Chapter 8
Their remaining time in the tropics was barred with frustration for the heavy rainfall that had once plagued and hindered their every step lessened considerably. It seemed almost as if Mother Nature had grown angry with them and was now trying to see if they would return to their original plan of journey. It would be a lie to say that the group did not consider doing just that but too much time had already been stolen from them.
Their journey inland had taken them to the Dedarsky mountain ranges, a place that was boring, repetitive and dull. None of this dry gray landscape offered any inspiration or spark of imagination, hence the reason why there were few tales spoken about this place. On top of all of that the mountain ranges possessed many of the same problems as the tropics did. There were very few tracks and out of the few that did exist almost none of them were useful. The group had to return to double backing and deciding on a new course of direction. After hours and hours of trekking they came across yet another dead end. It was like the very landscape itself had grown bored with its own dullness and was hell bent on keeping the group within it so that it had some company for the rest of eternity. The group’s direction became so twisted that they were even brought back to a point where the tropics and mountain ranges intertwined. Vines and other such lush things grew out upon the dull rocks like the blood from a stab wound. Frustratingly the group was forced into a narrow passage of overgrown weeds and boring rocks.
As they passed through this narrow passage even the sky itself seemed dull with not so much as a single cloud to break up the boring blue. Through the passage they came across a slightly more opened area that was covered in a remnant of the tropics, making the place appear like the tropics were upon a slow conquest of the Dedarsky mountains. Before them was a terrain of thick bush where trees grew twisted and randomly.
As the group took only a handful of steps into this new place Imbaka quickly held up her hand, a command instantly followed by the rest of the group who came to a quick stop. Cada Varl who was the last in the group could not see any reason why she had commanded this but then again the trees seemed certain on keeping whatever secrets they possessed hidden. Cada Varl peered out as did the others searching for what had made Imbaka come to a stop. Just when the thought of a Yonga Ponday sighting popped into the Immortal’s mind Imbaka made another hand gesture which commanded the group to quickly crouch low to the ground. With the overgrown weeds of this place acting reasonably well in keeping them hidden Cada Varl continued to search for what they had stopped for. When he could see nothing his eyes focused on the back of Imbaka’s head almost as if doing so would somehow tell him of what was going on. A long moment later and the reason was revealed to him.
Through the trees and overgrown weeds something very large and upright was moving. Another moment passed and Cada Varl could see enough of it to know that it was a werewolf. But unlike the rag tag group of bandits that the group had come across in the frozen lands this creature was not naked. Upon its enormous torso and equally large shoulders and hands this werewolf bore a strange suit of armor. Most of it shone like any other armor in the light of the over head sun but that is where the similarities stopped. Unlike human armor, which was a collection of different plates and shapes this armor was clearly forged from a single piece of metal. Yet it did not appear constraining and hard to move in but rather the opposite. This suit of armor had been forged by something that possessed knowledge too great to be gathered in the course of a single lifetime. The chest and torso was completely bare of any decoration, this made sense since a werewolf’s heart was its most vulnerable asset. Upon the giant’s right shoulder and upper arm was a simple consumption of some kind of red paint while on the other shoulder was an engraving of a symbol that none in the group recognized. The creature bore no helmet or anything else to protect its face for such a skull shape would be near impossible to protect effectively with any kind of armor.
The lone werewolf showed no sign that it knew of the group’s presence. It seemed completely consumed with its own thoughts as it held a part of what would have been a sizeable tree under its arm like it weighed little more than parchment; an indication of just how strong werewolves were. The werewolf turned with its back towards the group and then it moved off through the bush, soon disappearing from sight. Yet it was quite some time or at least felt so before Imbaka gestured for the group to stand up again.
The sighting was brief but its impact was enormous, this was the first time since the journey began that the group had come so close to an enemy soldier. While the beast warrior on its own would be of little problem, it was next to impossible that it was in this place alone. Cada Varl thought the group would now stop and consider a plan of action; instead the group continued moving through the bush although admittedly with much more carefulness than before. It did not take long for the Immortal to realize that the group was in fact following the tracks of the lone werewolf, something Cada Varl did not completely understand the reasoning behind. Though the tracks did not go on for long the thick under bush would make them difficult for most to follow and yet Imbaka showed not a hint of difficulty as she did so.
