Gama had never been this busy, all the villagers were in a rush, making preparations.
Two hunters, still geared, were resting on a bench in the town square, watching the people rushing out of the Mayor's house.
'Look John, even Ray's running, thought I'd never see the day'
'That looks like a miracle to me, Tim!'
'What'cha boys looking at?'
'Lisa, look fast, or you'll miss the priest running'
'Well, I'd never...'
'That's what I said as well!'
'You two know what's happening?'
'Absolutely not, you, John?'
'New taxation law, maybe? Can't think of another thing that'd put 'ol Ray on the run like that'
'Good, just the three I wanted to see'
They stopped laughing and turned around to see Petra, the Head Huntress.
The four hunters were all still in their hunting gear, but the
'Petra, good day, care to join us?'
Started John
'We were discussing boring stuff, like politics'
continued Tim
'And the results of our latest hunts!'
finished Lisa
'You sure were'
'Speaking of, chief, today the forest was oddly quiet, couldn't find a single animal'
'That's nothing new, Tim'
'Speak for yourself, John, your quiver looks pretty full as well. Or did you take the day off?'
'Stop arguing, now. I have something to tell you'
Petra's voice was cold, and the three hunters in front of her were suddently silent.
She calmly explained the situation, what was discussed in the council, and what was needed of them
'To cut it short, I need you three to check the surrounding area. If we're lucky we'll be able to evacuate some of the villagers through the mountains'
'This seems like a lot to take in, boss'
'John's right. Also, nobody's seen this army beside Nicole, who's resting'
'That's why I need you three to scout the area, Lisa'
'And why should we, huh? We've no obligation to do what you say'
'Tim, this isn't the time'
'No, it's the perfect time! I'm not risking my life for you or anyone else. Why can't we just flee, huh? You said we had to check the mountain roads as well to "evacuate", why can't we flee too?'
'And we should abandon what we're built in these years?!'
'What you've built, Lisa, not me. I moved here just a few years ago. Hells, some still treat me like I moved yesterday'
'Calm down, both of you'
Petra stopped the two arguing hunters before they could do something reckless
'If you want to run, I won't stop you, but that is exactly why I need you to scout those roads: to make sure we can evacuate even the elderly and the sick. You're not going to leave them behind, are you?'
'... I guess not...'
'Good, then do a quick scout of the area, check where the undead army is while keeping out of trouble, check the road, at least until the mountain top I'd say, and then come back here to report. Do that and by tomorrow you'll be on your way out of here'
Nobody dared to respond
'If nobody has any more questions, I'll see you once you're back'
Lisa raised a timid hand
'Why can't we split?'
'It would be more efficent'
Agreed John
'Because there might be dangers on the road, and I hope you three can handle any issues, together'
She answered, looking at Tim while adding the last word
After some time they were ready to depart, bows at the ready, quivers full, and a pack with rations and supplies to last them two days.
They immediatly went south, deciding to check on the undead army before the sun went down.
The group traveled quickly, expertly traversing the undergrowth for cover, while keeping close to the road.
'Say, Lisa, why do you think she sent the three of us?'
'If I had to guess, I'd say because we were the first three she found'
'Some luck we had, huh'
'Shush Tim, at least we're not teaching a farmhand how to hold a bow like the rest'
'Or helping that giant of a builder check for cracks on a wall Gods alone know how old'
'Let's just get over with it, the more we go south the more uneasy I feel'
'What, scared of a few zombies? Oh, no, they might reach me if I stand still for two hours!'
'Shut it boys, I can see something'
They arrived at a small clearing, and checked from the bushes what was Lisa pointing at.
A squad of twenty or so among skeletons and zombies were marching, led by a cloaked figure.
Everyone in the village could recognize both the cloak and the shape beneath: An half-orc with sturdy clothes the colors of the forest, bow in hand and quiver on the hip. Nosh.
The trio stared by as the undead stopped in the middle of the clearing, before Nosh raised his fist, signaling them to stop.
'The Hells? 's that Nosh?'
John whispered at the other two
'Sure looks like it'
'What's he doing?'
