72 Hundreds of soliders in the desert... (1/2)
If one didn't really look precisely at this direction, it could be easily missed, especially with only the dimming light of the torch nearby. It was already a miracle that it wasn't extinguished, but both the commandant and Adin realized that it wasn't necessarily only luck that was involved. Looking around them, they were relieved to see that no one spotted the macabre spectacle in the horizon. They shuddered, thinking about the unfortunate fates of the bodies of their own soldiers.
Because it was slightly elevated, and quite far away, the limbs that were planted in the desert were relatively small. But the message that was sent was quite clear. Using the common tongue of the humans, legs and arms were forming a deadly message ”RUN”. By now, it was confirmed that the snake possessed a true intelligence, and could even understand what they were saying. In the back of their minds, they didn't realize it, but they far more reluctant to shout their orders.
What was the point of coordinating their attacks if the opponent could easily hear it and prepare for it? Without even fighting, just by its presence and its actions, the monster was pressuring the two officers. Because they couldn't let anyone notice that word made out of body parts, Adin checked if everyone was in position.
”Lieutenant, is every one armed and ready?” The trusted aide nodded at those words but hesitantly lingered a bit more. It seemed that he was reluctant at leaving without asking anything. Feeling the sentiment of his subordinate, the commandant ran out of patience and bluntly asked what was on his mind.
”What is it? Is there any problem?”
”No sir, there is no problem. But I heard people talking about … unapproved actions. They are angry about the group of survivors that brought this on them and are thinking about escaping while leaving them as bait. The team leaders quickly made them shut their mouths before it was too late, but it was useless. A very unhealthy tension is lingering in the air, and the fact that the monster hadn't appeared doesn't arrange anything.”
”I see; tell the team leaders they did a good job. As for the monster …”
”You shouldn't expect its arrival, but more hope that he will never come. You're dismissed.” Adin cut the commandant and the lieutenant, not improving in the slightest the mood. The soldier still bowed before leaving the two commandants alone. It had been several minutes since he made his speech, but no traces of even a single scale was found. The more this situation kept going, the more unstable it will be for them. Even without saying the bloody message on the dune, the warriors won't be able to pass an entire night on their guard.
”You may be the one in charge commandant Adin, but you are not the one that was with them for nearly two years already. Maybe you should take a small rest, you are maybe tired of your run in the desert. You still haven't even seat since then.”
It was only then that Adin realized how tense his body was. He did saw the men under his orders instantly laying on the ground when they arrived, too happy to finally have reached a safe haven. Even now, most were still recovering, especially the injured ones. Thinking that at least resting on a chair couldn't hurt, he tapped the shoulders of the commandant.
”You are right, sorry about that previous order. I was so focused on that monster that I forgot myself. I let you command your men, just make sure to wake me if something happened. It's going to be a long night, and every moment of rest are good to be taken.”
Right when he was departing, the lieutenant rushed in panic, shouting at them.
”COMMANDANTS! IT IS HERE!” The loud sound of panicked voice resonated clearly in the silent encampment, every pair of eyes was staring at him. Even the maniac that was the magus stopped looking at the black bomb for just a second, before seriously scouting everything around her, to protect the deadly device.
”COMMANDANTS! COMMANDANTS! IT … IT … IT!”
”Calm yourself, where was it spotted?” The commandant of the base grabbed the shoulders of the lieutenant, trying to calm him. Adin arrived right after, and he also wanted to learn immediately what was happening.
”It already has …” The poor man stopped right in his track and looked around him. He saw the numerous soldiers, yearning for a way to avenge their brothers or to know where to flee. And because he was the only one that realized what happened in the calm time, he suddenly turned mute. Talking as quietly as possible, in the current situation, he murmured the terrible truth to the all ears opened men in front of him.
”The soldier you brought with you, commandant Adin. The soldiers, they are all gone!” Without any delay, Adin immediately dashed toward one of the closest tents around them. He clearly saw one injured man getting transported there and most likely didn't stood up even after everyone took their positions. But after nearly tearing apart the tough fabric that composed the tent, what he saw was a small hole on the ground.
Everywhere else on the ground, carpets and mattresses could be seen, allowing the soldiers to not deal with the sand. It is coarse and it gets everywhere. No one liked the sensation of sleeping with something like that in their clothes. But on one location, the perfect ground made of tissue was torn apart, showing the yellow desert under it.
Leaving in a hurry and merely shaking his head at the intention of the commandant, Adin searched all the tents, but he met no one inside. Leaving behind some baffled and curious soldiers, that were so surprised by his behavior that they also checked the condition of the exhausted warriors. Shouts and panic spread when they realized they were gone, and no one even heard them being taken away by the monster.
”EVERYONE SHUT UP! AND GET BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS!” Feeling threatened by the invisible threat, the commandant quickly reacted and tried to appease his men. But it was to no avail, and he had to reiterate his orders multiple time before they listened. During that time, Adin had the possibility of checking everyone that arrived with him. But to his despair, he was now one of the last survivors of his base.