No Mere Petty Thieves

"We've got enough food to last a few weeks," Ingen says, peeking into a few large knapsacks, the fabric bulging around the bottoms of each one, "jerky, fruit, greens, and..." He pulls a brown leather waterskin out of one bag and sighs, "...five of these. A week's worth, if we're all good and fine with constant thirst."

Kyro nods slowly, peering at the waterskin and scanning the inside of the sacks, "There should be more than enough on the Utherian ships," he says, meeting Ingen's silver eyes, "How many pelts did you manage to skin?"

Ingen picks up a heavy pile of animal skins with long grey fur sprouting from them. Dark blood leaks from the pile slowly, staining the snow beneath, "Cage and I found six of those little mutts... Double-Tails, I think that's what they're called. I'm not sure it'll be enough for all of us," Ingen says, dropping them and picking up another skin, this one studded with black spikes. Skoan armor, "I figured I'd see if Alyra and Yoru could stitch this together too. It would take some stress off all of us if they both had some armor to protect them."

"Alyra may be skilled enough to do it, but the same can't be said for me," Yoru says from the side, sitting on a fallen tree, intertwined fingers resting on her lap, "Mother taught the basics of sewing to the both of us, but I haven't touched a strip of fabric or leather since then."

"I have some experience with sewing. It helped to pass the time when I didn't have access to books," Krash chimes in, pointing a clawed finger to Alyra and Cage, who sit together at the edge of the tree line, "I made that coat myself."

Ingen chuckles, "Books and sewing, huh? I see now why you fight like a one-eyed child," he says.

Kyro joins him in a chuckle, waving a dismissive hand as he notices the Tanzides embarrassed expression, "Don't let it bother you, Krash. Not all men are meant to be warriors," he says. Kyro gestures to the Skoan armor, "What about this? We'd appreciate it if you could stitch our ladies some armor. Something close to it, at least."

Krash musters a nervous chuckle, trying to play along with the teasing. He's not very good at acting, "I've only ever worked with prepared materials. Leather, soft fabrics, things like that. But..." He hums, shrugging, "...I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you," Kyro says, earning a respectful nod from the Tanzide. He takes a deep breath, looking over the bags one last time, "Well, I'd say these last few hours have been pretty productive. Now we just need to wait-"

"They're here!" Cage interrupts with a sudden yell, waving the others over.

Kyro and the others run over to him, and Krash pulls his boat close to the edge of the tree line. They all peer up at the massive Stem, the strings of weaving light shining like another star in the sky. Several dots spill from the massive hole, the outlines vaguely resembling ships. They seem tiny from here, but as Kyro informed them all earlier, they are large enough to carry entire units of the Utherian army. Over a hundred soldiers each.

Rhythmic hoops and hollers ride the wind and sink into the ears of the group. The massive gathering of black dots on the ground—the Rajin Army—almost seems to vibrate with excitement. Raised steel twinkles in the light of the star above, and several figures pour from the front of the army. Archers with great bows of steel.

Cage watches the figures settle several meters from the front ranks with great interest. However, something else catches his eye, not the approaching Utherian ships, or the cries of the Rajin soldiers, but a single tiny figure floating high above the snow-covered field, "What is that? Up there in the sky?" He asks, brows furrowed as he points up.

"The Dax," Alyra responds, staring up at the same figure. She stands close enough to Cage that Krash's coat rubs against his arm, "A single soul can find its way to the Anima realm alone. Even ten or twenty souls can do it. But for battles like this, where thousands of men will die in the span of a few hours, a guide is needed to make certain every soul finds its way. The Dax is that guide."

Cage nods slowly, humming, "So they're like Massors? Well, without the whole killing men with a single touch part," he says, forehead wrinkling, "How does it already know about the battle? No one's died yet... I think."

Yoru steps up behind Cage and Alyra, narrowing her eyes up at the Dax, "The leading theory says that-"

"Hey," Kyro interrupts, "Have my words fallen upon deaf ears? The questions and theories can wait."

Cage raises a brow at Kyro, and the Rajin meets his gaze with a look that says 'another word and you'll be getting a boat for us... by yourself'. Cage sighs, eyes drifting to the Stem as more and more ships appear and float down toward the waiting Rajin army. Steel glints and shines, flying through the air and striking the ships. Arrows. Very large arrows.

Wooden shrapnel and bits of men fly from the targeted ships, and a few even begin to nosedive. Then, thousands of battle cries mesh together into one massive, daunting roar. The land vibrates. Piles of snow fall from the trees. The wind stills.

