The Quest for Onyx (Book 1)

Chapter 8

A couple of months later and the village is still recovering from the last Night Crawler attack. I still feel like there was something off about those Night Crawlers, but no one will really listen to me when I try to explain. Nothing new there.

The village wall is still being repaired. The damage was so extensive it's taking the brick masons a long time to get up enough blocks and mortar to fix the gaping hole in the wall. Many of the buildings in the town square are either badly damaged and under repairs or they were completely leveled.

Thankfully no one was seriously injured. And I'm glad about that.

Tiny is bouncing up and down with excitement. Today is a big day for him because today is career day for his class at school. Last year he got Erin to do it...now this year I'm going with him for it.

The conversation still plays fresh in my mind.

"Pleease Essix! You've gotta be the one for my career day presentation!"

"Tiny you know public speaking is not my thing. Plus I doubt any of your friends want to hear me talk."

"But you're the coolest fox I know! You get to fight all kinds of dangerous monsters! And...you're the one I look up to."

I sigh in defeat. "Ok fine. I'll participate in your career day presentation."

"Really you will?!"

"Only because you're so cute...and very persuasive."

"Yay this is going to be the best career day ever!!"

I smile as I remember that conversation from this morning. The way his whole face lit up when I said I'd do his career day presentation and the way he said he looked up to me. It makes me realize I would do anything to protect him.

Mr. Copperfield waves me over as we pass by.

"Essix I'm afraid I've got some news."

"It must not be good judging from your tone of voice." I say.

"And you're right, it's not. Several villages to the south have been raided." Mr. Copperfield says.

"But villages get raided all the time in the south by the vandal tribe." Tiny pipes up.

"That's the thing. It wasn't the vandal tribe. There was only two attackers. They swooped in and either killed or destroyed most of the villages in the southern canyon." Mr. Copperfield replies somberly.

"Wait you said swooped. What do you mean swooped?" I ask suspiciously.

"The pair were fox warriors just like us. Except these two had gray and black fur and they each had a pair of dark colored wings."

"What that's impossible!" I gasp.

"I wish it was love. But it's not. The survivors are calling the pair the angels of death." Mr. Copperfield says.

Well now I definitely have something to protect Tiny from. Who are these two angels of death? And where did they come from?

🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

Tiny is that one kid that doesn't do boring. If he is going to do anything it's go big or go home, and in this case he wasn't going home. I guess that's the reason he asked me to come with him. Oh well, I'll go along with it.

"Ok class. Next we have Tiny."

Tiny smiles "Thank you Mrs Granger. Ok. Prepare yourself for my presentation!! Essix help me out please."

I walk out onto the stage and everyone claps.

"This is my big sis Essix. She's super tough and she is part of the village army that kills monsters like the Night Crawlers that attacked us a couple months ago." Tiny says enthusiastically.

That wins the attentions of his classmates. I hear a couple of oohs and every kid in the room's attention is trained on me.

Tiny doesn't say anything else and I realize that it's now unfortunately my turn to speak. "Umm like Tiny said my name is Essix. I work in the village army. Uhh...anyone have any questions for me?"

Several hands fly up in the air. I choose a young looking fox in the front and call on him.

"What kind of monsters have you killed? And how did you do it?"

"That's a good question. Why don't I tell you guys?" I reply. I'm not sure if I should be concerned about that kid or not. He seems kind of violent for being so small. Slightly disturbing.

I begin to recall some of my battles I've had with different monsters. Acting out some of my battles for the kids. Who enjoy every second of it. I've chosen to edit out certain gory details to make this more kid friendly.

Just before I get done telling my last story, a loud bang comes from outside the school house.

A group of Trackers rushes into the classroom. I can tell by their intense gazes directed towards me that whoever hired them sent them after me.

Trackers look like armadillos with a lot more muscles and then there's the fact that they walk on two legs instead of four. They possess a crazy knack for being able to track anyone and anything anywhere in the world. Unfortunately they don't use their skills for good and rent out their services to the highest bidder.

I distract them by moving myself in front of all of the kids. I gotta keep some safe distance between them and the Trackers. I count four of them. This is gonna be tough.

Before they can attack me first, I quickly draw my sword and perform a quick series of slashes. Two of them are taken by surprise and they explode into sand when my sword connects with them.

I keep a mental count in my head. Two down, 2 to go. They mean business now. The next one tries a surprise attack. He manages to knock my sword out of my hand, but I lash out with a flurry of precision kicks and punches. He goes down slumped on the floor and out cold. I marked up a point. Three down, one to go.

I look around but I don't see the last one. I begin asking the kids if they saw him leave the room and they said no.

I narrow my eyes and survey the room. "So where did he go?" I mumble to myself.

My question is immediately answered. A small grenade looking capsule is thrown through the window and  into the room. Instantly all the doors and windows slam shut and smoke begins pouring out of the capsule.

I know exactly what it is. Crap am I that dumb? I should've known there were more Trackers outside. They always travel in packs. I should have never taken my eyes off of that last one.

"Don't breathe the smoke!! It's knockout gas!!" I shout.

Unfortunately my warning comes a little too late, many kids are passed out and are sleeping on the floor.

The knockout gas must be a modified version made to be much stronger than normal because I'm struggling not to fall asleep. I can handle the normal version because my unit trained in it so we'd be able to withstand it when we sedate large creatures. But this stuff is much more potent and I'm struggling not to fall asleep.

I finally couldn't stay awake and I collapse onto the floor. The last thing I remember doing before I black out is pulling Tiny close to me.

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What's up guys?!

Here's an actiony chapter for you to read. I hope you enjoyed it!!

Oh no!! The hero has been kidnapped!! What do think is going to happen next?!

As always please vote and comment!! My writer self esteem depends on it!! Not really...but I do appreciate the feedback 😄

See ya guys!! Coolest Loser out!!

-----ScarletApollo99