How Gods Bleed

by Shane Porteous

  Cada Varl was about to speak when Zova then said, “Still he should not be alone in an unknown place.” Before anyone else could volunteer to do so Zova stood up and took two steps away from the others.

  “Zova,” Hazum Ka-te said softly bringing her attention upon him. “Speak to him with soft words.” Zova gently nodded but did not say anything in response. The group did not watch her leave but instead looked back towards the burnt out fire remembering what it had once looked like.

  In silence Tanagy walked quickly but without direction through the forest like area, his hand gripping the handle of the cutting blade so tightly that it trembled slightly. Now alone away from the others, a single tear fell from his eye, one more powerful than ten thousand of its kind combined. Consumed by dark unwanted thoughts he walked aimlessly until he was out of the forest. He had walked right out into a large open area where something out of the corner of his eye brought him out of his thoughts.

  He stopped completely though it was too late, for what he saw was a mass of gray fur and enemy armor. Being so consumed by his own sadness he had failed to realize that he had just stepped onto an enormous trail, one a small army of 5,000 werewolves chose to move through. They seemed as puzzled by his presence as he was of them, but they were not outnumbered and he certainly was. It was not fear that consumed his eyes but a sudden realization of what he had literally stepped into. His eyes wandered away from the thousands of enemies before him and towards the sky, then to the path behind him. There was no way for him to escape, if he tried to run the enemy would easily catch him. His thoughts now were not of himself but of his companions, the fact that he may have just endangered them consumed his mind. The only thing he could think of now was how he could rectify this mistake, not for himself but for his countrymen and Cada Varl. Truly Tanagy was a selfless man.

  His eyes searched the sky once more as he looked for some kind of omen from the gods above. The sky remained as it always had in this part of the world, dull and full of white. 5000 sets of monstrous eyes were now upon him but he was drawn to something back into the forest of which he had come from. He looked and saw Zova standing in the forest, looking out upon him with eyes widened by an intense dread. Tanagy stared into her eyes for a moment, his own vision, strangely peaceful. He closed his eyes and shook his head so slightly, only Zova could know what he meant. As he opened his eyes once again he saw Zova as she pressed a trembling hand to her lips before extended her hand to him. He smiled ever so slightly but she could not bring herself to return such an expression. She knew that there was nothing she could do to help him but such knowledge did not make it any easier to turn around and quickly leave. Tanagy only looked away from her when she could no longer be seen.

  Such knowledge brought a comfort to his eyes knowing that she now had a chance to get somewhere safe and warn the others. Tanagy now looked back to the mass of enemies before him as they glared their teeth and snarled. Werewolves hated Helluvans as much as Helluvans hated them, but in the scheme of things Tanagy was nothing but an annoying insect that needed to be squashed and forgotten about. The werewolves did not attack just yet as if they were consumed by confusion that a human could get so far into their lands. Tanagy dropped the cutting blade paying no attention to it as it fell.

  He reached his hands up and took his twin swords from their sheaves. As he lowered his hands he felt the weight of the weapons that had served him so well. It reminded him of just how great they felt in his hands. Slowly he looked back to the mass of werewolves and without a trace of fear in his eyes or in his voice he said, “There has always been a question that I have wanted answered….” Some of the werewolves continued to growl and snarl as Tanagy said, “How many werewolves does it take to kill a Helluvan?” His question was only answered by more snarls and other such sounds of hatred and malice. Tanagy raised his swords in front of him as he said “Guess I am about to find out,” With these words spoken the werewolves finally attacked looking like some giant serpent striking upon a lonely ant. Tanagy did not hesitate; he slashed his swords across the air slicing deeply into the closest enemy’s neck.

  Before they could see her, the group knew that Zova was hurrying back towards them for they could hear her armor banging against the branches that were in her way. They all stood up reaching for their weapons as Zova came into view. The armor had done nothing to slow her down for she had arrived back quickly. With eyes still filled with dread that the others were painfully aware of she said, “An advance party of werewolves is close by.”

  The group looked away from Zova but they could not see through the thick of the trees.

  “Where is Tanagy?” Hazum Ka-te asked desperately.

  His eyes soon matched those of Zova’s as she said softly, “He accidentally walked out in front of them.” The entire group now looked upon her with dread filled eyes and shocked expressions. Hazum Ka-te looked back to the forest taking a single step forward before Zova grasped her hand upon his arm. He stopped immediately but could not bring himself to look into her eyes. With a quivering lip she forced herself to say, “There are at least 5,000 of them.”

  The once powerful eyes of Hazum Ka-te began trembling violently as he could feel his knees weaken. Though shocked by Zova’s words the rest of the group knew they had to move quickly and get as much distance from the enemy as possible.

  They grabbed their packs with Gokkus grabbing Tanagy’s as well. Zova kept her arm upon Hazum Ka-te knowing how weak the shock was making him.

  “Hazum Ka-te,” she almost whispered “We must move…we must.”

  Hazum Ka-te nodded his head but it was clear he was possessed by dismay. He seemed almost like a zombie as he slowly looked away from the last place he saw the Abider. He grabbed his pack and quickly followed the others into parts unknown.