“You know your jobs, you know the rules, so I’m going to be quick,” Samtha yelled out from chestnuts’ frame. Continuously pacing back and forth.

“Whoever gets me the head of the archers will get a thousand times bonus in gold, the most kills a thousand platinum,” Samantha yelled outwards to her men. Pointing up at the swampy trees. “, And whoever gets the leader of those Dam twigs, The druid, will get a promotion and first pick at the loot!”

“Yeah!.....” They yelled, excitedly pointing their weapons upwards in the air.

Samtha grinned. Having succeeded in rifling them up.

“You ready girl”, Samantha whispered. Smothering Chestnut's ear as she spoke the words. “Weeeee” The horse excitedly lorded out.

“Then let's be off” “Charge!” Samantha yelled, pointing her sword upwards into the sky, giving a slight tap to chestnut, and suddenly they were off, chestnut running, his wings falling as he began to jump, swooping up into the air and revealing the sky in all its glory.

“Hah, Glory awaits” Lance yelled, Samantha, looking down, hearing his voice, solemnly watched as he too began to charge, with the entirety of the 2 corps behind him.

“Uhh….” Samtha gritted her teeth as Chestnut’s speed suddenly increased. Flying higher, and high. Heading straight into the jaws of the enemy arrows only to quickly outpace them before they could reach them.

More than ever grateful for the dampening field that surrounded Chestnut's saddle as if she hadn’t had it she would have surely been spotted and shot out by now.

Watching the arrow's path as Chestnut dexterity quickly and ever so suddenly flew over them.

Samtha, just about grasping her mouth shut, filling with horror, as she watched as the arrows suddenly hit the ground and her men instead, despairful, watching as hundreds of her men abruptly died by the second with every arrow that struck, unable to do anything to prevent the slaughter that had suddenly commenced as a result of her actions.

‘Go now to the halls of battle, may your blades ever be sharp, and know that your sacrifice will never be forgotten’, Samantha sorrowfully thought, filling with despair but yet not daring to look away for a second, to do anything less would be to spit upon the very sacrifice that they so willingly made.

And so, promising to herself that their deaths would not be in vain, Samatha continued to look onwards and watch as more and more of her men died by the seconds. Chestnut flying.

Flying. Flying ever further. Climbing. Climbing ever higher. Her fellows growing more and more distant by the moment. The slaughter suddenly growing smaller and smaller to her eye by the second as they flew ever further away from them. Till finally, finally, she could spot them no more.

Chestnut having reached such a distance that she could barely make out anything at all but the slightest hints of green waters, And so Samtha filled with sorrow filled with shame and guilt both a plenty. Samtha, feeling like the coward that she was, looked away.

Quickly looking up only to find Chestnut flying ever onwards, heading towards a Gintic treetop. Samtha just about squinting out the closest of the Tree platforms with her naked eye.

Climbing. Climbing. Climbing.

Flying.Flying. Flying.

Samatha flew, Chestnut continuously flying ever higher. Slowing getting ever closer to the target. Till finally reaching it, the platform but a bare 20 feet away, Samtha swabbed Chestnut on the side, Chestnut slowed to a crawl as they began to approach the platform.

“Well this will be easy,” Samtha muttered, Chestnut finally stopping altogether as the platform and many elven archers appeared before her very eyes,

‘Hhh, here we go’ Samantha thought, sighing, and with a leap jumped off chestnut back and hit the ground with a thud, suddenly splattering an elf with her sword as she hit the ground.

“Hey, Boys!” Samantha yelled. Pushing herself forwards into a barrel roll, pushing her sword outwards into yet another elf before they could even react.

“Gathama! Huni!” An elf yelled out in his native tongue, rushing forwards with but a single dagger in hand. Samantha quickly twisted, turning, as he retched mele range, cutting him in two as he suddenly reached her range.

“Mamapach!” The dozen or so elves suddenly yelled out in panic, seemingly unsure of what to do.

‘Hah, yeah this is gonna be fun” Samtha beamed, her heart filling with excitement, the bloodlust suddenly taking her as she sword in hand began to run, the wind in her hair as she rushed towards the enemy, quickly reaching meal range in short order, sweeping her sword out and cutting down 10 or so elves all in one epic twisting motion.

“Amena, Amena!” One of the elves yelled, suddenly backing off, taking out his bow, almost half of them following his example, attacking from a distance.

“Ahhh!” ‘So it’s gonna be like that ehh…’. Samantha yelled, bashing out with her shield as dozens of arrows began to pelt her. The other half, seemingly those with no bows or arow’s left, abruptly stopping short of mail range.

“Huh. what are we gonna do?” Their faces screamed, looking back and forth, seemingly intent on attacking yet none seemingly processing the courage to be the first to initiate the attack. Till finally, one did…..

“Ahhh…..” An elf bravely screamed. Abruptly rushing forwards at her with his single clone glass dagger in hand. His comrades following immediately after him as he began to close into meal range.

Swang.Stab.Bash. Samantha's sword/shield arms went. Blocking the elf's shoddy attempt to pierce through her armour with his glass forged dagger. Instantly stabbing him in the gut and bashing him forwards onto the ground with her shield the very next second.

