Chapter 21

  The Price of Survival

  The first gray light of dawn was just beginning to break the eastern tree tops, casting the meadow in a cold oppressive gloom.

  Lucas, Burly Beard, and Skinny.

  They moved with slow, deliberate steps, illuminating the carnage with their single sputtering torch.

  They stopped just beyond the trench.

  Faces a portrait of terror, grief, and exhaustion.

  Their eyes flicked between the massive dead worgs, and the silent figures watching them.

  Dan stood in front of them, club in hand.

  Stance wide, immobile.

  “Dan… Jimmy,” Lucas’ voice started as a raw whisper, but rose with indignation.

  “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “You watched them die!” Lucas shouted, gesturing wildly at the wrecked camp.

  “You all sat there while they were torn apart! We came in together! You’re monsters!”

  He visibly worked himself up for his finale.

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  “You need to let us in.”

  “NO.” Dan stated calmly.

  Jimmy stepped forward, glasses reflecting the torchlight.

  “You wanted to exploit our vulnerability.”

  “You pegged us as weak.”

  “You were antagonistic.”

  “Harassing.”

  “Hostile. We will not save you from yourselves.”

  “We can fight!” Skinny whimpered, clutching at his injured arm.

  “You can barely stand,” Chris scoffed as he wiped blood from his spear.

  Luca’s eyes narrowed.

  "That's rich, coming from you gimp.”

  Dan rumbled, Chris took a half step forward.

  Jimmy cut off Dan’s outburst.

  “You are playing with your life here.”

  “Walk away.”

  “Do not bother us again.”

  “Now.”

  Lucas puffed up with indignation.

  “How dare you cast us aside like this? We should be in this together! We lost our friends, were hurt, and you will just let us die?”

  He grasped for anything.

  “Yes we have made mistakes, but I can make up for them. If you don't let us in, I swear, I wi–”

  An arrow sprouted from his throat with a gurgle, ending his rant.

  Everyone stood in shock.

  Everyone except for Jimmy.

  Twang

  Skinny dropped.

  “You bastards!"

  Burly Beard hollered and started charging, raising an axe.

  Dan’s club dropped him easier than a worg.

  A heavy, thick haze started emitting from the corpses.