My hearing is focused solely on the distinct shouts of several people in combat. As well as the telltale thumps of an adult jackalope charging at whatever may stand in its way. Accompanied by a repetitive beat from dozens of smaller but no less dangerous ones.
Thorpe and Ethel's shouts behind me are distant but closing in as I near the wall. My mind still isn't registering what warnings they're likely trying to convey. And even though I know I should slow down. Shake my panic. Assess the situation. My feet still move me forward, bounding through the village in mere seconds, likely in much the same fashion as the creatures currently assaulting it.
A good portion of the village [Guard] is up on the north wall. The ones skilled with bows are already letting arrows fly from the palisade and shouting the positions of the monsters to one another.
Normally a wall would be something to circumvent, but I lack that issue nowadays. I've tossed aside the worry that our guests might see such a skill, as I sink to my knees and spring upwards at an angle. Activating [Leap Stride] just before my toes leave the ground. The wall quickly pans down past my vision as I sail straight over it, offering me a sweeping view of the situation on the other side.
And wow.
It's bad.
Horror quickly overtakes my senses at the scope of the damage. The monsters have already breached into the outer sections of the fields where they are now being held off by the [Guards] and Ethel's mercenaries. But every single fighter is facing off against at least 3 or more of the creatures. Numbering not in dozens, but in hundreds. Piles of the creatures already laid low litter the sickly white soil that permeates the edge crops. Their red blood stark against it.
Most of the attackers are warren defenders, only about as big as the one I fought for my first kill. But the sheer amount of them is staggering. A veritable horde.
But even more alarming are the three massive adults currently mixed into the chaos. Arrows and flesh wounds already dot their thick hides. Most of Ethel's mercenaries seem to be congregated around them in particular. The hulking monsters are causing vicious damage to the area with every movement as our fighters avoid the brutal charges.
My body reaches the end of its upward momentum and quickly descends in a swift arc to the inner edge of the field. Tucking and rolling when my feet touch the ground to shift immediately into a sprint. Quickly scanning the area as I go. Spotting quite a few fights that are not going as well as I'd hope. Our [Guards] are more skilled than most and the mercenaries are very experienced, but numbers are numbers. And it doesn't help that the jackalopes are incredibly fast.
I haven't spotted Mama and Lord Felix yet. And the shock from seeing the scale of the fighting has cleared my head a little. Not the panicking part, though. That is definitely still there, unfortunately.
Mama was with Lord Felix. And Lord Felix has Ser Steppan with him, and he's level 8. They should be well defended unless something went wrong before that.
Which, I really shouldn't introduce the potential of that into my mind right now.
"AGH!"
My attention is drawn to the left, a few leaps away. One of the [Guards] and a mercenary with an axe are fighting off five of the warren defenders. And it looks like that wasn't all of them. About a dozen bloody carcasses of those they've already killed are scattered around the area. Both of them have shields, but the jackalopes are quickly battering the metal with their charges. The mercenary's arm is also dangerously loose. Likely broken.
And that likely becomes a definite as the mercenary turns to shield both of them from two warren defenders who collide against his shield. The force of it sends the man backward to barrel over his [Guard] comrade. The mercenaries' yells of pain make my skin crawl.
Unable to stand idly by, I bolt towards them the moment the Jackalopes close in. The monsters tear wildly into the men's armor with their claws and teeth like rabid dogs, emitting the most guttural snarls while the [Guard] tries desperately to block access to both men's throats with his tower shield.
The rows of crops blur at my sides with each stride, reaching them in a matter of seconds with an immediate thrust forward. The tip of my broadsword pierces straight through the upper torso of one atop the pile of creatures. Straight through the heart and barely enough time for it to struggle before I lift and swing it into the ground.
[Threat Detection] flares up as the other four change targets to me. Two, poised and ready, shoot themselves towards me. But they never get close as I leap backwards at the same pace and skid to a stop just as they end their leaps in a tumble. Giving me a chance to send two quick stabs into them while they're disoriented. Quick and clean. I've fought enough of them to know their patterns pretty well.
And with some of the weight lifted, the two men can maneuver more easily. The mercenary manages to unsheathe his sidearm, a wickedly long dagger, to plunge into the belly of the monster atop him. Giving it a few stabs for good measure until the jackalope goes limp against his shield. The [Guard] handles the last one as he stuns it with a bash from his shield, then rolls to press it into the ground. Sending a quick jab beneath his shield with his short sword.
The [Guard] immediately rises to his feet and gets into a defensive stance with his shield. Facing the brunt of the fighting that is still raging further up north, he reaches his sword arm down to help the mercenary stand, and yelling out to me. "Good timing, Liore!"
I quickly rejoin the two, keeping half my attention on the battle ahead of us. "You guys alright?"
The mercenary looks up from a kneeling position. Seems he's trying to tie his arm up in a makeshift sling to keep his shield raised. "So far? Not great…" he answers honestly, flinching from the pain. "They just keep coming. We've basically been handling their first wave. We saw a dozen more full-grown ones still in the treeline, with likely hundreds more of the smaller ilk behind them."
I grimace at that. "That many? It's like they're bringing the whole warren here. This doesn't make any sense."
Jackalopes can certainly be vicious when defending their burrows, but this is just ridiculous. They're being abnormally aggressive. And to see this many adult ones in the same place is very strange.
The [Guard] looks over his shoulder at us. "That's what I said. They've gone absolutely mental."
