The Ballad of the Bygone Drifters - The Brutes

╔═════════ The BRUTES - Chapter ONE ═════════╗

848 Words

“So,” Cailu craned his neck to peer at the three Vayrons tailing him, “You’ve already had a brief introduction to the Brutes, as you saw they are indeed a cheery lot!” he turned back, facing forward, giving a little shrug as he did so, “They’re not horrible per se, they’re just uuh, motivated.” 

Grizz rolled her eyes in response, soft paw pads barely making a noise on the mossy cavern floor. “You could have had us fooled.”

“Ha, well, you wouldn’t be the first to say that… nor the last.” he furrowed his brow ever so slightly before donning his familiar grin, “Anyway, today happens to be competition day!”

The three Vayrons shared an apprehensive look, with Mari once again looking the most concerned. Without any need for prompting, Cailu launched into a detailed explanation of the contest they would be participating in, spinning tales of Haedians launching themselves from spiralling rock pillars to snatch painted golden rocks from their kith and kin. The contest was a free for all, with the only rule being to win no matter the cost.

“And they’re not even real gold?” huffed Otho, “So what’s the point of the contest?”

“The point my friend is to be the best, something that will most certainly aid you in your journey of approval.”

The group paused at the opening of a vast cave, one that seemed impossibly high given its underground nature, watching shadows of Haedians flit between stalagmites, a hint of gold glistening between teeth and claws.

“Oh!” exclaimed Cailu, “They’ve already started, you best get going!”

The three Vayrons yelped as Cailu unceremoniously whipped the back of the ankles with his tail. Otho and Grizz didn’t need to be told twice. Otho darted underneath a stony arch as a Haedian vaulted over the platform beside him, a golden rock slipping from its claws. It swung its huge head around to stare daggers at Otho - a silent stand off - and then they both lunged for the rock.

The sound of claws skittering across the ground and great paws slamming into the rock face echoed around the cavern as the sound of hundreds of Haedians battling over their prizes filled the air. For a brief moment, Otho’s mind stood still - frozen and unsure how to act - as his limbs acted outside of his control sending him careening towards this unknown threat. He couldn’t win a head on fight and he knew it.

But he didn’t have to, he just had to distract him long enough to…

Grizz shot out from the side, slamming into the side of the Haedian at full speed and drilling him into the cave wall. Otho took his chance while the pair were distracted, snatching the shining rock from the cold cavern floor. His claws skittered across the slick surface as he turned on his heels, darting towards Mari who was hunched in a divot in the rock wall.

She scooted to the side to let her partner scrunch in beside her as yet another Haedian barreled past their hiding spot. Otho breathed a deep sigh and rested his weary head against Mari’s shoulder. “After all that,” he heaved, “And I only have one rock to show for it.”

Mari huffed and shifted her weight onto her front paws, leaning her head out to peer towards the melee. “One rock is still a victory in my mind,” she muttered, “In this situation your strengths do not lend to you fighting head on-” she paused for just a second to pull Otho’s head back into the divot as another Haedian screeched past them, followed closely by Grizz on its heels. 

The sound of rock scraping against rock caught Otho’s attention as a golden tinged rock skidded to a stop at his feet. “Your strengths are to protect our stash.” Otho could see a hint of smugness on Mari’s stoic face as they watched Grizz weave underneath the legs of a Haedian who was clearly unprepared to go toe to toe with such a small opponent. It snapped at her heels as she slid under its open wing, snatching yet another golden rock between her teeth.

Just as quickly as she grabbed the rock she was bouncing back on herself, the Haedian snapping uselessly at where she was just standing. Otho’s chest swelled with pride as Grizz effortlessly sprinted towards them, dropping the rock without breaking stride and kicking it towards the pair. The Haedian on her tail didn’t notice its prize was no longer in sight - too focussed on the thief that had pilfered it.

Otho darted out and batted the rock over to Mari, who quickly tucked it away behind herself, increasing the size of their stash once again. “See,” Mari smiled, “Your strength is defence, Grizz’s strength is to fight head on.” The puller surveyed the area, ears twitching as the sound of melee slowly died down.

“Is that it?” whispered Otho, as a resounding clash echoed across the battlefield. Grizz padded towards them, weary and breathing heavily,

“On the contrary, I think that’s the start of round two.”

