Tykal looked at the Zulamarian troops marching across the bridge. They carried with them several wagons loaded with supplies.

  “What’s it looking like down there?” Asked Tigris.

  “I’d say they’re at company strength, so about eighty guys, maybe a hundred if there are any inside the wagons.” Reported Tykal as she aimed her rifle at the Zulamarians. “This would be a lot easier if we had any decent shooters.”

  “We have you. Maybe if you glare at them, they’ll run away scared.” Said Tigris.

  Tykal glared at Tigris.

  “Like that, but aim it at them.”

  “I can’t fucking believe you outrank me. It’s bullshit.” Growled Tykal as she focused her attention on the convoy.

  “Have you tried killing more people?” Retorted Tigris.

  “You'd better hope that none of my bullets hit you by mistake sarge."

  "I have full confidence in your abilities, specialist. We'll attack on your signal." Said Tigris as she gave Tykal a mock salute.

  Tykal raised her middle finger as Tigris left her to join Lyo and the rest of the team. Tykal saw that most of the caravan was already across the bridge and that the rest of the troop was past the halfway point. She aimed her rifle at the company's major. She picked up some dust beside her and threw it up in the air to see the wind's direction. She readjusted her aim and fired. The major's corpse fell off the horse. The rest of the men were in shock as some of them looked around to see where the bullet had come from. The rest of the officers were barking orders, trying to keep the men in line. Tykal then shot another of the officers. Soon, the men were besieged by dozens of animalists.

  The rest of the animalists that were with Tykal opened fire and killed off a few of the company's front ranks. "They still can't shoot for shit." Quipped Tykal as she kept firing in quick succession.

  She then aimed her rifle at Tigris. "I could always blame it on a stray bullet." Thought Tykal as she pulled the trigger.

  Tigris

  Tigris slashed the man's throat and pushed him down. Another man approached her flank and fell. She saw the bullet hole in the back of his neck. She looked up at Tykal and gave her a thumbs-up. The Zulamarians were in complete disarray as their officers were killed, and the few that remained were too far back to give orders to the ones at the front. The animalists had the upper hand.

  Then the Zulamarians at the rear started forming ranks, drew their rifles, and opened fire. Tigris took cover behind one of the wagons as several of the animalists fell from the first volley. Tigris released one of the wagon's horses and charged at the enemy lines. The Zulamarians fired a second volley at her, but by then she had gotten too close, and the horse fell on top of two of the shooters and knocked the others down.

  Now that their line was broken, the rest of the animalists charged at the Zulamarians.

  Tykal

  Tykal saw the rest of the carnage unfold as the animalists cut down the last remaining Zulamarians. She aimed her rifle at the few who tried to escape from the other side of the bridge and fired at them. The animalists cheered as the Zulamarians escaped.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "They cheer now, but just wait until they come back with an even bigger force." Thought Tykal as she fired her rifle one last time.

  She went down to join the others to see what they were carrying in the wagons. As she approached them, she heard the cheers turn into cries of rage.

  "What is this shit!?" Yelled one of the animalists.

  "What is it?" Asked another.

  The animalist threw an empty box outside the wagon. "This one's empty!"

  "This one too!" Cried another.

  "Ah shit." Said Tykal as the cannons roared.

  Antama

  Antama had his hand raised as he waited for the rest of the animalists to gather around.

  "FIRE!" He yelled as the cannons fired upon the animalists.

  Antama saw as the animalists were torn apart by cannon fire. Their mangled limbs flew in all directions.

  "CHARGE!" He yelled as he led the assault across the bridge.

  He drew his sword and cut down the first injured animalist he came across. The last few animalists retreated as they charged across the bridge. As he reached the end of the bridge, he saw a girl carrying another girl with a rifle. The girl with the rifle adjusted herself so that she could still fire. The first shot hit his helmet and knocked him back. He took cover behind some debris as the girl fired another shot at him. This time, the bullet hit the edge of his shoulder, in the metal pauldron.

  "Shit, she's good." Thought Antama as he ducked further into cover. He saw another knight with a helmet charge in, and he suddenly fell. The bullet had managed to penetrate through the eye slit into his head.

  "Maybe too good." Added Antama as he peeked out of cover. "Keep moving forward!"

  The animalists regrouped and attempted to mount a counteroffensive, but the Zulamarians were too many.

  "EVERYONE GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! RETREAT! RETREAT!" One of the animalists yelled as the Zulamarians overwhelmed them.

  Antama saw as they ran away to whatever place they called home. "Gather the wounded, theirs and ours. I want to find out where they're located." Ordered Antama.

  Tigris

  "Alright then, I'm setting you down." Said Tigris as she set Tykal against the tree.

  "Can't fucking believe this shit!" Growled Tykal as she used her rifle as a crutch.

  "The one leading the charge. That was the Black Knight of Albion, wasn't it?"

  "Yep. I shot him twice, but the damn helmet was too thick. The second one only managed to graze his shoulder."

  "If he's involved, we'll have the entire Zulamarian army crawling up our asses soon. Berwick won't survive a siege." Explained Tigris.

  "Help me up and let's go warn everyone."

  Antama

  Antama carefully inspected the two helmets that were shot. His helmet was struck directly on the forehead. The other was shot straight through the eye slit.

  "They fought differently. This time they fought just like legion... No. Even Dawon wouldn't be stupid or desperate enough to sell his soul to Karash. Even if the King and Lamia are against this, I have to make do with what few troops I can to finish this." Antama then set the helmets aside as he finished his thoughts.

  "Sir, we've gathered up the wounded as you ordered, but they're all critically injured. They probably won't survive the night."

  "Do they know that?" Asked Antama.

  "Sir?" Asked the knight.

  "If they know they won't survive, they probably won't tell us much or anything really." Antama was deep in thought.

  Anatama walked to where the wounded were and came upon the first animalist. He pulled out his knife and held it to his throat. "Where are your friends located?"

  "Choke on my cock." Spat the animalist as he spat blood on Antama's face.

  Antama stabbed him in his cock. The animalist shrieked in pain. "What cock?" Asked Antama as he twisted the knife. "Now tell me where they are."

  "Fuck you! I hope my buddies rape your wife and your children in front of you."

  Antama stabbed him in the throat. "Show me to the next one."

  None of the animalists said a word, and Antama had killed every single one of them. He wiped the blood from his knife as he thought about what to do next.

  "I could go to some of their villages and coerce them. But that would give them more people to join their cause. How do I approach this? Perhaps a diplomatic approach is what I need." Antama then stood on top of a box to make his announcement. "Tomorrow morning, we set out to find the Bloodhoofs. So get as much rest as you can, we're gonna need it."