It was a beautiful day outside.

Birds were singing, flowers were blooming-

*GROWLLLLLL*

Yeah yeah, keep it down grumpy. We can’t wait to put you in the ground as well~.

With a calming breath, I tuned out the rampant mood of the surrounding rampart. The shouting and howling and growling and chittering… everything that once made my heart race upon standing on the battlement… had become just another lull.

A calm before the storm…

My vigilance was rekindled once the Captain’s famous words of caution came to mind. Yet, as quickly as it sprouted up, a brief glance at my surroundings threatened to douse the flame at once.

My paws went through the usual motions even as the wheel inside my mind slowed to a relaxing crawl. The serene sound of fetchers, barking orders to fledglings. The spirited sight of runners, gazing into the distance. And watchers, keeping a watchful eye, keeping their very boredom at bay…

Routine. Routine could truly be an insidious killer!

A satisfied sigh left my lips as I gave the sling one final check. My gloves also felt as snugly as always. All around me, the festive mood continued unabated, which fortunately paled in comparison to the roughhousing down below. Unfortunately, I could also spot a familiar pair of scuffling bὕnny ears - ears surrounded by snow white hair with barely any shade of black near the tips…

Shaking myself out of the gloomy thought, I reined in the impulse to jump off the wall and talk my old fledgling’s ear off. Instead, I redirected focus to the newest addition of my flock, and almost couldn’t help but let out a smile at what I was seeing.

A few days ago, Hiro was but a chick, easily frightened by the gentle growl of summer. His fear upon hearing what a harvest entailed was plain to see, and yet, the young fledgling’s will burned even brighter as he asked for my permission to help with the siege.

With another pile of dirt delivered, Hiro took but the briefest of respite before rejoining the struggle. The guest that fledged could have chosen to stay out of the fight, yet didn’t. He had certainly proven his mettle this day, both to me as well as his fellow fledglings, and I couldn’t be more proud…

After the last bit of earth was carried onto the rampart, a silence permeated the inner wall, traveling all the way to its top. Every wylder, young and old, stood straight as a ramrod once the druids began their ascent. Before long, even the bands of misfits outside quieted down in rapt attention at the upcoming ceremony.

Amidst the sober atmosphere, my ears couldn’t help but twitch at the occasional yelping and mewling. Luckily, a quick glance confirmed that Hiro wasn’t as “subtle” as the other gawkers, who were receiving their due slap on the wrist. Sensing my sharp look, the boy swallowed hard as he unfroze himself and prowled towards my side.

Soon enough, the dέέrs were among us, each overseeing a section of the wall. With oaken masks that covered anything but the jaw, the sight of five channelers garbed in green, flanked by a pair of wyld guardians on both sides, made quite an imposing figure.

As soon as the eldest of druids stepped forth, the middle section of the rampart turned even more solemn. With a booming voice, the wyld deliverance was uttered to the waiting mass.

“The hated foes have once again amassed at our doorstep…”

Bestial growls accompanied the old dέέr’s words. Low at first, as if carrying ancient resentment in their wake.

“The Wyld has seen it fit to test the Horde’s resolve…”

Louder and louder they went on, angrier and angrier they became, until each sound unified into a single utterance.

“BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WILL WE CURL UP IN FEAR AND DEFEAT?”

“NO!!!”

Said declaration reverberated throughout the city. Yet, it did not end there. With sparkling greens that smelled of oaks and grasses, the very Wyld which lay dormant inside four walls was woken up, was asked to join as one.

“WANDERERS AND FETCHERS, WILL WE WAVER IN WILL AND MIGHT?”

“NO!!!”

The growling grew in harmony with the Wyld. Farther and farther it went, until it reached the cursed woods that oaken staffs had pointed toward. Stronger and stronger it grew, until the hated foes could no longer ignore our taunting lure.

“THEN-”

The beasts burst forth, trampling upon one another in a mad frenzy. Under the brightness of day, countless banes left their taint, foolishly forgoing the boon tonight’s blood moon could give them.

And so, the tide of darkness had come to crash down upon our walls.

Lo and behold.

For they had come, to lie down on their very grave!

