Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Umbra Beast

The ringing clangs of bells caused guards to leap out of bed. Shouts filled the barracks as wide-eyed Shield Guards rushed to put their light armor on and grab their weapons. The distant sounds of monstrous roars stabbed fear in their hearts. The shield guards of the outer wall of Gray Gate quickly formed up and charged out of their dilapidated barracks.

Guards already on the wall rushed to their stations. Some shouted and rang the warning bells. Other pointed at the armored humanoid giant in the distance, marching slowly toward the city. Others picked up their bows and shakily pulled arrows from quivers. A sense of doom washed over the guards, a fire bearer charging along the fifty-foot ancient wall. He jumped over small gaps and cracks, his torch burning bright. He, among several others along the north wall, thrust the ends of the torches into metal braziers along key points. The moment the flame took, they rushed to the next one as more guards stormed up the stone steps and to the top of the walls.

Wide eyes stared out, the moon lighting the forests to the north in an ethereal glow. The crack of braking trees and falling timber rattled even the oldest of the city guards. Some prayed to the star goddess. Others stood fast. Some wept. A few others tried to keep the spirits of their fellow guards up.

It was no secret, the outer wall is where they sent guards with poor dispositions and less than sterling records. While the higher ranking and well performing guards guarded Old Town and the inner wall, all others that didn’t step up were sent to the outer wall. There, it was a little more relaxed, but it put them in greater danger. The inner walls and barracks were well-kept and well-maintained. The outer wall, not so much. Rats infested the barracks and the food was subpar. It made existence bearable, but everyone who manned the outer wall knew, their time would be limited if an umbra beast cometh. Those fears had become a reality, the black armored giant making its way closer to the city of mages.

“Do not light your arrows until the beast has made it to the tree line!” a captain shouted.

Hands trembled and eyes didn’t blink as bells continued to ring.

The captain turned his head and looked down at a dense northern section of New Town. He watched as residents began fleeing their homes with some meager possessions. Others were on their knees, some praying to the star goddess while others prayed to the mages within Old Town to protect them and their families.

The captain turned around and looked northward. The armored giant walked, each step sending a vibration right up to the wall. Everyone could feel it and their hearts beat faster in their chests.

“Easy!” the captain said to his guards. “It’s a big one, but let’s show the inner wall guards how much metal we have in our veins!”

“Aye Captain!” the guards shouted, some more convincing than others.

“A gold queen to the lad or lass who makes the killing blow!” the captain shouted.

“AYE CAPTAIN!” the guards shouted louder, knowing a gold queen would make a tremendous difference than the pittance they earn being on the outer wall.

Screams and shouts continued as the giant monster drew closer in the moonlight.

***

Cedric looked around with blurry eyes. The tavern he was in was filled with people who he thought, looked like the drinking dead. A sad sorrow made up the atmosphere, most patrons looking down into their cups or speaking little to each other.

“Coming to New Town for a drink was a mistake,” the author muttered before lifting his mug and downing the rest.

He put the wooden mug down and threw a few copper rooks onto the bar. He stood up, his body weaving from side to side. No one, not even the bartender, bothered to check on him and see if he was okay.

“Well…gents…and lady,” Cedric said with a drunken slur and gestured a hand to a goblin woman sleeping on a table in the corner of the main tavern room.

“It’s been truly…an eye-opening experience,” Cedric weaved as he tried to walk to the front door. “Thank you…for the gritty atmosphere…and sad…sad feelings I am experiencing now.

“I will…make every attempt…to write about you…in a glowing light. Be well and thank you,” Cedric said as he turned around and made a clumsy bow to the sparsely populated tavern.

No one acknowledged him, or even looked his way.

Cedric burped and reached for the doorhandle, when bells began to ring outside.

“What’s this now?” the author said with a raised eyebrow.

A commotion snapped him out of his drunken stupor. He turned around to every tavern patron making a mad dash for the door.

“I know…I know. You’re all going to miss me,” was all Cedric could get out before the small wave of bodies crashed into him and he was forced through the door.

Cedric could do nothing but look on with helpless eyes as he was forced out of the tavern. He, along with several tavern patrons, crashed onto the street. Others rushed out, jumping over him and the fallen patrons.

