Black Tattoo

Surrounded

I knew they they were coming and I knew it was going to happen soon. From the moment I realized we were being followed I knew. However, I didn't expect so many! This is going to be hard.

It was three when I heard them. When about fifty men armed to the bone walk through the woods they make so much noise. Leader boots stepping on leafs and small branches really can wake you up from a beautiful dream. But I just had to be dreaming right? I rarely dream and when I do I'm woken up by someone attacking me or about to attack me. Great freaking way to wake up.

Not a second passes by the time I changed into something with more mobility. Gray loose pants and a black sleeveless shirt with a hoodie. Yes, a hoodie. I love hoodies, by the way. And loose pants. I undo my ponytail and let my dark hair flow down. I tie the the leader scabbards of my long knives to my thighs, one in each side. I make sure to put them in the best position so I can unsheathe them faster. I grab two smaller knives just in case and hide them where I can easily reach them. And I leave my room roughly after two minute. 

I remember how Sensei made me practice getting ready until my hands bled. He also taught me how to build a gun in less then a minute with my eyes closed. Yeah, he taught me many things but mercy was never one of them. 

Quickly, my feet barely touching the floor I reach Mich's room and open the door. I see him sleeping in his bed. I get close and slightly wake him up. 

"Kara? What's going on?" Mich asks me still very much asleep. 

"A group of armed men are coming. Hurry, go wake up the others. We've got like eight minutes before they get here so let's get everyone in the living room, NOW." I tell Mich, he doesn't hesitate and jumps out of bed. By the time I leave the room he already has his pants on and I see him grab his staff.

As fast as I can I wake up Sokaku explain the situation while he is getting ready. He grabs his sword and a couple of knives as well. 

"They are not ready for this." Sokaky says. He doesn't have to tell me, I already know. They won't be able to knock anybody out. And there are too many just for Sokaku and me. 

"I'll think of something." I say. Without him hearing I whisper. "I hope." 

Together we make our way down to the living room. Everyone is already there and I'm glad to see they are all armed except Alex. The lights are off, so that the armed men still believe we are asleep. 

"Okay, everybody listen up. A group of armed men are heading this way, they will reach us in about three minutes. And let's be honest, you are not ready for a fight this big." I say. I turn and see agitated faces. "This is what will happen, Sydney, Kate and David will go into the lake you will try to stay underwater." I walk over to the wall and with my hand I try to feel a small circle. I find it within a few seconds and press it. A long wooden plate slowly comes out of the wall with different types of weapons in shelves. I grab three long range guns. 

"Have any of you fired a gun before?" I ask. It was no surprise when no one said yes. "Well, you pull the trigger and it shoots. Try to point it towards an enemy. They only have tranquilizers so don't be afraid to shoot them." I tell them and hand them the guns. I turn towards Alex. 

"You will stay here and no matter what happens don't leave the house. " I tell him. I receive a nod in response. I give him a hand-gun either way. Who knows what will happen. 

"Nadel, Mich, Paul, Sokaku and I will go take cover in the trees in two groups. Nadel, Mich and Sokaku will be one team and Paul you're with me." I hand each of them a knife and they put it somewhere, I don't really pay attention to that. "They plan is to hide in the cover of the trees and attack them as they pass through. I don't want any reckless behavior, you will listen to Sokaku's, understood?" I finish.

I turn to look at them all a few look scared now. 

"No one dies, got it?" I ask loudly. I see nods and hear a few of them say yes silently.  None of them seem even slightly prepared and I didn't blame them. This is going to be their first real fight, were our lives are at stake. 

A part of me wants to just go out and rip them apart, with luck I could take them all down. But I can't be too reckless when everybody's lives are on the line. I just hope this plan works. 

"Let's move." I say. Two minutes left. 

Alex stays behind, for some reason, I can't help but get a bad feeling. In an instant David, Sydney and Kate are in the water with their guns ready. Sokaku gets lost with Nadel and Mich. And I waste important seconds as I keep an eye on Mich. 

Paul and I are off, we run into the trees, in a direction close to where the armed men will surely pass next to. I keep Paul one step behind me at all times. Although, he is good, he still has a lot to learn. I'm standing behind a tree that grew surrounded by bushes and plants. Paul is kneeling next to me. With the tree and the bushes it will be harder to see us. Especially now, that it's dark. But they must have night vision. They wouldn't be so careless to attack us without a way to see in the darkness of the forest. 

30 seconds.

They are about to pass through and every step they take I hear it clearly. They are in a formation. Five lines each with ten men. The ones on the side are especially so they will see a side attack first. So we got to take advantage of our upper hand in this. Surprise will be on our side. 

I see movement. Armed men wearing only black clothes slowly appear. They are wearing big black boots, the ones that made so much noise, a thick black jacket and some type of goggles. That must be the night vision. Shit, they are prepared for everything. Even though our eyes are definitely better they are still able to see, which leaves us at a disadvantage and the worst part has to be the bulletproof vest. Our shooters are rookies, who will already have a problem with hitting their target and now they have to worry about a vest. Great, these men aren't playing nice. 

We wait. We wait until all the fifty men have passed us without being unnoticed. Sokaku and I are thinking the same thing, good. We will surrounded them and attack them from behind while our water-shooters attack them from the front. 

Finally, the last ten men pass us. I motion Paul to get up, he does. Without a sound I walk towards the men. Only a few feet away. I see Sokaku come from the covers of the trees in front and we slowly turn towards the men. 

No word is spoken, barely any eye-contact and yet we still know what the other is thinking. I take out my long knives and Sokaku his sword. At the same time both Nadel and Mich transform completely. Nadel's eyes glow bright orange, his hands and his legs take the form of big, strong lion paws, yellowish fur grows throughout his body and his whole face takes the form of a lion. I see a long tail grow behind him. 

Mich transforms, too. Feet change to hooves and beautiful horns start to grow. That's the only thing I can see, because he is wearing clothes. 

I'm the first to move and run towards the men. I get real close before two of them, the closest to us, notice us. I don't let them even make a sound that may warn the others. They fall to ground like sacks of rocks. Sokaku attacks next and takes down the two guys on the right. I'm glad to see Mich literally body tackle the last guy on the right. I don't have time to gloat before men surround me from all sides.