Chapter 21. The Weakest Link.

  -Snap—Snap-

  Those carnivorous plants had a quick snack while that big fellow in a red shirt passed by. That protruding gut produce a nasty growl intimidating the floral chewing its feathery victim.

  Sid was getting hungry, and he was starting to kick himself for breaking that entire piece of bread for the bird. A bird he had not seen or heard in a long while. He should have named it so he could call for it. Finding a bush full with deep purple berries Sid stop for a moment to replenish his sugars.

  Sid had stopped for longer than he anticipated, and he ate berries until his fingers had become stained the sweet berry. His fingers and tongue had a soft purple tinge to them now. His burps even had sweet and sugary bubble, it was a delightful aftertaste that made him smile. A purple tongue roll across that thick mustache retrieving the loose berry flesh. It produced a happy wiggle and supplied a wet burp, before it curled happily.

  Sid loved these little purple berries. They were mildly sweet with tart bitter notes. The seeds were small nothing you had to spit out; they actually had a nice crunch to them.

  Some might tell you that’s where the bitter notes came from, others say it’s overripe flesh. The reason didn’t matter to Sid he liked them either way. These were the same berries Sophie would boil into a cider, and the same he show Clayton when the season was good for picking.

  Sid was pulled from a memory when a familiar bluster echo through the trees. Turning from the berry bush, he follow the call. The kraa was wild and the wind carry it in circles, causing Sid to listen close.

  “Drive it this way!”

  He heard a shout.

  “No, no, no. Push it my way, my blade still be dry!”

  “You had your chance, let me have another go!”

  He could hear many men shouting amongst themselves. They were whooping and hollering in a joyous manner too. He could also hear yelp of sorts and a particular rattling of links.

  “Stop being fools! Push it towards the sword!”

  Another man had shout.

  Sid’s suspicion forced a walk, and he follow the voices. Whooping and hollers grow louder with each step. Links could be heard thrashing with iron chatter.

  “Be ready Darren here it comes!”

  That voice yell again.

  Sid lower himself stalking those voices. A sharp yelp ripped his attention over a bush and he seen the group of cowards. 8 of them circle a creature.

  It look to be a smaller version, of that massive hound he free from the tree. What was that creature? Sid watch the cowards take short jabs and whoop at the creature as it jump from one side to another. The rattling chatter at its paw keep it from leaping too far. It was trapped, and these bullies were closing their surrounding.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Sid looked them over once more, really calculating his situation. 8 cowards, 7 empty sheaths, 6 who shout with fear. 5 who handle their dirk poorly, 4 bows, but only 3 empty quivers. 2 who had true determination and 1 of which wielded a decent blade.

  "What do you think boy?"

  Sid asked the pouch; it wasn't even a full beat of time and that raven gronk loudly.

  The man Sid had assumed was named Darren as he had the sword, curiously watched the raven overhead. Missing his attack for the trapped creature at hand and it jumped back snapping at another. The creature had very sharp white teeth.

  Taking that brief distraction Sid trampled out of his hiding, three men who had their backs turned, spun in fear, no time to react.

  That face of shock had been permanently stamped over one. Sid pierce the man, driving his sword deep, while stomping another down to the ground. He lifted that man who hang from his sword and tossed him into the three who ran for him.

  One man slammed his dirk into Sid’s side, causing that fat man to roar for the sky.

  The attacker withdrew his hand, while Sid’s blood sizzled over that man’s fingers. The attacker held his hand screaming before looking back up at Sid with a questioning look.

  -Ka-Chunk!-

  In that man’s panic Sid popped the brass button sheathing that horrific tree dropper, and it had no problem with the man’s skull. Sid kick the man free from his axe, and he look down at the one who squirm under his stand. Before looking at the others.

  That man Darren stare at Sid with wide eyes. Somewhat enraged yet also impressed.

  3 others finally push the one Sid had thrown from off of them, never retrieving the sword stuck within.

  All 5 of them look at the big man in a dirty red shirt, while 1 of them struggle with a wide foot trespassing into his chest.

  Sid and that fellow Darren held a tight stare, while the creature thrashed about. One of the things Sid had detected about those rattling links from behind the bush was they didn’t hold that same sinister hue as the one in the feeding ground.

  Darren’s dead black eyes anticipated an attack but what came next, he wasn’t planned for.

  Sid kicked a boot at one, the man caught it, but it was a good distraction.

  2 others ran for the fat man in a red shirt.

  The one Sid stood on, let out a nasty gasp while he pushed with a cracking step. A fat fist balled tightly lifted a man into the air, while he drag his dirk across Sid’s forearm.

  Sid scream in pain looking at the gash along his arm. The blood was dark, almost black. Flowing for his fingertips, and it dripped steadily.

  There was a sharp pinch biting his side, before a man scream with panic.

  Sid turn quickly as the man scream, that fellow look at his hand while it sizzle with a foul yellow hiss.

  The man looked up at Sid with a sickly panic just before that timber terror take a crunchy bite. That man scream grabbing the spitting mound where an arm was once valued.

  Sid swung for another with a heavy gasp gulping for air. He was exhausted. His chest heaved. His lungs ached and burned. Every attack was draining.

  The chain rattled in his sights, it thrashed while the creature yelp and bark. He follow the links until a sudden weight found his back.

  One of those men jumped one the back of Sid.

  With a free hand, Sid stopped the dirk coming for his face, while another found his stomach.

  “RAAHHR!”

  Sid roar in pain. It was a primal roar that forced the others to stop and look.

  Even the creature in trap stopped its frenzy to bear witness to what made such noise.

  Darren stopped his attention over the black hound-like creature and began stepping closer to the standing dog pile taking shape.

  In the chaos of it all Sid’s great arm lifted his axe. Swinging with a certain target in sight.

  -Clink!-

  Sid had fallen to his knee, but not before he let that axe bite clean through that link. The creature sensed this break in tension and dashed from the area. Iron jaw still biting its leg, and remaining links rattle in the distance while it disappear into the woods.

  "Let it go, we have bigger game." Darren shouted at the two who were wanting to pursue the creature. He slowly approached his men who kick cautiously at the fat man curled along the ground.