The events of the 3rd of Hematite, 1070
"GET OUT THERE!" Rinsesilver shrieked. "THEY'RE WRECKING THE PLACE!"
The smattering of miners and engravers just stared at her in shock, and horror, no one moving from their seats. They had heard the screams from above, the shattering windows, the beat of hooves on stone. Eventually there was a sigh from a back table, and Sparrow rose, notching a bolt into his crossbow.
"I'll handle the problem, ma'am, please have a beer on the table when I return."
Silently he cursed Keldor's absence as he trudged up the stairs. The Dread Camel herds had been increasing in size, and in their occurrences, and Merkil was finding it hard to schedule squads to patrol the wastes all the time. This was taking a toll on the soldiers, who had become sullen, their off hours spent sleeping or drinking.
As he reached the entrance, Sparrow saw a miner huddling in the corner, protecting his face from a skeletal camel's gnashing teeth. With a sigh, he raised the crossbow and fired, shattering a shoulder with the steel bolt. With a cry of surprise, he dropped the bolt he was attempting to load as a hoof crashed into his arm, leaving a gash in the skin. A second beast had come from the side, and was readying a second kick at him.
Bellowing with rage, Sparrow hefted the crossbow like a club and swung it, the camels head snapping from the weak neck. It exploded into dust and bonemeal agaisnt the wall. The air was knocked out of him as he was shoved back against a wall by the first beast. In such close range, he was having a hard time getting a decent swing on his crossbow, just chipping at bone, shredding dried flesh.
The skin around the empty sockets widened briefly, before the camel dropped to the stones, hewn in half. Wilber stood by the doors, grinning widely, and Sparrow gave him an appreciated nod.
"A laugh, a cry, a sneak attack; a heavy slice, a snicka-snack, I sliced in half the camel's back."
"...That you did, Wilber, that you did."
"Saw a little girl today, riding the camels, wearing a robe of reds and greens."
Sparrow sighed, rubbing at his gashed arm. "I'm sure you did, Wilber, why don't we-"
"Indeed! She used them, vaulted off to the sun, and flew back down - into the zoo. From there? Who knows. I heard your battle, came to help!"
"If I buy you a drink, will you shut up?"
"Until it's quaffed!"
"I suppose that's the best I can hope for."