Hudsonville: Tales of the Hunted

Chapter 14: The Siege of the Valley

Before the sun even began to rise, the forest already stirred. Rows upon rows of torches, swords, glaives and the like, all fiercely shined in the eyes of the gathered knights, all marching on toward the valley's grand entrance. There they stood, in front of the giant tunnel, filled to the brim with all its bramble...like it stood a chance against the ire of man.

At the very head of the charge, a woman draped in long feathered robes came and approached the vines. She raised her torch high above her head, illuminating the strange veil that covered her face. The woman turned toward her brotherhood and raised her voice.

"Knights of the Natural Order," Talia called. "We are gathered here by decree of our great King Kopernicus to extract a heavy toll. Let it be known that we mourn for this valley."

"We mourn," the knights all declared in unison.

"We mourn for the souls who are trapped within, whose struggle continues with each passing day, whose suffering is perpetuated by falsehoods and perverse ideals."

"We mourn."

"We mourn those led astray by the Daemons, those born of the afflicted, who whisper their false promise of paradise."

"We mourn."

"We mourn the mothers who have lost their daughters, the fathers who have lost their sons—familial bonds, once thought invincible, now shattered."

"We mourn."

"Raise your heads."

A wave of shuffling sounds filled the air as the army looked upward.

"What is your creed," Talia asked.

"To free the unholy from their tainted flesh. To bring purity to this world and to mankind, back to their divine design. To restore, the natural order, and define the line between man and beast once more. To purge wickedness and filth from the world. Every beast will be subservient to man. Every man will be above beast. This is our purpose, this is our creed, that every man be a man, and every beast be a beast."

"We will cleanse this valley and free its people," Talia said. "Let this become a place of rest for the many who suffer."

The knights behind Talia begin to douse the vines in gasoline. The woman approaches with her torch and leans over.

FWOOSH.

Even amidst the light rain, the clouds beginning to roll in, the bramble is engulfed by the raging fire. No little drizzle was going to be putting it out any time soon. The monstrous plants shriveled and shivered under the heat, releasing a disoriented dance of sparks into the darkening night sky. The poisonous smoke that slithered up from the burning bramble was thick and pungent, carrying with it a scent of unnatural life scorched into ashes. Several knights removed their face plates and donned gas masks.

"Knights," Talia's voice echoed through the valley, overpowering even the crackling roar of flames. "Forward!"

They advanced towards the tunnel entrance, every step echoing with unity. Each knight bore a steadfast look. There was no fear lingering in their gazes, only fervent resolve to bring about their twisted ideals of justice. The resounding clanging of their armors drowned any remaining echoes of the forest. The night's subtle symphony succumbed to humanity's cacophonous march of war.

All was not totally quiet within the forest's bounds—on the other side of the bramble blockade, tens if not hundreds of Rangers stood at the ready, weapons drawn, nostrils flaring—if it was a war these Humans wanted, it was a war they would receive, a war they would not soon forget.

The consuming fires continued to devour the settlement's outer shell. The knights continued to march forward.

Just as soon as they had breached the other side, all hell broke loose.