Hybrids of Team Crafted: Cyber War

It all begins with the End...

  The four set off after lunch, riding off to the north, bringing sufficient supplies, and fully stocked on weapons. Mitch's heart raced in particular. He hadn't seen his family in years, how would they react when he showed up again? Or to be exact, would they still be alive and well?

  Don't be stupid, he mentally reassured himself, they taught you everything you needed to know. They're tough to kill. They've probably even dispatched of the threat already.

  That thought made him feel better. Still, he had to admit he was curious about what was going on there. There had been several attacks here and then, but when they arrived to investigate, the attackers had usually already left, leaving them chasing down cold leads. He relished the challenge, and was anxious to meet the attackers and find out what the heck was actually going on. After all, it unnerved him and everybody else to be kept in the dark like that.

  It took several days for them to reach the northern reaches, as they went to the closest village to investigate.

  It had been attacked before, but the attackers had moved on, finding nothing of interest. Of course, the inhabitants were incredibly baffled at this, but gave the same description. Varied formless attackers, which seemed to be half transparent, speaking or hissing in mechanical garbled tones. Some looked like serpents or worms, while the others resembled strange creatures. Horses, four armed humans, and more.

  "There's a creature there, with three heads and breathes fire," one of the villagers pointed," It's been troubling the neighbouring villages," he shuddered," I've seen it, I've barely gotten out alive."

  "We'll look into it," Jerome promised him, then shared a worried look with the others. It was definitely something not natural.

  "I have a feeling it was one of those things that Israphel released into here," Seto said quietly," That can't be good."

  "Jerome and I'll check it out," Mitch said, checking his quiver," You guys check out the other villages. We'll meet back here."

  "Okay," Jason grunted," We'll take this wolf. You take the other. Be safe."

  "You too,"Jerome called, before the two rode off on their horses, while the other pair set off in the other direction, their respective wolf trailing after them, keeping their distance, yet keeping a steady pace, never seeming to tire.

  "Hold on," Jerome halted," There's a strange scent here. Though it's faint."

  "I think there's a reason for that," Mitch pointed to the ground, where his keen eyes had spotted a large, clawed footprint.

  " Holy jeez," Jerome gasped," Just look at the size of that thing!" 

  Mitch got off his horse, and put his hand on the footprint. The wolf edged close to it and sniffed, before baring her teeth and growling loudly.

  "It's fresh," the archer noted, putting his hand on it gently," Four to five hours ago."

  "Great," Jerome sniffed," So we follow the footprints then?"

  "Yeah," Mitch said," But in case they do run out, let's also rely on smell."

  "Good idea," Jerome said quickly, and sniffed," It smelled reptilian, and I smell some blood as well."

  Mitch then let the wolf pick up the smell as well. Once she got the smell, she barked at the two teens and bounded forward, as if motioning for them to follow her.

  "It's on the right track," Jerome said stiffly," I'll point out when it's wrong."

  "Dude, no offence. I know you got a great nose, but I guess I'll stick to the wolf's for now."