"Every year it happens. Every god damn year," he said, a tone of rage engulfing Mikey's vocal chords. "We never wanted to be a part of this. We never wanted to be hunted. We just wanted to live... but cause we're poor, and they're rich, they think it makes them better than us. Let them try and kill us."
"I'd prefer if we avoided allowing that," replied Tyron. "They're weapons are generally far more advanced than us. Even their tech is better."
"What do you expect?" Konnor's voice was low and melancholic. "We live in scrap and the damned Nobles have all the resources," he explained.
"Don't be so glum," replied Leo, Konnor's feline companion. She then casually returned to grooming herself alongside Konnor.
Konnor felt comforted by the presence of cats ever since he was little. Even more so after enduring genetic experiments at the hands of the Elites. A once normal boy, was altered with the genetics of a lion, to create a super beast. This resulted in Konnor.
Mikey noticed a young scout rushing towards the four of them.
"Nobles are coming! They're on their way right now!" The young scout was panicked.
"Well then we'd better get ready," said Mikey as he picked up his pistol and assault rifle. Tyron and Mikey were the only two people in the village with technology and were definitely the only ones skilled enough to use it.
"Tyron and Mikey, you two get onto the roof," instructed Connor. "I'll take the ones you can't shoot down."
"Cool," Tyron responded.
Konnor and the Groundsmen prepared for the attack, weapons readied. They stood in silence, waiting for Nobles to appear. A light appeared. It was soon followed by another. And then another. And another, until the entire forest was lit up by low orange flames.
"I hope the others are okay," Konnor whispered to himself and, with that, the charge of both sides began.
The sheer numbers of the Noble force was quite overwhelming but could be held off with enough effort. After all, the Nobles had never been better warriors than the Groundsmen.
"Fire," bellowed Tyron. The archers released their arrows, a swarm of them consuming the night sky. Once all the arrows had found target, Mikey started firing round after round of the electrical bullets Tyrone had made for him specifically. The duo were the only two people in the village skilled enough to use the weaponry well. The forest floor was soon covered in blood from skull-piercing head shots from the towers. Mikey wad the most skilled marksman in the village and frequently aided in some of the more complicated food hunts, such as swift buck or Rhino Stags.
Down below, Konnor had began a massacre. He tore through skulls and arms, the jagged side of his Claymore helping to sever limbs from bodies. He decapitated a total of 3 men so far and he was enjoying it. The other Groundsmen were doing a good job to hold off the Nobles, despite the overwhelming numbers. The casualties were high but the battle was still in favour of the Groundsmen. Blood splattered everywhere and the field was littered with bodies, Groundsmen and Nobles alike.
After a time, the numbers of the Noble Rank managed to pierce the outer defence and enter the village walls. This is when the Groundsmen discovered that the Nobles had left their best warriors at the back. A much more challenging battle now began for the Groundsmen. These Nobles were far more skilled than their fallen comrades. They were on equal ground with the Groundsmen, countering each thrust and parry, flawlessly executing their own attacks. The Nobles began lighting buildings with their torches. It didn't take long before the village was engulfed in flames. The fire towered over buildings and roared in dominance, embers and flaming debris crashing everywhere. Groundsmen and innocent bystanders were set ablaze. Some were even crushed by the falling debris. Konnor, Mikey and Tyron rushed in to save anyone they could. Each managed to pull only a few bodies from the wreckage. The village was decimated. Burnt corpses were scattered across the field, low flames still crackling in the cold and depressive aftermath of the battle.
"These bastards... I'll make them pay," said Konnor, running off into the woods.
Alice held Emelia's cold body in her arms. Her tears fell on Emelia's cold and pale face, running down her cheeks.
"Every damned year... Every single year..." Alice said.
"I'm so sorry," Daniel began. "If I dropped down sooner then maybe..."
"It wasn't your fault, Danny," said Kai. "She shouldn't have even been here in the first place," he continued.
"Shut up! These bastards are always hunting us. Now I'm going to do the same to them," Alice screamed.
With that, she lowered Emelia's body and rushed off into the woods, seeing only red.
August barely arrived in time to witness her departure.
"Guys, where's she go-," he stopped mid sentence upon witnessing Emelia's corpse. "Is that-" He was cut off by Daniel.
"Emelia," he said.
"Kai, help with Emelia," said Ali. "August, you can-," but before Ali could finish, August had begun sprinting into the forest in search of Alice.
"Daniel, go with him," instructed Kai. "We'll deal with the rest."
Daniel nodded and ran off, doing his best to navigate the dark forests, whilst Kai and Ali moved Emelia's body. Before they went any further, though, Ali dropped beside the dead Hound. She had noticed a collar on the beast and removed it to read what it said... Property of Amon Khazir.