╔═════════ The BRUTES - Chapter TWO ═════════╗

866 Words

The trio crowded together as Grizz’s fur bristled, she backed up, pushing her companions into the rock face. “Shh,” she hissed, “This one is unlike the others, watch.”

Otho and Mari cautiously peered out into the fray - or what was left of it. Atop a twisting spire perched a lithe Haedian, snapping at the throats of her kin who approached to steal her quarry. Her claws dug into the soft clay-like rock, sending clumps of stone flying as she lashed out. A particularly fearless Haedian snaked up behind her, only for her to spin around and smack him from her perch with a whip-like thrash of her tail.

Grizz’s shoulders slumped slightly as the trio watched their opponent slink around the spire, it quickly became apparent that this Haedian was one to be feared - and the one who held the largest prize.

“Recall,” breathed Mari, “The leader of the Brutes, Zarod.” she nodded towards the shadowy figure. “That must be her.”

“Great.” muttered Grizz, “And of course she has the biggest cache.” she turned to count their own stash, “Not enough to crown us the winners.” she huffed.

“Well,” Otho chuckled nervously, moving his weight from paw to paw, “Second isn’t so bad.”

At this declaration, Grizz snapped her head round to meet his emerald eyes, “You know I will not settle for second.” Otho’s fur at the back of his neck bristled as Grizz’s crimson gaze glistened with glee.

“Grizz, she's at least thirty feet up!” 

“And that is why me and you will distract her. We’ll bring her down from the spire,” she looked to Mari, who was looking more and more concerned as the plan was explained,

“You want me to climb that?!” she jabbed an accusing paw towards Zarod’s tower, “and manage to get down with a handful of rocks? You seem to forget my lack of opposable thumbs, love.”

Grizz gave a half shrug, “That’s why you’re going up - you’re the smart one. I have faith you’ll devise a solution.”

The fluffy puller gave her partner a nudge with her snout, “Good luck, Mare, we will keep her ire.”

Grizz turned on her heel, thundering towards Zarod’s pillar as Otho gave Mari a look of horror, “Uh, be right back!” he panicked, before shooting off after his companion, who was currently in the process of shouting an array of insults up towards the leader of the Brutes. 

Zarod swung her great head around to peer at the source of the unfamiliar voices. Despite the distance between them, she could make out two fluffy quadrupeds barreling towards her. She shifted her weight to leave her chest against the rocky surface of her spire, freeing up her hind legs to relax as her front claws dug into the cracks.

What… are those?  She thought to herself, cocking her head to get a better view of her assailants. Too small to be Haedian… no wings. Her lips drew back into a sadistic grin, a new foe, an interesting foe! Someone to test her mettle?

She braced her feet once again against the rock face, and launched herself towards the newcomers, her lithe form torpedoing down to hit the ground. She landed claws first, sending up a spray of rock and clay. As the dust settled, revealing her bleached grin, Grizz and Otho skidded to a stop.

“And who,” she snarled, “Are you?” Grizz hunkered down, growling low,

“Your new worst nightmare.”

Otho had barely a chance to register his paws stopping and Grizz was off again, ducking underneath Zarod’s snapping maw as she bucked upwards to slam into her ribs. Otho took a deep breath and broke out into a sprint once again, no time to think, time to act. He twisted on his back paws, churning up dirt and clay as he chomped down on Zarod’s soft wing membrane. 

The Haedian roared in pain and in one swift movement lifted her wing to swipe at him with outstretched claws. Otho had barely a second to register the movement before he was sent flying, tumbling over himself to come to a stop, slamming into a heap against the cave wall.

From her perch on the spire above, Mari watched, concerned for her partners. She shook her head and refocused her mind on the task at hand. They could handle themselves, they always did. She pulled herself up onto the final ledge, heart skipping a beat as a few stray rocks slipped out from underneath her paw pads.

She took a second to resituate herself, and slowly lifted her gaze to see a small pile of golden rocks in front of her. For a moment her spirits lifted, only to sink as she linked eyes with another Haedian clambering atop the very same spire, another with the same thoughts of thievery as themselves. There was no time to come up with a new plan, she had to act.

The pair lunged forward, Mari having a slight advantage with her small stature. She scooped her paw around the pile and swiped, sending the golden rocks cascading to the ground.

“Duck!” she yelled down to her partners, as the three fighting below were pelted with the stones.