Avern howled out in equal parts rage and pain. He ripped the head off another half-blood and savored the taste as the blood flowed down his throat. Or rather the beast did. And that beast was taking over more and more of him as he fought. Avern had only recently bonded with his and staying so long in this form was unsafe. But he had no choice. He needed it’s strength. He needed revenge.

This was his first true battle, and it was neither what he’d imagined or hoped for. The Vampiri had taken them unaware. They’d came in packs with the cover of darkness, moving undetected all around them. Now they were surrounded, penned in and unable to form a knitted defensive.

Avern whipped his tail in a wide circle, lashing out and creating some space for him to leap away from his attackers. Smoke and fire littered the battlefield and concealed the rest of the camp. Chaos, Avern thought. He’d lost his father’s body amidst the fighting and was now alone. He needed to find others, desperate, he began scanning, willing his eyes through the haze enveloping him. Their plans were in tatters, as destroyed as the camp around him. Avern’s father, as King, had personally chosen to lead the assault on Sangar. The city, which had long been a part of the Empire but had begun to give in to Vampiri conclaves within its walls. They had planned a formal breakaway. But if they were to go then who would be next? A message had needed to be sent. Sangar needed to be brought to heel and new rulers put in place. Rulers which understood the need to keep old alliances over new false ones.

It was the right call, whatever the other Houses had claimed. But as Avern looked around him doubt gripped him. The army had not even gotten to within sight of Sangar’s walls. The Vampiri had outmaneuvered them, surprised them at camp. His father dead and his family’s position moving the same way. No, no he could not allow it.

The Vampiri had deceived them but his father was right to worry on Sangar. He was right to fight to keep one city in their grasp. Because if one left then how many more would follow. He shook his head as if to rid himself of his doubts, now was not the time. Not with war all around him.

He searched anew and finally he spotted two of his own, both being hedged in by a group of Vampiri. A company of soldiers huddled behind them, hopelessly holding out spears and pikes. Without the Chimeras covering them they would fall immediately.

Avern turned and charged, there was no time for subtlety. He smashed into the circle of Vampiri using his long horns to pierce and gore. Avern was young and smaller than almost all of the others of his kind. But he was fast, very fast. Stunned by the swiftness of his attack the Vampiri’s line was momentarily broken. That was all it took for his blood kin who wasted no time in exploiting the breach. Now they went on the attack and in moments they had freed themselves and the soldiers huddled behind them.

“Prince Avern.”

The voice of the Chimera was grating, more growl than speech but Avern recognised it instantly.

“Lord Dreda.”

Avern’s own voice was even more beastly, he had still not perfected speaking in this form. The chimeras formed up together side by side. Dreda used one of his large paws to swat away an incoming attacker, another half-breed.

“Your father is dead. The camp ruined. Order a retreat. We must flee.”

“No.” Avern turned to face Dreda, “If we run we’ll lose even more. We need a block. To make a formation. We need to move as one.”

Avern looked around him, he got his bearings enough to know he was in the flaming remnants of the Western camp.

“Everyone to the center. Dreda speak to the men, they cannot understand my speech. Sound the horns, signal all to make for the camp’s center. We will gather ourselves there for a counter.”

Dreda shook his huge head, his golden mane had taken on a red tinge from the blood he’d spilled and it splattered all around him.

“Avern, it’s too risky. Your father should have never came-”

“Do it.”

Avern roared as several Vampiri thralls came rushing out of the smoke towards them. A host of bolts from the soldiers behind him slowed the attackers down. Avern and the other young Chimera finished them off as Dreda reluctantly relayed the orders.

Avern took a moment to examine the Chimera alongside him. They looked about the same age but he could not place him. He might have been Dreda’s son. His name too illuded him, Farden perhaps.

“Come, we’ll cut a path through to the center.”

Avern began to slowly make his way through the smoke, the sound of horns blaring out behind him. Dreda was no coward, his call to retreat was a rational one. But that would be a massacre. The Vampiri were too fast and illusive, they would chase them all through the night, cutting and killing every single one of them as they ran, scattered and easy pickings.

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Their progress was slow, there were about fifty soldiers within a tight square being guided towards the center behind them. As they went however their numbers swelled. Two Chimeras joined Avern, Dreda and the other young Chimera. With them circling and the men unleashing a barrage of bolts into the darkness they began to move quicker. By the time they had reached the camp’s ruined center four more Chimeras had joined them, and an innumerous amount of soldiers had fell into formation. They had started to build some momentum.

The center pavilion was in flames, the huge enclosure in ruin. But through it’s burning light the shadows were revealed. The horns did not stop, for miles around no one could fail to hear their sound, and even blind one would find it’s source.

