The forest loomed around them, quiet except for the crunch of leaves underfoot. Arteja's silver mask caught the soft glow of the afternoon sun as her small group marched in tight formation. They had been on edge since leaving the safety of the city walls, their mission clear: escort a noble family through contested territory.
Arteja, gripping her spear, scanned the trees. She had seen blood before, and her instincts told her trouble wasn't far.
A sudden snap of a branch broke the silence.
"Hold!" Corliss raised her fist, signaling the group to halt.
The quiet shattered. Arrows rained down from above, slicing through the air with deadly precision.
"Ambush!" Corliss barked.
Arteja dropped low, rolling to the side as an arrow struck the ground where she'd been standing. Her spear was already in her hands, its tip gleaming as she scanned the treetops. Five, maybe six attackers? Their figures moved swiftly between the branches.
"Arteja, flank left!" Corliss ordered, unsheathing her blade.
Arteja darted toward the underbrush, staying low. Movement caught her eye—a figure descending from the trees. He was fast, his blade arcing toward her as he landed.
The sound of steel on steel rang out as Arteja raised her spear to block the strike. The force jolted her arms, but she held firm. The man snarled, slashing at her again, but she twisted her weapon, deflecting the blade to the side.
She stepped in, thrusting the spear's blunt end into his ribs. The attacker staggered, clutching his side, but Arteja didn't let up. With a sharp spin, she swept the spear's tip across his chest, the blade cutting clean through his leather armor. He fell back with a grunt, clutching the wound.
Another enemy charged from her left, wielding a crude axe. Arteja turned just in time, bringing her spear up to block. The axe crashed against her weapon, the impact forcing her back a step.
He struck again, swinging wide. Arteja ducked under the blow, pivoting on her heel to deliver a sharp jab to his thigh. The man roared in pain, stumbling. She pressed the advantage, stepping forward and driving her spear into his shoulder. Blood sprayed as he dropped his weapon, falling to his knees.
A shrill cry pierced the chaos—Lirael was locked in a fierce battle nearby. Twin blades clashed as she fought two attackers at once, their movements a flurry of strikes and counters. One of the men managed to slip past her guard, his sword slicing toward her side.
"Lirael!" Arteja called out.
Lirael twisted, narrowly avoiding the blade, and retaliated with a quick slash across the man's arm. He howled, dropping his weapon, and staggered back.
Arteja turned her attention back to the fight. Another arrow flew past her, grazing her shoulder. She hissed, spinning to locate the source. High above, an archer notched another arrow, aiming for Corliss.
With a fluid motion, Arteja pulled a throwing knife from her belt and hurled it. The blade struck true, burying itself in the archer's thigh. He cried out, losing his balance, and fell from the tree with a sickening thud.
"Good shot!" Corliss shouted, parrying a strike from her own opponent.
Arteja didn't have time to respond. One of the fallen attackers was already back on his feet, charging at her with renewed fury. He swung wildly, his sword whistling through the air. Arteja sidestepped the attack, her movements calm and precise.
As he overextended, she brought the blunt end of her spear down on the back of his head. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
By now, the tide of the fight had turned. The last of the attackers were either dead or retreating into the forest, their ambush foiled.
Arteja stood in the center of the clearing, her chest heaving as she surveyed the aftermath. The bodies of their enemies lay scattered among the trees, groaning or still. Blood stained the forest floor, mixing with the fallen leaves.
Lirael approached her, a grin on her face despite the gash on her arm. "Not bad for your second mission."
Arteja said nothing, merely nodding as she wiped the blood from her spear.
Corliss sheathed her blade, her sharp eyes scanning the group. "Good work, all of you. But don't let your guard down. There could be more of them nearby."
Arteja tightened her grip on her spear. The fight was over, but the weight of battle lingered, heavy in her chest.
As the group resumed their journey, Arteja couldn't shake the feeling that this ambush was just the beginning.