novelraw Chapter 154: Rangers
Chapter 154: Rangers
Raz raised his hand, signaling for the others to stop. They managed to cross safely through the misty forest with their men on high alert. Several hours had passed since they stumbled upon the outpost ruins. The caravan arrived at a narrow wooden bridge, held together with aged logs and tethered with rope at the edges. At the end of the bridge stood a circular cave entrance, allowing them entry through the mountain side. A pair of statues stood at either side of the tunnel entry, giving it a creepy look.
As soon as the first pair of horses stepped over and the bridge trembled under their weight. Analyzing the situation. Raz felt it wiser to halt their progress as he stepped to the second carriage where Perdilius was waiting.
"The bridge might not hold our collective weight," He explained, glancing down the line of carriages behind them. "Best we cross one carriage at a time to be safe."
Perdilius poked his head out the window, squinting at the structure ahead. "Hmm, indeed. Do proceed then, we are nearing the next fort."
Raz bowed his head and stepped to the front carriage, instructing them to move ahead as he climbed in. "Steady, be patient."
The man at the front nodded, wiping his runny nose. With a whistle and a click, he had the horses pull their weight as the traveled down. Raz's eyes trailed over the edge, spotting the steep drop below where a river runs through with raging waters. It was possible to survive the fall but judging by how loud the water crashes from turn to turn in this jagged snake-like path, it would be life-threatening regardless.
While Raz crossed the bridge, the others took the opportunity to step out and stretch their limbs. Leone hopped off from the third carriage, keeping his hand to his belt near the handle of his sword. He scanned around, seeing that the fog was more translucent here. Several soldiers walked toward a nearby tree, unzipping and relieving themselves while they stood around. The hunter glanced at the rear of the second carriage, unable to see the Nekomata as they hid behind the curtains. He wondered if it would be wise to check on them for their safety, or perhaps a stroke of luck would prove that they could escape unnoticed. But no, he hadn't the nerve to be at their presence.
It pained him to admit that being unable to see them made it easier to pretend he was fine.
Licking his lips, he checked around before slipping his hand in his back pocket. It was a small charm, nothing fancy judging by its wooden texture and clumsy design, but it crudely resembled a paw print. His lip twitched at the sight of it, bringing back the memories that came with this. The night she gifted this to him, which intertwined their fates into this conundrum. He should have known better than to do that, they knew there would be consequences from their coupling, and here they are. Pulling his head back, he could only close his eyes and breathe the misty air in an attempt to calm his nerves.
He snapped his head around, staring high at the trees around them. His fingers tapped steadily along his sword, unable to shake the feeling of being watched.
"Onward!" Someone shouted, instructing the second carriage to move. It was their turn to cross the bridge, with Perdilius seated inside and the Nekomata girls carried in the rear.
Na'Vi glanced down from her hiding spot beneath the carriage, biting her tongue. As soon as they began walking down the flimsy rope bridge, it wobbled and swayed from side to side. The small black cat turned her head around, her senses warning her of something she could not see. What she did know was that the carriage was alone for now, and this opportunity might not present itself again. Determined, she decided now was her best chance as she climbed up the rear and slipped through the curtains.
Inside, she found her family curled up in their cages as they slept. The cages were locked, no way around breaking it open with her claws. Irritated, she hopped over a few cages and clawed her way through the cloth material, slicing an opening for her to escape through the top. She wagged her furry head, enjoying the breeze as she pressed her body over the roof of the carriage. Scooting forward, she reached around the passenger area and peered through the window, finding Perdilius seated alone. He kept his head out the window, steadily watching their progress as the carriage wobbled roughly and the horses whined in fright. She looked around, no sign of any keys.
Glancing up front, she found the faint jingle of keys clanging around the waist belt of the seated driver at the reins. She smirked, biting her tongue as she inched forward and hopped down behind him. Stretching her little paw, she used her claws to lift the key ring from his belt, then pressed both paws over the keys to stop their noise. She kept her eyes glued to the driver, scanning his face as he kept watch in the front. Perfect, she thought to herself. It took less time for her to slip into the back once more, climbing into the rear and transforming into her humanoid state with an exaggerated gasp of relief.
Her growth in size from a cat to a woman caused her to kick and topple over several supply boxes over the cages, abruptly spooking the girls awake. They stared wide-eyed as Na'Vi rubbed the back of her head, sitting up and struggling to aim the key into the lock with her paws. The first cage freed Syri, who wasted no time growing back into her skinny, silver-haired beautiful self, trapping Na'Vi in a bear hug as she burst with emotion and glee.
"You're alive!" She cheered, sending them crashing back. She didn't care, burying her head into her friend's chest with tears. "Thank goodness you're alive!"
"I'm here." Na'Vi grinned, patting her head gently. "Sorry I took so long, we don't have much time."
