Tsunami

(This and all of this volume are a part of the old version of Howler. Look out for the remastered version in the next volume releasing late 2023 - I decided to publish this chapter since I wrote it so long ago. This will be the last of the old Howler)

Like a distant tidal wave, it began small. The sand swished and rolled along the surface of the earth, accumulating in size with every cycle. Swarms of Barbarian soldiers, both on foot and cavalry, charged towards the unguarded front, their lusty war cries echoing in the wind.

"FERWARDS BROVAS, SISTAS! DESTROY RAMAL! CLAIM DI INNAR REGION!"

"YAAARRRRRR!"

They marched onwards, towards the Sand Kingdom's Capital, Ramal, adrenaline pumping through their veins. Groups of them were singing carols from their childhood merrily as they ran, whilst others were chanting motivation to their units.

"ALL TROOPS HALT!" A distant hiss pierced their ears.

"Can you 'ear that?"

"What? I don't 'ear noffin!"

"Shattap! I 'ear it. Must be disert snake!"

"Or horde of 'em! Sound get louder."

"I 'ear sound now too. Sound like lunch!"

The Barbarian warriors all cheered as they rushed toward the sound, licking their dry and crusty lips. As they drew closer, the sound got louder...

...And louder...

...And louder...

Too loud.

"ALL TROOPS HALT! FOOWELLS! I SAID HALT!"

"Food! With no ration! Sound like one snake each!"

"Yah! Sound like horde big! I 'ear big horde!"

The troops scurried past their superior officer, drool gushing down their chins and their eyes twinkling lustily. The lieutenant looked around frantically, his eyes and veins bulging out from his head. His thick mono-brow arched downwards as he ground his gappy pearl-like teeth together. "AMEM!" he grabbed the wrist of a woman with a drenched mouth and yearning eyes, "AMEM! ARE YOU 'EARRIN ME? HALT SAID I!"

Amem twisted her neck towards the lieutenant, her eyes dilated. "Lieutenant, why grab my arm? You don't 'ear lunch? Fer weeks rations we live and meals we no eat." Amem wiggled her arm free from the lieutenant's grasp. He reached out to her, yearning for her not to depart as her figure grew smaller and smaller. He clenched his fists and brought them to his chest.

A deep rumble escaped from his abdomen. After wincing for the duration of the sound, he patted his stomach, releasing a deep and defeated sigh. He looked forwards once more, his troops were like dots in the distance, shielded by a thin cloud of sand. "If can't you beat 'em, join 'em!"

Amem looked around at her fellow soldiers. Many of them were fatigued. The sun was harsh that day, but the hunger was even harsher. They had already run for what felt like an eternity, and though the desert's hiss grew louder, no snakes had been found.

'I has't a lacking valour humour about this. I fear something is coming, and it isn't snakes' Amem's thoughts grew darker and deeper, her knees knocking against each other and her vision blurring. Fear? No. A sudden pang came from both her head and abdomen as she fell to her knees. Her cloak slipped slightly, exposing part of her knee to the scorching sand.

"AARRHHHGGG!"

A distant wail was released before she could even release her own. Hastily, she covered her knee once more. As she was doing this, the screams multiplied dramatically. "Wait! at which hour didst the sound receiveth so loud?" She struggled back onto her feet, her eyes scurrying around the desert. Finally, she spotted a figure silhouetted by a thin cloud of sand.

"Oi! Thee thither! What is going on? Oi! Thee-"

SUGLISHHHHH!

Like a meteor charging down from the heavens, a large concrete-like spike pierced through the silhouette mercilessly. The once vivid black figure was now slumped over, its arms dangling beneath as its corpse steadily slid down the spike. Amem's eyes widen as she tip-toes towards the body, her mouth gaping and her lips trembling. As she gets closer, the cloud of sand dispersed due to a sudden gust of wind. She raises her cloak and shields her eyes as she attempts to stable her undernourished body from being blown away. Once the gust diminished, she slowly lowered her arm. Upon opening her eyes fully, her entire body tensed up, breathing rapidly as her eyes twitched irregularly. "Lie- Lieutenant..."

Amem inched towards the body of the fallen Lieutenant, fearfully grabbing his lifeless hand. The surrounding screams only got louder and more frequent, some even coming from behind. As she drew silent tears, she knew something wasn't right. Where did this shade come from? She raised her head abruptly, instantly releasing her grasp of the lieutenant's hand. Her brows turned her forehead into a maze and her fingers twitched. As she stepped back, her cloak got caught on the back of her boots. The fall was instant. The sand scorched her palms, but all she could do was stare at the tsunami of sand towering above her.