22. Xeros

22

XEROS

I kneel on the perch of a watchtower, overlooking the landscape and the beauty that encapsulates it.

Winter whispers winds of mist and heavy snow that fall in the distance. I wish Evangeline was sitting here with me so that we could share this sight together. It is almost as beautiful as she is.

The blue skies over the settlement are mostly clear, with wisps of either cloud passing over.

All I can hear are the goings-on of the settlement below as villagers work their duties—the clanging of metal at the smithing station, the chopping of wood, and even the children doing their part by filling the air with laughter.

But I wish my mind would lay at ease as I sit up here. My thoughts have been turbulent and restless since the first day I arrived alongside Evangeline.

All I can think about is my purpose of being here, of how strange it is to be living in a community of an entirely different species.

"If only the others were as kind and understanding as you are, Evangeline."

My attempts to integrate have been futile. No one here has been welcoming to my presence, in fact, everyone here seems to be afraid of me.

I peer down at my claws, acutely aware of how my appearance may not be what they're used to.

"Surely by now, they must realize that I mean no harm, that I am here to protect them."

But I know better than to think they can reason with a creature like me. Evangeline seems to be the only level-headed human in this community, and even she is being met with scrutiny.

"I need to find a way to win them over, to gain their trust."

But as I contemplate any means, a high-pitched shriek rings out from the direction of the gate. I spin around, scanning the area outside the entry point to the settlement.

The heavy weight of dread surges within me when I spot a wave of waira rapidly advancing, their numbers seemingly growing every time I blink.

The guards at the gate hastily rally together, but some run away in fear.

This is it, this is why I am here. The humans need me, and so I shall come to their aid and fight.

The call of duty brings me to my full height as I stand on the edge of the tower. Spreading my wings, I inhale deeply and let myself fall over the precipice.

With a swoop, my wings spring into action, lifting me when I'm meters from the ground. Now high in the air, I circle around to the settlement's gate, trying to count how many waira are advancing on us.

But there's just too many, coursing a wave of worry through my ancient body.

I think of Evangeline, and that is all I need to prepare myself for combat. I twist in the air and spiral downwards, my landing shaking the very ground beneath my talons.

My wings beat waves of snow around me as the wave of waira stops before me. They growl and hiss as I brandish my claws, returning the gesture of aggression.

"Go back from where you came, otherwise, none of you will be left alive."

The waira in front merely snickers. In the blink of an eye, he pounces. My wings swing around and propel the beast, his body bouncing off of my frame like he's a piece of debris.

Others charge forward. There's no choice now but to fight for the sake of the humans' survival.

I can't help but notice the lack of fellow fighters alongside me. Do humans not wish to defend themselves? Or perhaps they expect me to do all the work?

A troubling thought, but there's no time to reason with them.

Each slash of my claws is precise and calculated, my movements a strategic defense against this monstrous onslaught.

Beast after beast falls to the ground in parts. My claws become blades of crimson, each kill decorating my frame with waira blood and gore.

However, I am only one fighter, and I cannot hold them all off. I'm too occupied fighting four of the beasts off as many more maneuver around me, making way for the entrance. Only then do the humans spring into action.

"Charge! Fight for your lives!" a voice booms amidst the chaos.

The air rings with the sounds of warfare. Metal collides with flesh, roars accompany screams of terror, and gurgling follows the spurting of blood.

"Xeros!" a soldier cries out. "They're releasing a wave of arrows, watch out!"

I retreat as the blue sky becomes peppered with black specks of death, raining down on a fresh wave of waira. Many fall, but many survive.

Some humans join me as I lead a charge against those who still dare to assault.

I fly into the air, making a swift ascent that leaves the waira open and confused for a direct attack from the humans.

My talons mercilessly take two waira into an unforgiving grip, piercing their skin and causing blood to trickle from their bodies.

I twist in the air and throw them at their kin, the impact causing their bodies to implode on impact.

The tactic proves useful in taking many more of them out, but I am forced to attack on the ground once more when I notice the dwindling number of human soldiers.

As I land, one soldier swings at me. I catch the blade in my claws.

"Have you gone mad?" I snarl.

"Sorry, I thought you were one of them."

The guard pulls his sword back, but two waira take advantage of the distraction and pounce on him.

It's too late to save him by the time I dispose of his attackers. Some of the other guards rush over to carry him to safety, shooting me angry glares as if I am the one who murdered him.

I grow weary of their scrutiny, but right now, there's still a settlement to defend. The waira forces are still coming. I rush forward into the action, swiping down beast after beast, heads rolling as blood sprays everywhere.

The screams of humans ring out as they fall, ripped to shreds as the savage waira tear into them. I save as many as I can but many of them meet a violent death.

"They're getting close to the gates!" an archer shouts from the towers.

I beat my wings, propelling me high before I circle back to the entryway, landing in front of the threshold as a fresh unit of beasts stalk me.

By now, my body is growing wary. It has been many years since I was in combat, and so my frame, despite my strength, has faltered in its endurance.

Ignoring my body's plea for rest, I brace myself for another battle, taking on five of the dreaded waira.

I hack, slash, and claw, tearing the first two to shreds and driving the other three back from the entrance.

The screams of citizens inside the settlement walls push me forward, meeting the aggressors with a defense more furious than their attack.

I grab a beast's head, squeezing until it bursts in my grip. Another jumps on me from behind, and as I throw my claws over my shoulder, the remaining waira pounces, slashing at my frame.

Falling to the ground, I unleash a flurry of talons and claws, but more waira ambush me. In an instant, I have at least six of them hacking at my body.

I yell out in agony, summoning a strength that has laid dormant in me for all these years.

Using my wings, I spin around on the hard ground, slashing at their feet and taking the waira down.

There's no longer any strategy in me, just pure rage driving my attacks as I let loose the Astreldi warrior inside of me.

The human settlement needs me… Evangeline needs me. I will not fail you.

Both humans and waira stagger back as I unleash a bloodcurdling roar. I launch the wildest attack the battlefield has seen today, claiming victim after victim.

Humans dive out of my way, dodging death as I rampage through the chaos like a maelstrom of claws, leaving a trail of blood behind me.

All the while, my own wounds worsen as my blind rage leaves me open to attacks. I claim more waira lives, but my body is beginning to weaken.

I grab the final adversary and throw him to the ice, stomping on his head until there is nothing on its neck.

And suddenly, there are no sounds but my heavy breathing. An eerie silence falls over the chaos. In that moment, I become aware of my wounds, feeling each slice, each cut, every bruise, and every torn feather.

Slowly turning around, I look at the destruction the battlefield has left in its wake. Corpses lie everywhere, coasted by blood, guts, and discarded weaponry.

Whatever human soldier is left alive simply stares at me, a look of astonishment on their faces. Then, they peer at my talons.

I look down, watching a pool of blood grow in size around me. Blood not of the enemy, but of my own vessel.

My head bobs as if I am sleepy, consciousness threatening to take its leave. A sudden weight pushes down on my body, and my world turns to black as my head collides with the hard ground.