Chapter 3: The Forest.

Arrows and steel flashed through the air. As heads and limbs were flying through the air. They were slowly getting better at it. This whole warrior thing. The leader of the group was the reason for this all the improvements. He was a former royal guard after all. He had the best training. He was slowly teaching them how to fight back against these monsters.

Even if these brain dead things didn't put up much of fight it was still good practice for everyone. Austin cleaver his sword straight through an undead skull, kicking its body to remove his claymore from its skull. He quickly turned around to watch the rest of them.

John was more defensive about fighting the creatures. He stuck to his wooden shield and sword. He let the monster attack first before he countered. He was the one that showed the most promise out of the three. The other two were difference in terms of fighting the horde.

Chandler used short bow he always stayed at distance from the actual fight. He was currently in tree picking off the incoming creatures. He was pretty good shooting he only missed a few times. He was mostly just letting John and Austin do most of the fighting.

As for the final member of the party. Josh was playing the silent kill game. He had twin daggers in his hands. He was taking out the few beings that Chandler missed or could not reach with his bow. He had amazing skills at sneaking around. Austin thought personally that it came from his time as thief.

The souls were flooding into them now. It was a strange feeling to have another being soul absorb into your body. Yet they all felt it, a sense of power was jolting into bones. Every time they absorb a soul it felt like shot of adrenaline. This made them feel both empowering yet, it scared them a bit. Out of the four this freight Austin the most. He truthfully thought this place was trying to turn them all into something….Inhuman.

“Ya know this is pretty easy. If this all we have to do to cure the curse then this will be easy.” Chandler said confidently

“I doubt it will be that easy. Beside we still got to find those ponies before anything else.” Austin replied back.

“I think we should just find cure and get out of here. Let those ponies find their own way home we don't owe them anything.” He said bluntly.

“Are we really having this argument again?” He asked turning towards the man in tree.

“Yes. They just animals. This is like the jungle anyway so if they get eaten or killed then it just how it is.” He said calmly hopping down from his sniper nest.

“Are you hearing yourself? We have an agreement with their leader. What happens if we should up with cure but, they are missing? Do you want to cause war?” He asked.

“Maybe that wouldn't be such bad thing. We could easily overtake them. Our fighting force is twice their sizes. It would solve so many problems. We have more space, more fields to grow food in and a lot of rare gems. We could be better off. You know how the kingdom is now. It has even gotten rough for the nobles. There are too many of us, and not enough space in kingdom. All we have to do to fix all that is put some horses in place on the food chain.” He stated plainly.

“Again I ask are you hearing yourself. They are sentient creatures. You are talking about either killing all of them or enslaving them. John talk some sense into this fool.” He said looking over at John. Who just looked away and said nothing. Austin looked a little shock. “Are you agreeing with this madman?” He asked.

“Look I just want to get home to my family and my normal life. I think we need to look out for ourselves and no one else.” He said.

Austin just shook his head and looked over at Josh who was away from the group looking into the forest. “Josh I know you are normally pretty quiet but, you gotta at least agree with me on this one.” He said calmly.

Josh said nothing just held out his hand signaling them to be quiet for a moment. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just looked around. Josh was an amazing tracker. On their journey to this place he was the one who normally got the food from hunting. He just seemed to be In tuned with whatever surroundings he was in.

“Have any of you notice they stopped coming after us. Even with all noise we are making.” He said to group.

They started to look around a bit seeing it for themselves. This whole time well they were talking not one undead had attacked them. It was indeed odd. There was now tense in air. Something was wrong, very wrong.

“Is something out there Josh?” Austin asked readying his blade.

“Hard to say. Throughout the battle I felt like something been circling us just beyond my senses. If something is out there it waiting for right moment to strike. Keep your guard up.” He said in more serious tone of voice.

They all had their weapons ready. A cold sweat wash over them. Austin could hear his own heart beating out of his chest as the forest grew silent for moment. He slowed his breathing to calm himself down. That is when rammed through tree to west charging straight at the group. Luckily the men were quick on their feet. They round out of the way of the charging beast.

They got a good look at the monster. It was beast made of pure metal. It was covered in blood. This metal monstrous was in shape of bull only it was three times as big, and it had the power to break through the massive trees of the forest. It let out a deadly wale as he quickly turned around readied itself for another charge.

“Move!” Austin yelled as the men regroup and booked it deeper into the forest. The metal beast was chasing them. It rammed through the undead that blocked it path, splatting them all over the forest grass. Josh as always was leading the pack in terms of speed. Then it was Austin and two slower ones were John and Chandler who were barely able to keep up.

They didn’t have same physical conditioning as other two had. The creature had no such problem. In fact it was speeding up as they ran. Austin was looking back watching the creature. He turn back to Josh. “Josh we need an exit NOW!” He said.