“-LET THE CULLING, COMMENCE!!!”

•ㅅ•

It was a beautiful day outside.

Banes were screaming, stones left ‘er slinging.

On days like these, beasts in the sky…

“SHOULD JUST SHUT UP AND DIE!”

My shot struck true, tearing the mocking bird apart. Whatever curse of madness quickly died in its throat as the abomination crashed to the ground, becoming just another stain of filth and darkness.

Six… Seven…

The winged monstrosities found no respite as stones and spears continued to end their mockeries in the crib. Soon, a savage sense of satisfaction swelled within me, knowing that they got to die like flies.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Eight… Nine… Ten…

Snatchers and mockers, both terrors so feared throughout Wyld Land, so frowned upon for their cunning and deception, were now but moths heading towards the flame. With lanky legs and wicked wings, they continued to speed past their lesser kins, continued to let blind rage cloud their judgment.

As expected from the filthy animals they were.

Eleven… Twelve…

A quick glance left a small grin on my lips even as my paws continued feeding stones to the birds. Lacking in calm and experience, most fetchers, alongside some young runners, had already run out of shots. Hastily, they now had to rely on what meager magic they could muster, just to mold more rough rocks.

Yet my pile of dirt, and those of very few others, remained whole.

Thirteen…

Only once the vanguard of darkness already crumpled did their bulk manage to catch up. Yet, the closer they got, the more disorganized their pace became. It was not long before banes started breaking off from the pack, raring to sink claws and fangs into flesh.

*BOOM*BOOM*

Sound of stones tore the air apart while the ground got torn asunder. The will of watchers was made clear, and I could only gulp in awe and wonder at such a sight.

Undeterred by the pitfall that so many of their own kin had fallen in, the tide of darkness split into two, though countless droves still foolishly decided to cross the grave so thoughtfully dug for them.

And thus, the savage melee began.

Seekers waiting at both sides welcomed the waves with open arms, just like cheerful farmers holding their scythe high at a bountiful harvest. Oaken tools were quick at work, reaping and cutting and maiming and killing. Soon enough, the tide was pushed back, little by little, step by step.

While the bombardment of stones continued, a pincer had also surrounded the pit. Wanderers brandished their steel, as if proving the lack of wood could not, would not deter their will. As the sound of savagery clashed against the song of sickle, limbs and snots and blood and tears strewed the slaughter field. The crawlers lucky enough to claw out of their tomb quickly met a swift end, yet countless more remained.

With practiced ease, my shot easily made its way through a bane’s head. At once, the monster fell flat on the ground, sharp fangs mere fingers away from a wounded wćlf. As the fighting intensified, there was little incentive to keep count. Most mocking birds had already been eradicated from the battle. Meanwhile, whatever snatching beasts remained were too close to wanderers, too close for a clear shot.

Ironic enough, snatchers that were stronger than banes, yet not fast enough to warrant their name as living terrors, were now causing the most damage. The sight of them shredding wanderers apart was always chilling to see, and I could only thank the Wyld for letting those younglings learn from this experience…

*GROWLLLLLL*

Before the titanic sound of death and destruction could reach my ears, the earth’s trembling had already snapped me back to reality. Peering over the horizon, I said to Hiro, who still looked gobsmacked at the scene of carnage he would get to see plenty more during his stay.

“Pay close attention to what comes next, my young fledgling.” Grinning impishly, I added. “For your first time, your first experience… Will be the most special!”

- - -

*Clang*Clash*Bash*Bang*

Despite the raging sound of steel and dance of death all around him, the young bὕnny could not care less. After all, his tune had already been cut off, leaving behind a stump that could not even be used to swing a sword.

Clutching at the bleeding wound, the wanderer let out a bestial cry as his knees screamed in anguish at the impromptu hop. Faster than the eye could blink, both pairs of buck teeth soon found themselves fighting for purchase as the boy tore through the throat of his monstrous prey, spraying dark blood all over.

‘The sight of a biting bὕnny was a surprise, to be sure, but definitely a welcome one.’ Such was the thought of the buck’s companion, who almost got to find out how sharp a monster’s fangs were.

