Overwhelmed [3] 《SHADOWHUNTERS》

Chapter Thirty-Two

This was not how Simon wanted to find out that films about war zones weren't even close with their sound editing. To create it realistically would cause one to make their audience deaf. Screams – he thought he'd heard bad screams, his mother's emotional breakdown after his father's death always fresh in his mind – echoed all the ghoulish pain at a fever pitch. The group of soldiers they followed had stepped through the reeds in the forest as if there weren't bodies within pools of blood around them.

"They pushed them back," a kind but blunt man spoke loudly over the chaos just two hills away. The stranger had taken note of Simon's unease had taken to explaining a bit of the process. Then, the soldier looked to the commander of their Unit, who took up the lead with the vampire he had paired with to share a binding rune. "I'm gonna set up a blue flair, let the medics know they can search here."

Their commander approved it, but told them to make sure to guard any of them that showed up in case the tides turned again. They hoped that the inexperience of the Circle was what gave them an advantage, but none could shake off the fright that came with having to defend their entire countryside.

Hooves echoed off in the distance, at least two pairs. A blood-curdling cry spiked up above the grunts of effort. The Nephilim may have pushed the attackers back, but it wasn't without a struggle. Simon gripped the sword at his side and tried not to let his bones shake from apprehension. Names that he didn't recognize were yelled through the trees just ahead with a serious request for backup. "We need to help," a woman who held her hair back in thin braids insisted, bouncing the hilt of her seraph blade against her palm.

Their commander turned them down. "We're set to protect, until we see the target. Today's not the day to show me you can be a leader, Imnet." The way he scolded her made it seem to Clary and Simon as if it was a common occurence. "It's the day you earn medals for following."

"Or falling." A less-than-enthused vampire piped up from behind. It earned a glare from the Unit Commander, which triggered a shrug from the pale man that had spoken. "This is something to die for, but I still don't want to die." The vampire admitted, offering a sneered apology to the Shadowhunter he had been paired with.

The Commander considered it for a second and offered a thoughtful dip of his chin. "Then fight for your life." He stated the obvious, and yet, even Simon had to admit it sounded profound. Perhaps it was with death just beyond the dip of the forest that caused the feeling. Or perhaps, Simon had grown into a different person than high school him would have ever considered.

"Fall back, last line!" The words echoed through the trees, with the same intensity of a flag before a race. Another voice offered confirmation, while a higher one screamed, "Where is backup!" The chaos roared louder as it shuffled back, and Clary's neck craned up as she spotted the glimpses of swords from over the ridge.

The Nephilim referred to as Imnet had a look set onto her face as she stared holes into the side of her Commanders face. He shot her one right back, that said to stay put.

The warrior disregarded him and ran forward. The Commander couldn't keep the "shit" from tearing out of his mouth before he was forced to act ahead of his desired moment. He believed that to run forward was an act of impulsivity, and that all enemies, even demonic, could sense that and use it against a soldier. "Archers! Ready!" The Unit Commander spouted off. He watched his trained squad as they did as told, any without long-distance weapons ready to draw their own. "Lus!"

A line of arrows shot forth blindly through the woods, arcing up towards the canopy before they drew back down, fast, to any targets in their way. As soon as the arrows had been released, the another being drawn tenfold was scraped into their ears. A loud array of shouts sounded, their enemy working to move forward. "Go after Imnet." The Commander ordered of his men, a rallying cry offered soon after. "Into the blaze!"