“Ha, is that all you’ve got!” Samtha yelled, tauntingly looking up upon the still breathing elf and his ever-approaching clone army of fellow elves. Immediately moving her arms. Swinging and stabbing. Blocking arrows and knives both as they came into range.

Swing. Swing. Stab.

Swing. Block. Block. Stab.

Block. Block. Swing. Block. Stag,

Swang.Stab.Block.Swang. Stab. swang.Block.

Samtha swung and stabbed. Blocking more and more Elven daggers. Successfully, killing more and more elves by the minute as more and more fell to her sword. Till finally,

Finally, Samatha looked down and all she could see were bodies. All the elves either lying dead or dying at her feet. The archers having long since gone to join their brethren in their struggle, quickly dying the process.

“Hmm”‘Who's next I wonder’ Samantha viciously sighed, and victorious at last quickly rolled up, backwards into the air, safely landing back onto Chestnut’s saddle who had been safely palked out of fighting range.

“Common girl!” Samantha half whispered, gently pelting Chestnut's side. Chestnut, aiming toward the next platform, picking up more and more speed. Samatha more than ready for anything that might await them as they continued onwards.

Chestnut quietly hopped forwards, quickly reached the next set of trees in short order and quietly stopped. Samatha quickly moving, went as to jump off her saddle only to stop as an elf suddenly looked up.

“Alarllly!” The elf shouted, unable to miss Chestnut's gigantic frame as he spotted her. Instantly notching his bow upwards and going to shoot.

‘Dam, come on girl’. Samantha thought, her instincts taking over, instantly tapping chestnut's side, Chestnut immediately swirling to the side into a rolling dive just as they had practised.

“Woww…..” Samantha screamed, holding tightly on as chestnut went into a whirling dive, clenching her teeth. The only thing keeping her going being sheer willpower and the knowledge that she had done this a thousound times before.

“Swiss…” The arrow went. ‘Dam’ Samtha cursed. Looking up. Ever turning. Moving her head back. The arrow just about swishing past her head. ‘Hah, That was close’. She thought her heart pumping to the brim even as the quickly aimed arrow waggled past her, undoubtedly heading towards some other poor soul no doubt.

“Huh, Good job girl” Samtha sighed, rewardingly patting Chestnut's fur. They hit normal space again, doing it as much to calm herself as to reward the pegasus for the quick action. Having always found this manoeuvre to be one of her least favourable of activities.

“Huh…”‘Ok, let’s try this again,’, “Hah…..”Samantha sighed, taking a deep calming breath in and out before finally pushing herself upwards, sward, shield out as she went to jump,” Hhh” Samantha jumped, jumping up and out of Chestnut's straps, slamming into the green vine platform with a” Thud! Slash…” instantly killing the brown-eyed elf.

‘Dam’ This will never get old. The feeling of boots hitting solid ground. The smell of her sword as it swished through fresh air. The sudden sounds of hatred in her enemy's eyes.

‘Yes, it doesn't get better than this.’ Samantha smiled, astutely turning to face her next victim before he could stab her in the gut only to be shocked as she suddenly spotted a blue ball of light heading straight for her.

‘What, an energy ball.…’ Samantha thought, shocked, intuitively recognising the spell for what it was, just about bringing her shield up in time to block it.

“Hello, Human!” An unknown voice yelled, Smatha instantly looking up as she heard the words, suddenly spotting an elf robed in the traditional Blue mage’s robes as she did so.

“Apprentice huh, didn’t think you lot were Allowed out till puberty, guess I was wrong, huh!” Samantha yelled back, instinctively spotting the Blue-green leather stash that marked him as an elven druid mage apprentice, taunting him in the hopes of gaining the upper hand,

“At least You won’t be that hard to kill!Thalucha!” Samtha used one of the few elven words that she knew hoping to get a reaction and boy did she get one. The elf's face suddenly lit up as it filled to the brim with pure fury.

“Agh…You….” The elf yelled. Fire and brimstone came out in spades only to suddenly stop a strange expression of what she could describe as realization coming to the forefront.

“No, no, human, you're taunting me are you not? My master warned me of this human custom. Were you an elf I would challenge you to a duel for your words?” The elf yelled. A smile on his face.

Alas, I will just have to be content with your death!” He yelled, thrusting his staff outwards at her. Samtha seeing what was about to happen instantly proceeded backwards a few steps, pushing her shield outwards as she went to do so. Just about making it as Fire suddenly appeared outwards from his staff and went as to cover her, head to toe, in it.

“Try harder, your mother could do better than that!” Samantha yelled, gritting her teeth, continuously thrusting her shield forwards in an effort to block the blue-yellow fire away from her body.

“YOU!...YOU!...YOU!....” The little elfling screamed. “You dare defil tha marecaha! Match-Matala-smalaamash…..” He yelled, suddenly losing his grip upon common, a little lightning coming out from his staff and adding itself into the mix as he began to chant.