The Rajin Army charges.

"It's begun," Kyro says, squatting down in the front of the group

"I guess they've learned their lesson," Ingen says as the untouched ships fall and land on the field, "They used to only land when their ships became damaged."

"We're to thank for that," Kyro says with a chuckle. He watches as the ships land one after another, then looks up at the Stem. A few ships appear from it, then nothing. Kyro slaps his knee and stands, "That's the last ship. Let's go!"

Everyone scrambles and crams into Krash's boat. The Tanzide sits at the back with the Control Orb, Ingen squeezes in beside him, and Kyro and Yoru sit on the front bench, their arms touching. Cage settles on the middle bench, "Woah!" he says in surprise. Alyra plops into his lap as the boat rises and flies out from the tree line.

Cage smiles up at Alyra, and she does the same. He sighs, "You know, I'm not saying I don't like this arrangement, but..." he chuckles, "...Someone's gotta help Kyro and Ingen get us a ship."

Alyra pokes out her lip. She stares down at Cage for a moment, but he doesn't budge, "Fine," She says with a click of the tongue, sliding out of his lap and onto the bench beside him, muttering all the while, "...No one cares for romance anymore..."

Krash twists and slides his hand over the smooth glowing surface of the Control Orb, directing the boat toward the battlefield. Utherians pour from dropped bridges in the hulls, gathering slowly into organized ranks at the front of the landed ships. However, not even half of the soldiers step into their rightful places before they realize the Rajin Army will not wait for them.

Blue, crimson, and violet skin stampedes toward the shining golden armor and shields. Not a lick of the organization that the Utherians are trying to muster is shown in the Rajin army's charge. As they come closer, Cage can see one man running ahead of the Rajin army, warhammer raised high above his head, "Is he the commander?" Cage yells over the deafening cries and stomping boots, furrowing his brows at the lone soldier.

"Something like that," Kyro says, half-turned on the bench and peering out as they fly low to the ground, approaching the back of the cluster of landed ships, "Rajin soldiers will only take the strongest as their leader. I've come to realize that there should be more to a commander than just strength, but well, as you can see... strategy is not something that they care for."

The words float off in the wind. The battle cries reach a peak. Golden shields raise in anticipation. Then, with a deafening clash of steel, the two armies collide. Stray Rajin soldiers pour through lines of golden armor, swiping swords and hammers, stabbing with long spears. The half-formed organization of the Utherian ranks crumbles to nothing as even the still-forming back lines are not safe from overextending Rajin soldiers.

Plenty of Rajin men fall to the ground with slit throats and pierced hearts, but the number is nothing before the absolute slaughter each rank of Utherians experiences. Cage's eyes linger on the rolling death for a moment, then he looks forward at the very last ship settled in the back of the battlefield.

Cage, Kyro, and Ingen all stand as they come closer. Some Utherian soldiers still stand on the deck of the selected ship, blocked from going down to the lower deck by clusters of frantic soldiers. Along with some of the other ships, golden armor and weapons still pour from the dropped bridge and join the battle.

Kyro looks back at Krash, "Stay close while we get this done. And pay attention. If you see any bows pointed at you, get back," he says, "We'll give you a sign when it's safe."

Krash nods.

Kyro returns the gesture, turning back and looking at the last ship, "Kill everything that moves. Utherians do not belong on our ship," he says, earning calls of agreement from Cage and Ingen.

Krash directs the boat directly over the ship, and with a signal, Kyro, Cage, and Ingen all jump. The three men land on the deck with a thud, and all of the lagging Utherians look at them with looks ranging from confusion to anger. They stand before a clogged door in the back of the ship. On either side, stairs lead up to a raised platform with wooden railings lining it. In the center of the platform, a glowing Control Orb rests on a pedestal.

"Go!" Kyro yells, dashing forward with his sword held high.

The massacre begins as the three men charge toward soldiers clad in golden armor. Blood seeps into the planks. Entrails scatter and limbs fly through the air. After a while, each Utherian soldier either escapes and joins the battle, or is slaughtered before they can even see the threat, the already escaped soldiers oblivious to their demise.

If there was an Anima User aboard this ship, then they were killed without having a chance to use their magic.

Krash, Alyra, and Yoru all board the ship with the signal. They leave the battlefield moments later, safe from the ongoing battle. However, if the group had left only moments later, they would have witnessed the flash of light that shined brighter than the star above.

And... they would have seen the destruction that followed.