#action practice

No less then five separate footfalls crunched leaves under the weight of heavy boots as they trampled their way through the forest only illuminated by the moon above. Pulled from their posts in the dead of night as the alarm bells rang that there was an intruder. Racing through the trees and brush of the withering forest of Silverpine. They made no effort to hide their presence as they tracked a half step behind the Shadow they pursued, though, unlucky for them... darkness was the Shadows playground, not the group of Forsaken guards.

“He went this way!” Kingston called out to his squad. Spotting a broken branch that eluded to which direction their quarry went. And just like that, the squadron of Death Dealers shambled on in that direction. Practiced and precise in the way they fell in and moved on, nothing but trust in their fellow guard.

“He can’t be far now...” Madison grumbled. 

“There! There I saw him!” Anders yelled with a bony finger pointed toward where he saw a darkened shadow flee further into the woods until they too blended with the enveloping blackness of the night.

“Can it, all of you!” Their commander barked. “All you’re doing is giving our location away.” Clearly peeved at his groupings lack of discipline. He sought to assert it in an authoritative tone. And of course they all listened. 

Their movements slowed as they came up to a fallen log that had taken residence in a small clearing. Tentatively the group approached, foot after foot more careful then the next as they crept up on their prey. While all seemed to have a sword brandished at their hip and a long rifle on their back, not a single one grabbed steal, instead opting to draw the rifle from their backs. Taking careful aim at the log. 

It wasn’t until a pair of long ears and brown hair  peeped up to check that the rapturous sound of “FIRE!” Before the death squad did just that. Letting slug after slug shoot from their long barreled weapons. Each shot hitting against the rotted log, sending chips of splintered wood fly in every which direction and leaving a plethora of bullet holes in the assaults wake.

“Hold!” Rotjaw barked out once more. Taking his hand from the barrel of his gun to hold up a clenched and bony fist.

“There’s no way he survived that. That things got no cover.” Anders said in a low tone. Not wishing to invoke the commanders ire once more. 

The group of four closed in on the bullet-ridden log that looked as if it was on the brink of collapse. Two soldiers flanking either side with cautious steps toward their target, notably leaving one squad member behind to watch as the others closed their pincer maneuver. 

Though the group collectively grunted when little was left behind the log itself. Certainly no warm blooded body they could return to their posts with. Madison was the first to move in to investigate. Finding no more then a pile of wood chips. There was one thing that caught her attention though.

“Guys, I think I got something....” She said before a leather clad hand reached down into the debris to pull a small piece of paper with scribbles on it from the pile. 

...CLICK!

While they never fully got to express their dismay? The look of fear was clear on each and everyone of their faces before the blast from an explosion separated what remained of the undead. Sending limbs and bits of armor sprawled over the area. The booby trap going off without a hitch.

Anders watched on in dismay as he saw his squad forcibly dismembered by the explosive surprise left by their late night visitor. Frozen in fear as the slow realization that he was alone out here... and he was no longer the hunter. The thought came slow at first, but came all the same; Perhaps he was never the hunter to begin with.

Before the soldier could make sense of what just happened he felt a force slam against the shoulder rest of his rifle. Looking down with a puzzled expression as the weapon he held a second ago appeared on the floor before him. But it all made sense eventually as that pointed blade found its way to his neck.

“Well, either you’re incredibly lucky or pretty smart. Way to hang back on that trap.  You looking for work? Cause I’m putting together this team. I mean not really like a team. But not-not a team. You know?” The Sin’dorei’s voice was whimsical as ever.

Only continuing as the dagger he held acted as a speaking stick. “Anyways, as nice a night this is for a stroll... I gotta go back to raiding your base there. Time is money and all that.” Kirollis quipped right up until he found a bony elbow in his side. A grunt escaped him followed by a chuckle, though it only made the rogue tighten his grip and adopt a grasp on the Forsakens arm, prevent that errant elbow from striking him again

“Well that was rude. You know I was just sort of talking before about not having a lot of time. You wanna piss me off I have no problem devoting an hour to finding out exactly how you guys die besides you know... explosions.”

“What do you want?” The captured Forsaken finally rasped out. 

“Oh I just want to know why there’s a whole bunch of Forsaken in my neck of the woods. Call it a hunch but based on current events...?”

“I’m not telling you anything.”

“Well, then you’re useless to me. Aint’cha? They really don’t teach you guys how to stay alive- Sorry, sorry, phrasing. Stay Undead out in the field, huh?” With an unceremonious push to the Forsakens back, Kirollis released his grasp. Reaching down to find the fallen soldiers weapon and reliquish it for his own needs.

“Left or right.” The rogue offered.

“Fuck you!” Anders spat back.

Day 301: Ready to Fight

Some OCs sketches I did for my mastodon followers!