Bodies scrambled to their feet and ran. Screams, shouts and the sound of bells filled the night air. Cedric sat up and looked around. Citizens of New Town raced past him, running for the gates of Old Town. The author clutched at his head, the ringing bells stabbing into his brain like hot pokers. He gradually stood up and when he was on his feet, he weaved.

A monstrous roar bellowed.

Cedric mostly sobered up and turned northward. His ears flexed as he listened intently. When another roar reached him, his heart beat in fevered fear, and excitement.

“Can it be so? A beast cometh! Seeing one would add greatly to my stories,” the author muttered in the now empty street.

Another roar pierced the night sky.

Cedric’s eyes took on a maddening shine. He pulled his book from the satchel and held it like a knight would hold a sword.

“No beasty is going to scare Cedric Voxx away. I need a better vantage point,” he said to himself as he made his way north, toward the growing chaos.

***

Olivia huffed as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop. A glance behind and her heart nearly stopped, a kobold in a dark green cloak and a gauntlet over one hand was thirty feet behind her. The small reptilian humanoid kept his sharp focus as he slowly gained on her.

 Olivia turned and spotted a gap between two buildings. Her hand slipped behind her to the small of her back. Sheathed throwing daggers were strapped to her as fingers took hold of one and pulled it out. She quickly turned her upper body and her hand snapped forward.

The kobold caught the shine of the throwing dagger in the moonlight before leaping and twisting his body. The dagger missed him as he spun. He watched as the stray leapt over the thin gap and fell into it. The kobold finished his flying rotation before landing on his feet, darting the small distance and diving down into the alley gap.

Olivia’s hands stabbed out and touched the grimy walls. She stuck out her feet, using all of her limbs to slow her quick descent. Boots and hands slid, unable to gain any proper purchase. She slid down, concern filling her eyes as she wasn’t sure she was slowing down fast enough. The wet, puddle filled alley floor rushed up to meet her, and with a hard splash, her boots hit the ground.

The stary bent her knees and leapt forward, just as a shadow was over her. She spun around, throwing daggers in each hand as the kobold landed in the same puddle. The gauntlet on its hand burst into an aura of flames. Olivia’s hands snapped forward. A pair of daggers spun at the kobold. The dragon guild kobold leapt up, one dagger missing him and his flaming gauntlet knocking the other one away. He landed and eyed the woman as she backpedaled slowly.

“Hand over everything you took, and I may let you go,” the kobold said and took a step forward.

Olivia remained silent as she took another step back.

“You can’t have too many of those throwing daggers left. You can keep your life, if you drop the valuables,” the kobold said with a menacing tone.

Olivia felt the small sack tied to her belt against her hip. She knew it held jewelry, and many coins from the safe she broke into. She kept her gaze on the kobold as he took another step forward.

“I won’t ask again,” the cloaked kobold growled and took another step closer.

Olivia didn’t dare take her eyes off the kobold. She only glanced the street entrance of the alley and considering how quick the kobold was, she wouldn’t make it if she simply ran for it. Time as needed as she slowly stepped back, one foot at a time.

“Filthy stray!” the kobold growled and darted forward in a blur.

Time slowed down as Olivia’s heart beat like a drum. A flaming gauntlet came at her, and out of instinct, her left arm went up to knock away the attack. A monstrous roar filled the air and Olivia miscalculated from the sudden shock. She parried her left forearm against the flaming gauntlet and flames burned at her sleeve and licked at her skin. The stench of burning flesh bloomed as the gauntlet was knocked away. The kobold’s other hand was appearing from his cloak, a small dagger within. The point aimed for Oliva’s side. Panic swelled as her knee came up and knocked the hand with the dagger into the wall.

Oliva’s hand moved instinctually, grabbing her last throwing dagger from behind her. The kobold pulled back, trying to regain his footing. Another roar was heard, the kobold glancing up with a sliver of fear.

A dagger flashed and the kobold grunted.

Time resumed, Olivia looking into the kobold’s wide eyes. A burning gauntlet slammed into her stomach, flames burning away fabric, but the thief leapt back. The flames didn’t reach her skin, but smoke rose up as bells sounded off in the distance.

