Child of War (Tales of Autcrem)

Chapter five, Unexpected Beliefs

The next day they buried Alan on a hill not so far from the forest. It was a quiet day. Clouds of glume and silent pain filled the skies. The world seemed dark and quiet. It paid its respects for the fallen men and women in this battle and the countless others that were raging. Funny to think how just miles away other battles were being fought.

They all helped dig Alan's grave. For only a week, they knew him, but it affected all of them. Mull the most. They liked the idea of a new friend. Another one to shoulder the pains with, another one to laugh the fun times with. Another one gone, like the wind he came and drifted away.

The shovels dug into the ground, and it was the only sound that filled this gray and dull world. They lowered his body into the hole and began to bury him. "Just another day in the Double H division." They all muttered. When the final pile of dirt fell, they placed a cross made of wood as the gravestone. On it read "Alan Modret. Heaven sent and Hellbound." Not very comforting last words but thus is the life of the Double H division.

They all walked back without saying a word. They ate their meals quietly, like everyone else and went to bed. The Captains left the camp going to report to the sixth Division that the forest was clear. They would do another sweep in the morning then head out.

The night was silent, so very silent. It normally was. Then like thunder in a rainstorm, the sound of death roared through the night. Hensei, Baz, and Gav were up in a moment, a night raid.

War cries began to fill the air as steel clashed with steel. Gav and Baz came out of their tents with their weapons, Hensei limbing behind them. The war cries were harsh and throat-ripping. They were the war cries of orcs. Orcs were raiding the camp, but this was a Double H camp with two squads. So their war cries began to turn into death cries.

Hensei saw one come around a corner and charge towards them. It had a large miss figured horn sticking from its forehead. It was a demon orc. They were created through the use of dark magic known only to the orcs. Monstrous beasts, far stronger than any normal orc.

Hensei stepped forward, getting ready to draw his sword then stumbled as his wounded leg gave away from the pain. Baz and Gav were already zipping past him and cutting down the beast in fluent movements.

"Hensei, just stay put!" Baz shouted as another one came out. "You're too injured." He and Gav dance around its wild swings. He swung his ax like a beast, but it was fast and powerful. It could cut you in two.

Suddenly from the tent in front of Hensei exploded another one of the beasts. He was big and gray. Red eyes like a demon, two twisted horns going sideways out of its head. An ax that was taller than Hensei.

Hensei heard Gav and Baz scream his name. He heard Sarg shouting orders. He heard a lot of things going on around him, but he was only aware of what was in front of him. He began to draw his sword as the beast swung. He cursed in his mind for his sword was too long, and he couldn't draw it in time. He began to pull Gesh into his body, which was harder with the injuries. He held his sword still sheathed at his side to block the ax. He formed what he could of a Gesh shield around his sword. Then the ax connected.

It struck with an earth-shaking boom. Hensei felt the massive ax crash into his sword. He felt himself lift into the air as it sent him flying like a bat hitting a ball. The world raced around him as went through the air out of the camp and hit the ground with a few bounces. Pain screamed through his body as wounds opened, and new ones blossomed.

He heard water running behind him. It was the river. He had been launched over fifty yards from a single hit. That's why it hurt so much. He spits some blood out from a cut in his mouth. He got up to his feet slowly. The pain just kept screaming.