22nd Obsidian Year 34
Savage war cries flew from the throats of Dwarf and Goblin alike as the two sides joined battle on the site of the new temple.
Sable's axe sunk deep into a Goblin's thigh and with a quick flick of the wrist reversed direction, severing the limb and leaving the Goblin to fall against a tree where he was left to die as the Dwarven captain kicked his sword away and then moved away to find a new target...
As a squad of enemy Spearmen advanced through the trees a trio of bolts sank into the ground around them. Laughing at the horrible marksmanship of their opponent, the invaders missed the metal tubes that had fallen free of the bolts, each one releasing a horde of arachnids.
However, they did take close notice when the first Goblin fell to the ground in flames. Even as he died the rest of his group began to panic, trying to slap the spiders away from their clothing but thanks to the barbed hairs on their legs the fire spiders held tight, setting each one aflame before running off into the trees. With a grin of pleasure the Goblin's killer slipped a new bolt into place and vanished into the trees...
Back at the temple site things had turned sour for the invaders as their numbers continued to shrink under the Dwarven weapons. An entire squad had been lost into a chasm that had opened beneath their feet and closed seconds later.
The terrified creatures were just beginning to retreat when reinforcements arrived. Half a dozen massive spiders crashed through the narrow band of trees remaining around the site to leap onto the defenders. Bolts fired by Argonnek and Wheatly ricocheted off the shells covering each spider's body.
"Fall back to the Ballista!" Kanet cried as his Warriors gathered around him, though he knew they were unlikely to reach the siege weapon before they were overwhelmed by the surviving Goblins and their spiders.
Before they could move though a flight of bolts arced out of the trees behind the invaders, the pure black fletching marking each shot as the sharpened heads plunged into Goblin bodies. As the slow moving spiders began to turn to face the new threat the shooters erupted from the trees, short swords swinging from every hand as they fell on the surviving Goblins.
"Charge!" Kanet yelled after a moments confusion, intending to make the most of the distraction.
Several of the new arrivals swung onto the legs of the spiders and clambered up, using small knives to get holds on the smooth legs. Piercing squeals filled the air as the massive beasts revealed their pain before they were silenced by a short sword to the head...
As the final spider fell unmoving to the ground the Thunderclan Warriors kept tight hold of their weapons as one of the arrivals approached, her black cloak and hood covering her features. Wary of potential treachery, Kanet and Argonnek moved to meet her. As the three of them met between their forces, Kanet's eyes wandered over the designs embroidered on the cloak. As his eyes caught on a particular symbol near the hood it was thrown back, revealing the battle scarred and weary face of a Dwarf.
"Kanet Fireshield." The Dwarf said, glancing at the soldiers behind Kanet. "Good to see you're still alive...along with your Warriors."
"And who might you be?" Argonnek asked, hands still clutching her crossbow.
"Shadow." The Dwarf replied. "Though to most I am known as Shedim, Leader of Shadowclan."
"We'd received word that the other clans were wiped out by Uktang." Kanet said, suspicion in his voice.
"
Nearly wiped out." Shedim corrected. "After Spiderthorn fell I gathered what survivors I could and headed home to prepare for the next battle. Shadowkeep Island was a smoking ruin when I arrived though the destroyers had moved on. After hearing from others how the other clan holds had fallen I decided that fighting my way to Thunderclan territory was the best hope for survival."
"And how do we know you're not spies sent to infiltrate our ranks?" Kanet asked.
"With these." Shedim answered, tossing a small bag to the Leader. Opening it he found 4 blocks of marble, each engraved with the symbol of a clan. "You know as well as I that these are the lifeblood of the clans. A spy would not even know their purpose."
"All four clans are here...How did you get their symbols?" Argonnek asked.
"It took a great amount of work to recover them from the bodies of Num, Anriz and Iger. But with them their clans can survive...Once Uktang is killed." Shedim replied.
"Very well." Kanet decided, raising his voice to be heard by all. "Thunderclan and Shadowclan are now allies against the demon and his armies! We rise or fall together!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Shedim survived and escaped from Spiderthorn and has now arrived on Thunderclan soil to join our fight.
Author
Topic: Flamebanner: The Battle of Flamebanner! (Read 132984 times)