The Protectors

Chapter 15 - Nightfall

Night had fallen upon the camp, signaling the end of training and the beginning of a time for camaraderie and relaxation. However, the camp's strict rules prevented anyone from leaving its confines. Emile, Luna, Max, and Alex decided to meet up by the river, away from the main part of the camp. Alex, with his extraordinary vision, had discovered documents indicating possible ashenclaw attacks in the captain's tent. Max, confident in his abilities, assured Luna that he could teleport all of them at once. "Of course, I can," he smirked. "I've been practicing, you know. Let's all hold hands and get out of here." Prepared for whatever awaited them, Emile wielded his sword, Max armed himself with guns, Alex carried throwing knives, and Luna tapped into her unique power. In an instant, they found themselves in a small village. The surroundings were dark and quiet, with only a few street lights illuminating the area. Emile couldn't help but notice the lack of houses in the distance. "Is this a farm?" he asked, seeking confirmation from Alex. After a quick scan, Alex replied, "I think so." Determined to uncover the truth, they began walking towards the nearest house. Emile expressed his frustration at the vastness of the area, questioning their chances of finding anything. Curious about the details of the report, he turned to Alex for answers. Alex recalled what he had seen: "Missing people, unexplained animal deaths, and a body with missing limbs." The group exchanged suspicious glances, realizing that an ashenclaw was likely responsible. Max proposed splitting up to cover more ground and increase their chances of finding the creature. Emile, taken aback by the suggestion, reluctantly agreed to lead the mission. "Alright. Max and Alex, you two go ahead and scout. Your teleportation abilities will help you cover more ground and locate the ashenclaw. Luna and I will continue towards the farm area, exploring the houses and barns." With a unanimous nod, Max and Alex teleported ahead while Luna and Emile took an off-road path toward the farm.

Emile expressed his strong dislike for farms, visibly bothered by their surroundings. Luna found his reaction amusing and asked him why he felt that way. Emile explained that whenever he thought of farms, all he could think about was the abundance of animal waste. Luna laughed and pointed out that humans also produce waste, as it is a natural process. Luna jokingly responded that girls don't produce waste, to which Emile said "Don't act like you girls don't destroy toilets." He laughed and she quickly changed the subject, and they continued their exploration. As they approached the house in the middle of the farm, they noticed that it appeared to be empty. They peered through the windows but saw nothing. Luna then discovered that the backdoor was open and called out to Emile. He joined her, sword in hand, and they cautiously entered the house. They searched every room but found no signs of anyone or anything. Luna remarked on the strangeness of the situation and suggested checking the barn. They headed back outside, and Emile suggested running to reach the barn faster. Once they arrived, they immediately sensed that something was amiss.

They noticed blood on the floor. "Stay alert," he warned her. As he peered around the barn's entrance, he turned back to Luna. "There are three inside, feasting on what appears to be a human body." Luna remained composed. "I have a plan for us to strike," she suggested. Emile nodded in agreement and Rage emerged, armed with knuckle dusters. Luna concentrated on her power, summoning two ashen claws before her. "Attack the intruders," she commanded her creations, and they obeyed. "Let's follow their lead," Luna added, conjuring a double-barrel shotgun. Emile was surprised by her choice but trusted her judgment. They trailed behind the ashen claws, catching the real ones off guard. The fake ashen claws managed to wound one of the real ones, cutting its arm off before being defeated, giving Emile and Rage the upper hand. Emile swiftly killed one with his sword, driving it into its throat leaving it lifeless, while Rage sent the other flying into the wall with a powerful punch. Luna's plan unfolded flawlessly until the injured intruder lunged at Emile, slicing his arm. Luna intervened, shooting the intruder multiple times with her shotgun until it fell. As it weakened, she delivered a final shot to its head, causing it to explode. The threat was eliminated.