The War of the Elements

The Journey Begins

(WARNING!! There is some major gore ahead so if you're uncomfortable with that kind of thing then, I'm sorry)

Lila POV

I never realized how boring my shoes were until now. Though I suppose looking at anything for hours on end would get boring.

I looked up slightly to see Jim trodding in front of me.

Well looking at some things for hours on end never get old, I thought. A light dusting of pink covered my freckled cheeks. I shook my head of those, admittedly great thoughts and focused on something else, the sun. It was so god damn hot. Of course the Ghouls had to invade in the height of summer. All of our skin was blistered and sunburned badly, but It wasn't like we could find any type of shade. We couldn't travel at night because the temperatures dropped to about -20 degrees fahrenheit (-28 degrees celsius). So for now we would have to deal with it.

*2 Hours Later*

Step
Step
Step

That has been my thoughts for last two hours. Our skin was badly burned and the night was coming on. The temperature dropped to a comfy fifty degrees, before descending into a much more uncomfortable thirty degrees. Now instead of being hot, we were cold, and it wasn't gonna get any better anytime soon.

Squish!

I was pulled out my thoughts by a loud squish sound come from in front of me. I looked up to see a caravan, though it seemed oddly quiet. I gave a sigh of relief and ran towards the head wagon. It should have been obvious, but I was so tired and the sun had messed with my head. I was oblivious to the signs, the silence, the occasional puddle of blood, the fact that none of the workers had offered to help me yet. I faintly heard Jim and Brock calling me back but I paid them no mind. That was the worst mistake I made that day. When I reached the head wagon I discovered something that would haunt me for years to come.

The workers had been skinned, their skins draped across a ghoul carcass like a cape. They were all gutted, their entrails littering the ground around the Ghoul. The worst part was the captain. He was hanging by his hands by what looked like rope, but upon later inspection was braided human hair. He was skinned, yet not as bloody as the others, his skin was discarded at his feet. The worst part? He was still alive.

I immediately lurched over and vomitted out what food was still left in my stomach. I wiped my mouth and turned around, only for a gasp and a thump to be heard. Brock was laying prone on the ground, with a beast standing behid him. The monster was nearly 6 feet tall and looked similar very similar to a Ghoul.

I screamed in terror and the beast looked up from brock's prone form. A savage grin grew on the beasts face as he leaned over my friend.

Bang!

The beast went rigid and let loose the loudest scream I have ever heard. A little flame grew on his head, quickly growing to cover his whole body, until its unholy screams died out.

I whipped around to see Jim leaning against the wagon his face sweaty and his skin pale. A rather large rifle cradled in his right elbow, a light trail of smoke coming from the barrel.

His lips parted and he said,

"Not today you piece of shit," before he collapsed in a heap.

My mouth fell open as I tried to speak, but nothing came out. Still in shock I took Brock and Jim nd leaned them up against the wagon. the days events started to catch up to me, before I to succumbed to sleep.

-_*_-

Unknown POV

They sent me to search for the lost caravan of all people. The last thing I want is to find my comrades dead, their corpses strung up like drying herbs.

I sighed and unconsciously stroked my beard, a habit I adopted since I could grow a beard. I hefted my rifle (I named her Victoria, after my late daughter), and headed down the road.

After a bit an unfortunately familiar smell assaulted my nose. The metallic smell of blood. I sighed and continued my walk, my rifle slipping into the ready position. I crested the hill to a sight that I had hoped, prayed I wouldn't find. I knew there were no survivors, there never were.

Resigned I walked dow towards the slaughter, trying to find something to give the families, something to remember their sons and brothers by. The scene was horrible, bodies everywhere. I closed my eyes and continued walking.

I stiffened as I heard ragged breathing. It was coming from the strung up captain. My eyes shot open and my head whipped around, and I saw the captain his eyes open In fright. A hoarse whisper escaped, his lips,

"Kill...me."

I looked at him sadness in my eyes, god only knows how long he's been suffering. I lifted my rifle and let out a shot, a lone tear dripped from my eye. My rifle lowered and I turned away. As I turned I saw something that might have made this trip worth it. Three young adults were leaning against the head wagon. The girl was sleeping, one of the boys, an asian looking kid, was knocked out. The final kid looked sick, his brow sweaty and his skin pale. He was not asleep. His eyes were red rimmed and he looked at me with trepidation, the rifle that he was holding propped up against his knee. The barrel was pointed directly at my chest. In a weak yet determined voice he said,

"I'll put a round in your chest if you move one more inch."

I smirked internally, my vest would block the bullet if he fired. Then I took a closer look at the gun. My eyes widened slowly. The gun was a .50 caliber special, with a shock absorber, and phosphorus bullets. That bullet would tear through my vest and carry on into the wagon behind me.

I put down Vic and raised my hands. His trigger finger relaxed and the gun clattered to the ground. Taking in a ragged breath he promptly fell asleep. It was then that I noticed his blood soaked bandages.

I gently picked him up and spread him out on the ground and reached into my pack for my med kit. I took out the alcohol, specially designed to clean out ghoul blood. I unwrapped the bandages and poured it into the wound and then applied fresh bandages. He squirmed as I did so, and I internally flinched, I knew fist hand how much that hurt. It definitely worked though.

I laid the boy down with his friends. I started a fire and set up my thermal tent. I gently and carefully lifted all of the kids into the tent and set up a chair outside. I would keep watch over the kids until sun up. Muttering slightly to myself I said

"Don't worry son, Ol' Barry will take care of you."

(AAANNDD that concludes part three of the War of the Elements! Sorry for the gore, to those who are uncomfortable with it. Any way thanks for reading and part four should be up in the next day or two, so stay tuned!)

~WanderingRanger