Lisa pointed at the half-orc, who was turning towards the squad at his back, pointing seemingly at random.
Skeletons and zombies were now moving indipendently, sometimes going to where Nosh was pointing.
'He... he's setting up an ambush...?'
Lisa hazarded a guess
'The hells? I thought these things had no brain'
'Look, they are divying up, archers back and melee front, those are military tactics... well sort of'
'Guys, we got what we came for, we should go'
Tim's voice was trembling with fear.
Maybe that made him speak louder than intended, or maybe it was just bad luck, but at those words, Nosh turned towards the group, and started scanning the area
'Run!'
Was all Lisa could say, before breaking into a sprint, the other two right behind her.
Nosh too followed, leaving the undead to fend for themselves.
The three hunters were confident in their speed inside a forest, but somehow the former Protector was gaining ground on them
'He's getting closer!'
Tim worriedly said, as he checked the distance
John notched an arrow, stopped for a moment to shoot, and then kept running.
It was a good shot, aimed at the legs as well, but it merely grazed the half-orc.
They had no time nor way to notice that the wound wasn't bleeding.
Another shot came from Lisa, a lucky shot, right in the chest.
"That's at least a lung shot" she thought, stopping for a brief moment to see the effect of her shot.
Nosh did not slow down by one bit, instead angrily grabbing the shaft of the arrow and snapping, leaving the arrowhead lodged inside him.
The hunters were tiring, while the protector was as fast as ever. Maybe even faster than what they remembered. He was now close enough that he was notching his own arrow, readying a shot.
He shot John in the leg, a powerful hit, that sent the hunter sprawling on the ground.
Screaming thought the pain, John could do nothing but watch as the former protector notched another arrow, and shot again, incredibly fast.
But just before the arrow had been loosened, Lisa jumped on the half orc, both falling on the ground, while the arrow grazed John's head.
Lisa and Nosh were brawling on the ground, but the huntress clearly lacked the experience of the former adventurer, and it was over quite soon, as Nosh landed a fierce blow to her stomach that left her helpless on the ground.
The half-orc was back on his feet, and grabbed his bow, intent on finishing what he started.
John in the meantime had managed to stand up, using a tree as support, and was readying up a shot. Considering the pain and the leg, it was a good shot, and it hit the former Protector right in the shoulder.
It gained John a few seconds, as the half-orc once more snapped the arrow inside the wound, before resuming his grim job.
As John could feel a wave of hoplessness wash over him, resignation taking over.
While counting his last moments, he caught a glimpse of Nosh's face, now that the hood had been pulled back by the combat: his eyes were lifeless and dead, his skin had a blue-ish hue to it.
An arrow appeared between the monster's eyes, who fell backwards, silently.
Tim appeared from behind John, still shaking
'Is that thing dead?!'
'I hope so'
Was all John could manage before collapsing at the ground due to the pain
'Oh, shit! We need to bandage that! Grit your teeth, it's going to hurt'
The arrow had gone through for the most part, but it had missed any vital arteries, so they ripped some clothes to make makeshift bandages and dressed the wound best they could.
Lisa was also alive, but had a nasty bruise on her belly.
They spared a moment to check on what remained of Nosh
'The poor bastard'
'Wait, didn't Harth said he raided his secret stash?'
'Tim, I hope you're not suggesting-'
'We might need this stuff, bow looks enchanted as well'
They agreed to let Tim loot the body, but they could find little of value: a single potion had survived, but they didn't want to risk it, and decided to bring it back home.
'Hey, I don't remember he ever wore this ring before, did he?'
'Woah, those are runes, Tim! Might be cursed, best leave it alone'
'John's right, might be the whole reason he was...'
'Zombified?'
'That a word?'
'Is now. But you're right, I shouldn't risk it. But I'm grabbing the bow'
'Speaking of, according to Petra he died yesterday, right?'
'So she said'
'Aren't zombies supposed to take years to... zombify?'
'Look, we're no experts, let's just go back home and see my leg taken care of, while we have the real experts think the reason'
'The real exper being who? Ray?'
'He learned to run, today, maybe he learned how to be a proper priest too'