Olivia stood at the ready, watching with wide eyes as the kobold lurched forward a step. It looked down at the dagger in its side. It coughed and blood spilled out and onto the wet and grimy alley floor.

“You’re…dead,” the kobold managed before his eyes rolled into his head.

Olivia watched in stunned silence as the kobold fell face forward onto the wet floor. A death rattle hissed and the kobold no longer moved.

A tear touched the corner of Olivia’s eye. The sounds of bells, shouts, and people turned into a cacophony of chaos. She stepped to the body, knelt down and took hold of her throwing dagger. She pulled it from the dead kobold and wiped the blood on its cloak. Tears filled her eyes as she stood up. She gave the dead kobold one last, long look, before turning and running out of the alley and into the street.

Bells tolled as another roar filled the sky.

***

Tarron rushed along a broken cobblestone street. He looked around amid the chaos as people rushed past him and for the Old Town gates. The rush turned into a full run, thoughts of his weapons and armor in his small home. A need took root, gathering his weapons and armor so he could aid in defending the city.

The elf glanced to the outer wall battlements. Torches were lit and city guards lined up. Archers held their bows as fellow guards held onto their swords and small shields. Chaos reigned as many people of northern New Town fled the area.

Keeping a steady breath, he turned onto Moss Street. His legs were a blur as he charged ahead, the crowds thinning out. When he reached his front door, he kicked it in and made his way inside. Eyes darted around, taking in his meager belongings and saw his armor, sword, and shield on the table. He rushed over and grabbed the armor, putting it over his head and buckling the straps into place. He had performed this action thousands of times, but even now, his hands shook. Thoughts of the approaching umbra beast whipped at his resolve. Nightmares came back of seeing such monsters tear through settlements, towns, and even a city. The horrific cries of people being lifted up into the monster’s mouth, or mouths. How their screams stopped and the sickening crunching replaced it, the umbra beasts wanting the very mana in their bodies.

Tarron shook his head as he put on his belt with his sheathed sword. He picked up his blue shield and took a calming breath. He had to get back to assist the inner wall guards, should the beast make it past the outer wall.

The elf turned and made for the door. When he reached it, he saw the lights still on in Renna’s home, across from his. Shadows moved as the occupants inside moved about in frenzied panic.

***

“Grab what you can!” Qin shouted as he lifted up his pack and slung it over his shoulder.

Nyana moved quickly, stuffing a few things into her own back. She stopped and looked out a side window to see people running away.

“Auntie!” Nyana shouted.

“I’m coming,” the older kobold female said as she came out with two packs. “We don’t have to worry, the guards and the mages will keep us safe,” she said calmly.

“That’s not what I’m seeing out the window!” Nyana said before looking down at the two large packs. “That’s too much!”

“If the beast makes it past the wall, we may not be able to come back for a few days. I need my things. There might be looters,” she huffed as she struggled to pull them with her.

Qin darted to her side and picked up one of the packs. “Renna, please, leave the other one behind. We have to travel light.”

Renna shook her head. “I’m not worried. The mages will protect us, like they always do. This isn’t the first time an umbra beast has attacked the city and it won’t be the last.”

Nyana turned to her cousin and aunt. “I’m scared.”

“We’ll be okay,” Renna smiled. “The mages will protect us. Have faith.”

“We still can’t stay here. We have to go!” Qin said with an edge of panic.

The front door was kicked in. All three kobolds turned in shock as an elf in light armor stepped in.

“A beast is coming! You have to evacuate!” Tarron shouted with wide eyes.

“We’re leaving,” Qin said as he held two backs over his small shoulders.

“Tarron, can you lead the way?” Renna asked kindly.

The elf nodded. “I’ll lead the way. Stay close and I’ll get you to the inner gate, but we have to go, now!”

Nyana was frozen by her back on the small couch. The kobold’s eyes were the side of saucers.

“Nyana, let’s go!” Qin shouted.

The kobold snapped out of it and grabbed her pack. She slung it over her shoulder when a deafening roar shook the very home. Glass cups on the table shuddered. Hanging lanterns swayed. Items fell from a cupboard and onto a kitchen counter.

“It’s here,” Tarron said as a cold chill ran down his spine.