The fighting was savage, the Vampiri pushed hard to break the formation before it could have a chance to solidify but they were repelled. Again and again they were pushed back. For every man they killed and every Chimera they destroyed more arrived, their formation was surging in numbers and strength. Their element of surprise gone and the darkness pushed back, the Vampiri began to falter.

As yet another Vampir was sent flying back through the air it landed directly on top of one the tents opposite Avern, sending out a flurry of fiery light into the sky. His path illuminated, Avern saw a swarm of Vampiri gathered just beyond the edge of vision. Gathering for an attack. A concentrated thrust into our wall.

Avern turned and quickly found Dreda fighting close by him.

“A charge, we need a charge. We have to break them.”

Avern’s mouth struggled to sound the words he needed to speak.

Dreda ripped out a spear lodged in his shoulder, “Now? We have just managed to create a perimeter. You want to risk us getting divided again.”

Avern shook his head, “No, we charge together, as one. We have to break out now. We can’t keep our defense up for ever. We must make a move before they do. NOW Dreda.”

Dreda sighed, the noise was strange coming from a beast as large and bloodied as he was. But he did not argue any longer. Instead he began to pass on Avern’s orders as Avern did the same to any of those which passed near him.

“On me. On my command.”

Avern roared the words out, the Chimeras would understand him, the men closeby would have to guess it’s meaning.

He waited, letting his breath settle before he went. Launching himself forward he lunged and landed hard on a Vampir who was crushed beneath his weight. The Vampir’s body shattered at the force. The others did not need any more indications to make their move. Those who had heard and realised his order followed and those who hadn’t, well, they hadn’t much choice. Avern led the arrow head as the entire formation rushed to follow. They streamed past the Vampiri desperately trying to halt their advance. But they couldn’t, the momentum was theirs now. They were breaking out of the trap.

Avern was busy slashing open the belly of a Vampiri when he saw a blur flash across his path. It’s speed was beyond unnatural. Avern did not need to see it to know what it was.

A Pure blood.

Avern ignored everything else and braced himself, still, even in his Chimera form he was too slow. The High Vampir slid past a flailing horn and lashed out, cutting across Avern’s shoulder. Roaring in pain Avern brought his tail flying around. But it hit only ground. The Pure blood stopped to dodge a charging Chimera but his eyes never left Avern. He knows who I am.

The entire battlefield seemed to fade as Avern examined him. He knew this Vampir. He had been amongst the delegation that had visited his Father.

The delegation which had sworn themselves to a Peace. A peace they had broken. Avern gritted his teeth, Abhartach, that was his name. Avern recognised him from the single streak of silver in his jet black hair. He had been the most vocal opponent of any treaty between the two sides and had been quick to antagonize his Father. Avern hadn’t forgotten him, and clearly he had not forgotten Avern. His blood red eyes saw only him. A chimera tried to push Avern away with the others but he brushed it off. He wouldn’t run, not now.

He weaved between the lines and smashed a huge claw down where Abhartach stood. The Vampir laughed loud enough for Avern to hear as he easily stepped aside. The shadow thrust with his sword but Avern caught it on his horn and felt nothing. No steel, not even that of Tralorian make would damage it.

He used his tail to drive the Vampir back and then with the space created used his horns once again to lung forward. Abhartach stepped aside just as before but Avern was waiting for it this time. He twisted his back to swing his body around to grab the Vampir in a deadly embrace. He’d crush him in seconds of grabbing hold of him. But Abhartach wasn’t there, as Avern spun so too did he and when he reached out the Vampir was already bringing his sword down towards his head. Avern could do nothing. He lashed out in vain, waiting for the deathly strike.

But the blow never came.

Avern landed hard. But alive. Turning he saw Abhartach with his blade buried deep in Avern’s saviour. Dresda. The old Chimera had given himself for him.

The Vampir’s sword was lodged in his huge skull. But Abhartach was lying lifeless on top of him, the tail plunged into his chest had gone right through him. Even a Pure Blood would not survive such a blow.

Avern paused, unsure of what to do next. The sounds of war rushed back into him, the army was almost completely through, the final block of soldiers rushing past him. But he wanted to hurt, he wanted to kill. He was not finished yet.

“Noo, AVERN. We have to go. NOW.”

Avern felt himself being dragged along with the rest of the army, he looked up in time to see the Chimera forcing him into line.

Savar. His beast was even smaller than Avern’s. He wasn’t supposed to be in his Chimera form, or be involved in any fighting, but Avern didn’t have time to be surprised.

Avern knew he could break his young cousin’s grip. But Savar was right. It was suicide to stay behind now. Resigned Avern gave in and focused on the retreat. He bounded on, his mind raced almost as fast as him.

The Vampiri would pay for what they’d done. But now all that mattered was escape. He lowered his head and ran. It is all I can do. For now.