The next time Imbaka made the gesture for the group to both stop and crouch Cada Varl knew exactly why. 6 or so feet ahead of them was a break in the trees, revealing a decent sized clearing where far more than just a lone werewolf warrior could be seen. Within the clearing was an encampment where no fewer than 40 of these enemies could be seen. Each wore armor identical to the one the group had first seen as some sat around a large fire while others performed minor tasks. Imbaka with both hands gestured for Zova and Tanagy to move up and crouch beside her. Zova and Tanagy than mimicked the gesture causing Leannol, Gokkus and Hazum Ka-te to do the same. Imbaka without looking back gestured for Cada Varl to move closer as well only this time she reached her hand out behind her towards him. Cada Varl correctly assumed what this gesture meant and crouched walk until Imbaka’s hand could grasp around his shin, she squeezed it as an indication for him to move no further. Behind her his half a foot advantage in height allowed him to see into the camp clearly. The sight was not what someone would expect to see in a gathering of monsters. There was no evil cackling or mindless brutality going on, rather the red shouldered troops seemed almost subdued as they sat silently as if simply waiting for time to pass by.
Beyond the impressive armor they wore these troops were well armed. Unlike the first werewolf they had seen, who was now inside the camp, many of these beast warriors possessed a set of the werewolf’s primary weapon, ‘Gotianik’. They wore a set of heavily armored gloves, each possessing a total of 4 long blades that acted almost as long extensions of their claws, a fifth blade was far shorter and more curved like a hook represented the creature’s thumb. Without armor a beast’s primary weapon was its claws and Gotianik were a wise extension of an already deadly weapon. Sets of Gotianik were not the only weapons seen, though most of the others appeared little more than modifications. One such werewolf possessed gloves with a rounded semi-circle styled blade across the knuckles. Another werewolf had a single giant blade on one hand that curved slightly at its end. Sets of Gotianik were well known for their ability to cut through pretty much anything, but their sheer size made any other task apart from killing impossible. So the werewolves who were performing duties did not wear the weapon gloves but rather had them hanging down from the wrists using some kind of simple hook and strap on each arm.
Each Helluvan studied the camp one more time silently counting how many enemies lay before them. Then the group turned around while staying crouched to face each other in a strange shape. In a voice so soft it made a whisper sound like a bellow Imbaka said, “ We will surround the camp on both sides, keep close to the trees and aim well, we will surprise them and cut them down quickly.”
These words struck the Immortal like a hammer of war upon his chest. For the entire journey a top priority had been to avoid conflict with the enemy now it seemed the Helluva
ns were purposefully welcoming it. Helluvans loved battle but not at the cost of their mission. At first Cada Varl thought Imbaka was simply making the best of a bad situation. After all if this camp had been left alone than the group would constantly be forced to look over their own shoulder to see if they had been spotted. More importantly if they came across this enemy group in a head on head situation they would be greatly disadvantaged. This way they could use the element of surprise along with the terrain to its most effective. The revelation comforted the Immortal somewhat, for now he understood the course of action.
The Immortal was brought back to the moment at hand by Gokkus who held out a clenched fist towards Cada Varl. Unsure of what the man dressed in black wanted the Immortal simply held an open hand underneath the fist. Gokkus quickly placed something inside of the Immortal’s hand quickly placing his own over it and forcing Cada Varl to clench his hand around it so it was not visible to the eye. The Immortal looked to Gokkus as the man dressed in black whispered.
“Stay low to the ground, take two careful steps forward and then count to 68, then throw what I have given to you high into the center of the camp, make sure it catches the light of the sun.” Cada Varl looked down up to his hand but before he could open it Gokkus placed his own hand over it. “Keep your hand clenched until you are ready to throw.”
Cada Varl nodded not knowing what he held but understanding the command he had been given. “After I have thrown this, I will attack the camp with my sword and drew them to me.” Cada Varl whispered, ensuring he gave eye contact to every Helluvan.
The group collectively nodded before Hazum Ka-te whispered, “Keep on the far side of the camp, we need to keep our paths as clear as possible, we don’t want you getting in the way of our arrows.”
Cada Varl nodded for the comment was sensible and not mean-spirited.