Beyond The Frontline

Fragment Foxtrot

As Colt listened to Dani's recounting of the chaos and carnage in the town of Rine, the gruesome details of the attack played over in his mind, like a haunting echo that grew more unsettling with each word. The more Dani described, the heavier the pit in Colt's stomach became. It wasn't just the lives lost or the destruction—the Black Dogs' total disregard for humanity was what truly shook him.

Colt was visibly distressed by Dani's revelation. The massacre, the brutality—all of it pointed back to one name: Black Dogs. The realization that these ruthless mercenaries had laid waste to an entire town filled Colt with a burning rage that threatened to consume him.

His anger surged, hot and fierce, but he knew he couldn't let it dictate his actions. The horror of innocent lives taken fueled his fury, but he had to keep it in check, though it boiled just below the surface, ready to explode at any moment.

Colt took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. The Black Dogs had shown their true color, and now he needed to plan his response carefully. He couldn't afford to act on instinct alone. Though he didn't know precisely what to do, one thing was certain: the Black Dogs would face retribution for their crimes.

The next morning, Colt spoke with the village head, Theo, and informed him about the attack on Rine. Theo's face reflected his shock and concern—it was one thing to hear about distant conflicts, but quite another to have them happening so close to home. If the Black Dogs attacked Rine, what was to stop them from targeting other villages and settlements?

Theo mulled over the news, his expression troubled. He mentioned he would discuss it with the leader of the village guards later in the day. Colt, not one to sit idly by, volunteered to help. Theo thanked him, relieved to have extra support, especially from someone who wasn't even a local. For Colt, it was simply the right thing to do, especially after seeing what had happened to Dani and the others.

After speaking with Theo, Colt headed to check on Dani and the rest. As he walked, his mind raced with questions. Why had the Black Dogs chosen now to attack? What was their real motive? Was this part of a larger scheme? And most concerning, could this be happening in other kingdoms too? The lack of answers was frustrating, and Colt knew that if he wanted to get to the bottom of it, he might have to capture one of the Black Dogs and extract information the hard way.

When Colt entered the room where Dani and the others were recovering, he felt a wave of relief. The four of them—Dani, Mia, Bella, and the unknown adventurer who introduced himself as Ody—were stable, and their condition was improving. Determined to understand what happened, Colt asked for details. He learned that they were all nearby before chaos broke out. It was midday, and the whole town had gathered to bid farewell to the Black Dogs, who were supposedly on their way to join their main force in Ansur, set to attack the Dark Elf Queen's castle.

However, the Black Dogs had other plans. Instead of leaving, they drew their weapons and unleashed a brutal onslaught, attacking anyone and everyone in sight. Mia and Bella were near Dani and Ody, who reacted quickly to protect them. The two men fought fiercely, shielding the women as they made their way to the horses. They managed to escape before the town was completely overrun, but not without sustaining serious injuries. Mia and Bella were visibly shaken, while Dani and Ody bore the brunt of the attack while defending them.

As Colt listened to their stories, he was horrified by the Black Dogs' ruthlessness. The mercenaries had deceived everyone, pretending to leave for an honorable cause, only to turn their blades on the townspeople when their guards were down. It was clear the Black Dogs were up to something far more sinister, but the details were still murky. Despite the uncertainty, Colt was grateful that his friends had survived, though he knew the road to recovery-both physically and mentally-would be long.