15 Chapter 15

"Nyko, you should leave as well," Rykirus said, nudging him with his snout.

Nyko nodded, "I need to inform the other races, the humans are trampling through many of their territories without a care. This is a chance to prove the humans are a threat and get them on our side, or at least not on the humans. Also," he glanced at the drake, "We've gotten word that some elves were spotted aiding the humans, which is odd because they usually don't get along. Nevertheless, be wary, they are very powerful in magic." Nyko lifted a hand in farewell before sinking into the earth, the ripple in the ground disappearing as soon as it came.

And then, Rykirus was alone. He let out a deep breath, wings flaring, "I guess it's my turn to leave now." Rykirus shot into the air, wings pumping, heading to the location of the shade camp.

When Rykirus arrived, he saw chaos, the shades were packing as quickly as they could, the ones capable in magic were summoning animals to help them. He landed in a plum of dust, startling those around him.

"Lord Rykirus," a shade gasped, running up to him, "the humans are coming!"

Rykirus's eyes hardened, "Get the best magic casters to support me," he growled, and gave the shade a stern look, "From afar, got that?"

"Yes sir," the shade nodded and ran around the camp, informing some shades, who came up to him, gazing at him questioningly.

"Alright," Rykirus bellowed, immediately catching the attention of those milling around, "we leave now, to engage the enemy! The goal is to stall as long as we can and then come back, alive. It isn't to eradicate all of them because we can't do that with our meager numbers and supplies."

The shades nodded, affirmatives ringing out in the cold, crisp air. Rykirus gazed at them all, before giving a curt nod and spreading his wings, launching himself into the air, and flying low to the ground under the treetops. The shades followed, on the ground or in the air, on all sorts of animals.

Soon, they reached their destination, the sound of marching feet pounding on the damp soil and armor clinking together. Rykirus landed on a tree branch, talons digging in and wings spread to steady himself, observing them. The shades landed silently behind him, spreading out on all sides of him. Rykirus raised his claw, pointing to the trees across from them. Half the shades nodded and leapt across the divide quickly, (It's like two parallel lines of trees and they're marching between them) taking positions on the other side.

Rykirus waited, muscles tense, as the army slowly moved forward. When the middle of the army finally moved passed them, his eyes lit up in excitement, his voice coming out in a whispered hiss, "Now," he pounced on the unsuspecting prey below him, fire spewing out of his jaws not a second after he landed.

Through the screams of the dying, he could faintly make out the sounds of animals roaring and claws ripping through flesh. But that quickly faded as adrenaline ran through his veins and blood sang in his ears, 'kill, Kill,KiLL, KILL!' Bloodlust overwhelmed him, teeth ripping off limbs, claws shredding through paper thin armor and spraying everyone in the nearby vicinity with warm, wet blood. He wasn't thinking anymore, mind going blank as he dismembered anyone that came close to him, a maniac grin on his face.

So he didn't hear when the shades called the retreat, didn't know that their part was over, he just kept killing, killing, killing. He didn't notice when he was getting surrounded, all he noticed was the frustration that rose up in him when his claws got tangled in net, when his jaws closed millimeters in front of a human before something clamping on his neck made him choke, (Although the high pitched scream the male human let out was highly amusing) when he felt cold metal close around his tail and suddenly his magic wouldn't come, and he felt drained, so drained, so tired, just sleep.

His eyes fluttered closed and he thumped to the ground, muscles refusing to cooperate. The last thing that filtered through his ears was someone speaking, "Got ourselves a good catch here boss, ya think it's Wrath's (Hell's Wrath) son?" a grunt, "Doesn't matter, looks like 'im well enough, he'll sell for more money if we say he is, so he is now," Rykirus could practically hear the grin on his face.

Footsteps rang out before something hit the back of his neck, hard. His vision swam and darkness welcomed him once again.