Lost Soldier: 5, Revenge
#5 of Lost Soldier -Book 1- Complete
Here's the fifth chapter of Lost Soldier, enjoy it. My editor has gone missing suddenly so I edited this myself so if you spot something wrong, just send me a PM and I'll look into fixing it.
Vote and Comment as always.
Mike climbed down the large rock formation, that the old man Moons Shadow lived on, along with his mate, Moons Light. Moving through the forest, he paused, leaning against a nearby tree he looked up at the blue sky, just thinking over everything that he had just been told by the old man. It didn't take long to explain what was going on but the short time spent seemed to span for a lifetime of knowledge. Looking to his right he saw Koro, sitting nearby just watching him, but seeing him notice her she padded toward him.
"Do you hate us now Michael?" came the wolf's voice as she sat down near Mike.
"I don't know yet Koro." Pushing from the tree he started off with his back to the wolf, who in turn fanned her ears back, lowering her muzzle slightly.
"Look, if we would have told you anything you wouldn't have..."
"Shut up!" This time Mike did yell, looking back at Koro who stared firmly at him, his anger was peaking once again but after he looked at Koro's firm yet sad expression he sighed then turned away once again.
The old man had told him what the Slicing Wind Clan really was and what these creatures were, as well as what was going on in the woods. The creatures that attacked his team were some kind of government experiment and they were released into these woods to go up against the clans, the original creatures. The entire Slicing Wind Clan were all just like the creatures, save for the wolves and Dire wolves, though they also retained certain, abilities that Mike was not allowed to know until he himself had become truly part of the clan which meant giving up on his humanity.
Koro was right, if he had known anything about that he would have told that old man to take his blade and shove it up his ass, but now he had already taken the blade the deal was struck. There was no taking it back, even though Mike felt like he got the short end of the stick, being tricked with only a half ass knowledge of what he was agreeing to. Blinking, he felt Koro rub up against his side, pushing his hand up with her head.
"Please don't hate us Michael, I understand if you do but..." Mike's hand lightly began to scratch between Koro's ears and he felt her relax under his scratching.
Mike didn't really know what to think of all of this, though he did know that he had to kill those 'other' creatures, which the old man called Hybrids, whereas he and the rest of the clan were Lycanthropes or werewolves, pureblooded mythological creatures.
Apparently the Hybrid creatures had made their territory around the Northern part of the forest. It was at the peak of the rock formation Mike was able to see the field where he had collapsed, just as the Slicing wind Clan had found him, a good three klicks from where the cave he awoke in was.
Turning he started walking, Koro blinking as the enjoyable scratching suddenly disappeared, blinking and quickly padding after Mike before slowly walking beside him.
"Where are you going Michael?" Koro asked, already having her suspicion on what he was thinking about doing.
"I'm going over to the Northern part of the forest to find the Hybrids." Koro was quick to jump ahead and spin around, blocking Mike's path.
"I can't let you do that Michael, Wind told me not to let you leave the safety of the territory," though even as Koro spoke Mike continued on, walking past the giant wolf who wore the expression of 'I was talking here.'
Spinning, Koro dashed ahead again and this time shoved Mike with her head pushing him back. "You're not leaving Michael."
"And you're going to stop me, is that right Koro?" Mike's voice was slowly shifting to anger and Koro stood firm, the fur on her back standing slightly increasing her intimidation factor.
Mike shifted forward and Koro immediately jumped forward, only wanting to land on him and pin him to the ground, but Mike turned out to be fast for a wounded human. Ducking and moving forward, clipping Koro's hind legs, he sent her into a flip where she crashed behind Mike on her back.
Koro flipped around so she was on her paws again, and glared at Mike who was facing her by the time she got to her paws, Koro's anger was beginning to show and Mike could feel it.
"Let me go Koro, that's what I accepted this deal for, isn't this a form of breaking that deal."
Koro's ears fanned back showing a bit of reluctance. "I'm only trying to protect you, you can't leave the territory without others and they won't leave because you're not completely a part of the clan." Mike lowered his head, gritting his teeth slightly at the thought of being a 'complete' member.
Turning around he started off again and Koro was quick to charge after him, though she didn't jump to his front instead she jumped toward his back. Spinning to see a giant wolf in mid flight, Mike jumped back but Koro was too close and her massive fore paws landed firmly on his shoulders, sending him falling to the ground.