***

Archers and guards stared with wide eyes as the beast approached. Fear slipped into terror, no mages in sight to aid them. The captains barked at them, telling them to hold. Arms and hands trembled. Legs shook and panic began to swell. The very stone wall they stood upon, pulsed with each powerful step of the beast.

The umbra beast approached the tree line. Its monstrous humanoid form was covered in thick, black plates. Spines and curved spikes crowded around its shoulders. Massive, pincer-like claws shined instead of hands. But the worst of it, was the monster’s head. It was like an armored helmet with two stalks stabbing out. On each stalk, a pale white oval eye stared down with indifference. Its mouth heaved open in four directions, like the horrific mouth of a praying mantis. Mandibles flexed, rows of sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Three hook like talons were at the ends of its large feet. The creature knew no fear as it approached the pathetic defenses of Gray Gate’s outer wall.

The moment it stepped past the tree line, and into the open field before the wall, it let out, not a roar, but a sickening wet gurgle, like some demonic laugh.

Arms pulled back with nocked arrows. Fire runners darted along with torches, lighting the ends of arrows. When lines of archers were lit, the captains lifted up their arms.    

“Loose!” captains shouted on the battlements as they throw their arms down to their sides.

Bowstrings twanged as volleys of flaming arrows shot across the sky. Guards held their collective breaths as several lines of flaming arrows converged on the armored monster. The light of arrows reflected like stars on the monster’s armored body for a brief moment of time.

The umbra beast continued to stalk forward, flaming arrows hitting it and bouncing off. Flames died as the distant clatter of ineffective arrows reached the ears of everyone on the wall.

“Nock!” the captains shouted.

Archers drew back another volley of arrows.

The umbra beast stepped closer, its oval eyes staring like a dead thing on the side of the road.

“LOOSE!” the captains said in unison.

Another volley of flaming arrows launched into the night sky. With the beast closer, every arrow struck it. But the black armor caused most to bounce off. A few arrows lodged between armored plates, extinguishing flames in the soft, black flesh. The giant monster roared as it quickened its pace.

“Poison arrows!” captains shouted.

Young men and woman raced along the battlements, carrying small buckets of a sloshing liquid. A mixture of water and mustard seed, archers dipped arrow heads into the buckets and nocked arrows to their bows.

“This is it!” a captain shouted as the monster was close. “When the command is given, loose and retreat out of its path!”

Heads nodded in agreement as hearts raced in chests. Arms pulled back as bows lifted up. The monster was a mere forty feet from the wall, its dead eyes staring at thin streams of mana coming off some of the guards, and thicker strands of mana coming off mythic guards.

Captains stared out as the umbra beast lifted up both pincers. “LOOSE!”” they shouted.

Arrows launched. Many bounced off the monster, but several dozen struck the flesh under the beast’s arms. A tortured roar blasted the sky as the claws reached their zenith and came down in a blur.

“Retreat!” captains shouted in unison, archers dropping their bows and running.

The section of the battlements cleared as two thick pincer claws came down with a rumbling crash. Stone cracked and splintered. Chunks of wall were blasted into the air and into New Town. Stone shards penetrated empty homes, shattering windows and cracking walls.

Several brave archers pulled back bowstrings and let arrows loose. Others ran for their very lives, dropping their weapons and screaming.

The wall breeched, the hulking monster rose up and stepped through into New Town.

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Archers on the inner wall stared out helplessly as their fellow guards on the outer wall retreated away.

“Where are the mages?” some guards said with fear in their voices.

The umbra beast twitched as it’s clawed foot shattered several homes with one step. Poison coursed through it, but it didn’t stop it. The beast gave a watery growl as its large claws swung and destroyed homes, carving out a swath toward the inner wall of Gray Gate.

***

A thunderous crash shook the simple home.

“We have to go!” Tarron shouted before his pointed ears flexed to an odd sound.

“Get down!” the elf shouted as he leapt at the three kobolds.

Nyana, Qin, and Renna were frozen as fist-sized shards of stone struck the home, blasting through walls and shattering windows. Tarron’s arms were out, a sharp stone slicing across one and elven blood spurting up. He grunted as he crashed into Nyana, and Qin, but his hand barely missed Renna. The older kobold fell back, a stone missing her head by a foot.

