Empyrean Iris

Chapter 25

She claimed, of course, that the Drev did not hunt or eat meat, but as similar as the Drev were to humans, Krill had his doubts.

"Anyway...." The human finished, turning to look at the general, " I will call down another few teams of my men, and then if that doesn't-"

A sharp blast followed by a loud trumpeting noise cut the human off mid-sentence, and the group of humans rose to their feet."

The general followed them soon after leaping upwards, the frills on the side of his head flared completely open.

His eyes were wide and wild, "No, no not here! Not now!"

All around them, the Finnari in the clearing were beginning to panic running this way and that in shock and horror as they grabbed their children form the grass retreating back into the forest with cries of fear and desperation.

The general turned and raced towards the center of the clearing, "To arms!" He yelled, "To arms!" Soldiers to me! We are under attack!"

Not ones to be left out of a party, the humans leaped to follow after him, the captain grabbing Krill by the arm and ordering him to hold on as he charged over the open monochrome earth.

Krill clutched tightly to the back of the man's jacket as they 'hauled ass' over the fine dirt.

All around them civilians continued to flee into the trees as a meager band of – what he assumed to be soldiers – took up residence in the center of the clearing.

Krill held on for dear life as the captain and the marines cut in front and secured themselves positions behind the line of trees.

"Corporal, radio for backup immediately."

"But sir, they'll take at least thirty minutes to-"

"Just do it."

The captain turned his head to look back at the frightened Finnari "Take cover!" he ordered.

The creatures turned awkwardly to look at their general, unsure if they should do what the strange interloper suggested, though it became clear in the next moment that –while he was called a general – it was merely a title.

He looked almost as lost as they did and –seeing someone who knew more than he did about tactics – he motioned his men to follow the human's lead, so the group of Finnari hurried forward hiding behind vacant trees, or in some cases, the humans themselves.

The captain reached down to his belt and unclipped the lead of his dog, handing her off to one of the soldiers who was told to, "Hold back and don't let her loose."

There was plenty of fear in the Finnari's eyes as he was asked to take the dog, but he complied, and retreated towards the tree line with the rest of the group, the dog looking over her shoulder with a great amount of concern.

The general had sidled up to hide next to the captain.

"What kind of weapons capabilities do they have?" The human muttered, his voice low.

The general shifted closer, "Lightning poles. A single touch will kill you instantly.'

The captain grimaced, whispering the information over the coms for his other soldiers to hear.

He tilted his head to the side, "I don't hear anything."

The general dropped his head, "They are masters of stealth. You will never hear them coming." He placed a hand on the captain's arm, "I... I am so sorry I brought you into this. I never thought they would attack at such a time, they never have before."