“Tally, this is your father, you need stay calm and prepare for the worst. And whatever you do, DON”T GO OUTSIDE. Try and gather any food and water and find a good place to hide, Okay.”

“Sorry, the person you are calling right now is unavailable, please call back later or leave a ten second message after the beep……beeeep

…..One hour later…..

“The army has finally arrived, I can see them patrolling the streets, stay put and we will try to come and get you, be safe son, we love you.”

“Sorry, the person you are calling right now is unavailable, please call back later or leave a ten second message after the beep……beeeep”

…..Half an hour later…..

“Bastards are too scared to leave their posts, idiots are terrified of their own shadow, but don’t you worry Son, I’m coming, just need to find a way around their dam barricade?”

“Sorry, the person you are calling right now is unavailable, please call back later or leave a ten second message after the beep……beeeep”

~ * ~

Location: Forest of Glokeen, Year 2061

The ashen-faced moon beamed one last burst of dim light before disappearing behind faint white clouds which rolled in from either side. A deep and all-consuming darkness blackened the land. The glittering stars above winking out of existence, leaving behind nothing. Lying flat along one of the cedar’s great tree branches, Cora pushed her silver hair out her light blue eyes and adjusted her aim. Strong gusts of wind blew in through the forest treetops, chilling her to the bone and causing an eerie creaking sound from the tall cedar trees swaying in the breeze. Joints aching from the cold, she tried to rub her hands together, while holding her rifle. Down below her, across the road the goblins hooted and jeered, hundreds of bright yellow eyes glowing in the darkness.

Unable to get a clear shot at the goblins who were well-protected by the darkened forest, she closed her eyes briefly and focused on her breathing. Orcs in heavily blood stained armor floated in and out of the torchlight, daring the humans to waste their bullets. But Cora accustomed to seeing such tactics used by Orcs and Goblins simply ignored them, waiting patiently for her opportunity. A brash young goblin with a scrawny frame, eager for battle suddenly hooted and charged towards the remains of lightning squad rushing into the glaring torchlight. The creature managed to reach the center of the road, before two well-timed bullets, tore through its jugular and skull simultaneously.

In the tree beside her, Tommy laughed, “Did you see that Cora, shot the gob right between the eyes.”

Cora’s lips tightened.

“Maybe you should retire Cora, looks like you’re getting old and slow,” he crowed as he fired another round to blow out the brains of another unlucky goblin to step into the circle of torchlight.

Having had enough of his preening, she retorted, “Shut yer mouth, Tommy, this ain’t no game.”

Tommy chortled nastily and replied, “Why? Are you afraid to lose?”

Cora grimaced, and flexed her numb fingers. She disliked noise, she disliked talking, and she also disliked company. She preferred to hunt and scavenge on her own, but with so many patrols losing men or gone missing. Squads were becoming desperate for replacements to assist in defending the perimeter. Worried for her younger sister Katie, a shy young woman with no combat experience, she had put her hand up for the new assignment. Tommy a rowdy city boy with quick fingers and perfect hand and eye co-ordination had taken the appearance of a ranger in the squad as a direct challenge to his position as the best marksmen.

Sighing, she tried to ignore his jibes, but he continued his one-sided rant.

“Reckon I could have taken a nap and still had time to kill more gobs than you, Cora? I am like a god with a rifle, nobody can beat me. Maybe if you had my skills, you wouldn’t be shootin’ gobs in the neck,” he proclaimed, voice so full of arrogance, it twisted her stomach.

Hicks, overhearing the entire conversation bellowed, “Tommy, shut that dam mouth of yours! We don’t need you bringing any more goblins our way!”

Tommy his brown eyes still twinkling with mischief replied, “Aye, Aye Sarg.”

As if waiting for the stillness and quiet to return to the forest, the huge grey skinned Orc lumbered forward, skirting the round pools of torchlight.

Cora licked her dry lips and moved her finger to rest lightly upon the trigger. She had never seen an Orc the size of this one, not to mention the odd skin color. She wondered if it was a berserker, if so this creature would take more than one bullet to kill. The grey-skinned Orc swung its massive war axe through the air one handed, showing off its physical prowess, before stepping into the torchlight. Cora’s eyes locked onto a weak point at the base of the Orc’s throat where the jugular was and gently squeezed the trigger. Her bullet hit the mark, snapping the Orc’s head back. The creature shook its lumpy round head, shrugging off the pain and continued advancing slowly. Tommy’s rifle immediately fired after hers, smacking the beast solidly in the forehead. Again, the Orc grunted in pain, but continued its ominous advance. Cora worried now, fired two more rounds into the creature’s knees to slow its advance. The first round hit the mark; the second ricocheted off the heavy plate armor.

Tommy followed suit, firing round after round into any weak points in the plate armor, shoulders, knees and neck. The colossal Orc ignored the rain of bullets and continued plodding forward, its flame colored eyes never wavering, staring at them with malevolent intent. As it reached the center of the road, where the remains of the goblin lay at its feet with barely any scratches on its iron-grey skin, it gave a low menacing growl and lurched forward a little faster. The orcs and goblins screamed and howled with excitement. And like a bank bursting with too much water, they flooded onto the road after the huge Orc.