The home groaned. Tarron lifted himself up and saw that the two kobolds under him. Blood dripped onto Nyana as her eyes trembled in fear.

“Out the back!” Tarron shouted as he launched back to his feet.

Qin grabbed his cousin and helped her to her feet. The two kobolds stumbled to the back door. They turned to see Tarron reaching for their aunt. The kobold feebly lifted a three fingered hand to the elf.

Time stood still as a second blast of debris struck the home. Outside, Tarron’s home was shattered to nothing, blown to bits from the beast and slammed into Renna’s home.

Tarron just touched Renna’s scaled hand, when the home tilted.

“Tell my niece and nephew, I love them,” Renna said softly as she threw herself up and pushed the elf back.

Tarron was knocked back but a few inches as the building collapsed. Debris came down, striking his head, and shoulders, but the lion’s share of the destruction fell onto the small kobold. Nyana watched in stunned horror as Qin pulled her out of the collapsing home. Smoke, wood and stone crashed down. Tarron tried to follow, when a thick piece of ceiling struck his shoulder and slammed him down onto the floor. Partially buried, he moaned as he was blanketed with debris.

“AUNTIE!” Nyana screamed as Qin dragged her away.

“We have to survive!” Qin shouted, trying to keep his courage.

“She’s still in there! We have to save her!” Nyana shouted with tears in her eyes.

“We have to get to the inner gate!” Qin tried to reason with her.

Nyana’s reptilian eyes glowed as she whispered a string of arcane words.

Qin looked at her, “No! It’s too dangerous!”

Nyana uttered the last word of power and her body took on a ghostly glow. Qin’s arms passed through her as she floated toward the rubble. The kobold turned to see his cousin float like a ghost.

Nyana was calm as she slipped into the rubble. Ghostly eyes saw past the debris and deeper into the strands of life and death. Two hearts beat, one weak, and the other one weaker. The kobold passed through the rubble seamlessly, moving closer to the weakest heartbeat. It glowed along her senses and as she slipped through closer, it stopped. The life it had leaked away and the soul rose up. Nyana watched with ghostly tears in her eyes, the soul vanishing from her supernatural sight.

“No,” the kobold said before weakness filled her.

She floated through to the other heartbeat. She rose up into an air pocket. The mana from the spell was used up. Nyana rematerialized in the air pocket and collapsed onto the rubble over the unconscious elf.

***

The beast’s knees, shins, and feet crashed through simple homes like paper. Plumes of smoke billowed up from small fires. The monster stared ahead as the inner wall of Gray Gate. Many more archers lined the inner wall, each one pulling back fire and poison arrows.

The beast made a strange, gurgling noise. Two plates along what can only be called its abdomen, blasted out small streams of water vapor into the air. The black plates pushed out as the monster flexed its stomach. It let out another strange gurgle, before the two thick plates detached and fell. They spun and spun, until they crashed into homes at the monster’s feet.

Arrows launched. They streaked at the beast as the two oval holes along its abdomen closed and sealed shut. Flames bounced off the monster as it lifted its leg and stepped over the two thick plates nestled in rubble, making its way toward the inner wall and towers or Old Town.

On the ground, the thick plates, nearly half the size of a house, shifted. Segmented legs stabbed out from the sides. Wide pincer claws unfolded from the edge and eye stalks stabbed out. The legs pushed, lifting the demonic crab body up. Pale eyes on stalks shifted, looking around. They ignored everything else as flaming arrows shot past them or bounced off their armored backs. They searched until one of them spotted glowing mana from a pile of rubble.

The giant black crab began scuttling over the debris toward it. The second one moved in the opposite direction.

Pale dead eyes stared as something stirred on top of the rubble, and more mana glowed underneath. The smaller umbra beast scuttled toward it, its pincers clicking in anticipation of scavenging a meal and bringing back morsels to its parent creature.

***

“Nyana!” Qin shouted as he picked up debris and threw it aside.

The kobold worked feverishly as the sounds of monstrous foot falls moved away from his location. Small, scaled hands picked up chunks of wood and stone, throwing them over his shoulder as he tried to dig deeper.

