The thick forest disrupted the light of the moon as its branches and leaves covered the sky. Cutting through this giant mass of trees and leaves was the advance squad sent out by Caster.
The advance squad was dressed in colours of brown and black. They were soldiers, though soldiers specially trained for this expedition. They moved gently, yet sharply. Stealthily, yet their movements conveyed a sense of strength, danger and wariness.
For clandestine operations, speed and inconspicuousness were necessary. To that end, only six soldiers formed the scouting unit. "Keep your eyes wide. Watch your steps. Dry twigs sound as loud as bells in places like this," said Derd, a tall and muscular man.
Derd was the commanding officer of this operation; he was also the only blessed soldier among them. The last expedition force that went to Negrichor was a lucky one. Without covering as much ground, they discovered humans and non-hostile ones for that matter.
The team of six covered in two columns of threes. Derd, who was a Petty Officer, was in the middle of the front rank. He was flanked by two men who looked to his side. In the rear rank, the man in the middle backed Derd and his flankers did just as Derd's.
The scouts went on and on, in search of human habitations. Night gave way to day. And through the little sleep that reinvigorated them, they continued.
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The Wavekiller had docked on the portless shores of Negrichor. The white sand on the beach glittered as the morning sun shone on it. Caster's men had set up camp on the beach. Their brown and grey tents were the only things filling the beach aside from the whitish-grey stones that were everywhere.
Caster sat close to the bank and peered deeply into the ocean. He wore a white shirt, blue breeches and was without boots as the water from the waves washed over his feet. Cara was with him; she was dressed in a beautiful green cotton gown.
Cara rested her head on his shoulder. But even her presence was not enough to dent his concentration. She understood him more than anyone else, even more than his own mother.
Around twenty paces behind them stood the Captain of the ship, Captain Dejar Knay. He was the most senior officer in this expedition. He stood still there, watching, waiting. Not knowing whether to disturb the High-Prince and inform him of the reports so far.
Caster was known among the nobility as the "Fiery Temper". It was indeed wise for Dejar to wait. "What is it, Captain?" Caster called out. Divine Trait signatures were almost impossible to conceal or mask. "High-Prince, I have made a comprehensive list of all those who embarked from the ship."
Caster turned around to look at him. Dejar was a man in his late thirties at least—though quite on the younger side for such a high rank. "You could have sent someone else, Dejar." Caster told him dryly. "As you're well aware, this is the chain of command, High-Prince. We....." Caster's tired gasps halted his words.
"Henceforth, you will send a junior enlisted officer to give me the report. Every second is important. And to be honest, we need you," Caster said pleasingly. "I understand that the standard must be kept, but no." Dejar smiled. "Aye, High-Prince."
Dejar finally reached where Caster and Cara were sitting. He had long reddish-black hair that was tied with a knot. "We brought with us seventy-two soldiers. Six of them represent the scout team now finding nearest settlements." Dejar read clearly from a thick grey paper.
"I advise that we leave about ten to protect the ship and its sailors when we leave." For the first time, Dejar glanced at Cara, hoping for her to convince Caster. Cara had large beautiful dark eyes with dark hair to match. She was slender like most noble ladies, but she was endowed too
Caught in the act, Caster gave Dejar a sour look. "I'm not as rigid as the rumours say, Captain. You have more experience; do as you please," Caster said as he gestured for the Captain to leave. "You didn't want to hear the reports and now, you don't want to contribute. What bothers you, flame of my life?" Cara said as she pouted.
"Cara," Caster called. "Do you want to go back to Velecor?" Cara looked at him with those large dark eyes; she was confused. "My family lives there, you know. I would want to see them again," Cara replied candidly. "Do your family approve of me? Of us?" Caster asked. "You're a High-Prince, I'm only a Lady. It would more than honour them for you to marry me." "But," Caster interjected. "But you're betrothed. I believe they think I've eloped with you."
The two now locked their fingers together. "The nobility says they didn't train me well. But I won't complain. I know I make it difficult for you too. Our activities from the last few months have all but revealed our affair to the public. Word would have reached your fiancée," Cara tightened the lock.
Caster smiled painfully. "You're about to say you're content with being my mistress, right? Diana Taric is a Princess, sister to a king. She will make life miserable for you," Caster complained. "Can't we make home here, in Negrichor?" "You might only be one of four daughters. But I'll never sully what we have by taking you as merely a mistress," Caster started eating his fingernails. "Perhaps a deal could be made with my father. His price would be heavy, though. But you're more than worth any price. Including my life." Caster said as he stroked her lush long hair.
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An antelope running at its fastest pace brushed away thick leaves and branches—leaving its pursuer in the wind. After tens of seconds, two people, a boy and a girl, appeared to be chasing the antelope. "Wait, Chida." The boy called out to the girl. "See, blood." The antelope ran over branches and leaves but a thorn seemed to have gotten him.
"Nice eyes, Zakar." Chida commended the boy. "The antelope went that way," said Zakar after studying the thorn. He pointed to his left and Chida took a step backwards. "Do not fret, Chida. I have no plans on going there either."
Chida removed her arrow from the string. She threw the bow angrily as she threw a tantrum. That antelope was supposed to be their dinner and food for days. And now, it was only going to be a mere snack. "Must we really pay for the sins of our father?" Chida complained. "Don't say that," Zakar said, painfully.
The pair went into a sad silence that was only disturbed by the whistling of the morning wind. "Did you hear that?" Zakar asked. "Hear what?" Immediately after that, Chida fell to the ground. "A cursed Beast?" She said ironically. She quickly stood up and arranged her fur and leather-made clothes.
