[Third POV]
In the middle of the largest forest inside the earth kindom's terrirtory, silence ruled. No sounds, no life anywhere in sight.
However, despite that fact, if you looked close enough, you would be able to see a small team, containing about 30 people, mostly dressed as soldier's ride south, heading to the forest's exit.
In the front of said team there were two men. One of them, the one who looked to be in his thirties had a chiseled face with long brown hair flying due to the speed they were moving. His body was large, covered in muscles that weren't hidden by his clothes.
The second man, looked to be a little older than the first one, with armor covering his body hiding most of his characteristics, his eyes however told more than enough about him. They were filled with will and determination as if he alone held the sky from falling on top of them.
The two men were having a conversation about about the current situation of the world. A world that was once again plunged into a merciless war due to it's very nature.
"Things are calm for now. Most human settlements are fighting against the chaotic spirits. However, the sudden start of this catastrophe, hasn't allowed people to start organising themselves. The news move slowly, right now the only ones holding the border are the villages and towns close to it. We are slowly retreating, but we hope to hold until the main army gathers." The general answered Solon's question.
"Our supplies can hold on for about a month and that under the assumption that conflicts will be minimal. It's not realistic for us to manage for so long, morale, supplies, numbers and even power are against us. Our strategists are completely useless, since the chaotic spirits don't possess intelligence, they don't need food since they consume the chaotic energy that gets created during our fights. They are stronger than most soldiers and hunters. We are only fighting due to our will but morale is falling fast and I don't know what I can do." The general continued.
"How about asking for assistance from other nations? They might be able to help." Solon asked as he looked in front of him.
"We already asked for help from the water tribes and the fire nation. Although their condition is better than ours since they don't have to defend such large borders, they are in bad position. Especialy the water tribes, they have been unable to progress in the last 100 years or so due to unknown reasons, that has led to them losing almost half of their land already." The general said while glancing at Solon.
"Here, take a look at this map, it's the newest map we were able to make throught theorising how bad situations are around the world." He said as he passed Solon the map he was holding.
Solon looked throught it and finally understood the grim situation humans were in.
"It seemes like you are in more trouble than I anticipated."
"Yes, yes we are." he said with a sigh.
Silence followed as Solon thought about other questions he wanted to ask while the general seemmed to appreciate the silence of the forest.
"Last question. Why are you here, so far behind the border."
The man contemplated the question for a bit before answering.
"Most men here including me come from north, they lost their families during the first attack. We decided to enter the chaotic zone during a fight in the border to search for possible survivors. We never expected to find one so far north. It was a pleasant surprise."
"What if you didn't find anyone. Wouldn't you have taken an unnecessary risk for nothing?" Solon asked immediately.
"You talk as if we won't be at risk when we are in the border. It's not a risk but a choice, we either die during a fig-"
"GENERAL LOOK OUT!"
A sudden scream cut the man off as a large dark grey figure hit him sending him flying from his ostrich horse.
"POSITIONS!"
The general screamed loudly as the soldiers jumped down from their rides and used earthbending to create a wall between the general and the figure.
The figure was slammed into the wall from under it pushing it to the air, giving the soldiers a small time frame to bend the earth the general was lying on to bring him closer.
Once the general was brought closer all of them were able to see a large bite in the general's right chest area, the central teeth even reaching the middle of his chest.
"MEDIC!" The same soldier shouted as a man with a red cross on his helmet rushed to the fallen man.
He turned him around to see his wound and they were shocked to see large scars from the teeth's sudden movement of the figure, tearing large amounts of flesh from the generals back.
"The most I can do is slow down his death. He needs immediate medical attention." The medic as he covered the large wounds with small dry straws.
He took a small rock and a metalic object from his bag and started rubbing them on each other with sudden movements creating small sparks.
Once a small spark hit the straws, they combust on the spot creating a small fire which the medic put out as fast as possible.
Once he was done, and the general's bleeding had stopped and the medic once again turned to the rest of the soldiers who fought with the spirit that attacked them.
Solon ignored the fight and looked at the now burned wounds with fascination in his eyes.
'Since they are unable to heal with their power, they developed a lot of new treatment methods to cover their weaknesses. Humans are so interesting.' Solon thought as he turned away from the wounded man and looked at the men struggling against their enemy.
~~~~{chapter end}~~~~