The Hollow Horn warriors sat in the council
room, tension thick in the air as they discussed their plan of action. The moon
shone brightly in the sky, illuminating the room and casting shadows on the
faces of the concerned Hybrids. Khnum, their High Ruler, sat on his throne,
trying to reassure himself and his team that their plan was the best course of
action. But doubt had started to creep in, even for him.
"It's almost time," Khnum said,
looking at Gnasher. Despite his own doubts, he tried to project confidence in
the Observer's plan.
"I won't let you down, Khnum,"
Gnasher responded, bowing his head.
But Mikhail, ever the skeptic, couldn't help
but express his doubts. "I know we all agreed that this is the best
approach, but is it really?"
On the other hand, Dagan was more concerned
with the potential dangers of the plan. "This plan will never work.
Sending the Observer and humans to the neutral grounds?" he said
passionately but with composure.
Being a fair leader, Khnum allowed them to
express their concerns, even if it meant going against his plan. "If you
doubt a plan of mine, speak up! You surely speak for the concern of the
well-being of our kind and our people."
Seth seemed to be holding
back something, but Khnum didn't
notice it.
Mikhail continued with his skepticism,
"It's just even though we don't know for certain that they're scout towers, it's rather obvious that they are indeed
scout towers."
Dagan added to the discussion, "Why else
build scout towers facing the north when we're the only land north of Yulo? Why
do you build scout towers at all?"
Gnasher, trying to stay optimistic, offered
an alternate explanation. "When you want a better visual of the land or—"
"Or when you're about to go to war and
want a visual of your enemies," Seth growled.
"Well, yeah," Gnasher mumbled,
"that definitely is a possibility."
"I must admit, I am a little unsure of
the best approach to this situation myself. The towers are barely two moons old
and already lit up. I could almost understand using them under the sun, but
what is the purpose of illuminating them at night?" Khnum was growing more
uneasy, considering the doubts of the others.
"They were raised rather quickly, which is a bit strange. However, it
could just be something as simple as they lit them up to finish working on
them. Or perhaps they're building something near the border but on their own
land and need the light from the towers?" Gnasher tried to rationalize but
was starting to doubt his own words.
"Building what?" a
skeptical Seth demanded,
"I don't know; I'm just thinking,"
Gnasher trembled, "maybe a wall or fence or something. I have no
idea."
Seth's voice boomed in the council room,
interrupting Khnum's attempt to appease him, "Just thinking?
How about looking at what we know and not what we think? You may have Khnum
believing the passive
dung you spew, but I'm not that simple-minded!" His
concern could not be disregarded so easily, and Seth was not about to let it
go. Seth glared at Khnum with piercing red eyes, and the council room fell
silent.
Khnum looked at his second-in-command with a
surprised, yet sterned stare. This wasn't the first time Seth had ever challenged him,
but it was the first with the council present, and he was unsure how to handle
it.
Seth did not wait for Khnum to respond, and
he continued to speak his mind. "Even if the towers aren't hostile, which
I'm all but certain they are, don't you think that numbskull Labrinthias should
have at least sought you out for permission?"
Khnum started to protest, but Seth cut him
off. "The towers are just over a stone's throw away from the neutral
lands. How do you think that simpleton cow would react if we had raised towers
shadowing
Yulo?"
The tension in the room seemed to shift, and
Dagan and Mikhail exchanged nervous glances. They were unsure what to say or
do, as it was the first time anyone challenged the High Ruler in the council
room.
Gnasher, the Observer, finally spoke up.
"Say this is a preliminary act of war. What would you have us do,
Seth?"
Seth smiled, baring his yellow teeth.
"Finally, someone is asking the right questions."
Mikhail sat up in his chair. "I'll go
down to the neutral lands and have a closer look. I'll be discreet and
get an idea of
what's happening with the towers. I'll be out before they know anything, and
then we can decide what to do."
Dagan, the strategist, was quick to retort
sarcastically. "That might be even dumber than the first plan."
"I'll go too,"
Gnasher surprised the room by saying.
Dagan leaned forward in surprise. "No
offense, but if they are plotting a war down there, why on Harrowgoth would we
send the Observer? I
can't say I ever once saw you out on the training fields. Do you even know how to wield steel?"
"No, but I know how to make it," Gnasher
retorted, "what's that say about—"
Khnum pounded the table with his fist,
silencing the room. "Enough. Gnasher, Mikhail, head down to the neutral
lands and see what you can find! The more I think about this, the more I don't
like it. We need to
learn more, so we act accordingly."
