"Come on, lovebirds. Escape and evasion time." Henry's light-hearted voice informed us after several minutes. I have to say the man was considerate given the circumstances - bizarre predators around us and a significant battle between competing monster hordes a few miles away. Other people might be freaked out and would have immediately pushed for continuing our escape, whatever my mental or emotional condition may be.
"Thanks, Henry," I told him. What else could I say? But I meant it. Hats off to the man.
I squatted on the ground, with my map laid out between us. I mean, Henry and I. Jen kept watch. Our options were to follow Stan and Cooper's route or make our own. The problem was the soldiers' course was plotted before the area became monster central. Not that we expected it. The subdivision looked clear for a while. No weird beasties after the visit of that floating entity. We really thought after claiming the territory, they'd leave the subdivision alone. How were we to know they'd even build one of their temples there? Not only a simple ziggurat, but a transfer point from their dimension to ours. Shit.
"What do you think?" asked Henry.
I thought about it. Apparently, the man already had his answer or assumptions, if you want to put it that way. Following in the tracks of Stan and Cooper would expose us to danger. I remembered seeing Stan's finger racing the plot line of their way back to town on the map. It was on this side of the highway - the subdivision side. Where we saw masses of creatures were being sent. Their number might have been reduced given the on-going battle, but there still would be remnants there. Or sentries. Or those dumb enough not to hear the call to return and fight the new claimants.
"I guess our only option is to cross the highway and approach the town from that side," I replied and then gave the reason for my suggestion.
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"I also had the same idea. Though to be safe, we might have to proceed further before turning towards the town. No telling if there's an overflow of the horde holding this territory," said Henry.
"Uh, guys? Something is coming this way," whispered Jen urgently. She pointed down the path we used.
"Damn," Henry said. The man quickly clambered up a tree and just as promptly got down.
"One of those mounted things. Possibly a tracker. Either the battle is over and they won, or they lost and this guy got hold of our scent as he was escaping. Either way, it's going to be a problem in around five minutes. His mount is still sniffing its way around. The stream might delay it for a minute more, but it will easily pick up our trail after that. I suggest we move deeper into the forest. Thicker foliage will give us an advantage upon a mounted pursuer," quickly said Henry. He picked up his pack and spear, moving swiftly. We followed.
The man adopted a twisting and turning path as he moved through the undergrowth. I noticed he didn't break off small branches as he passed, no matter how they delayed his movements. Then I realized that the tree limbs would be of greater worth delaying the creature as well as not making it easier for the bastard to track us.
Then I noticed the woods were deathly quiet and the sound of something making its way through the tree growth reached my ears.
Shit. It's close, I thought. Even forest animals had the sense to get away.
Henry evidently heard it too as he stopped and looked around. He quickly turned to us.
"No choice but to fight it out. Probably end up burning the forest. But It might help the town if the fire can delay their movements. Jen, move forward about several meters and sit under that large tree. Make sure it sees you. Worst case, you can clamber up its branches. In the meantime, we'll ambush the bastard. Eric, take that flank and I take this side. Find good cover. Wait until I use my Molotov. It will be forced to move back and confront me. While its back is turned, hit it. There's a pair of them - the rider and his mount. We'll wing it from there. More firebombs as needed," came the rapid-fire instructions from Henry.
It sounded like a good plan. Though it was the only one we had. It had all the elements - surprise, adequate destructive power, positioning, and in this particular instance, a bait.
But as with most plans, things didn't go as expected.
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