The battle was more of a slaughter. The pill bug wolves were in greater numbers, and they seemed to be smarter than the ants. Capable of teamwork, strategy, and pincer attacks, unlike the ants. Who helplessly chased after the first wolf, who was expertly dodging each ant bite. The rest of the pill bug wolves were attacking from behind.

On one side of the battle, a smaller ant got pinned to the ground, by a larger wolf. Near the ship, a pair of wolves had managed to bite the back legs of the larger ant and ripped them completely off. The ant in a panic flicked back at them with jaws wide and snapping. The jaws found the wolf's shelled back and bit down. A few scales flew. Red stuff leaked everything as the wounded wolf leaped back.

Soon more legs fell to different attackers and after five minutes the ants were no longer a threat to anyone. Because they were being eaten alive.

The sounds they made as they died was, horrible. A horrible whining insect sound. The way they died was worse, watching it made Robert woozy.

I was down there a few minutes ago? Robert thought as he grabbed the railing for support. What could have been me?

The movement must have disturbed the wolves because one looked up and started barking. Robert's head shot up, as he realized he have been leaning over the railing and looking down at them. With another set of barks, the whole pack turned on the ship.

“Oh crap! ” Robert yelled, as he jumped back away from the railing. He moved away from the edge. The barking circled the ship, the wolves were trying to find a way up. “Holy Crap! They're surrounding the ship! They can't get up can they?”

In moments the sounds of barking came from below inside the storage floor.

Oh crap! They're alright inside the ship! Robert thought as he scanned the main deck. I need a weapon fast! Something, anything.

Robert had foolishly left the toolbox below while moving the ladder. Finding nothing on the main deck. But sand. Robert came up with a desperate idea. He run back to the ladder and removed it from the edge.

Robert had just remembered seeing a karate movie he had seen. Where a karate master weaponized a metal ladder. So why can't I try it too? Sure it might not be metal. Robert thought as he pulled the ladder up. But it's heavy.

The barking got louder as the wolves made their way up through the ship.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Robert waited. Nervously readying his defense weapon. Ladder.

Where are they? Can't they get up here? Did they get stuck somewhere? Robert thought, eying the hole in the floor. Should I go check?

Robert slowly walked towards the hole to check. If he had looked up at this point and not down. He would have noticed a pair of brown dots in the sky quickly getting bigger.

Below were five or more large pill bug wolves. They had gotten stuck in the barrack room. Because Robert took the ladder. They started barking up at Robert. So he to leaned back away from the hole.

They moved in and out of sight running on top of the beds. Their shells were tan and earthy and to Robert's surprise, they had small patches of hair sticking out around their paws. One of them took a running jump against the wall. The wolf soared up catching the edge of the hole with its forepaws.

“Ah crap!” Robert screamed as he stabbed his ladder's most sharp end at the wolf. “Crap!”

The ladder did its job, and upon impact with the wolf face. It fell back down. A second wolf tried the wall jump and failed. Falling back down harmlessly.

"ah ah," Robert yelled, as he panicked. “Yes, go to hell all of you. ”

A third wolf leaped up and again caught the edge with its legs. It started climbing up. Robert hit it with the ladder over and over, but it held fast.

“Why won't you die!”

A shadow fell over Robert, which he didn't notice instantly. A rope ladder landed a few feet from him, the movement made him look away from the wolf.

“holy..!” Robert muttered, as he looked up at the skyship in the air. “That's one of those...”

He could see soldiers climbing down the rope ladder. The wolf seeing the opportunity bit the ladder and tried pulling it away from Robert.

Oh crap? Robert thought as the wolf was getting its back legs up. He makes a snap decision. Here goes nothing.

Robert gave one last push on the ladder and dropped it. He turned and run for the rope ladder. Once there he started up it.

“Hey?!” Podor soldier said, surprised. “Where did he come from?”

“Help me! there are Monsters behind me!” Robert screamed as he reached the first soldier. “ I don't want to die!”

“Hey get off the ladder!” the soldier shouted, as he tied kicking Robert off. “You're shaking it.”

“What's happening down there?” A third soldier asked, from the ship. “Is that a person?”

“Please, don't leave me here!” Robert shouted as he tried to avoid the guy's kicks with his arm. “I don't want to die out here.”

“Kick him off.” said the soldier on the ladder. “Do it.”

“No wait, I surrender. Take me, poisoner.” Robert said as he remembered that we were soldiers. He looked down at the wolves below him. they had gathered on the ship's deck. “I'll do anything. Just don't leave me here. Please!”

“What do we do?” The first soldier asked as he stopped kicking Robert. “I'm not paid to make these decisions .”

“Ok, all of you climb back up then.” The third soldier said as he waved them up. “Let's get the captain to decide.”

A silent peace treaty was formed as they all climbed up the rope ladder together. Robert followed them slowly.

He was nervous about what they might do to him but compared with the horrors of the desert. They couldn't be any worse, right?