I recognize the [Guard] as one of Thorpe's lieutenants, Walt. I've done several patrols with him before. "Whatever it is, we need to figure it out fast. I don't think we can repel this many. But do you know where my mother and Lord Felix went?"
Walt gestures off in the direction I came from. "We moved them and the other workers into the barn. A few people were injured, but nothing serious. They have that [Knight] with them still." He answers before lifting a brow. "If you're out here, then the Captain must be too, aye?"
"He and Ser Ethel were right behind me. So they should be here soon." I respond, sighing in relief. I might have overshot them, but it's at least good to know they're safe. And I'm more useful out here, anyway.
"MOVE!!!"
Our heads snap towards the shouting just in time to see one of the adult Jackalopes thrashing about a short distance away. A mix of our fighters that are surrounding it are now backing away as it sweeps its massive claws wildly. Snarling and foaming at the mouth. Then it turns its body to the side and lurches forward at a terrifying speed. Striding into a couple of our fighters who desperately try to dodge but are too slow. The bear-sized rabbit monster bashes the two fighters aside, sending them up in the air and crashing back down.
The other fighters pursue it, but the creature is picking up speed as it switches between leap strides and gallops. And unfortunately, it's heading straight towards us. Kicking up a torrent of dirt and dead crops as it does so.
The mercenary next to me groans. "Can't catch a break, can we?" He comments, hefting his axe up onto his shoulder.
The three of us ready up as the mountain of fur beelines towards us with its antlers angled to skewer. And as it closes in, my [Threat Detection] flares just before it leaps the last of the distance. "DODGE!"
While I leap over it, the two with me throw themselves to either side. The hulking jackalope slams headfirst into the soil with its antlers carving up the dirt and nearly rolling over, but its weight plants it back onto its feet.
Before it can even collect itself, arrows fired from the palisade plunge into its hide, joining a dozen or so others already protruding from its back. The monster shudders in response, as if simply annoyed. Its nose wiggles somewhat cutely while we close back in on it. The mercenaries and [Guards] who had already been fighting it before joining in with us.
And right when we start circling, its body flinches as it whips around to raise and stomp at us with its front legs. Walt takes the brunt with his shield, nearly toppling him over if not for the mercenary behind him who keeps him stable.
The jackalope delivers attacks around itself in a rabid flurry. The other fighters and I have to keep on our toes as each split second another cleave or kick fills the space we dodge away from. Getting in hits of our own when we can. But so many are too shallow for the jackalope's thick hide. Blood coats its brown fur, splashing the red matter around with every frantic movement.
It gets slower and slower with each passing second until finally it rises up to deliver another claw attack a bit too slowly. Two of the [Guards] with their spears and one mercenary with a polearm lunge inward, stabbing their respective weapons into the belly and chest of the monster.
The creature emits a pained snarl and attempts to swipe at the weapons but its strike is halted by a shield-bearing merc. And with the polearms keeping it standing, its chest is exposed.
Seizing the chance, I lower myself into an upward stab and brace the pommel of my sword with the palm of my free hand. Launching myself upward with [Leap Stride] to slam against its side, plunging my sword up between its ribs. The force of the impact shoves it sideways.
The jackalope lets out a roar that quickly loses its strength. The beast teeters for a moment, the polearms pressing in with groans of exertion to direct its fall until it finally topples over with a deep thud. Still hanging from its side, I follow it down to now lie on top of it. Grabbing either end of the crossguard to twist the sword inside the monster. Eliciting a last gasp from the creature before it fully goes limp.
"GOOD KILL! Let's move on to the rest!" One of the mercenaries in plate armor shouts.
The other fighters start to move back towards the rest of the fighting but some familiar thumps stop them in their tracks.
"ANOTHER BIG ONE INBOUND!"
One of the [Guards] up north is raked and tossed aside by another adult jackalope as it charges its way towards us. The group I'm with falls into ready positions to receive it. But before it even nears, a flash of gold light arcs from our left and suddenly impales straight through the monster's head. Its functions stop abruptly as it hits the ground and rolls to a stop just a few yards away. The shaft of a spear protrudes from its skull, which disappears just as quickly as it came.
Turning our attention towards the village, Thorpe's spear reappears in his grasp as he and Ser Ethel approach. Old Guard now clad in his gambeson and some leg plates. While Ethel has her fluted helmet on with its sallet up to show her face.
Old Guard tosses a set of similar armor up to me and gives me the stink eye. "Don't ever run off like that again young lady!" He yells before glancing at the dead beast below me. "Good kill though. The same goes for all of you." The old man sighs.
I grimace, my cheeks getting warm out of embarrassment. "Sorry…" I mutter, pulling my sword free and dropping down to start donning my armor. Keeping my ear up as Thorpe assesses the situation.
Thorpe groans as Walt fills him in on the situation. "They have to be migrating then. And if they're being this aggressive, then it means one of the ole ladies is nearby. Which is very bad."
Ser Ethel adjusts her greatsword against her shoulder. "Ole lady? Something spooked a den mother?" Her expression looks rather surprised.
Old Guard gives her a low hum in response. "Yep. And I do not wanna kill her if I don't have to. The best option is to try to scare her off and divert her. So avoid engaging at all costs. If she shows up then I'll handle her. They're a big part of the ecosystem out here."
Ethel nods in agreement. "It'd be devastating to the predators. It is a shame we are forced to cull so many."
The old man shakes his head and hefts his spear up. "Can't change that now." He admits before sucking in a deep breath.
"ALRIGHT FOLKS! LET'S CLEAN THIS UP!"