The words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating and cold. Kaelan felt the weight of the scout's proclamation settle heavily on his chest. "A horde?" he repeated, trying to grasp the reality of the situation. "How many?"
The scout wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes wide with fear. "I couldn't count them all. They moved like a dark wave across the fields—more than I've ever seen. They're not just raiders; they're organized, and they're coming fast."
Kaelan exchanged a glance with Eira and Thorne, their expressions mirroring his own dread. "We need to alert the others," Eira said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "We have to prepare for their arrival."
"Agreed," Thorne replied, his tone shifting from concern to determination. "Gather the villagers. We need every able-bodied person ready to defend our home."
Kaelan nodded, rallying himself into action. "I'll head to the square and sound the alarm," he said. "Eira, can you organize the defenses? Thorne, gather the weapons and distribute them to those who need them."
Without waiting for a response, Kaelan sprinted toward the village square, his heart pounding in rhythm with his hurried footsteps. As he reached the center of Eldoria, he climbed onto the raised platform that often served as a place for announcements and gatherings. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and called out to the villagers who had begun to assemble.
"People of Eldoria!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the growing murmur of anxiety. "We face a grave threat! A horde is approaching our village—more than we have ever encountered! We must stand together and prepare to defend our home!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, and fear flickered in their eyes. Yet beneath that fear, Kaelan could see sparks of determination igniting as well. They were not going to let their village fall without a fight.
"Gather your families! Arm yourselves!" he continued, urgency lacing his words. "We will not cower in fear. We will defend our home with everything we have! This is our land, our lives—we will not let them take it from us!"
The villagers began to move with purpose, some rushing to their homes to retrieve weapons or gather loved ones, while others formed groups to strategize their defenses. Kaelan stepped down from the platform and joined Eira, who was directing a group of villagers to barricade entrances and prepare makeshift weapons.
"Thorne is organizing the armory," she said as she handed him a wooden spear. "We need every weapon we can muster."
Kaelan accepted the spear with a nod. "What about the scouts? Should we send someone back to warn them?"
Eira shook her head. "No time for that now. We need all hands here. If they're already on their way back, they'll have to make it on their own."
As they worked side by side, Kaelan felt a sense of unity blossoming among the villagers. Fear was palpable, but so was courage. They were fighting for each other, for their homes, and for their future.
Suddenly, a horn blared from the west—the unmistakable sound of an alarm. Kaelan's heart sank as he recognized it; it was a warning from one of the scouts who had ventured out earlier.
"They're closer than we thought," he muttered, gripping his spear tightly.
Eira's eyes met his with fierce determination. "We'll hold them off together. We've trained for this moment."
As shadows lengthened across the village and the first echoes of chaos reached their ears, Kaelan felt a surge of resolve wash over him. They were ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead—together. The storm was gathering, but so was their strength. And in that moment, Kaelan knew they would fight until their last breath to protect Eldoria from annihilation.