Page 68 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
"Taccit, the force-shields won't last much longer with this beating," Melvall says amid the cacophony, his eyes filling with panic.
"What do you want me to do about it?" I ask him. "They are your tribe's weapons. I don't even understand how they work."
"I don't either!"
My gaze snaps to the male. "You - you don't understand how they work? Then why did we bring them?"
Melvall hisses as he swiftly knocks down a human just moments before they get too close. "I thought it was a good idea. It is a good idea! It's not my fault that they are complex machines that are difficult to understand."
"Didn't you just say you knew everything?"
"Shut up, Taccit. Shut up. Hasn't anyone told you that sometimes you are really annoying?"
"Will you two focus?" Balroth shouts from behind us. His shoulder slams into mine as his force-shield is battered, forcing him to retreat a step. "Now is not the time for a lover's quarrel."
"He's right. We have to act now. The shields will die soon. Get your mate or fall back!" Melvall annoyingly acts like it's not his fault we are debating the depths of his boastful lies in the middle of a battlefield.
True to his word, the shimmering barrier dissipates, and the once-humming device on my hip falls silent.
I watch in horror as a human charges toward us, stick raised to strike the shield that no longer exists. I know it's not there anymore, but Melvall doesn't. Acting instinctively, I hurl myself forward, my tail whipping out to push Melvall aside. My axe absorbs the blow, but the lightning from the man's weapon courses through my arm.
Melvall rapidly recovers, lunging at the human and dispatching him with ease.
Glancing around, I observe my brethren being forced into retreat, unable to withstand the relentless assault. We gravely miscalculated by infiltrating so deeply into human territory, not anticipating the sheer number of males armed and ready to defend their home. The guards at the gates served as a mere decoy, lulling us into a false sense of security. We charged in, unwittingly stepping straight into their carefully laid trap.
* * *
"Retreat!"I say to my warriors, fearing the impending slaughter if we do not flee. As we attempt to withdraw and regroup, the human warriors begin to flank us. In the distance, the gate to the human village closes.
“We are trapped. Melvall, we are trapped!” I look to my friend, sharing my concern. Perhaps the male has some solution I can’t see. He’s casting his own unique brand of mayhem on the battlefield, poking his strange weapon at opponents with a flair that would make even the most seasoned warriors jealous.
The human who closed in on us abandons his attack to rush after his screaming companion. I watch him go, not interested in chasing a fleeing enemy.
“Ah, Taccit, you are always the optimist. I’m sure the situation isn’t as bad as you think.” Melvall’s face is flushed from the battle.
My grip around my axe becomes white-knuckled. The weight of responsibility bears down on me. "I led them here—my brothers in blood and tribe. This is my fault."
"Well, admitting you have a problem is the first step," Melvall says, smirking. "Now let's find a solution, shall we?"
“Oh, for the love of all that is holy!” Balroth growls behind us. “Do you know how hard it is to concentrate right now?”
Suddenly, on my other side, Zoran appears. His long black hair is in disarray, flying around his face as his head whips side to side. “I kind of like it. If we are going to die here, might as well do it laughing.”
“That's the spirit! Put those keen eyes to good use, Taccit’s younger brother.” Melvall cheers him on.
Zoran gapes at him. “I introduced myself to you. How do you not remember my name?”
I growl as I have to drag Zoran behind me, towards the inner safety of our huddled group. My younger brother is far less experienced than the rest of us, and the fact that he so easily turned his back on his enemy to gawk at our ally is proof of that.
“He knows nothing! He’s just a puny, bothersome male.” I remember his earlier comment, and a vicious smirk grows. “And he smells!”
“I do not smell!” Melvall roars. With purpose, he pushes through our barricade and charges towards the nearest human. The humans squeal, diving away from the enraged male.
“So does that mean he admits to being puny?” Zoran asks as he slips into the now empty place beside me.
“Balroth!” I roar. My brother seems to be the only sane male present. “These humans take pleasure in this brutal slaughter. They could have repelled us long before we reached their gates, but chose not to. They've led us here on purpose. What do you propose?”
Instead, I spin at the sound of a roar.