Slamming into the ground with Koro on top of him, Mike grunted though as he fell his hands worked quick and now his left hand gripped the fur on Koro's throat with his right holding his knife mere hair length's from her flesh. Koro's expression was a mix between shocked and hurt as she felt what was near her throat.
"Y..You'd draw such a thing on me.." Koro's voice quivered slightly as she spoke and Mike could see her eyes close with a few drops forming at the edges.
Mike was about to speak when Koro jumped away and turned her back to him with her head down and her tail tucked, "Go, I won't stop you anymore."
Mike slowly stood looking at Koro, seeing that she was shivering slightly but tried to hide it. He felt his stomach tighten and the distant need to vomit but he swallowed it, turned around and started off again, looking at his blade before tucking it back in his pants.
The old man had spoke of his weapon, it was a dangerous tool for anyone in the clan. Once he became fully one of them it would be a danger to him as well and he would have to abandon the blade, or at least keep if from touching his flesh. Pure silver had been the main material in making the blade, it was more or less the only thing that could harm them and Mike found it strange that the stories about silver killing werewolves to be true.
Looking over his shoulder he saw that Koro had disappeared and he felt even worse now. Moon's Shadow had told him that to draw that on any member was enough to warrant death, but even without it touching them it insulted them and would hurt anyone just to know that he was threatening their life.
Sighing and turning forward, he steeled himself for what he had to do, he didn't want help with this anyway nor did he want to be a part of the clan to fight them. He was going to kill them now as he first encountered them, the chances of him surviving were slim to none but he would make sure every one of them died in the process.
As he neared the edge of the forest, he emerged into the clearing. It was dusk and quickly fading into dark, though the time didn't catch his attention, Wind who was leaning against a tree however did. He stopped as Wind moved off of the tree and blocked his path.
"You know, you really hurt Koro's feelings back there, she only wanted to protect you," came Winds nonchalant voice as she looked the human over.
"You gonna stand in my way too, Wind?" Wind shook her head and stepped to the side.
"No, I'm just here to see you off, as is custom when our clan members leave the territory. Also know that we will not raise our hands to help you should you not cross this line," she said, drawing her heel thorough the dirt and grass just behind the start of the tree line.
"Even if you're only a few inches from this line, until your entire body crosses it you'll be left to whatever fate you brought upon yourself, understand?" Mike didn't answer her question as he walked past her, though there were no words needed to be said since Wind made it clear.
Passing Wind, he moved through the large field toward the other side of the forest where the Hybrids dwelled. As night fell further onto him he found that it would have been smarter to bring a flashlight since the clan took his rifle that had the light attached to it, and it wasn't a full moon it would be difficult to see but he pressed on. Moving into the forest and looking around, he saw that it all looked the same though he felt that he was going the right way, the smell of blood was thick in the air and as he moved forward it slowly became stronger.
He walked for nearly an hour before stopping at a familiar sight, looking over the area seeing the burnt and scattered dirt and grass as well as the blood that stained the ground and trees, this was where he lost his team and where the beasts had destroyed his family. Moving forward, he knelt down by the tattered remains of a combat vest before a howl rang through the darkness. Slowly standing, no longer afraid, Mike reached back and slowly drew the blade from the back of his pants, flipping the blade in his fingers and holding it along his forearm before just waiting.
He stood quietly just listening to the silence that surrounded him, he could hear panting and feel the eyes scanning over him though they kept their distance and he knew why. The fear of the weapon he held in his hand kept them back and in his mind he smiled at being able to strike fear into them. He knew that the fear would disappear when the fighting started though and he had to be quick. If he faced off with two he wouldn't last but mere seconds before he was torn apart, scanning the area in front of him he did a quick re-count in his mind at how many were left.
Around four if he did the math right but he couldn't really be sure, he really wished he had a flashlight but it was too late now. Looking over his shoulder, he let the dim moonlight show him where the creatures were, one behind him while two stood in front, the last one on his right from what he could tell.
Now all there was to do was to wait and see which one got the guts up to attack him. Hopefully one at a time but the chances of that were slim but as he thought over the odds the one to his right roared and charged forward, it's speed was faster than he remembered. Blinking and ducking down quickly as the beast swung its massive right paw, Mike nearly lost his footing on the few dry leaves that had fallen from the trees. Steadying himself after the initial attack and jumping up he brought his knife up and slashed the Hybrids right knee, making it drop to his level.
