Ambush

Walking out of the tent we went to work around the camp fixing up a place for us to stay tonight. 

A rudimentary set up of tents splattered around inside the walls. 

Retiring to my tent I lay down and let the sweet embrace of sleep cradle me. 

My dreams a distinct mess of great green fields and vibrant colours. 

BRRRRRRR

A sound forced me awake. It gave me deja vu to Itch's wake-up bell. But this was different, this was the sound of a horn.

Groggily pulling my head up from the soft bedding I had been sleeping on I slid into my clothes and pushed through the cloth door out of my tent. 

The first thing that caught my sight was the great orb that now hung in the sky. A mesmerising white glow emitted from it lighting up the surrounding area. Small dots of light hung around forming shapes and lines in the sky. 

It was beautiful. By far the most beautiful thing I have seen. The deep darkness seemed almost limitless only interrupted by the splash of white glow which infested the sky. 

My awe was quickly interrupted when another light seemed to appear in the sky. Flickers of flames which formed an arc above me. 

My heart lurched as I dove for rudimentary cover under a wooden barricade that I had set my tent up near. Thudding sounds filled the once-serene air. 

Panic filled my brain as muffled screams and shouts rang through the air. 

"Ambush" 

Coming out of my cover I surveyed the camp. Fires had broken out across many of the tents. Most of the arrows thudded harmlessly into the dirt however one or two bodies did lay strewn across the camp. 

Sprinting out from my cover I darted over to where the rest of my group had set up. Itch along with most of the honour guard had already begun to create makeshift blockades out of shields in case of another arrow rain. 

ducking behind one of them I faced Itch 

"What's happening" 

"Wes being ambushed young ones, Goblins from the looks of the arrows."

The red baron was clearly truthful in his words that war was brewing as it had come to knock on our door. 

Some of the more experienced rats had already begun preparing to make a counterattack. We could not stay within the walls. They were not designed for a full frontal attack and the fire arrows would smoke us out. 

My weapons and armour were still in my tent. I would have to get back there quickly if i was to join the counterattack. 

Departing from the group if made quick movements between cover cautiously awaiting the next rain of fire that was sure to come. 

Making it back to my tent I hastily equipped my armour and weapons. I walked outside just in time to hear another cacophony of thuds. Less damage was caused seeing as many had thumped into the shields of the now much more prepared rats. 

The red baron had also pushed his way to the front of the crowd and was now barking orders. 

I joined the back of the group standing next to thassius. 

We were to charge out of the gates in order to take out the goblins that were firing into our fort. 

If we were outnumbered we would push further into the forest to a more fortified fort where the Red Legion was entrenched. 

A rudimentary plan but it was the best he seemed to be able to muster in such a short time span. 

A strange mix of fear and excitement filled my body. Excitement in that this was what I had been training for the last month of my life. But this would also be my first real battle. I've grown up fighting. 1 week in and id already fought to the bitter end. 

This was a different kind of fear. All it took was one stray arrow to end it all. 

As my mind began to wander it quickly reigned back in as the gate pushed open. 

An ear-wrenching screech could be heard as the rats barreled through the now wide-open gates. 

I saved one final glance at Itch who had a grim look plastered on his face. He stared back at me and held my gaze before joining the charge. 

The first charge would be the deadliest part. The rain of arrows would be directed straight at us. They would be able to see where they were aiming this time rather than facing a wooden wall. 

My thoughts were cut short as I pushed past the gate. The clearing opened up to me as I glanced upwards. Arrows filled the sky occasionally thudding into a nearby rat who fell over and got quickly trampled on. 

Despite the arrows, we were making good progress. Shouts from the rats nearer to the front of the rank indicated that the goblins had amassed at the tree line and that it was a smaller party than we first imagined. 

Arrows continued to rain down however their frequency was reduced as many of the archers were forced to pull melee weapons to prepare to counter the charge. 

A clatter of steel erupted as the first rats hit the goblins. The orderly ranks dissipated away as fights erupted across the battlefield. We outnumbered the goblins. 

Moving through the battlefield I set my sights upon a small group of three goblins already combating with two rats. I joined the fray launching a flurry at the closest of the three. He was unprepared for the attack to busy making jabs at the other two to see me coming. He was cleaved into several pieces before he noticed my arrival. 

I moved on to the next one who despite still showing a look of surprise on his face seemed more prepared sticking his spear towards me. He began making jabbing movements towards me. Taking the opportunity as he jabbed towards me I lifted one of my legs and pushed myself forward slamming a foot down onto the long wooden handle. 

A horrified look shone across the goblin's face as I silenced him with one slash to the throat. 

The third goblin now distracted turning to face me was gutted by the other two rats who began viciously stabbing him repeatedly. 

Assessing the battlefield I saw the red Baron carving his way through tens of goblins wielding a huge double-handed sword-like weapon. Itch was similarly faring well against the goblins graciously moving between them slashing at them as he fluttered by. 

Thassius was fighting alongside many of the honour guards including sniffer. I could not see splinter. 

But I did not have time to keep searching. I pushed forward dealing with the singular goblins who crossed my path cutting them down like weeds. 

We were winning. It seemed the goblins were only the lowest of the low. A small retinue sent merely to disturb us and burn our camp while we were sleeping. They were not prepared for the thunderous attacks from the great red rat who now stood amidst a field of dead goblins as he continued to slice through more. 

A terrifying sight. I knew he was dangerous but he seemed almost unstoppable. He looked like a butcher carving his way through meat. 

BRRRRR

The same horn that had sounded at the beginning of the ambush now sounded again. Goblins abandoned their fights and scattered into the woods. Their green skin acting as the perfect camouflage in the dark abyss of the forest. What was once a beautiful sight during the day now looked far more intimidating in the dark.

The occasional rat followed them into the darkness but were quickly reminded that this was a foolish idea by an arrow to the throat. 

I watched as the goblins scattered into the forest. We had won. My first real battle had been a victory. Now finally getting a proper look at the battlefield I noticed a staggering amount of dead bodies. The arrows which I had barely noticed due to the adrenaline of the charge had taken out a lot of rats on the way. Many of them were dressed in the rag-tag armour of the honour guard. I counted at least 10. 

In just 10 minutes they had gone from sleeping in their tents to now rotting in the dirt.

A shame they were effective warriors. 

Thassius was now talking to a few of the other members of the honour guard with sniffer slowly meandering his way towards me.

"Wheres Splinter" 

I ask with an inquisitive tone. 

"Hes was withs mes during the charges"

I pang of fear broke through me as I turned back towards the several dead bodies that littered the clearing. Among the bodies lay a fat brown rat. An arrow lodged in his throat. He had died a slow death gargling on his own blood. 

Walking over to the body I stood above it. I looked to my left to see a rather indifferent-looking sniffer. He seemed unbothered by the death. I could not blame him. Rats did not have the capacity to make meaningful bonds. I'm sure if I died he would have the same reaction. 

I knew this but still, a sombre feeling hung in the air. If I had imagined this was what war would be like maybe I would not have been so eager to join the charge. 

I felt a soft pat on the back. 

Itch had walked up behind me. 

"This is the reality of war young one. Now you understand. War is not a duel, it's not a battle of strength, its a battle of luck. Now you may understand the grim looks I show before battle." 

He was correct. Splinter had been one of the strongest rats in our retinue and yet had died before even joining his first battle. He had not lacked in strength. He had just been unlucky that an arrow had managed to weasel its way through the gaps in his armour. 

Itch slowly began pondering back to the group. 

I spared one final glance to the dead body before falling in behind him. 

So this was war.