The next morning, all wildings were busy handling the injured and deceased. In the case of the dead, simply pick the body and start roasting it on fire to make breakfast. However, the trouble came from the injured ones.

There were many who lost their limbs and more who suffered from some minor attacks. However, there is no treatment for this kind of thing and the small cuts and scratches from the wild dogs and winter bears will eventually rot or fester in some infection.

Most of the wildings choose to pick up a dagger, heat it over the flame and then burn their marks. This is their only way of living with injuries. The whole camp was busy, wildings were like ants, moving here and there, doing their jobs.

On the other end of the outpost scenario, a similar situation was unfolding.

The outpost was alive with motion, a hive of focused energy. Gobin's eyes bore the weight of sleepless nights, his gaze hardening as he assessed the situation. Matt's voice cut through the crisp air, laden with uncertainty.

"Gobin, when do you reckon the wildings will strike again?"

Gobin's mind was already racing, formulating strategies for the impending clash. "Most likely after their lunch."

"Lunch?" Matt's expression contorted with disgust, a reflection of the revulsion that churned within both of them.

"Aye. They'll feast on their harvest, no doubt," Gobin's voice held a mixture of bitterness and determination, his gaze distant as he thought of the horrors that awaited them in case they lost this war.

Matt's face twisted in a mix of anger and disbelief. "Those savages!"

Gobin's eyes flashed, a fierce resolve burning within them. "Indeed. We need to prepare. We may not have time for elaborate traps, but we can still give 'em a hearty welcome."

Matt's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned in, eager to hear Gobin's plan. "What's the plan, Gobin?"

"Divide, attack, and conquer. Gather the men, I've got something to discuss," Gobin's voice was firm, his tone leaving no room for doubt. His eyes flicked toward the distant plumes of smoke rising from the wilding camp, a grim reminder of the impending threat.

<><><>

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the wilding camp stirred with frenetic energy. Camy's voice rang out, a single sentence that kindled a fire within the hearts of his warriors.

"Kill the kneelers and take your meat!"

The wildings, their faces adorned with streaks of war paint, donned their crude armour and brandished their weapons with primal determination. Axes gleamed, wooden shields were raised, and spears were clutched in calloused hands.

They roared like wild animals, their eyes filled with a primal hunger for blood and victory. Their war cries echoed off the snow-covered peaks, creating an eerie symphony of impending violence.

On the other side of the battlefield, behind a poor wall, stood the Bear Soldiers, a smaller but more disciplined force. Clad in thick furs and armed with deadly weapons they held their ground with a grim determination.

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Gobin watched as the wildings marched faster and faster towards them and gave a loud command.

“Archers…. fire!”

The proud and arrogant army of wildings watched as the dimly lit white sky suddenly had few black spots. Camy immediately realized the danger.

“Shields!”

Camy loudly commanded and most of the wildings raised their shields to face the arrows. However, others simply grabbed the nearest shield from a weak warrior or a poor woman and took it for themselves; leaving these people to face the arrows by fate.

Thankfully for the wildings, the arrows were simply no match for their huge numbers and the shields managed to protect almost all of them.

“Everyone…together!”

Gobin roared and all the soldiers ran closer to Gobin and form a small team and shot their arrows. This made wildings face arrows from only one direction, halting their march but allowing wildings from other sides to run free.

Camy didn’t realise the purpose of the attack and he felt those kneelers were like mice, crowded together and trying to scare off their attackers.

Their march didn’t stop, instead, it picked up more speed. The wildings started running towards the outpost with loud war cries.

“Everyone fall back!”

Gobin loudly shouted and abandoned the wall with his warriors.

The wildings felt as if the victory was in their sights and their courage and bloodlust soared through their skies. They broke into smaller groups and rushed for the wall.

Everyone wanted to be the first man to kill these kneelers and grab his share of meat. Camy as leader couldn’t do anything to these lone wolves as many chieftains, were among these small groups.

Plus, because of the arrow rain, they had left their left-wing empty, and more warriors ran in the middle, crowding behind him.

Camy purposely evaded the main gate as the chances of a trap behind the door were much higher and ordered his men to climb the walls. The walls are too long for these kneelers to possibly defend.

The wall was not very tall, and at some points, it was already smaller than the main gates. Soon, the wilding army was already climbing the wall and few men even reach the top.

However, these men were the unluckiest ones as before they could even grab a breath, Gobin and his mean released the arrows.

“Swoosh!”

“Swoosh!”

“Swoosh!”

“Ahhhh….”

“Arrows!”

“Keep shooting!”

Gobin loudly ordered and the Bear soldiers kept attacking these wildings with their longbows. The arrows proved deadly at this short range and each arrow claimed a target.

The wildings' ranks were thinned as some fell, clutching arrows protruding from their chests and limbs. But the relentless horde pressed on, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm the defenders.

As more and more men managed to grab the positions on the wall and create a shield cover, Gobin released his deadly attack.

“Release the bears, Release the bears!”

Thick ropes emerged from the snow-covered ground, stones dragged from beneath the wall's foundation. The wall's stability was compromised, its fate sealed by the weight of the wildings who kept climbing upon it.

With a deafening crash, the wall buckled and crumbled, unleashing chaos upon the wilding ranks. The impact was brutal, with bones breaking and spirits shattering under the avalanche of debris. “Release the dogs!”

Before Camy and other wilding leaders could even rescue their people, they heard a loud voice and then they faced the nightmare demons from last night.

More than thirty hungry dogs, came for them like the hell hounds, tearing their men and women like rabbits.

Camy's world narrowed to a singular focus as a lone dog lunged at him. His grip tightened on his axe, the weapon an extension of his resolve. With a swift motion, he struck out, but the dog was quicker, its jaws clamping down on his thigh. Pain flared through Camy's body, and his cry of agony joined the symphony of chaos.

"Ahhhh!"

Camy couldn’t tolerate the pain or escape from the jaws of the wild dog as it tore his left leg away making him bleed like a fountain. His cries filled the hearts of other wildings with fear and anger and while some of the wildings ran back to escape, others led a last charge for Gobin and his men.

However, they were late. Gobin and his army were already on top of their bears, and they decided to show these cannibal beasts the true face of death!