The Broken Ones

Chapter 10:2 - Eyes and fingers

He wasn’t scared anymore. Maybe it was because he wasn’t in the middle of it all but on the outside, sort of in control. He didn’t need to fight every second for his life but choose when to attack and when to sit and wait for the right moment to attack. The monsters lessened around the group. It was an effective method to attack from both sides even if the monsters were aware of it this time. But with sudden attacks when their focus laid elsewhere many monsters got hurt and killed, and the black mare could easily escape their claws and teeth.
Then Haz discovered that his little brother was gone and he argueed with Ana. At least that’s what it looked like for Soi as he rode on the outside. Nibbles took part of the discussion and Soi could see Haz’s upset face. He wanted to turn back to find his brother. But Ana shook her head and Nibbles agreed. Haz clenched his teeth. Soi could understand his frustration and he was the only one who could do anything about the situation, if it wasn’t for a stubborn horse. He made up his mind and pulled the rein sharply to the left away from the monsters. The mare neighed objectively, not willing to leave the fight but Soi was determined and the black mare settled and obediently followed his direction.
When he caught up with them, Jagger and Ard stood with their backs to each other facing the three monsters circling around them. The pack horse lay dead on the ground and Ard’s horse couldn’t be seen. The dawn was coming and the monsters were impatient. Jagger had her hands up in the air, ready to throw but Soi couldn’t make out what she was holding. Ard had his sword drawn and he skillfully handled it with his hands.
In an hour Soi wouldn’t have the cover of the dark anymore, his best offensive. He needed to act quickly. Carefully he slid down from mare’s back and walked silently around the monsters until he was on the other side of the circle. He gripped his sword tightly and gritted his teeth before he took a step forward and launched himself into the fight. He cut one of the monsters over the back and it turned around showing its glowing red eyes and dangerous teeth. It snarled and attacked but was dead before it reached him with its claws. Jagger had thrown one of her daggers into its throat and one where its heart should be. Jagger’s green eyes met Soi’s dark one second before he retreated into the dark. From the other side of the ring the black horse did a similar attack to Soi’s but Ard wasn’t as quick as Jagger to grip the moment. The mare got easily out of the way from the monsters claws, neighing provocative at it so when Ard followed up the attack he got an angry monster down his neck and he couldn’t escape its sharp claws. He screamed painfully when his leg got a deep cut from the knee to the ankle before Jagger’s daggers got stuck in the monsters paw and eye. It retreated with a hurt howl but Ard was already down. Jagger kneeled down beside him to eye his injuries but Ard tried to wave her away.
-They’ll attack, he coaxed.
-If they do, Soi and the black horse will intervene.
That was true but it was hard to make out the monsters in the dark. The two left had retreated into the night as himself. The wounded one whined a little, a terrifying sound. The other one was silently walking around them. Soi searched in the darkness for any movement.
-Oh, glowing skies! Jagger cried and Soi turned his attention back to them. –Soi!
-What? He called out carefully, not willing to reveal his location.
-We need to get back to the others, I’ve tied his leg but…
It she said anything else Soi didn’t get to find out before a low snarl warned him of the monster. Soi threw himself to the side and avoided the teeth that bite after him. He was quick to return the attack, swung the sword and cut its stomach. For the second time he was flushed in blood. But the monster wasn’t dead yet. It snapped it jaws after him until he delivered the final blow and cut its throat. Now there was only the wounded monster out there, probably not ready for another attack yet. Soi run to Jagger.
-What did you say, after tying his leg? He asked and sat down beside them.
Ard breathed heavily with an open mouth and shivered in the dark night. Jagger swallowed and wiped her face clear.
-His face, his eyes, she said with an unsteady voice. –I don’t know what to do.
Soi looked at Ard’s face and breathed in deeply.
-Don’t worry, we’ll fix it, he said weakly, without hope.
-Mm…
Ard didn’t say anything but whimpered, he was sweating and panting. Soi whistled and the black horse appeared from the dark. Jagger got up first and Soi and she dragged Ard up behind in front of her. He screamed excruciatingly when Soi pushed his leg over to the other side of the horse but they had to get him up. Jagger whispered to Ard to keep his mind off the pain and closed her eyes so she wouldn’t see the blood and cry. She needed to be strong for him.
They began to walk back to the others. They followed the string of dead monsters and as the dark begun to withdraw Soi saw the monsters in daylight. They were as Jagger had described them, like huge humans with crooked backs and lots of fur. But their red eyes were nothing like human eyes. They were larger and looked like the eyes of a predator. Soi could understand why they shrouded themselves from daylight. If anyone would see them they would understand that they once had been humans. People would know what happened to them if they would injure themselves on purpose. If they tried to become a broken by their own hands.
Soi tried to look after Ard’s white horse, dead or alive, but he could only see the corpses of hundreds of monsters. Eventually they reached the others. They sat on the ground waiting. Their faces were weary and tired of the long night. The horses stood with their faces to the ground panting. Nibbles was the first to see them and he darted up from his hunching position. Ana looked at him and followed his eyes and saw Soi. She took a ragged breath and turned her face away. Haz rose and run to meet them, he had been crying and his eyes were red.
-Ard! He called happy and relieved.
Soi took a step forward to stop him.
-Haz, Soi tried to catch his cold blue eyes. –He’s injured.
Haz’ face paled, his jaws tensed.
-How much? He asked, his face grave.
-There’s a deep cut along his left leg, from the knee to the ankle. Jagger stopped the bleeding.
Haz nodded somberly and his eyes dotted nervously towards Ard who kept his head down.
-And then…
Haz quickly directed his eyes back to Soi’s, his eyes full of fear. He gripped Soi’s shoulders but waited for him to continue. Soi couldn’t.
-His eyes, Jagger said with a strong voice, her back straightened. –The monster’s claw cut both of his eyes, across his face.

To be contiuned...
By J.L.Frick