‘Agh, chanting, I hate chanting’, Sasmtha thought, gritting her teeth even tighter, readying herself for what was to come, persistently blocking the now Black-blue fire, even as she continued to propel herself forwards, her every step taking her closer to the mage.

“LACHlssdaakndfndiybeubiuibrbiun…….Die!” He screamed. Suddenly finishing his chant. A mad grin joined the elves face as he propelled his second arm forwards. A pint of blue force energy abruptly thrust itself forwards. outwards from his arm. and instantly hitting her in the chest, forcing her to the ground.

“Aghhh!….” ‘This is gonna suck.’ Samtha screamed as the sudden mix of flame, lighting and force magic exploded outwards, propelling her into the air. Slamming into the ground a few seconds later.

“Uhh….”Samtha grunted, coughing, suddenly in such pain as her back hit the ground.

‘Well don’t think I’m ever gonna look pretty again, not that was ever a concern.’, Samtha thought, looking down, burns now covering the eternity of her already scar-covered hands.

“My sword!” Samtha screamed, looking downwards and spotting her sword or what little remained of it. “What you did to my sword!”Samantha yelled. Quickly picking up the melted slag that used to be her sword, pushing herself back to her feet.

“Yess, so sad, as will be the rest of you” The Mageling yelled, thrusting his hand outwards, going as to cast another spell.

‘Oh that’s it, I need to do something but what, all I have is a broken sword and a shield, wait’, Samtha thought, looking down at her still unbroken if a bit chard shield, coming up with an idea.

“Hey douchebag” Samantha yelled. Pushing her sward arm upwards. Aiming it straight at the little pinching mage. Going as if she meant to throw it at him.

“Huh, that won’t kill me” The nifeling mage yelled.

“No! But this will!” Samtha screamed and thrusting out with all she had, Samtha threw her shield forwards, using all of her remaining strength to push it forwards at the mage's head.

BANG. “Aghh” The mage went as the shield’s bladed edge hit, knocking him back to the floor.

‘Lights out’ “Sleep tight” Samtha mumbled, patting the mage's shoulder as she went to pick up her shield, ever the more thankful that she’d had the thought to have it enchanted against mana energy,

‘Hmm, this might be useful.’ Samtha thought, looting the mage's staff away from his tightened grip, cursing that she neither had the time nor access to any proper divination skill that would allow her to fully scan its secrets.

‘Huh, I’ll just have to wing it…’“Common chestnut!” Samantha whistled out, turning to face the dozens of scorched elven bodies, just about glad to be alive as she swirled into the air and jumped onto Chestnut's back.

“Hah, Hah, Hah” ‘I so need to keep this…’ Samtha madly laughed. Happily smiling as she wielded death from above with the help of the Elven mage apprentices staff.

“Hah-ha-ha….”‘I’ve never had such fun, why did I never think of this before…’ “PCH” Fire generated outwards from the staff, burning the remaining elven archers to a crisp.

‘Lords this enchantment is amazing. Both Fire and lighting, what else can you do I wonder…’, Samtha thought, holding tightly onto the staff, filled with reverence for whoever had created such an amazing tool.

‘But I think, it's time to put you away’ Samatha soundly thought, more than ready to return to the field of battle. ‘Your charge can’t last forever after all, or can it’ Samtha thought, wisely putting the enchanted tree branch away for now in exchange for a new/old sward that she had stored in her dimensional pocket for a rainy day like this. ‘Too bad it can only hold so much or I would have stored a whole armoury in there’

"Common chestnut, let’s go….” Samtha muttered. Giving chestnuts a soft kick, steering them onwards. The last of this tree's remaining forces having finally been dealt with. Samtha readily turning onto the next set. Chestnut rapidly gaining distance and speed as she headed in the direction of the next platform.

The cycle. The pattern.The constant killings. Continued for some time as Samtha continually swooped in and out of danger, killing all she could, her comrades occasionally firing arrows, helping where they could, till finally none but the largest of the elven outposts remained.

“I really need to get another pegasus, don’t I, this riding alone thing is….”’ ‘Boring’ Samther muttered. Thinking the last words in her head for chestnut's sake.

“Whhh…..”, ’But then we wouldn’t have our lone time’ Chesnut seemed to wine.

“Yes, yes, I suppose you're right” Samtha muttered, kissing Chestnut's ear, feeling a slight bit insane as she said the words but yet saying them anyway as they were true.

“Who would the rider even be,” ‘Perkins, no, he can barely ride a normal horse, the old man, not an option, so just leaves what, Lance,’ “Hahaha,” No, No that is, is never happening.” Samantha laughed, the mere thought of lance attempting to ride a young pegasus filling her with dread.

‘No, it would have to be someone younger, someone, fit and healthy enough, yet also mature enough to actually be able to look after such a special creature such as her’ Samtha thought, thinking hard yet still unable to force a name to mind.

“Well I guess we’ll keep it in the shells, for now, girl,” Samtha mumbled into chestnut's curled ear. Kissing her on the cheek and flying ever onwards.

“Weee….” ‘Good’, Chesnut grunted, seemingly in agreement. Her pace seeming to increase as she did so.