"Oh, right right." Syri stepped back apologetically, keeping her paws together as Na'Vi moved in to unlock the next cage.
Emyri grew back in her humanoid form, stretching her arms and holding her daughters tight. "My babies!" She beamed, kissing their faces.
"Hey, agh!" Na'Vi blushed, pushing her adoptive mother back. "I love you too, but not the time Mum!"
"Oh dear, apologies." Emyri scooted back, sitting beside her youngest. Na'Vi moved in and freed Dimyri and KuliKuli next, each one greeting her with a hug.
The carriage stopped suddenly, the horses whining and shaking their heads frantically.
"What's going on?" Asked Dimyri.
"We're crossing a wooden bridge," Na'Vi explained.
"Maybe they're spooked?" Syri suggested in a low voice, "Are we high up? I hear water below."
"It's not that, there's something else." Na'Vi growled, looking around.
Outside, Raz watched as Perdilius' carriage was having trouble calming their horses. The front rider stepped out, holding his arms out wide as he tried to have them settle down.
"What's keeping them?" One of the soldiers asked from behind.
Raz bit his bottom lip, looking around the surrounding forest.
Leone noticed a leaf descend from above. He snapped his head back, finding someone readying their bow and fire. They struck one of their followers, the arrow lodging into his exposed neck. The man fell to his knee, gasping and choking for air as his friends looked up in shock.
"Ambush!" They shouted, reaching for their shields.
Leone pressed himself against the nearest carriage, retrieving one of their shields for his protection. His eyes darted back and forth, catching glimpses of several figures hopping from tree to tree. Some would steady themselves before firing an arrow, while others would take advantage and shoot as they jumped to the next branch. The hunter raised his shield in time, blocking an arrow as it lodged into the wooden frame. The quiver mirrored the same design from the arrows they found at the fort.
The rider stepped around the carriage, with Perdilius looking out from the window.
"Sir, we're under attack!"
"Quickly now, get through the tunnels." He ordered, keeping inside.
From an elevated branch that stretched over the ravine, an archer poured some oil over their arrowhead before lighting it ablaze. They took aim and fired, sending the arrow into the carriage side to spread its flame.
Na'Vi jumped back as a fire arrow whistled through the curtains, turning back to the others.
"Hurry now, cross the bridge!" Someone shouted, urging the remaining two carriages to press forward. The ambush left everyone frantic, with the next carriage climbing over, the added weight causing the bridge to buckle and sway suddenly.
Perdilius lost his balance, their carriage sliding back abruptly. The third carriage lost control as an arrow sliced into the reins, freeing their horses.
"Damn it, form a line!" Raz shouted back, running down the bridge. He hurried toward them just as the third carriage slid down the bridge, crashing into the rear of the second carriage. It pinned the girls into place, blocking their means of escape.
Perdilius shook his head, finding Raz and his men opening the door to escort him. Once he stepped out, Raz rushed to the back and met Leone along with their group of men moving down the bridge on foot.
"Where are the girls?" Leone asked, keeping his shield overhead.
Raz ducked as another arrow whistled by, digging into the wooden plank nearby. He pointed at the rear of the second carriage, to which Leone passed the shield to him. He reached for his dagger and tore the side of the carriage open, his eyes filled with relief when he found Emyri and the girls staring back. They were frightened of course, but he reached out with his hand.
"Come now, hurry! We haven't much time!" He shouted, keeping close as another arrow stabbed into the shield Raz held for him.
Emyri reluctantly took his hand, climbing off the side. Raz was shocked to see them in their human form, but brushed it off and kept his shield up to protect them. But the girls had other ideas, with KuliKuli tearing open the opposite side of the carriage to break free. She and her sisters jumped down, with Syri losing her footing and stumbling at the edge of the bridge. Dimyri reached with her tails, pulling her sister back by her waist. She whined and held her close. "I'm scared!"
"We'll be fine, just stay close." Dimyri responded, doing her best to keep on a brave face.
By this point, some of Perdilius' soldiers had their crossbows armed and were retaliating with their own bolts. One man took aim and pulled the trigger, sending his bolt through the dense leafage and catching a ranger by their shoulder.
KuliKuli stuck close with her sisters, looking around in a panic. Dimyri stuck out her paw, pointing out some of the rangers overhead. "Look, over there!"
Na'Vi followed their gaze, but the girls were alerted when the second carriage began to move forward again. The horses marched forward, pulling the weight of the carriage with them. Some of the rangers swooped down from the trees using ropes, fighting the men head on. Turning back wasn't an option, with KuliKuli peering over the edge. Dimyri pulled her back and shook her head. "We wouldn't make it if we tried."
"Then what can we do?" She asked, looking around.
Dimyri was ready to answer when the third carriage was engulfed in flames by the numerous fire arrows lodged into it, spreading its heat over the wooden bridge. If they didn't hurry, the bridge would fall soon.
There wasn't much time left to choose.