The cries of the cursed beast rang through the forest. If trees could uproot themselves and run—they would have already fled. Still, Zakar and Chida stood firmly. It was certainly not the first time they had encountered a cursed beast.
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The scouting unit remained resolute in their task. They maintained their formation, despite the shaking roar they had just heard. The roaring was continuous and with the passage of time, however short it was—it was clear that they were the target of the beast.
"Steady yourselves, boys. We have sailed across the Erinelle. Its waves roar louder than this. I don't know what comes for us." The men listened resolutely. "But know this. We are Firehawks. Today is not the day our flames will be extinguished." The men were riled up and ready to fight.
"Spears!" Their commander shouted. "Steady. Keep your eyes open and your minds sharp." The rustling of the leaves was louder. A shape, too fast for their eyes to see, carried off one of them. Blood poured down from the top of a tree—painting their brown and black leather armour red.
"Above us," one of the soldiers shouted. They still maintained their formation, but this time, the commander was in the middle and flanked by a column of two. "Shields," the commander shouted after he saw a stone-like object flying their way. "Nice eyes, commande....." The head belonged to their squad. His brown eyes had been popped out and his head was like a mashed potato—if all the blood was ignored.
The sound of chewing could be heard from one of the trees above them. But the beast moved constantly—preventing them from locking down its position. "His flame may have died. However, we will carry its embers in our hearts. FOR VELECOR. FOR THE EMPEROR," he shouted as they braced themselves.
The sound of the chewing stopped. And in an instant, another soldier was taken. Panic ran amongst them and perspiration formed on their faces. "Commander. Why is there no sound of struggle from them?" A tall and bulky soldier asked. "Hell if I know." Scattered pieces of the soldier started raining from the sky. And in the ruckus a third soldier was taken, the tall and bulky one.
The remaining three stood back to back. The commander was the only blessed individual amongst them. In other times, he would have activated his Divine Trait and tried to track what was killing them. But clearly, to him, it was the work of an animal. An apex predator.
The commander turned to the direction through which they came from. "RUN," he shouted. In an instant all three of them ran with all their strength. They ran not for cowardice or fear. No. They ran to relay their report to their Prince.
The beast seemed not to follow instantly as if observing their movements. Still, its appearance was unknown to them. Instead it roared. Its roar was like a call, a message to other beasts to follow in his chase.
The three ran in a straight line with the commander at the front. They ran without regard for their modes of operation as scouts. Every twig broke under their boot and every branch broken by their body. They were easy to track.
After they had crossed about four thousand spans, the beast followed them in pursuit. The trees broke and fell violently. In no time, the beast had closed the distance. And for the first time, they could see what might bring upon their deaths.
It was much more mundane than they thought. They had imagined a fierce beast like a chimera of some sort. But it was a tiger. Or rather, looked like a tiger—though bigger, stronger, faster and more ferocious than any tigers. And unlike normal tigers, it stood on its hind legs like a human. Its forelegs were also like a human's hands.
In a crazed fear, the soldier at the back of the three thrust his spear with great speed. But the knowing beast brushed it away with his left arm—flinging away the soldier in the process. The soldier made impact head-first with a large tree to the beast's right.
His bloody face made a somewhat happy smile. Though he would soon breathe his last, he has bought time for the remaining two who continued to run, despite him. The beast immediately took off, leaving the dying soldier to the ravens and vultures—should they have the bravery to come down there.
Running through the forest spear in hand was the remaining two survivors of the scouting unit. They ran as fast as they could—ignoring the numbness of their tired legs. "Do not falter, soldier," the commander shouted. "You will be the one to deliver the report. I will buy you as much time as I can." The soldier nodded and continued running.
"Now then." The commander brought out a picture of a woman and a small boy. "Rishia, don't let our son take after me. Let him become an artisan or whatever. Not a soldier. Remember your promise," the commander said sadly, as though he had readied himself for the cold embrace of death.
Soon after, the beast appeared. Its sheer speed blew away the picture from the commander's hand. The commander held the beast's blue gaze; it was terrifying and cold.
Unfearing, the commander moved to an arm's length to the beast. Speedily, the commander kicked up leaves—hoping to block the beast's line of sight. It was followed with a thrust of the spear. The beast leaped up, leaving the spear only piercing a yellow leaf.
The tiger-like beast growled and jumped from tree to tree with great speed. In between his jumps between the trees—he attacked the commander. First he sliced off his helmet. Then he broke his spear. He sliced him like he was a fish cut to be grilled.
Blood covered his body. But his eyes were clear of the blood. And in them shone pain and regret. "Why did not use power? Your power can help look me, even from long away." The commander thought he was hallucinating. He searched everywhere to find the person who asked the question. Not until he saw the tiger-like beast giving him a questioning look
He bowed his head and gave a sarcastic laugh. "You can talk, then. It would have been useless to try to track down an animal," the commander answered dryly. "Uh. But you track lifeforce, me have lifeforce. Can sense me from long, long away." The commander laughed hysterically.
He had thought it was no more than a mutated animal. He was wrong, now he knew it. That the animal was capable of human speech and telling the nature of his Divine Trait.
The tiger-like beast made a hungry growl. "Strange. First person me feel with power." He removed the commander's cloth. "Me wonder how person with power tastes like."
As though he had found the most luxurious meat ever, the beast drooled with hunger and anticipation. To it now, pursuing the last soldier was not the goal. No. Its goal was to enjoy the most savory quarry he had ever caught.