Elves of Wood and Storm (Book one of The Guardians series)

Defensive Error

Elves were dropping everything and racing for home, glancing over Lucas could see X racing from the village weapons at the ready, he hadn't seen Lucas yet but would soon spot him. A few feet away Lucas saw a man trying to dodge him, altering his own course he darted to the side following the man. A few steps more and Lucas tackled the man stabbing him in the side quickly. The man thrashed, trying to escape but his movements only tore at his flesh.

X was getting closer so Lucas pulled his knife free and kicked some debris into the open wound. If the man survived the initial wound and blood loss then infection would surely kill him. He turned and started running again, still not away from the village but rather towards it. X angled his own path heading directly towards him, faintly Lucas could hear yelling. Nevertheless he continued on his course bearing down on a man slower than the rest. Just a few steps behind the fleeing elf Lucas threw his knife.

While throwing was not the intention of the knife Lucas used, it still thudded home in the back of the man. He yelled and collapsed, Lucas ripped the knife from the mans back running, leaving him groaning in the dirt. X was gaining on him so Lucas decided to pull his hood on. While running the cloak and fluttered back leaving most of his body exposed and visible so he stopped quiet suddenly turning to face his foe. As the fabric settled around him Lucas began to disappear, X was now close enough that Lucas could see the expressions flitting across his face. The surprise was particularly satisfying.

X was only about a hundred feet away when Lucas pulled on his hood, disappearing completely. X skidded to a halt, "What is this betrayer?" Lucas laughed, a haunting sound that echoed despite the open space. X looked around trying to pinpoint Lucas's location but it was nearly impossible. Lucas took a few steps to the left, moving so he it would not be so easy for X to get a lucky strike.

But his movement tipped the trained elf off, X saw the slight depression of damp earth as Lucas's feet hit the earth. Moving as swiftly as he could X jumped towards where the prints stopped but he was still to far away. As he raced towards the probable location of his foe X's face twisted into a snarl. Lucas backed up, then realizing how the other elf as tracking him started to race towards the village, then he ran. X chased after as quickly as he could keep track of the steps, fighting to stop Lucas before his steps disappeared on the stone paths of the village.

But X's speed was hampered by the difficult task of watching for tracks. Lucas gave a shout of triumph as he leapt onto the wooden barrier surrounding the village. He began to scale it with little difficulty, then he froze as the entire wall shifted. X yelled behind him though he didn't hear what it was that he said. Lucas tried to continue climbing up the barrier but he only made it a few feet before the entire wall fell.

It didn't fall down as it would if there was nothing more than poor construction. Instead it fell out, Lucas yelled out as dozens of heavy logs fell on him, rolling out away from the village. The last thing he noticed before falling unconscious was that his hood remained on. Then darkness.
*~*~*~*
X backed up swiftly as his trap was set off, after hearing the shout he knew Lucas was on the wall so he called for the release. Grinning he watched as the entire structure fell, he also looked for some flash of the betrayer but despite the fall it seemed his method of invisibility remained.

After the last puffs of dust settled X jogged up to the pile of wood waving the villagers forward as well. "We need to find the betrayer. Be on your guard!" He waved towards the pile and headed in, feeling along the ground searching for the shape of a prone body. X stood suddenly mentally smacking himself, "Use your hands not your eyes! He has methods of obstructing your view."

Message delivered X continued walking along the felled trees running his hands through gaps but he found nothing. Around him other elves searched as well, but there were no excited cries announcing Lucas's capture. X began to worry that he had escaped, but there was no way he could have climbed down swiftly enough, and the release didn't give him time to get over.

As time passed and still Lucas had not been found X began to wonder if he was on the wall at all, or if he had only shouted to trick him. Paranoia filled him, wondering if Lucas was watching right then or wandering through the village killing without any to oppose him. But he could hear no screams so X continued to search, then he did hear a yell. Swiftly he stood, looking around finding the source of the calls. A woman was screaming, X began to race towards her searching for some sort of threat.