they're 'atoning' for our ancestors transgressions! Hah! Bullocks!"
"..... isn't it too dangerous to trust.... these things?"
"Dangerous.... yes, but outside this continent they're countries that have Citizens made of Werewolves and Humans alike! They've lived that way for centuries!"
"That's.... are you sure Ser? I.... just cannot imagine it,"
"Yes.... they exist! So many crazy things exist outside of Tyr Continent, they're rumours of pirate crews even made up of Werewolves! Adventurers, Mercenaries, You name it! They exist girl.... and they are many of them...."
I look at the corspe of the woman now laying beneath us, "Don't worry girl,we'll make sure your family-"
"I do not have any family in the city..... I only moved here over a month ago...."
He nodded his head and sent me on my way. I applied the same tactic for three more potential routes and we managed to cut down more Werewolves, they didn't stand a chance against Ser Donner and his men, each time we fell them, he assigned a man to lead some civilians through the route to safety.
"Where will we go? The gates are-"
"The sewers.... they'll do, the people in this town won't be too.... picky, I assume?"
I nodded my head. I was standing at a roof near the Marketplace, carnage had unfolded there, Bodies of dead people laid everywhere! The sight nearly made me empty my stomach..... but I held it in, I spotted another lone wolf, A black one with fur as dark as night! It seemed to be spacing out, it was standing near one of the sewers we were gonna use.... I take a breath and loose my arrow.
FWIP
It cut its cheek, I hit it! but.... it didn't seem to do any damage at all! The beast glared at me and bounded over!
I used my previous tactics and lured it to the Silver sons, They surrounded it like all the others but.... "That's impossible!" It cut through them without breaking a sweat, Ser Donner was down by four men, but it shouldn't matter! This thing shouldn't be able to crush them this one sidely!
The creature glared at me, with its hot green eyes.... it looked at me as though I was mere food, absent of any thought or reason, just a thing that existed for it to toy with, despite my fear and tears I gave it a piece of my mind! The beast Misliked that and shot back! Burying my feelings with what felt like hundred of years of hate and resentment with its words alone.... I couldn't give any argument valid enough for it to spare me.... I was gonna Die....
Die....? Is this death? I always pictured it as a skeleton riding on a pale horse harvesting souls from the world or a beautiful woman that lead the dead to paradise where they feasted and partied for eternity..... but I was wrong... this beast in front of me, with evil emerald eyes and wicked black fur was death, TRUE Death and it was coming for me!
"No!" I cried, I soiled myself, yes I soiled myself! I didn't care about dignity or self worth in that moment, I didn't care my vision was impaired due to the tears in my eyes, I Didn't care one bit.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
I leapt off the roof to get away from my attacker, but it was too late! He clawed through the back of my leather Armour and reached all the way to my spine! I fell to the ground below screaming and cursing, I hit the floor with violent wet thud!
"...." I passed out from the pain...
I awoke several hours later.... it was daybreak, an elderly couple had found me in the streets, they managed to drag to the sewers with them and they joined up with several other survivours.... about 200 of us in total..... We trekked our way to a secret passage under the city and emerged from a hill nearby, I woke up a little later inside a small tent.
The look of despair on their faces..... we had lost everything thanks to those vile creatures, the rage ins- "Wait..... where are my wounds?" I questioned myself.... that beast had definitely cut me and cut me deep at that! Even if I somehow survived the injury, that fall should've killed me for sure!
I start going over my body, every cut and scrap I received from the night prior.... was gone, "This is not good.... if what I think happened.... actually happened.... there's no way I can't stay here anymore!" I muttered, yes I couldn't stay here, they'll think I'm one of them! Logic be damned! they'll kill me! I'm sure of it!
"Charlie? are you awake?" A voice asked.... it's Pat, I'm glad he made it, "Yes.... emmm, just give me a minute!" I said quickly covering up myself with a cloak nearby. "Come in!" I cried.
".....Are you.... okay?" Pat asked, "Yeah... I'm.... I'm fine.... I got... lucky" I replied.
"....There is... a meeting outside.... everyone is trying to decide where to go from here.... I know you didn't have any family in the city, you can come with me if you'd like?"
"...Thank you.... but I can't...."
"Why? you-"
"I can't!"
"..."
If my fears are correct..... the last person I'd wanna hurt is Pat, he's a good guy, if I can't control myself.... I don't even want to imagine what happens...
"There was a noble that promised the Silver sons gold for the evacuation.... did he make it?"
"...Yes, he's paid them half, the other half if he escorts him and whoever wants to join him to The Dome mountains,"
"....You're not following him?"
"No.... my Couz and I are heading south of here, our uncle has a farmland in the Crimson Crest... we want to warn them of the attack and flee further south,"
"...so I guess this is goodbye then?"
"..."
He turned around to leave but I hugged his back, I promised to see him again.... but I don't think he believed me.... he left the Tent without saying a word.
"..." I'd much rather go with him.... but on the off chance I go berserk.... I'd rather be able to cut away to the wilderness.... There's a dense swampland on the way from here to the Dome mountains.... I'll cut away as soon as we reach there.
"..." My mind flashes back to the Black wolf with hot green eyes, the Fury In them, the hate and disdain he felt for humanity..... I feel it for him too..... I'll use this new gift he's given me and I'll hurt him the same way he hurt me, "I promise!"