The brutes clan pt3

Mer stood on the jagged terrain, chest heaving as the other three reos congratulated him for doing so well. 

 

"We won" said Cailu, his tone sure. "You did good, Mer"

 

Valentine snorted, a small smile pulling at his lips at their scheme working. Jeon-e was off to the side, looking around attentely and not commenting their victory. "Keep it down," she said, her voice soft but firm. "The Brutes won’t take this loss quietly. Don't make a mockery of the race, we cheated so we could win"

 

The words had barely left Jeon-e's mouth when a guttural snarl ripped through the air. The reos all snapped their heads up, their small talk replaced by a tense silence. The ground trembled under the force of approaching footsteps. Then, she got really close to them.

 

Zarod.

 

Up close, she was huge, her hulking form filling the space over their heads. Her coat was a deep, almost metallic black, and her red eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight through them. The red gems on the walls paled in color compared to how her eyes shined with rage.

 

"You made a mockery of the race," Zarod’s voice rumbled, low and dangerous, "cheating right in front of our eyes."

 

Cailu’s ears flattened against his head, "We won just like your clan would do-"

 

"Like we would?" Zarod snapped. Her teeth flashed as her lips curled back in a snarl. "These races establish our hierarchy, we decide our ranks on them. Moreover, do you think we would stay quiet while you take our resources to boost yours? Who wins the race keeps the gold, you have no right to keep the gold earned by the others fair and square."

 

Jeon-e stepped forward, her eyes meeting Zarod’s without flinching. "Your clan members attacked us right as we entered your territory, trying to steal from us the little gold the Forgotten gave us to be able to compete. You don't steal? I don't think so"

 

The words landed like a slap, and the tension in the air became almost tangible. Zarod’s massive claws scraped against the stone floor as she stepped closer, her eyes narrowing at Jeon-e. "That is not a race, those are internal conflicts. You insulted us with your behaviour.You will fight me"

 

"We will?" Mer echoed, his voice shaking with fear, looking at the backs of the other reos'.

 

"Yes." Zarod growled low, her voice reverberating. "A challenge you cannot back down from or cheat. You four against me. Here and now."

 

Cailu's wings fluttered. "One on four?"

 

"Scared?" Zarod’s grin was cold and predatory.

 

Jeon-e’s tail flicked behind her as she took a step closer to Mer, her voice low. "Can you keep up or are you too exhausted? I'm sorry I'm asking this of you, but I'm sure if we back down, the Brutes’ Clan will never let this go."

 

Mer nodded, and Cailu who had been watching them stepped up, spreading his wings to cover them so they could get themselves ready. "We will fight." His eyes locked onto Zarod’s. Then, we jumped.

 

The fight began with a burst of motion that sent dust spiraling into the air. Zarod lunged forward, her massive frame barreling toward Cailu, who had been going for her throat but now barely had time to leap aside and avoid Zarod's hit. The cavern floor shuddered under her weight, and sparks flew as her claws scraped against the stone.

 

"Scatter!" Jeon-e barked, darting to the left. She moved with heavy paws as she attempted to flank Zarod. Mer followed her, circling to the right, his legs fast, sign of someone who was used to herd pray.

 

Valentine stood still for a while, understanding how the situation evolved and assessing the best steps. His muscles coiled like a spring as he waited for the perfect moment and, when Zarod’s attention shifted to Jeon-e, he lunged, his jaws snapping for her hind leg, trying to incapacitate her.

 

Zarod was fast, faster than they expected for her size, and it was difficult to deal with. She spun on her haunches, wings wide for balance, and slammed into Valentine with enough force to send him skidding across the cavern floor, back a few meters from the fight. He yelped as he hit a protruding rock, a sharp sound and his cry echoing through the space.

 

"Valentine!" Jeon-e was filled with worry, but she didn’t hesitate to strike Zarod, the thought of incapacitating her enough to be able to leave and check on Valentine at the forefront of her mind. Using Zarod’s momentary distraction, she leaped onto the haedian's back, her claws digging into her smooth back and wings as she snapped at Zarod’s neck from behind.

 

Cailu darted in too, his smaller frame allowing him to slide in between Zarod’s legs. He lunged for her exposed flank, his teeth sinking into flesh. Zarod let out a furious snarl, bucking wildly to shake Jeon-e off before twisting to snap at Cailu.

 

Mer hesitated, his eyes darting between his brother and Zarod, trying to understand what should be his priority. He looked at Valentine, his form trying to stand up, and decided to surge forward and aim at Zarod’s unprotected side.

 

The coordinated attack began to work, Zarod’s movements slowing down as she was repeatedly injured in critical points and having to follow three reos at the same time. Still, she refused to go down easily, and with scream she reared onto her hind legs and slammed her front paws down, moving her whole body like a horse trying to shake off a human.

 

Cailu and Jeon-e were knocked off balance and let go of their grip, and Zarod took the opportunity to focus on Mer, who had been circling her and kept biting her. She charged at him, her teeth bared. Mer tried to dodge, but she was too fast, and one of her paws landed around his shoulder, almost dislodging it as he cried in pain.

 

"No!" Valentine’s voice was a hoarse snarl as he forced himself to his feet. He managed to stand, so he had not sustained life altering damage, but he was in pain as he launched himself at Zarod, his teeth finding purchase on her neck. He clung on tightly, his weight pulling her head down and giving the others a chance to find their bearings. Zarod was about to paw him off when Jeon-e lunged for Zarod’s exposed throat, putting herself between Zarod's paw and Valentine's body, her jaws snapping shut just inches away since she got redirected by the paw that landed on her side. Zarod roared in frustration, finally shaking Valentine off and stumbling back. Blood dripped from multiple wounds, her coat wet with dripping blood.

 

"Enough!" Zarod’s voice was a guttural roar, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The four reos froze, their sides heaving as they eyed her warily.

 

For a moment, silence filled the cavern, broken only by the labored breath of the five reos. Zarod’s legs trembled, and with a heavy sigh, she decided to end the fight. "You win," she got out curtly, "get out of our territory".

 

Mer and the others checked on Valentine, his form shaky with adrenaline, and Jeon-e and Cailu pushed them on their feet and started herding them in the tunnels, trying to get as far away as possible from Zarod. They kept walking for a while, stumbling and dragging their feet, until they could stop in a tunnel off the side of another bigger one, a small hiding spot where they could check on themselves and hide from any Brute haedian who could be following them to get revenge.

 

Mer checked on Valentine then, going over his body and trying to check if he could move it all, and Jeon-e and Cailu talked.

 

They had escaped.