Once the beast was low Mike wasted no time in pulling his blade back and slamming it through the beasts eye, he wasn't going to try and make them suffer like before, he just wanted them dead and that's what he was going to do without fail. Ripping his blade out of the creature's eye and spinning to see the other three grouped together in the darkness, letting the first one make his attack only to fall. As the first beast fell to the ground the other three became enraged and charged, Mike knew this would happen.
One on one his chances were near zero, two on one he was almost assuredly dead but three he had no chance, but Mike smiled as the creatures neared, flicking his left thumb up pulling the pin from the grenade that he had picked up off the vest he found. Tossing the grenade up hitting the Hybrid in the middle as the three charged, the three seemed to remember the grenades and the two on the sides jumped away as the grenade exploded, the blast cutting through the middle Hybrid easily.
The two others seemed stunned and that gave Mike enough time to charge the one on his right, slamming his blade into it's right side and ripping hard to the right, slashing it's side open before jumping away as it howled and lashed out at him. The left side of Mike's shirt was shredded as he landed on his back. Rolling over and quickly scrambling to his feet as the Hybrid charged him, in a fit of anger he flipped the blade forward again and threw it at the charging creature, catching it in the side of it's throat.
Blood gushed from the creatures throat staining the air as it crashed down and began thrashing around on the ground, trying to knock the blade from it's throat. As Mike watched the creature thrash he was rudely interrupted by a massive force from behind. The last Hybrid had slammed its paws around Mike, pinning his arms to his sides and began crushing him. He let out a cry out in pain, the wounds in his sides opening once again and the sound of his already broken ribs cracking once again as the creature bared down on him.
Mike was then thrown aside by the creature. It seemed like a light toss to the beast but Mike flew several yards before slamming into the ground with a grunt and a burst of blood spraying from his mouth, staring up at the night sky through the green and lightly colored leaves. Soon the last Hybrid came into his view, leaning down and grabbing his broken body and hoisting him into the air. The creature's lips pulled back in a sickening and twisted smile before it's large maw opened to end Mike's life, but he smiled and pulled his right fist back clutching an incendiary grenade.
He slammed his fist forward with the last bit of strength he had, shoving his fist down the Hybrids throat, making sure it swallowed the grenade. This gagged the Hybrid making it hack and throw Mike aside, crashing into the forest floor once again, hacking as the air was knocked from his lungs a second time. Mike pushed himself up slowly on shaking arms, seeing the Hybrid hacking over and over before howling as flames began to erupt from it's stomach and soon burst from it's belly, engulfing it in flames and dropping it to the ground where it burned.
Flopping back and panting softly as he felt blood running down his sides for the third time in his life, his ribs were screaming and his sides were on fire but he felt happy, he got the creatures that had killed his friends. Mike laid there for hours it seemed, just watching the crescent moon slowly move over the night sky. Slowly he began to push himself back to his feet, grunting and cursing all the while as he staggered and leaned against a tree for support, sighing he stood himself up and looked around.
He had done what he wanted but now what was he going to do? Going back to the military was out of the question, as was returning to his normal life, he couldn't face his team's families and tell them what happened though, he knew they wouldn't believe him. Looking to his right, he wondered if he should return to the Slicing Wind Clan, though he knew what that would mean.
He didn't have too much time to think as a familiar sound rang throughout the forest and a cracking of wood came to his ears as a small hole was burrowed into the tree he was leaning against. The bullet was so close to his head that he felt the heat of it as it passed right in front of his nose before digging into the tree.
Jumping back and looking to his left he saw nothing but darkness, but knowing that someone was out there with a scope and was looking at him, from his training he could tell that the rifle was a military issued weapon and that the sniper missed him on purpose. Standing there he jumped back and quickly pressed his back against a tree.
"What are the fucking odds?" he hacked out, his ribs hurt, he was bleeding to death for a third time in his life. He had just fought some of the most ferocious beasts that he had ever heard of and now he had a sniper and most likely a military team after him.
"I hate my life," he groaned out, before he started running despite his body threatening to shut down and let him drop. His legs covered in the warm liquid that was his blood pouring down them, his already open wounds protesting the movement even more as he charged back toward the Slicing Wind Clans territory.