The plan to relocate, which had previously been nothing more than a possibility, was suddenly given immediate relevance.
It was time to take action because the village's safety could no longer be guaranteed. In the face of an impending threat, Frant, the idea of making their new home within the ancient city no longer represented a simple hope for a more secure future; instead, it had evolved into an urgent requirement.
Samuel was the first to speak up after the uneasy pause, and he did so with a worry line etched into his forehead. "Are there survivors?" he questioned, his voice tight.
The messenger took a few chomps and looked glum as he did so. "Only Vanessa survived," he admitted, barely raising the volume of his voice above a whisper.
After hearing this, Amos, Samuel, and Erik did not waste any time and got to work right away. The group of three dashed through the twisting paths of the village as quickly as they could, their hearts thumping in time with the sense of urgency that drove them onward.
The sight greeted them with a bittersweet relief - Vanessa, their steadfast huntress, was alive.
Amos exhaled a sigh of relief once he finally reached her. Although it was apparent the woman had been through a brutal fight, she had only suffered minor injuries.
Her skin was covered in a fine layer of dust, and several holes and rips could be seen in her clothing, which revealed abrasions and scratches. Despite this, she was standing tall, her stance defiant, and a ferocious fire blazing in her eyes.
Amos stepped closer, a smirk of dry humor pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Well, you've looked better," he said, attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere. Vanessa rolled her eyes, but the faint twitch of her lips indicated that she appreciated the effort.
Vanessa rolled her eyes, but the slight quiver on her lips indicated that she recognized the effort being put forth.
After that, Amos' expression darkened, and he stared intently into Vanessa's eyes. He questioned, "What happened?" The expression on Vanessa's face hardened, and she began clenching her fists at her sides.
Vanessa's gaze hardened, her fists clenching at her sides. "Frantian soldiers attacked," she said, her voice cold and hard as steel. Then came the understanding; the threat they had been fearing was now a harsh and imminent reality.
Vanessa was leaning against the trunk of a massive tree, her chest heaving to catch her breath as the men gathered around her.
The rush of adrenaline that had kept her going had worn off, and it was now replaced by a dull ache that spread throughout her body. The dreadful truth of what had taken place began to dawn on her, and the expression on her face began to crease into a frown.
She looked up, meeting the eyes of the men in front of her. There was a palpable silence as they waited for her to recount the events. Drawing in a deep breath, Vanessa began her narrative.
"We were hunting, scanning the area for Thaid tracks, when they attacked us - Frant's soldiers. They ambushed us. I suspect they kept us under observation and waited for us to be far away from the village before attacking." Her voice was steady, but there was a glint of anger in her eyes.
She continued, painting a vivid picture of their attackers, the suddenness of the assault, and the chaos that ensued. "We didn't stand a chance... they... they didn't even give us a chance to surrender," she admitted, her voice hardening with each word.
"Abel... he told me to run," she confessed, her gaze dropping to the ground as the memory of her fallen comrade consumed her. "I didn't want to... but he insisted. He... he bought me the time to escape."
There was a long pause as Vanessa allowed the gravity of what she had just said to register in Samuel's, Amos's, and Erik's minds. She took a deep breath and raised her gaze to meet theirs as she did so. "They didn't just attack us - they also made it clear they have no qualms about killing us, and from their words, I assume this is just the beginning."
Frant's soldiers were no longer merely a risk; instead, they had evolved into an imminent and potentially fatal hazard. And it was abundantly clear to everyone there that they had just entered a dangerous new phase of their fight for survival.
"Seriously…" Samuel uttered the words as he looked off into the forest that encircled their community with a severe expression on his face. "They're attacking us openly now. No pretense, no shame." His voice was edged with a chilling bitterness.
The once-cloaked threats had now been unsheathed, bearing down upon them with relentless force. The Frantian soldiers had cast aside their veils of deceit, making their violent intentions abundantly clear.
If the situation wasn't already bad for the village, now they were engaged in a struggle for survival against humans too. Frantians' never-ending desire for wealth and power had shattered the tranquil existence they had previously known.
Samuel's statement painted a grim picture, etching a harsh truth into their consciousness - their enemies were no longer lurking in the shadows; they were here, ready to strike without remorse or hesitation.
Amos, his weathered face etched with resolve, turned to Erik, his gaze intense. "Could you help us eliminate the creatures in the cave?" He asked, his voice steady, echoing the determination in his eyes.
He inquired with a calm and collected tone that mirrored the resolute look in his eyes. His inquiry carried not only hopes but also the apprehensions of their whole community.
Erik gave a solemn expression and nodded his head in agreement. "Yes," he responded with conviction in his tone, "but I will only be able to assist with the Acidspitter Arthropods."
Before continuing, he paused momentarily and cast his gaze toward the stony expressions on Amos and Samuel's faces. "For the other Thaid... the humanoid one... I will need either your help or Samuel's." His gaze held steady, acknowledging their task's danger yet accepting its necessity.
Their goal was crystal clear: they needed to claim the cave to ensure their people's future. Prosperous or not, a future was undoubtedly better than certain death or, worse, imprisonment. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but their resolve was unyielding. This was their fight, their chance to defend their home and way of life.
Amos turned his attention to Samuel, whom he regarded with a thoughtful expression. With the gravity of the situation reverberating in his words, he asked, "Can you handle the humanoid Thaid?" Samuel, unmoved as always, gave a confident nod in agreement. His unspoken assurance provided all the necessary responses.
With decisions made, Amos swung his attention back to Erik. "Everything has been settled then," he announced, his tone ringing with an undeniable finality.
"We need to empty the cave as soon as possible. I will assemble a hunting team for this task. Samuel will lead them." The seasoned leader's eyes held Erik's gaze. A new sense of urgency underpinned his following words, "Erik, you will serve as the guide."
The instructions were given, and their course of action was set. Amos's gaze flickered around the room, taking in the determination etched onto the faces of the men around him. Each knew their role, the part they had to play in this daring gambit.
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