~The Unexplored Plains are inexplicably numerous, dangerous and terror inducing, so terror inducing, that there are countless reports of Warriors, Mystics and Adventurers crossing the Plains only to come back insane, merely from witnessing the atrocity of nature that many of the beings in the Unexplored Plains are. There are beings in the Endless Plains that are unimaginably powerful, enough to destroy Plains of great proportion by simply existing in the same space.~
- Recorded by Grand Mystic Eskilir
------------
Cresting atop a mountain overlooking the vast grasslands filled with seen and unseen dangers, a large male, bipedal humanoid figure could be seen lugging the bloodied corpse of what looked to be a gigantic, quadrupedal Bronze Flightless Dragon. Though called a 'Dragon' they more closely resemble a giant Mutated Lion, with their extremely girthy and strong forelegs, slightly smaller but still just as powerful hind legs, with wide clawed paws to provide even more power to this beastly creature. The creature had a beak like a mythical Snapping Turtle; angular and sharp; curved majestic Dragon Horns and deadly Spikes jutting from its sides and along its spine, gradually lessening as they got towards the last bit of the tail. One of the telling signs that the beast is in any way related to the Dragons, is the bronze tinted scales that protect its back, though the tough ash grey hide on the beast's underbelly is enough to stop most opponents.
The Humanoid dragging the beast, although already massive standing at 3 metres as is average for his people, was still dwarfed by the creature, however the male figure didn't seem to be having much trouble at all. In fact, the man, as he lugged the creature around with his overtly, muscular frame; tough as hide tanned skin; his thick fingers, connected to large hands, were curved and menacing; carrying him were two robust, mighty legs; he presumably only had one concern his family, consisting of his child, Braun and his life partner, Aera.
Since long ago, each year there had been many deadly attacks on the settlement, forces sent from Creatures of the Dark Planes; these nightmarish beings are not just simply powerful Beasts or Monsters, but are an entirely different existence; they possess vast, mind bending mythical powers.
The past year had been supremely quiet, too quiet with only a handful of attacks happening, however every time something similar happened in the past it meant a war was coming.A war so massively violent, that tribes would be destroyed.
Looking at the distance, the figure could make out the settlement, his home and his son play fighting among other children in the area, unknowingly they were creating and improving skills that would prove life saving yet fatal.
Coming out of his primitive stone residence was his wife, Aera.
Aera; a slim yet muscular female, standing at 2.35 metres, with the same tan skin and compact muscles. She walked towards the man with a happy look on her face, whilst examining the beast behind him. Aera stated with an accusing and excited tone, "Ghut, my love, finally you're back!".
Braun, who was currently on the receiving end of a punch, turned and immediately upon setting his eyes on his father excitedly waved towards him, before receiving a tackle from one of the other kids and continuing with his 'vicious battle'.
Seeing this Ghut, chuckled while walking towards Aera, "Sorry my love, I had to be more careful than usual, the atmosphere lately has become tense with everyone being on edge for the incoming war." Ghut stated.
Aera who suddenly got a worried look on her face asked. "Did you see anything out of the ordinary while out there?"
"Yes, the Beasts have become more aggressive, and reckless not as scared as they used to be, they as well can feel something horrendous is coming." responded Ghut.
"We must prepare then, even though everyone can feel the tension, I will tell them to ready their best weapons as well as to prepare to send the children to the mountain caves." said Aera in a serious tone, while turning to walk back towards their home.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Ghut grunted in acknowledgement as he looked towards the fighting children, specifically Braun.
As much as they all wanted to protect their children they understood that sending them away on their own was the safest and only option, for them to survive the incoming bloodshed.
Days Later...
Braun asleep on his stone bed abruptly awoke to the sound of battle. Confusion clouding his mind, he walks out of his room and as the sounds grow louder and louder, seemingly not just from him leaving, he proceeds to exit the primitive home, however the instant he exits, he instinctually tilts his head to the right.
BOOM!!!
Something shot past Braun's head, proceeded through his home destroying it, and ending up obliterating 5 metres of the surrounding trees. Braun, shocked and now alerted from the near death experience looked around, only to find his tribe besieged by various Monsters, beings that are controlled by otherworldly nightmarish creatures, such abhorrent things, they're unable to exist in most planes, so they commonly use Monsters to invade and conquer the different planes and thereby allowing them to entry, and if they dare to try enter themselves, without conquering it and unless powerful enough, they would immediately be obliterated by the Natural Order; something every Plane of existence has, a giant consciousness that controls the natural order of each Plane, each one unique.
As Braun observes the surrounding battle, one of the Monsters; a giant 6 metre tall, overly muscled Wendigo with large and somehow majestic ornamental horns; using its large clawed hand, impales one of the tribesmen through the chest, rips his heart out and as if uncaring of the fierce ongoing battle, begins to feast in the bloody heart, only to be immediately pounced on by the other close by monsters, competing for the food.
Startled by what he had just witnessed Braun, realising the implications, starts frantically searching for his parents. Rushing through the surrounding battle, dodging rogue attacks Braun finally sees his father and mother, fighting side by side against thousands of monsters. Relieved at first Braun, calls out for them. Making them tilt their heads back slightly towards his direction in shock.
"What are you doing HERE Braun?!", Aera exclaimed with shock in her voice, continuing before Braun could answer, she shouts, "Why aren't you in the caves with everyone else!".
Before Braun could ask what she meant, Ghut, his father said with a hurried tone, "You MUST escape to the mountains with him, Aera!". However Both Mother and Son had problems with that, for different reasons of course. For Braun, even though he didn't understand what was happening, he didn't want to leave his father behind, for Aera, she didn't want to leave him, not only because of their eternal love, but because she knew that if he were to stay, he would perish and even though selfish, she couldn't bear that thought.
As his Aera was about to respond, Braun saw something that would forever haunt him, it would haunt his everything. He saw his mother and while she was responding, she was also in the process of using her massive primitive bone axe to hack at a deformed Monster's 3 heads, unfortunately, another Monster jumped over the top of it and before she could dodge, its claws latched onto her back tearing through her tough skin and muscles, leaving her innards exposed unfortunately this also served to enhance the viciousness of the monsters, they without a second to spare swarmed her, ravenously as if uncaring of sustaining injuries.
Seeing this and realising what's about to happen, Ghut shouts at his only child with tears beginning to drop from his face, not only from his beloved's death but also having to say this. "Braun, you must LEAVE us, head for the caves and DO NOT stop!", receiving no reply he continues, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME BOY, RUN!", He exclaimed with rage, sorrow and everything in-between.
Braun, who at this point was stood still in absolute shock, was catapulted out of it by Ghut's voice. Looking over to the noise, still unable to comprehend what's happening, yet understanding what his father said, Braun is destraught, finally as he seems to be gaining clarity about the situation, it sets in 'Mother'. Looking to his mother's corpse getting mauled by these vile, heinous, abhorrent ...THINGS 'Mum.. she's.. She's.. SHE'S DEAD?!!!!', as he kept staring at her mutilated corpse disappearing into the maws of these monsters by the second, being torn to shreds, only to eventually leave her face, somehow untouched with a sorrowful expression, eyes staring directly into his, and then as even that's taken from him; he awakens.