Josh nodded as he dashed forward ahead of the party. He looked all around for a safe haven. He saw it. A small cave carved into the side of the mountain beside the forest. “OVER HERE.” He said waving them down as they all jumped into mouth of the cave with massive bull right behind them ramming the entrance. It was too big to get through the mouth of the cave but, it shook the whole cave when it rammed it. The beast pulled back from mouth of the cave shaking its head a bit.

“What in the name of Lord Gwyn was that?” Chandler said panting as he lean against the cave wall.

“I don’t know.” Austin said calmly.

“Ooo that pony said it was so safe out here. Bastard threw us to lions.” Chandler said still trying to caught his breathe.

“I am….too tired to arguing with you.” Austin said as he looked forward.

John and Josh were limping their way to bonfire that was in center of the cave. He was so happy to see that thing that tears almost came out of his eyes. He made his way over there and just hit the ground with thud as the warmth washed over him.

“Well that could have been worse.” Austin said to party.

“Worse? You think something could be worse than being chased by a metal giant bull trying to turn us into puddles.” John said.

“…Well it didn’t get us so I would call that good day.” Austin replied.

John just shook his head sitting at the fire. Chandler stood up from the wall and looked out into forest trying to spot the bull to see if it had gone. Josh was in the very back of the cave. He waved Austin over. Austin got up and went over to Josh. Josh pointed to ground. On ground was some kind of bright letters that when touched lit up. Austin’s eyes wide as he read the message.

The message read as followed:

“Greeting Humans, I really hope you find this message. I know were supposed to meet at the entrance But, we kind of went ahead into this world and got a bit overwhelmed by the creatures outside. I do hope you are safe. If you find this message please follow us. We went deep into the cave.

-Sighed Twilight Sparkle.”

Austin looked forward into cave. He let frustrated sigh. The cave had been closed off by rocks. It looked like roof have come down blocking the path. That was just great. He hoped those ponies would find their way out somewhere else.

“Look like we are not getting out that way.” He said turning around to the bonfire.

“Is it gone yet Chandler?” Austin asked

“Nope. It is waiting for us to leave. It knows we are in here. It staying right at tree line.” Chandler replied a bit pissed at what was going on.

“Well at least we know the god forsaken thing is smart.” Austin replied.

“Anyone got any ideas?” He asked, everyone remind silent for the most part.

“We could just wait it out. It could get bored and wander off.” John said.

“That thing was stalking us for a while now. Its hunting us. I don't think it going to give up so easily. On top of that. We need food and water. That thing doesn't need such things. If comes down to a waiting game we will died long before it gives up.” Josh stated to group.

“That is just peachy.” Austin replied with sigh. Nothing had been easy since they got here.

Chandler was currently eyeing up creature and looking at treetops. He didn't say anything yet. “Well…I have idea but, it will only allow us to move deeper into forest. “ Chandler said

Austin just looked at him for a bit before nodding. “Well it is better than nothing I guess. What is your plan?” Austin asked.

“See that big branch at the top of the trees a few feet behind our metal friend.” Chandler said.

Austin looked up spotting an old looking branch that looked like it was about to fall off. “Ya I see it.” Austin replied.

“If I hit it just right, I can make fall and hit some branch. Maybe if it makes a big enough noise we can draw it away from us and we can make run for it. But, if do that then that bull will be blocking us from going backwards. So what do we do fearless leader?” He asked in a smug tone of voice.

“Well your plan is the only one that gives us a slight chance of survival. Everyone get ready to run as soon as that thing leaves. We run like we got hellhounds at our feet.” He said nodding. As soon as Josh and John got behind them. Chandler let the arrow fly at branch. It knock it down slamming it into other branches as it hit the ground with large thud. The bull took the bait turning around and running off towards the sound.

They ran dashing deep into the forest area. As they did so they spotted something in distance. A white castle or what looked like castle.

“Isn't that the place the pony told us not to go to?” John pointed out.

“Well he was wrong about the forest being safe maybe he was wrong about the to castle. Beside do you really want to go back and fight that thing?” Chandler asked.

“It’s back.” Josh said from back of party. The bull had been tricked but, now it was back and closing in.

“Dammit! MOVE! DOUBLE TIME!” Austin shouted as he ran faster. He could see a gateway that was open it lead straight to castle doors. He crossed the gateway with the rest of the team and they were just about to rush inside went Josh stopped them.

“It stopped.” He said as everyone else turned around.

It just stood there away from gate. It turned back around and walked back to the forest. “Well I don't think that is good sign.” Austin said.

“Well….we already been chased by a giant metal bull. How bad could it be?” Chandler said catching his breath.

The humans were now out of pan but, they were about to be….in fryer.

Author's Note

Sorry it took so long to update. Been busy few weeks. But, I should be posting more chapters and stories soon.