Seth felt a tiny sense of victory, but the
increasing concern for the well-being of Kalloamin overshadowed it.
Nevertheless, he managed to get his point across, and the High Ruler was
finally starting to see reason. The tension in the room dissipated, and the
council members began to relax. They knew they were far from out of the water,
but at least they had a more agreeable approach this time.
As Gnasher and Mikhail exit the council room,
the heavy wooden doors creak behind them. The air is crisp and frigid; a chill doesn't stand a chance of permeating through their thick fur. Gnasher lets out a nervous sigh as
he tries to control his breathing. His mind is racing. He can't believe he
volunteered himself for this mission. As the Observer, he's never been on the
frontlines. It's not that he's afraid of getting hurt, but the idea of putting
himself in danger for a cause he doesn't fully understand is daunting.
"We should hurry; the sooner we get
there, the sooner we can come back and report to Khnum," Mikhail says to
him.
Gnasher nods, his mind still working
overtime, trying to comprehend the situation he thrust himself into. "I'm
not sure why I volunteered," he mutters.
Mikhail turns to him,
"I know it's scary, but we have to do this.
We owe it to our kind to
protect them and ensure their safety."
Gnasher nods, "I know, I know, it's
just...I don't know. The Hollow Horns have never gone to war before, and I can't shake the fact that
it all seems very suspicious despite wanting it all to be false."
Mikhail places a reassuring hand on his
shoulder, "We'll figure it out. We're just getting information and then coming right back. Keep the
mission simple. We'll be fine if we keep our eyes open,
stay alert, and if anything happens, we'll handle it together."
Gnasher manages a small smile, "Yeah,
you're right. Thanks, Mikhail."
"That is if you think you can figure out
how to wield steel," Mikhail playfully taps him on the
shoulder.
"Very funny," Gnasher smirks, "it's far
more complicated smelting a proper blade than it is to swing it."
Gnasher and Mikhail set out on their journey,
walking down the winding paths of the Aries Mountains and into the village
below. They take great care to avoid being seen by the humans they rule over,
as they don't want to raise any alarms or cause unnecessary panic. Although,
despite this, the town is still lit up.
As they walk, Mikhail turns to Gnasher and
asks, "So, have you ever
fought before?"
Gnasher shakes his head. "No, I've never
been much of a fighter. I learned at a young age that my brain was a far
stronger asset than my muscles."
"Muscles?" Mikhail laughs, wrapping his
hand almost completely around Gnasher's bicep, "is that what you call
this?"
"Hey, I was—"
"Relax,"
Mikhail smiles, "I'm just messing with you. But sometimes,
fighting is necessary to protect what we care about. Doesn't it bother
you not knowing how to protect your people?"
Gnasher looks at Mikhail, sensing the weight
of his words. "I understand that. But I'm not sure I'm cut out for it.
I've always been better at thinking through problems and coming up with
solutions. I'm certain battles and conflicts can be won with my mind just as often as
they can be won with force."
Mikhail nods. "If you think you can win a
war without lifting a sword,
I'd wager retiring mine to see it happen. But until then,
we have to do what's necessary to protect what's ours, and as far as I know, it means fighting for
it."
Gnasher sighs, "I just hope I can be of
help in some way."
Mikhail puts a reassuring hand on Gnasher's
shoulder. With that, they continue their journey toward the neutral lands, the
weight of their mission heavy on their minds.
As they crept closer, they could see the
shadows of the massive beasts moving in the distance. The ground beneath their
feet trembled with each step of the helephants, causing small rocks to shake on
the ground below.
Mikhail's face grew grim as he recognized the
markings on the helephants. "Those are Yulo markings," he muttered
under his breath, "they're
obviously working on something big in there."
Gnasher's heart began to race. "What
could Yulo be doing with helephants at the border?" he asked, his voice
shaking.
Mikhail placed a hand on Gnasher's shoulder
to steady him. "We won't know until we get closer," he said.
"But we need to be careful. If they catch us, well. Let's just say we
don't want them to catch us. I don't think I need to tell you why."
"What? Why?" Gnasher asked, quickly
realizing what the answer was.
"I thought the Observer was supposed to
be smart?" Mikhail cracked half a smile.
The two of them continued to move slowly and
quietly, their eyes fixed on the moving shadows. As they drew closer, they
could hear the shouts of Yulo soldiers in the distance and the sound of heavy
equipment being moved around. Their visuals relied on the moon's light, as
carrying torches would surely give them away. However, they noticed the faint
glow of a flame in the distance. Gnasher's mind was racing. He had never been
in a situation like this before. He was always the one who stayed behind, observing,
analyzing, learning, and teaching. But now, he was on the front lines, and he
could feel his nerves starting to get the best of him.
