The boy screamed words at him in the strange tongue these savages used. Ganad didn't even bother attempting to decipher their meaning, though there was little need. His anger was obvious.
The youth was the first real challenge he had experienced in combat while alive. The weak, poorly-armed villagers and fellow High Blood he usually fought were nothing compared to him. How could this simple villager be so skilled? And that blade, so impossibly sharp and light. He had to get this over with, fast.
Ganad leapt forward, aiming to smash the boy's skull in with the side of his pincer - but to no effect. The youth moved while he was still in the air, jumping back to avoid his attack. Ganad hit the ground hard, falling on his knees. The blade cut into the back of his head, cutting the shell open around the neck. Ganad sent a hasty strike upwards to push the boy away, giving himself time to get back up.
For the first time ever, Ganad was starting to feel afraid.
The flint knife fell, sinking hilt-deep inside his neck. He let out a weak gasp, and fell over. Blood began to pulse out of his throat. Ganad forced himself to turn on his back. He had to see his killer before he died.
A young girl stood above him, looking both vaguely surprised and angry. Ganad tried to curse, but no words formed in his mouth. He should've watched his back. There was no honour in being killed by some peasant girl with her father's knife. This was not how it was supposed to go.
Ganad's vision was blurred now, but he could see the boy appearing over him with the blade raised. Ah, yes, he was merciful, and giving him a quick death. Better than nothing, then.
***
Tavak watched with horror as the giant tree-like being snatched up his commander's body. Were they going to mutilate his body as well? Had they no honour?
He couldn't watch anymore. Grabbing a few torches from the wall, Tavak charged forward. The being was preparing to crush Ganad in it's grip. He could not allow that to happen.
Tavak screeched, throwing the first torch as hard as he could. It flew in a near-perfect arc, embedding itself in the tree-thing's shoulder with a pleasant crack of wood.
His grin quickly turned into a frozen mask of horror, however, as the being turned around incredibly quickly, spotting Tavak easily. He still had the second torch in his hand. Surely it couldn't withstand bo-
He was sent sliding fast down the street by the force of the attack. It hit him like a tsunami, carrying his body all the way to the end of the street. His entire body ached and hurt. Tavak didn't move for some time, collecting his thoughts.
They were not winning. He had thought this would've been a simple raid. Now, Ganad was dead, and the tree-like creatures were laying waste to the remains of the raiding party. Who knew what else was here opposing them?
A few minutes later he cursed himself for that thought. Dark, monstrous shapes stood over him, studying him intensively. After a while, they moved on. Tavak realized he had been holding his breath. Had they thought him dead? Yes, that was probably it. More opponents, then. He forced himself up, ignoring the pain as well as he could.
He made his way to the river, where the young portal user was sitting, throwing stones into water. His eyes widened when he saw Tavak, coming back wounded and alone. He ignored him, rushing through the portal. On the other side, he fell over, to the feet of other High Blood warriors. The barracks, where they had left from.
He quickly explained as well as he could. Immediately, the soldiers rushed off. This was an insult to their military might. That village would never stand again.
The city quickly exploded into activity. A simple raiding party had not been enough, so the War Council authorized the forming of an entire army.