Wow, how are you all doing here in the Mead Hall? it's been a very long time since I was last here, and even longer since I posted something. I just wrote this up after a stroke of inspiration so if you guys like and and think I've not lost too much, who knows I might continue this.
This is an indirect continuation of The Second Dark Age, which can be found in the Library (surprised that thing is still going, great job Ludens!). I decided not to edit this more than once, as I'd.. well who am I kidding, I'm tired. Hope you guys like it.
Edit: Oh yeah. Gimme CC level 4 to start with.
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The darkness was near all consuming as night took its hold upon the dense jungles of the southern cape. The moon, high in the rich blue of the sky had its light spirited away behind the thick clouds that rolled upon the western wind, casting the land below into shadow. A short gust of wind soon found itself caught between the thick branches of the trees causing them to sway and sing out in their ruffled voices of praise upon the cool breeze. Their branches danced in and out of one another as if caught in a spell before the wind at last fell away and the trees became cursed to silence once more. A second gust of wind hit the trees, though this time, a shade fell from one of their many branches.
With a sudden slam the scout hit the ground, groaning hoarsely as pain rushed into his chest and stomach. His eyes opened in a flash when he realized what had just happened and he dared not move. Long leaves fluttered down from the branch he had claimed, carried by the soft caress of the wind they scattered all around him as he lay there motionless. His heavy cloak still draped over him as his eyes silently scanned the area around the tree.
A familiar sound cackled to life into his ear, “Oi.. you fell asleep again, didn’t you..?” A condescending chuckle followed the voice on the radio. The scout dared not answer. A single moment passed in the shadows of the tree trunks, and then another… the stillness unbearable. The voice followed again “You there laddie?”
Slowly the scout took a deep breathe and sighed, his hands pushing up on the earth and sitting up on his knees, looking about him. His sight could barely see five feet in front of him in the thick undergrowth, yet a feeling of safety was about him… relative safety. Slowly he lifted his hand and placed it over his ear, in the quietest whisper he could manage… “All’s well..”
“Can’t here ya lad.” Was the only response such a pathetically quiet answer could garner. Gathering up his courage and speaking a bit louder into his radio he tried once more.
“All’s well.. I just wasn’t expecting that gust” He gave a silent nod to himself as his gaze set upon the tree-tops. Gripping the thick bark of the tree he climbed right back up, one hand in front of the other, his hands digging in as tightly as he could until he got right back up into his loft. His weapon laid out perfectly for him right where he’d… fallen asleep.
“Target’s in range.” The voice once more spoke; the joking tone had all but left and was then replaced with a deep sense of seriousness. The scout nodded to himself, picking up his rifle and staring through his sights. A silent groan escaped his lips unintentionally as he stared at the green screen of the night vision scope, though however a shock to his sight he could see his target perfectly.
There it was, the target they had tracked for what could be called an eternity. It was disgusting, its very nature causing the scout to grip his rifle’s handle tightly, swallowing roughly. High above the moon at last was freed from bondage behind the clouds as the wind picked up again. The light shone down upon the world once more to give cause for the tall trees of the jungle to begin their dance again. Yet this time the scout dared not look away, he dared not let his guard down. The creature was all that mattered; it’s serpent-like head turning skyward as it set its black, lidless eyes upon the moon. Its scythe like arms and canine legs stretched out as if in offering.
“What’s it doing…” he muttered softly to himself in the darkness, his teeth lightly mashed together, he could feel his finger tickling the trigger, itching for a chance to shoot.
“Easy lad..” came the voice upon the radio once more, the scout nearly jumped hearing it, his heart leaping to his throat as he gripped his chest. “Don’t take the shot.. There’s too many of them..”
He blinked, gathering his senses and looking back through the scope. Slowly scanning, all he saw was the one creature… for the moment. Though soon another appeared as if out from the ground behind the hills ahead, and then another and the another! Creatures of all the same type as the first kept appearing, one after the other, “What do we do?” his voice was shaking as he held tightly unto his rifle, he’d never seen that many before.
“We sit tight.. No sense in …g..s.eeel..” The radio began to crack and break up; the scout tapped upon his ear piece a few times and looked about. “Cappy? Cappy you there?” However there was no answer to his cries. His voice bordered on frantic before he remembered himself, turning his scope to the sky, scanning what little part of it he could. Twas not his eyes that spotted what he sought, but his ears for rolling upon the wind was a roaring cry bellowing from the engines of something far more sinister than the creatures of which he spied on.
Like a mighty wave upon the sky it came into view at last, its sound unmistakable as it thundered overhead. Even the creatures below took and hid for cover, scurrying like rats back into their hole as the behemoth of a war machine came overhead. It was massive, it’s wings alone darkening the land below from the light of the moon. The scout balled a fist, muttering softly to himself a few words.
Though no sooner than he said those words did a sound like a clap of thunder tear through his mind. His gaze shot to the massive ship above just in time to see an explosion rip through its hull, sending the giant screaming and buckling under the pressure. The scout’s mouth hung agape as he watched the ship shudder and quake trying to ride out the effect. Without warning a second explosion ripped it’s way through the ship’s right wing, tearing it clean off the hull and sending the ship down into a slow lazy spiral. It wailed and screamed on its way down as fire leapt from its armor plating; the ground grew ever closer to the ship until at last in a fireball it slammed into the brown earth.
The scout blinked in amazement as he brought his scope up to his eye again and scanned the crash sight. The monstrous sounds would surely attract the attention of the creatures, though as he scanned the hull no sign or insignia could be seen. A small smirk formed “Whoever shot that thing down didn’t leave me any clues…”
He looked down from his tree; already in the distant heart of the jungle he could hear the shrill call of the creatures. It was going to be one long night.