Mikhail noticed the look on his face and
whispered, "Don't worry. I'll protect you if things get rough."
Gnasher nodded, grateful for the reassurance.
They ducked behind a large boulder as they approached the border, peering out
to see what was happening. The sight that greeted them was more shocking than
they could have ever imagined.
As they both peered out from behind the
massive rock, the sound of the helephants grew deafeningly loud. The clanging
of metal and the rumble of the ground intensified as they watched the gigantic
creatures hauling boulders and dropping them in piles at the base of a rapidly
growing wall.
The wall was only a few feet tall but seemed
to disappear into the distance. Gnasher leaned out further, trying to get a
better view. "They're
building a wall," he said.
Mikhail nodded grimly.
"Yeah, a pretty big one, too, no less."
The wall was clearly intended to block off
access to the neutral lands between Yulo and Kalloamin. It was tall enough to
prevent any human from peering over it but not quite tall enough to block the
view of the Hollow Horns.
Mikhail continued to scan the area before
slowly rising to his full height, increasing his line of sight and giving him a
glance at what lay on the other side. "What in The Maker's name…"
he muttered under his breath.
"What?" Gnasher
asked concerningly.
"It looks like they're setting up a
siege camp," Mikhail replied, his voice trembling. The realization hit
them both hard. This was a clear sign that the situation was more dire than
they had imagined.
The two Hollow Horns watched from their
vantage point as the siege camp began to take shape. They quickly notice the
Order of the Hoof overseeing the helephants and workers as they erect large
wooden fortifications and dig trenches. The stealthy duo observes as the camp
grows larger and more organized with each passing moment, complete with Oxen
Tribe soldiers patrolling the perimeter while the Yuloian humans construct
watchtowers.
Mikhail turns to Gnasher, "They're
preparing for war, and it's not just a small skirmish. This is a full-blown
siege!"
Gnasher's eyes widen as he
realizes the gravity of the situation.
"They're going to attack
Kalloamin."
"That's how it's looking," Mikhail
replies. "We need to let
Khnum and Seth know right
away."
As the two of them creep back towards the way
they came, a shadowy figure steps out from behind a tree, blocking their path.
It was Auxious, a member of the Oxen Tribe. His size was intimidating, and the
Hollow Horns instinctively stepped back. Gnasher couldn't help but feel a tinge
of fear in the pit of his stomach. Auxious had always been known for his brute
strength, and his reputation preceded him. Although it was never said out loud,
Auxious is very reminiscent of Seth; however, he is far larger than jet-black
Hollow Horn.
Gnasher and Mikhail remained silent, waiting
for Auxious to speak. His dark amber fur seemed to shimmer in the moonlight,
and the skulls on his belt rattled as he moved closer. Gnasher couldn't help
but notice the fresh scars on his face, which made him look even more menacing.
One eye was yellow, and the other was white, which added to his menacing
stature.
"You're far from home, sheep,"
Auxious growled. "What brings you to this side of the border?"
Mikhail stepped forward, "We were just scouting the
area," he replied, his voice calm and collected. "We're on official
business for the Hollow Horn council."
Auxious snorted. "Don't spew your lies to me; I know what your kind is up to. You're trying to keep tabs on us; make
sure we're not up to something."
Gnasher shifted nervously, knowing that the
Oxen Tribe had always been unpredictable. He had heard stories of their raids
on human settlements and their relentless attacks on any who opposed them.
Mikhail stepped forward again, his voice unwavering.
"We don't want any trouble, Auxious. We're just here to make sure that
everyone stays safe."
Auxious slowly reached behind him and pulled
two large curved blades from holsters on his back. He stepped closer to
Mikhail; his eyes locked onto the Hollow Horn.
"What are you really doing here,
Mikhail?" he growled, the blades glinting in the moonlight. "You and
your little pet thought you could spy on us, is that it?"
Mikhail stood his ground, keeping a wary eye on
the sharp blades.
"We were just passing
through, Auxious. We don't mean any harm."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Auxious sneered. "You're here on Khnum's orders, aren't you? To gather
information on our preparations?"
"There's no harm in seeing what's going
on," Gnasher trembled,
"I mean, we're not the
ones building a siege camp."
"Uh oh," Auxious sarcastically
laughs with a deep bellow, "I guess the secrets out. You saw a little more
than you were supposed to.
The almighty Hollow Horns
stumbled upon our siege camp."
Mikhail's heart pounded intensely in his chest.
