97 This is war! part 1 (1/2)

With a thud the world shuddered anew as a soldier limped passed the entryway. He had been part of the first wave that had been taken out by the sea king onslaught.

One of his hands lay limply to his side as a trail of blood trickled down it. A vein of worry had found its way into his mind as he walked, he had seen the savage brutality that the infernal sea creatures reveled in. He had seen the cruel and bloodthirsty way that the man that led them cut down his disorderly militia. At this time he could only pray for his people..

As he neared the end of the tunnel he felt a renewed gust of fear and worry as he peered through the thick pink fog. He could make out the vague silhouettes of the foul and terrifying creatures as they waded contemptuously towards the island.

At this point he was aware of how moot it would be to raise the alarm, nonetheless he had to do it. Any forewarning was better than no forewarning. So with a heavy heart he limped to the side of the cave, using the last of his energy to feel for a chord. As his body fell forward he pulled. Through a veil of pain and a cacophony of fatigue he heard the sound. The ringing of the knell…

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Bruma walked through the streets worry evident in his eyes. He looked around him, into the eyes of the hurrying residents of the outer circle.

With a sigh of resolve he shot one final look towards the inner circle, 'Be safe girl..'.

Suddenly a gonging sound shattered the cold and somber monotony of the outer circle. At the periphery of his hearing he heard the booming sound of the warning knell. The huge gong had never been rung through his entire term of office, yet, now it did. And as it did the retired veteran could not help but fell a dread that he had thought that he had abandoned on the field.

As the heavy sounds rocketed through the ears of the hurrying people, a glance of surprise was shot out. The children who had been used to the rather lack of interesting things happening could not help but begin to grin in happiness. A naked sheen of excitement in their eyes.

They did not know what the knell implied, that knowledge had been stripped from their schooling back when he had graduated.

With a deadly ignorance they celebrated the coming of the enemy. The adults that often curbed their flights of fancy could not help but smile begrudgingly.

Ironically it was not Bruma, but a captured citizen (As the ones that were caught and forced to live here were called) that first understood the dreary circumstances that surrounded the bell, for it was not the first time they had heard of it.

It was the same mechanism that their own previous homes had employed in the case of invaders, to warn off violent visitors and prepare the noncombatants of the coming storms.

One by one the others too understood the deadly catastrophe that would befall them. Bruma stood transfixed for a minute before he dropped the contents of the bag he held in his hand in favor of jumping onto the biggest crate that he could see.

”People calm down! Organize yourself!” He roared as he attempted to take charge of the unruly crowd. The children looked at the panicking adults in surprise and a layer of concealed worry, this was the first time that they had seen such a level of terror in the eyes of the adults.

Luckily for Bruma a swift force of soldiers walked briskly towards them. They held a spear in their hands and a curved shorts word tucked in a small sheathe in their tunic.

One of them nodded to him thankfully, obviously glad that she didn't have to deal with a mob of disorganized and terrified people. She had her hands full dealing with her own group, of which a few looked particularly worried having either never travelled out of the island's borders or never faced an actual threat.

The others looked slightly better though they too looked like a spring ready to leap into action in a moment's notice.

”Thank you.” The women in charge whispered to him before taking his place at the top of the crates. ”People of the fragrant island! Calm yourself and in an orderly manner walk towards the gate to the inner circle. A temporary shelter has been prepared there and the rearguard unit has been assigned to your protection!

My men shall accompany you in dealing with them! ” She called out in an authorities voice before swiftly getting off the crate and nodding to a group of armed men and women.

”If I may.” Bruma began, ”In the outer circle are the retired force of soldiers. It would be a good idea to recruit them to both lead these people towards safety, the more able ones can be used to bolster your forces.” He said.

Though in his time working as a soldier he had most definitely out ranked the women before him, at this time he was a civilian and the last thing he wanted to do was overstep his boundaries.

Thankfully the women nodded with a thoughtful expression.

”That does indeed make more sense. This is the first time the island has ever been attacked, it is better to be safer and better prepared.” She said before pointing to the women that would lead the escort squad and relayed a set of complete orders to recruit any able bodied veteran to help in the effort and quickly return to the front lines.

The olive skinned women nodded with a stern expression before quickly falling back in line with her subordinates and marching away.

”It would be better for us to be properly introduced to ease communication. I am Squad leader Alva.” The women said, crisply announcing her name and rank as soldiers were taught to do in training so as to save time and clearly explain the hierarchy of power.

Bruma nodded with a neutral expression. ”Wing leader, Bruma.” he replied causing Alva's eyebrows to raise in surprise before she stiffly nodded at him.