Dawn broke with a muted stillness, the village shrouded in a heavy mist. The villagers moved with quiet determination, their preparations complete. The forest beyond seemed almost indifferent to the activity, its towering trees casting long, foreboding shadows.
Doran led the group of fighters, each one armed and ready. Behind them, Mara and her tracking team carried supplies for the traps and signal flares. Isabella stayed with Saria and a few other villagers who would serve as medics, waiting in a secured outpost near the edge of the woods. The man, as always, was at the vanguard, his golden eyes scanning the horizon.
"Remember the plan," he said, his voice low but firm. "We lure the beasts to the traps. Stay together, and don't engage unless you have no other choice. Fear will only cloud your judgment."
Doran nodded. "Let's move out."
The group disappeared into the forest, the dense foliage swallowing them whole.
Setting the Stage
The chosen ambush site was a clearing flanked by thick underbrush. It offered both visibility and enough cover for the fighters to hide. Garron and his apprentices had worked through the night to dig spiked pits and set up weighted nets. Mara's team had rigged tripwires connected to crude but effective alarms—clusters of hanging metal pieces that would clang loudly if disturbed.
"This should give us enough warning," Mara said, tying off the final tripwire. "If the beasts come from the same routes as before, we'll hear them before they see us."
Elric, his spear at the ready, glanced nervously at the surrounding trees. "What if they come from somewhere else?"
"Then we adapt," Doran replied. "We're not going to let them outsmart us."
The man crouched by one of the pits, inspecting the sharpened stakes at the bottom. "This will slow them down, but it won't stop them completely. Be ready for anything."
Mara nodded, her expression grim. "They'll come. It's just a matter of time."
The First Sign
Hours passed in tense silence. The fighters remained hidden, their eyes fixed on the forest. The quiet was oppressive, every rustle of leaves or distant bird call setting their nerves on edge.
It was near midday when the first alarm sounded. The metallic clanging echoed through the trees, followed by the faint sound of snapping twigs. The group tensed their weapons at the ready.
"Positions," Doran whispered, gesturing for everyone to take cover.
Mara climbed a nearby tree, her bow drawn as she scanned the area. Through the mist, she spotted movement: shadows weaving between the trees, too large to be any ordinary animal.
"They're here," she called down, her voice barely above a whisper. "Three, maybe four. Coming in fast."
The man nodded, signaling for the fighters to hold their ground. "Wait until they're in the clearing. Don't engage until the traps are sprung."
The shadows grew closer, resolving into forms as they stepped into the clearing. The beasts were smaller than the ones the patrol had faced days before but no less terrifying. Their red eyes burned with feral intensity, their movements quick and deliberate. They sniffed the air, their heads snapping toward the tripwires and pits.
The first beast advanced cautiously, its claws scraping the ground. It stepped onto one of the tripwires, triggering the metal alarm. The sudden noise startled it, and it recoiled—but not before falling into a nearby pit. A guttural roar erupted as the stakes pierced its hide, though it continued to thrash wildly, trying to climb out.
The commotion drew the other beasts closer. One triggered a weighted net, which fell and entangled it. It snarled and struggled, its razor-sharp claws slashing at the ropes.
"Now!" Doran shouted, bursting from cover with his spear raised. The fighters followed, attacking with precision.
The Fight
The clearing erupted into chaos. The beast trapped in the net howled, snapping at its attackers. Elric thrust his spear into its exposed flank, while another fighter swung a heavy club at its head. The creature's struggles grew weaker as the coordinated assault overwhelmed it.
Meanwhile, the man faced off against a third beast that had evaded the traps. It lunged at him with blinding speed, its claws aiming for his throat. He dodged, his blade flashing as he countered with a deep slash across its side. The creature roared in pain but did not falter.
"They're stronger than before!" Mara shouted from her perch, loosing arrows at the remaining beast.
The man gritted his teeth as the creature pressed its attack. It was faster and more aggressive than any they had encountered before. He sidestepped another lunge, driving his blade into its shoulder. The beast staggered but recovered quickly, its glowing eyes fixed on him with murderous intent.
"Doran, focus on the pits!" he yelled. "We need to make sure they can't climb out!"
Doran and another fighter rushed to the edge of the pit, using long spears to keep the trapped beast at bay. It snapped at them, its claws raking the wooden shafts, but it couldn't gain enough traction to escape.
A Desperate Moment
Just as it seemed the tide was turning, a bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest. The fighters froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the sound. From the shadows emerged a larger beast, its hulking form dwarfing the others. Its red eyes burned with a deeper, almost malevolent glow.
"It's the alpha," Isabella's voice came through the signal horn, distant but clear. "Fall back! Regroup at the outpost!"
The man hesitated, his blade still buried in the beast before him. The alpha's presence shifted the balance; they weren't prepared to face such a formidable foe.
"Pull back!" he ordered.
The fighters disengaged, retreating toward the forest's edge. The smaller beasts, wounded but still dangerous, did not pursue. Instead, they circled the alpha, snarling and snapping at the air.
Mara fired a final arrow before descending from her perch, joining the others as they ran. The man stayed at the rear, his eyes locked on the alpha. It did not follow but stood at the center of the clearing, its gaze burning into him as if issuing a challenge.
Regrouping
The fighters stumbled into the outpost, their breaths ragged and their bodies bruised. Isabella and Saria rushed to tend to the wounded, while Doran counted heads, ensuring everyone had made it back.
"That thing was waiting for us," Mara said, her voice trembling. "It's like it knew what we were planning."
The man leaned against a post, his expression grim. "It's more than just a beast. It's a commander, leading them. This wasn't just an ambush for us—it was a test for them."
Isabella looked up from bandaging a wound, her face pale. "Then we need to rethink our strategy. If this alpha is directing the attacks, it's the key to ending this."
The man nodded. "Agreed. But next time, we'll be ready."