He knew he had to choose his words carefully. "We're here as messengers,
not spies." Gnasher gave him a look out of the corner of his eye.
"Messengers?" Auxious slightly relaxed
his stance.
"Yeah, Khnum sent us…." Mikhail fumbled
with his tone.
"For what," the menacing Oxen Tribe
member sneered, leaning toward Mikhail.
The nervous Hollow Horn warrior could feel the
hot breath of his aggressor on his face, "he wanted to send word to Labrinthias about…." Mikhail was struggling to come up with anything to say.
"Go on?" Auxious continued to sneer as if
he knew Mikhail was
lying.
"He
wanted to offer tribute towards your newest erected
structures," he
finally blurted out.
"Tribute?"
Auxious snorted, "you expect me to believe that? Do you
think I'm stupid?"
Gnasher looked on nervously before he found
himself agreeing with
his partner, "Yes, it's true—a tribute. We weren't sure what you were building as we could only see the lit-up towers from the Ivory
Castle. So he sent us down here to get a closer look so that we could ensure we provided the best
tribute possible."
"What
if I said I don't buy it?" Auxious grips his blades so
tightly that the sound of the leather handles squeaks in his grasp, "after
all, if I let you go back to Kalloamin, Khnum would surely use your information
to plan an attack on us."
"Why would he attack
he—" Mikhail starts.
"I'm
sure he's going to load up his biggest cart of gold and hand deliver it himself to King Labrinthias, all on account of us raising a
siege camp so close to the neutral lands, mind you.
"We don't want a war,
Auxious," Mikhail said, calm but firm.
Auxious's eyes narrowed. "What a pity. I
was just thinking how a new Hollow Horn fur cloak would keep me warm when the
ice season is upon us."
"Is that some sort of threat?"
Mikhail thinks about reaching for his spear on his back but decides against it,
fearing it may escalate the situation.
Auxious doesn't reply; his
eyes glow red with anger. The air was heavy with the weight of the looming
conflict.
"Who are we kidding, sheep? We both know how this is going to go," Auxious grumbles.
"And how's that?" Mikhail asks.
Auxious swings his blades; a sharp metal
sound pings through
the air. Mikhail tries to dodge, but he's not quick enough, and the blades
sever his head from his body. His head falls to the ground with a thud, and his
body soon follows. As the headless Mikhail lay there, quivering on the ground,
the blood that pours out from his mortal wound reaches the hooves of Gnasher.
The Observer is paralyzed with fear at the sight of the lifeless Hollow Horn
that lies before him.
Auxious; his face twisted into a maniacal grin,
his amber fur matted with sweat and blood. He kicks Mikhail's body, pulls a
flemmy wad of mucus from his throat, and spits onto the Hollow Horn's corpse.
"You see what happens
when you mess with the Order of the Hoof?
This is just a taste of what
is yet to come, Observer. Your
land will belong to us and with it all the rich ore that the Aries Mountains
hold."
Gnasher tries to back away but stumbles on a
rock and falls to the ground. Auxious towers over him, his eyes filled with a
menacing stare. He can hear the blood pouring out from Mikhail's body, and he
thinks this is it - this is the end.
"You'd better run back to Kalloamin,
little maggot," Auxious says with a devious grin. "Tell your Ruler
that war is on the horizon, and the Order of the Hoof will not stop until all
that the Hollow Horns own belongs to us."
Gnasher somehow manages to get on his feet. "I, I—" he can't find
the words to say.
"I said
run, maggot! Run!" Auxious yells directly in Gnasher's face; his
saliva and hot breath pelt him like small wet stones.
Without a second thought, the small Hollow
Horn takes off, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and
Auxious. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest and his legs shaking with
fear.
As he frantically disappears
into the forest, the taunting sound of Auxious's deep bellow of a laugh echoes
off the trees, haunting him every step of the way. The thought of war and the
loss of his dear friend consumes him as he struggles to make his way back to
Kalloamin to deliver the grave news.
He barrels through the woods, moving
surprisingly fast with his small, hooved feet. He can only hear his footsteps,
the pounding of his heart, and that hideous guttural laugh. The trees around
him are reduced to nothing more than a blur as he tears through the woodlands,
with fear and adrenaline pushing him forward. The forest is dense and filled
with obstacles that could trip him up, but he expertly navigates through the
terrain, leaping over fallen logs and dodging low-hanging branches. He has no
idea if Auxious is true to his word, actually letting him escape, or if he's just waiting for him to
stop to catch a breath before he decapitates
him from behind. No matter,
he focuses solely on returning to Kalloamin as quickly as possible.