For Peace

6. The Reds

The Reds caught up with them just before nightfall.

Even Yongguk, who was accustomed to the Red ways of hunting, had spent too long apart from his people to notice how close they came. Though Hongjoong warned they were on their heels and the group stayed on alert instead of setting up camp, the ambush came as a surprise.

Yeosang was the first one to growl in alarm when his nose picked up on their scent, no matter how well they hid in the darkness.

As soon as the warning noise reached the others who walked in a tight circle as a defensive formation today, all hell broke loose.

Seonghwa got seized by Hongjoong, an abrupt reminder of the time they had run into Lou Carcolh at the bottom of the canyon. His arm clutched around his midriff tightly and Seonghwa balanced himself with his hands on the grey flesh, ready to get surged through the skies at a flap of wings.

When a shadow sprung at them from the grass to their left, Seonghwa called out in surprise. The enemy had surrounded them, and their weapons clashed with Jongho's steel and Mingi's barriers.

The attackers blended into the twilight with their skin darker than the skies. Since the white hair would have been a dead giveaway even in the tall grass, they had doused it in red that stunk of iron. Their tusks flashed between lips drawn to triumphant smirks, and the madness in their eyes expressed their joy in the hunt.

Hongjoong sliced his claw at the attacking hand axe. As he prepared for the impact, his arm turned into stone from the elbow down in time, so that the blade didn't bite into his skin. The mighty swing threw the attacker off his footing. After a moment of surprise, he recovered with intrigue adding to his thrill.

Hongjoong's tail whipped behind him, checking if the area was clear so he could drag Seonghwa between the trees. The priest watched with big eyes how the others succumbed to fits of yelling and battling with the six Reds.

Wooyoung herded San and Yunho behind him, throwing his smoke bombs and knives as he warded off their attackers. Death from above, Perie picked at the attackers, scratching out their eyes and stabbing her poisonous tail into their necks at Yunho's command. One of San's knives left a bloody gash on the arm of a Red, the others went into the blue.

Jongho stood back to back with Yeosang, swinging his massive sword. The wolf looked too startled by the unexpected attack to defend himself, but Jongho kept the two Reds so busy Yeosang wasn't needed. In return for the protection, Yeosang threw alerts on the attackers' movements at the crusader.

The fool who had dared to attack Mingi was the first to fall. With his heart cradled in his hand, Mingi stepped over the dead body. In death, those wide, terrified eyes suddenly looked all too human.

As Mingi joined the others and left Yongguk the option to retreat so he wouldn't have to fight his own people, Seonghwa was assured they could handle themselves.

The Red with the axe who had attacked Hongjoong came after the fleeing duo. He wove between the trees, bright eyes set on catching the vulnerable priest tucked into the gargoyle's chest. Hongjoong snarled at him once in a warning.

When the Red marched ahead, leaping over a fallen tree, the grip around Seonghwa's waist loosened. A rush of air whirled his hair into his face, then he stood alone. Hongjoong had hurdled over his head and straight at the attacker.

Between the trees, the gargoyle's wings and tails were restricted, but he didn't need them for this fight. His weight brought the Red down and he wrestled the axe from his grip as his wings flared like those of a demon dawning upon his opponent.

Seonghwa averted his gaze when Hongjoong slashed at the man's neck and chest with both clawed hands. Soon, the gurgling quietened when the man choked on the blood filling his lungs.