“Nyana! I will never leave your side!” Qin shouted as he thought of nothing else but digging out his cousin.

A shadow appeared next to him and he turned his head in a blur. The kobold’s heart beat in relief as a young man in black leapt to his side with wide eyes.

“Nyana! She’s buried underneath!” the kobold cried out.

Symon didn’t say a word as he immediately began grabbing a large piece of broken wood and throwing it to the side. The pair worked, digging and pulling out all they could. The rubble shifted, but neither of them slowed down.

Symon moved at a frantic pace. He sniffed at the air, getting a living scent a few feet down.

“She’s right under us!” Symon said as he dug faster.

Qin whimpered his frustration as he dug deeper. “Nyana! Can you hear me?”

“Nyana!” Symon joined and listened for anything.

Sensitive ears picked up a small moan, followed by another.

“I think I hear your cousin, and someone else,” Symon said as he continued to dig.

“It’s the elf from across the street. He tried to help us,” Qin said his voice cracked and his courage began to falter.

“We’re going to get them out! I swear it!” Symon said, trying to keep the kobold’s spirit up as he dug.

A foul stench washed over them as they continued to dig. Symon’s head snapped up and looked over. His heart went cold as a ten-foot tall, twice as wide, black crab scuttled toward them. It snapped its pincers as it barreled toward them.

The umbra crab stared with supernatural sight, seeing thick strands of mana bleeding off not the kobold, but the young man beside it. It quickened its pace, eager to tear the morsels of meat and mana from the creature.

Qin glanced over and froze, the large creature making its way closer to them.

“Star Goddess, preserve us,” the kobold whispered as his life flashed before his eyes.

Symon’s mind clamped down on a plan as he stood up. “Stay very still. I’ll draw it away.”

Qin was still as a frozen lake.

Symon stood up and stepped down from the rubble. He lifted his hands to the approaching creature and waved them.

“Here! Follow me!” he shouted to the umbra crab.

The monster didn’t slow down, making a beeline for the young man. Claws snapped as it crossed the distance in a blink.

“Duck down!” Symon shouted and bolted away.

Qin threw himself into the hole they dug and peered out. The umbra crab ignored him, scuttling on many segmented legs after the young man.

Symon pumped his legs as the creature moved at a shockingly fast paced. Breathing hard, he barely glance back to see the monster was nearly on top of him. A pincer flashed forward and Symon leapt. The claw missed his ankle and foot, snapping shut on nothing. Symon hit the ground, rolled back onto his feet and ran for his life.

The young raven looked over his shoulder to make sure the creature was following him. His eyes widened a hair as the thing was but about ten feet behind him and gaining.

“Hey! Seafood!” came a shout from a tall mound of rubble.

Symon turned his head to see a tall man in a cloak with a book in his hand. The man glared down at the monster crab with a glimmer of madness in his eyes. He lifted up his book over his head and bent his knees.

“This will be a story for the ages!” Cedric shouted and then jumped.

Symon couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The man slammed his boots on the crab’s hard back. A dagger blade slid out of the binding of the closed book as he held it high. The crazed look remained as the brought the blade down on the armored back.

The blade point didn’t penetrate and slid off to the side. Cedric held on as the crab monster spun, trying to shake him off its back. Pincers reached up and behind, trying to grab him. Cedric grabbed a small spike and held on as the monster spun.

“That’s right! I have you on the ropes!” the writer laughed.

“He’s going to get himself killed,” Symon whispered as he considered how to get up there and help him.

The monster stopped spinning, but kept reaching back. Cedric spotted two eye stalks turned and looking back at him with dead eyes.

“Yo ho! A weakness!” the writer said and flung his legs toward the front of the creature, book in hand.

Cedric slid across the monster’s back, pincers reaching and missing him by inches. When he reached the edge, he swung his book and stabbed the blade into a thick eye stalk. Foul blood pulses and leaked as the monster gurgled in pain.

“Foul beast!” Cedric shouted with maddening glee and turned the book.

The dagger point shredded the eye stalk and it limped to the side, hanging on by a sliver of flesh. A pincer whirled around and clamped onto his shoulder.

“Bad form!” Cedric shouted in ghastly pain.

The umbra crab, crazed in tormenting pain, whipped his pincer around with the man and let go.

