Return of the Fallen Volume 9 Chapter 16
The Mage told everyone to tread lightly in order to not awaken the sleeping beasts but that was easier said than done. These soldiers were all covered in heavy armor. Trecking through the rocky passage, it was difficult to keep quiet and with early signs of exhaustion setting in, being quiet was the last thing on their minds.
Ultimately though, whether they were quiet or not, did not matter because an hour or so up the wide path everyone suddenly caught a sour, musky-like smell in the air.
They could smell something like someone had set out old milk and shit. Everyone had to hold their noses as they headed deeper. Soon they came to a much narrower gap in the path. Now the knights could only travel in pairs of two. This was inconvenient but they had no time to worry about that because they were still chasing after Zephris.
Further in, the strange rancid smell grew stronger and the ground became wet and muddy. The moment they came to this muddy area, they immediately noticed something was off. The mud was reddish-brown in color. Examing it, it was clearly blood. They hadn’t noticed it before because the smells from earlier blocked it out.
Not only that but there were a few scattered bones here and there on the ground. Looking up at the side of the cliff, there were dozens of caves that drilled into the side of the rocks. The soldiers knew right away where they were at. This was the griffon’s territory. Everyone was slightly worried but the chief had already told them the beasts were hibernating. So their fears were under control. Plus, a few hundred feet in front of them the narrow path widened and there was an exit from this almost pit-like area.
As long as they made their way through carefully and quietly, all would be fine. Many could hardly believe that a young boy had crossed through here. Plenty of them didn’t have the courage to go through such a place by themselves, soldier or not.
Carefully they walked through. Thousands of people, somehow actually moved like mice and were extremely quiet. As they got closer and closer toward the exit, their confidence grew and siles filled this place. However, this was something that would not last. The moment they reached the halfway mark, something came falling down from up high.
Although plenty of people were paying attention to what was above them, none could issue any warning as that could potentially alert the sleeping Griffons. The thing that fell, before any could try and catch it, it landed unexpectedly with a soft
*thud*
The soldier and Mages all respectively held their breaths and froze on the spot. They all looked around at all the caves to check for any movement but found nothing amiss. The Beasts remained in slumber. Everyone collectively sighed inwardly with relief before finally their attention was turned to the object that was thrown in the middle of them all.
Looking at the small item, it seemed to be a dead animal of some sort. It was hard to tell what because the body was torn apart as though it had been mauled.
Everyone was curious as to what it was and how it came to fall down from seemingly nowhere. Just when they were lost in thought though, several more small objects fell from the sky and landed all around them.
Everyone wanted to freak out seeing this but again, there was little they could do but once again these small objects landed around these soldiers with very little sound. Once again, the soldiers discovered the small objects to be some sort of torn apart animal. Again nothing else came of this. This many frights back to back were enough for a lifetime. The soldiers all looked at one another and they headed for the exit.
Just as they took a few steps, to their absolute shock and terror, the torn apart bodies, as if someone was forcing food into their destroyed corpses, all at once these bodies started expanding at a rapid rate. A sudden rapid expansion like this, it was plain for all to see what was coming but there was nothing they could do. The bodies doubled, tripled, and so on until the corpses could no longer take what was happening within and all at once like little mines, these animal corpses exploded all around.
*POP POP POP POP POP POP POP POP POP POP*
Ten explosions, each one was small but each one launched the inside of these creatures in every direction, covering dozens of these soldiers in blood and guts.
Following that, Zephris appeared at the top of the cliff, several hundred feet up above these soldiers. He glared down at these people, not an ounce of mercy in his expression. He filled his lungs with air and added the element of wind as he roared out and down into the pit.
*RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
This roar was so loud it seemed to shake the surroundings as it echoed continuously for almost 20 seconds all around.
No one knew where this roar had come from a sit bounced all around nor did they have the time to worry about it. The moment this roar echoed out, combined with the blood on them, they knew what this was, they understood what would come next. Panic set in and everyone rushed with everything they had toward the exit of the pit but it was too late. Barely a second after this roar echoed out, several more followed, though they were not human.
*ROARRRR*
*RAHHHHHH!*
*ROOOOAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!*
All at once, movement came from within the caves, and not a second later, dozens of griffons came flying out.
These beasts were massive. Each one, well over 20 feet tall and 30 feet long. Faces like a bird with bodies similar to a large cat or canine. Feathered wings that were wide enough to shroud several wagons and razor-sharp talons at the end of every foot.
It was clear these beasts were dangerous but not only that, there was visible anger from being awakened. That rage took on something else entirely when the Griffons caught an enticing scent coming from down below.
Zephris watched this scene play out.
(Covering the soldiers with the blood of the Griffons favorite snack, what happens next, they brought this upon themselves.)
The longer everything was dragged out, the colder and colder Zephris became. When he first killed the two Mages, it was the first time he had killed any people and he was shaken up by this. Now though, only a few hours later, both his father’s teachings and his Masters were showing their full effect. Zephris no longer saw these people as people but instead as sworn enemies and for enemies, Zephris had no such thing as mercy.
The Griffons took notice of the scent on many of these soldiers and it was as if something came over them as they all swooped down and began to attack. The soldiers trying to flee from the pit couldn’t make it out because of how narrow the path became. So as dozens tried to squeeze out of a path that could only reasonably fit two people, the path became blocked and packed in with bodies. Not only was the front blocked off but so too was the path leading back. The Mage who had been leading these soldiers had continuously sealed the path behind with walls of thick ice to prevent Zephris from somehow sneaking behind them and escaping their grasp.
The Mage and these soldiers had essentially helped create their own death trap. Zephris had planned this the moment he sought out the small furry creatures. He knew taking out this many soldiers all at once would be an impossible task on his own but who said he needed to do this by himself.
Many soldiers were being picked off by the dozen. A stomp from such a large creature could crush their metal armor like twigs. Along with their razor-sharp talons, this armor was more like mud to the Griffons.
Not only were these soldiers easily crushed but once the Griffons bit into these men and women and more blood flowed, it quickly sent these beasts into a feeding frenzy. Panic was setting in and these soldiers were taking heavy losses early on.
*CHSSSH*
A large boulder-sized piece of ice slammed hard into one of the Griffons knocking it back. The griffon staggered and shook the attack off but it was clearly dazed for a moment. As soon as this happened though, it got everyone’s attention and the Mage shouted out.
“Draw your weapons and get into formation. These Beasts are strong but their minds are still that of dumb animals. Work together and surrounded them. FIGHT BACK WITH EVERY FUCKING THING YOU HAVE OR DIE!”
The Mage’s voice was like electricity and it gave everyone courage. Their bodies moved without a second thought and their weapons were drawn as they jumped into formation. A fierce battle broke out between the people and the Griffons in this field of death and blood. Only one side would leave this place alive and everyone knew it.
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