With a look and barely a nod, bὕnny and taʊr quickly collected the missing parts before beating a swift retreat. They had bitten more than their mouth could chew, one certainly did, and now the only sensible option was to catch their breath for what was to come.

Despite the overwhelming scream of death and stench of blood, the taste of blight was still at the tip of his tongue. With whatever strength he could muster, the buck shook his head weakly at the worried look of his companion. Leaning on each other for support, the pair continued the long trudge back, even as one’s vision blurred and his senses went numb.

Reaching firm ground, a sigh of relief could hardly be heaved before all twelve halfmoons begun to flash before the young bὕnny’s eyes. Holding onto his last breaths, the buck willed himself to fight back against the growing blight, to cling onto the last of his life.

Precious time was bought, for even as the encroaching darkness managed to steal the light from both eyes, it failed to extinguish the wandering will to live.

And precious time was all it took.

Across the slaughter field, the sound of peaceful purrs slowly replaced guttural growls, lighting up the beacon of hope in every combatant. Relief flood the young bὕnny as the very Wyld reverberated throughout the medium, guided by druidic magic of old. Soon, the blighted taint was beaten back, its corruption just another meal for the willful jaws of the Wyld.

Finally letting out a sigh of relief, the buck put what was once his right arm onto the stump and did his best to ignore the coming pain. The mending of bones and flesh was always a painful experience, yet, he could not find the will to hate it. After all, to feel pain meant that he was still living, still breathing…

Still alive and kicking.

*GROWLLLLLL*

The approaching sound of doom immediately jolted the young bὕnny out of his musing. Paying the shaking ground no heed, he jerked his head towards the distance, where trouble was looming over the horizon.

As three gigantic monstrosities made their way towards the city, the boy’s ears stood at rapt attention, his heart beating wildly.

However, there was no fear, but only anticipation.

*Whoosh*Whoosh*Whoosh*

The sound of stones was sharp, yet not deadly. One shot gave a behemouth some food for thought, while two left another completely staggered in its wake. Meanwhile, no stone was slung towards the lumbering monstrosity at the front, who wouldn’t even humor its kinds with a game of catch-up.

‘Foolish beasts!’ The young bὕnny could not help but grin. To him, the sight was quite comical, not unlike three overgrown ducklings waddling around, straying further from each other while walking towards an obvious trap.

*Whoosh*Whoosh*Whoosh*Whooooosh*

More stones, more stumbles, until the trap was finally sprung.

With long and powerful legs, a blur of black and white left the confines of the wall to greet the clumsy prey. One simple hop was enough to close the distance, and a single lance was everything the buck could make out as a tiny bee descended upon the maws of a giant beast.

*Rip*Rip*Riiiiip*

Sounds of anguish screams were deafening, yet the young bὕnny could not care less. With his heart beating wilder by the second, he looked on in speechless rapture, transfixed. After all, this was his first time witnessing the wonder upclose, and there was nothing to do but burn the sight deep into his memory.

Just like how the beast’s inside was now being burned to a smoldering crisp.

As the oaken lance continued to tear through flesh and bones, countless monsters emerged from the dark depth, rushing towards their unwelcomed prey. Soon, however, more screams joined the chorus as even blight and madness turned into fuel for the ever growing wyldfire.

The “battle”, if one could even call it such, had ended before it could even start. Before long, the booming sound of husk hitting the ground was heard, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. Amidst it all, a lone figure stood atop the slain beast, with long dark hair and snow white cape fluttering in the wind.

“...”

Some slight shake soon snapped the young bὕnny out of his stupor. His companion, now with a leg no longer detached, was sending him that same look, that same determination both had back when they formed their own flock. All around them, cheers and shouts rang out as the earth trembled once more, signaling the fall of another “mighty” giant.

“Wanna go for another dance, wanderer Bun`Imit?”

“Ladies first, wanderer Tau`Ellea!”

The ground shook as countless wylders answered the rallying call. After a light hit on the shoulder, bὕnny and taʊr also brandished their steel as they sallied forth. Now however, there was no longer a need to wander off, but simply to march forwards, where the champion had carved for them a path towards victory.