The rest of the humans look at the old female mage in surprise and while they did that the Porkasus act. With a hard flap of its wings, a strong wind swept through the clearing. The humans had seen the Porkasus did this before so they were ready; at least they thought they were. The humans stood firm against the wind but the Porkasus didn’t stop with one flap. Instead it swung its wings again and again, harder and harder with each swing. The spirits within the Hive felt the wind pick up and it soon became a strong gale. Firm as they were, some of the humans were being push back by the wind.

“Buy me some time!”

The old female mage screamed and the humans immediately reacted. They surrounded the female mage and the other male mage cast a spell. An image of a white bear appear appeared in front of the female mage and though the image disappear moments later, the Hive could sense that a barrier had took it’s place. The barrier block the strong wind and the remaining humans hid behind it. The female mage then began to gather energy; a lot of energy!

The Porkasus saw this and took off. Like the wind, the Porkasus flew straight at the barrier. It never stood a chance. The long tusks of the flying pig stuck the magical barrier and they manage to penetrate through the invisible barrier. The Porkasus shook its head. Between the tusks and the strength of the Porkasus, the unfortunate barrier broke into two. To their credit, the humans did not let the destruction of the barrier faze them. They attack immediately.

The humans crowd around the Porkasus and the Hive realized that the humans had decided to change their strategy. Instead of letting the flying pig time and distance to launch itself at them, the humans now intend to fight the flying pig up close and personal. The lone human warrior left step forward banging his shield with his sword. Once again, the distraction worked as the Porkasus began focusing on him. The Porkasus’ snout banging on the warrior’s shield and the loud sound echo through the underground forest. The Porkasus push against the shield and the warrior had to stab his sword into the ground to prevent himself from being push back. The rest of the humans took the chance to attack.

Injuries appear on the Porkasus as blades, spells and arrows once again stuck against the Porkasus’ now thicker hide. The Porkasus gave a defiant oink and flap its wings. Instead of pushing against the shield though, the flying pig angled upwards and flew up. The sudden change in angle caught the human warrior out. His feet were firmly planted and could not move in time. The Porkasus flew up and the warrior fell on his behind. The Porkasus immediately stop flapping its wings…and drop.

The human could only look on in horror as the pig landed on him, crushing his body with its gigantic pink body. The spirits within the Hive roar in laughter as the warrior stay planted to the ground when the Porkasus got up. The laughter lasted for only a moment as the spirits suddenly notice the old female mage again. She had gathered a lot of energy, more than the Hive believe she could. More than the Hive believe any human could safely gathered.

The Hive was right. The old female mage screamed. The scream was so distorted only a few of the spirits within the Hive realized that she was screaming a word; Run!

The male human mage didn’t waste a moment and cast a spell. He raised his staff over his head and the image of a pigeon appear over his head. The spirits within the Hive seem this spell before and a moment later, a small burst of light surround the mage.

“Vall, wait!”

One of the other humans shouted but he was too late. The mage had disappeared. He had left the other humans behind. The old female mage screamed again and this time no words was needed. The other humans ran. It doesn’t matter where as long as it was away from the old female mage. The spirits within the Hive realized what the mage was trying to do and went into a tizzy. She was going to blow herself up, and take the Hive with her!

Countless suggestions were immediately thrown within the Hive but none of them could think of a way to stop the old female mage in time. The Porkasus tried anyway. The Hive saw the Porkasus throwing itself at the old female mage with a flap of its wings. Then…darkness.

***

The battle was not going well. Arnel was no tactician but simple experience told him they were losing. Despite the occasional help from the dragon, the Kin had been unable to break the human line. They had managed to push the line back several lines but the humans had stood firm, making the Kin pay for every small gain. This cannot last.

Injured in a prior engagement, Arnel had move back to the rear for treatment and while a small Foxkin heal him, he look at the battle in front of him. Although things look pretty even, it is not enough. The humans were the ones on the defense, they hold the superior position, and the Kin are outnumbered. The tireless Alpha was still leading from the front but unless there was a drastic change, the Kin are going to lose. Arnel could see this, he just couldn’t see any…his heart erupted.

Unconsciously Arnel took a deep breath. A hole had suddenly appear in his heart. His heart was breaking and Arnel didn’t know why. A great sense of loss overcame him. He felt was a great sense of loss, a deep sense of sorrow, and finally a surge of anger!

Every Kin around Arnel felt the same. They no longer feel anything but anger, a senseless rage that consume every fiber of their being. Arnel heard a howl, a howl that was filled with rage and sorrow. Another howl follow and soon the city of Yachium was fill with the howls of the Kin.

Abruptly, the howls stop. Arnel look at the humans and they noticed the change in their enemies. A sense of dread fill the humans and they instinctively pull back. Everything turned red. Arnel couldn’t see anything but blood. As one, the Kin surge forward. There was no tactics, no strategy; only the need to kill. Only the need to destroy.

Only the need for death!