A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 11

Mako came awake quickly to the sound of crunching snow and movement outside of the tent. His hand immediately went to his longsword as he absorbed his surroundings instantly. Winter was right next to him, but she was already up and moving, her quiver of arrows strapped to her back. She was picking up her bow when she looked over at him and their gazes met. They both wore the same look of determination in their eyes and they knew to have each other at their backs was the best they could ask for in regards to their mutual survival.

"What is that?" Winter asked as her eyes darted to the entrance of the tent, wide with worry. She pulled one of her arrows free of its quiver, but didn't knock it back yet. Instead she sat there listening to the noises from outside and her fear was a palpable thing. It seemed to electrify the entire place.

"I don't know." Mako replied as he unsheathed his sword. The sound of steel grinding against wooden sheath in the darkness of the tent made him feel better in that moment. " I just woke up a minute ago. But I suppose we're about to fine out."

The Ranger swallowed, but nodded her head. "Aye it would seem so. Let's go face our would-be attackers." she told him with great bravado. He stared at the woman a bit taken aback by her eagerness. Then a smile appeared on his face and he nodded his head. The calamity was only growing greater and louder outside drawing his notice.

With a nod the Prince shot to his feet and darted out of the tent so as not to be caught unawares or as he was bottlenecked in the opening. Stepping into the cold it took him a moment for his eyes to clear since the golden sun was up overhead, obscuring his vision. Once it did clear and everything came into focus it was like something out of a nightmare.

Large fur covered creatures had surrounded the camp and were moving in on their position. The fur of the beasts were snow white like that of their environment, but their eyes were a blood red. They were large and very muscular much like that if a gorilla. Their large black hands were topped with razor sharp claws and there were long fsngs in their mouths as well. It was quite obvious that they weren't completely wild beasts though. They wore heavy steel armor that fit strangely fluid with their size and girth. Also, they carried spears in their large hands and wore swords at their belts.

The creature's had noticed him as he entered the small ring that they'd made around the camp. One of the large gorilla-like beasts opened its mouth and said something in a foreign, booming voice ans pointed at him. There were murmurs among the gorilla beasts as they began to move closer, tightening the ring around the tent.

"By Goran's Axe." the exclamation came from behind him as Winter left the tent and saw what was going on. She moved up beside him and he heard her visibly swallow. "This isn't good. Not at all."

The Prince looked at her. Being a native she probably knew what these creatures were. "Winter, what are these things? They look like gorillas, but their wear armor and bear arms like men." he said, pointing out the painfully obvious.

The Ranger looked at him, her dark blue eyes filled with fear. "They aren't gorillas that's for certain. We call them Yeti's. What they call themselves we have no idea." she told him in a hard voice. She looked between the ring of beasts and him again. "The Yetis are sentient creatures and they obviously are more than savage beasts. No beast could work iron and steel like that. They've been a constant nuisance and plague to my people, often ambushing supply trains going to one of the cities and killing everyone."

He frowned at that. "If that's the case why are they attacking us?" he asked as he held his longsword out in front of him in a show of defense.

"I have no idea, Martin."

"Great."

"I know it sucks, but we have to try to get out of here. There's no way we'll beat this many."