Cedric spun through the air. Symon bent his legs and leapt up. The young raven and the man slammed into each other in the air and fell to the hard street.

The umbra crab thrashed in pain, a pincer rubbing at the broken eye stalk.

Symon sat up and looked at the man. Blood stained his clothes at the shoulder, but his eyes were open and staring at him.

“Only right, I return the favor you did…in the Spirit District,” Cedric coughed.

Symon grabbed him and began dragging him to the side. The monster continued to trash as Symon pulled the strange man behind a broken wall.

If I don’t lead it away, it’s going to go back for the others. I have to get it out of here!

Cedric’s eyes fluttered as Symon pulled away from him. The writer tried to stay conscious, seeing the young man stand up. He blinked as the young man in black began to change. His body contorted and shifted. Clothes hung on him before falling off. Cedric kept his eyes open, seeing the young man sprout reddish and black fur along his body. Muscles and skin contorted and changed. Black clothes fell off as a fox leapt from them, it's eyes and snout pointed at the thrashing umbra crab.

“Now…that is interesting,” Cedric whispered before he passed out.

A fox darted out into the middle of the street and glared at the monster. The umbra crab stopped thrashing and turned its remaining eye at the fox. The monster was frozen, seeing mana dripping off the small creature. Hunger clawed at it and the umbra crab scuttled after it with greedy intent.

Symon darted away, all four legs moving in a blur. He kept his stride, turning his head and looking back. The monster followed, but it wasn’t as fast as the fox. It’s hunger pushed it to move faster, pincers snapping in anticipation.

If I can pull it back to the wall, maybe I can draw it…

A shadow fell over the area. Symon turned his head up and saw a massive claw come down. The fox leapt to the side as the claw point stabbed into the ground a and shattered the cobblestone street. Rocks went flying upwards, the massive humanoid umbra beast glaring down with dead white eyes.

Symon was suspended in air, looking up at the massive monster.

It must have sensed me.

The fox slammed his back against a wall and fell down on his paws. Disoriented, Symon tried to shake it off. Arrows clattered nearby and he looked off to the side, every archer aiming in the monster, and his direction.

I have to run!

The humanoid umbra beast roared as fire and poison arrows peppered it’s back. It rose up and swung a claw wide, knocking arrows from the sky.

Symon was about to pounce away when a smaller claw slammed into the wall. A rock struck his back and he jumped up in pain. The smaller umbra crab was over him. It’s single eye staring down a s claws opened and reached for him.

Trapped, Symon bounded up onto the arm of the beast. Fear and courage swelled together as he darted up the segmented, chitin arm. There was no thought other than survival as Symon darted onto its back.

  Claws reached up as the remaining eye stalk turned to look at him. The fox jumped and ducked to attacking pincers. Clawed paws scrambled on the monster’s armored back. Symon saw a direct path and he took it. Clawed paws gained purchase and he darted forward. The eye stalk stared at him with a deep hunger. The fox leapt over a pincer and opened his mouth.

The fox clamped his mouth on the eye stalk and shook his head from side to side, hard. A terrible ripping sound filled the space between them, followed by a high-pitch whine from the monster.

I will not be your meal!

The fox pulled its head to the side hard, ripping off the remaining eye stalk.

Blinded, the monster thrashed as pincers swung in wide arcs. Nearby standing rubble was smashed to smaller bits. The whine of the beast stabbed into Symon’s sensitive ears. The fox leapt off and a swinging claw slammed into him.

 The fox yelped as he was hurtled to the side and slammed into a pile of rubble.

I…have…to…get…away.

The fox tried to stand up on shaky legs. It whimpered and fell again, unable to stand up. Bleeding cuts covered its body. A broken rib blazed with pain.

The fox tried to crawl away, painful whimpers falling from it.

Chaos continued to bloom with fire arrows streaking across the sky and shouts in the distance. Darkness grew deeper between blinks as Symon could barely keep himself awake. The umbra crab continued to thrash blindly.

In the far distance, the second umbra crab spied from a distance. It saw the glowing mana from the struggling fox. The monster’s legs began to move, the creature scuttling to its thrashing brethren and the bleeding meal on a pile of rubble.

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