Lightning flashed, giving Draxz a quick look at the city. His eye snapped on a human in the distance staring his way and he grinned letting his bloodlust fill him.

“Half Bulls.” King Rurak said in a deep, regal voice to his side. Gripping his battle axe tight with anticipation, Draxz stole a look at his brother. His long horns pointing to the sky were tipped in diamonds and wrapped in gold and silver. His brown hair plastered to his body from the rain as he looked over the city. His golden armor with gems embedded along the seams reflected the nearby torchlight. His back straight, he stood atop his monstrous mount as the minotaur and half bulls tested the wall’s strength.

Draxz snorted, looking back to the wall. More bull than man, half bulls galloped on four legs, their horns growing awkwardly from their necks, running parallel to their snouts. Their front legs, thick as trees resembled arms rather than legs, their front feet a mix between hands and hooves. A thick mane flowed from their head down to their shoulder blades where a large muscular hump formed. Minotaur tied ropes to the palisade wall and to the half bulls. Once the half bulls were secured to the ropes the handler shouted.

The lead half bull understood, snorted and let out a growl to his fellow bulls. Together they pulled in unison. Creaks of protest rippled throughout the wooden wall in response. After another shout from the handler, half bulls growled with determination, their thick legs digging deep into the mud.

Logs snapped, throwing splinters in every direction as they tore free of the wall, creating a wide opening.

Draxz smiled, prowling past the half bulls ready to give in to his primal ways.

“Draxz.”

“Brother” Draxz replied with a growl, looking to Rurak.

“Fodder leads, removing the threats.”

His snout twitched with anger, looking back to the city. Half breeds and lesser minotaur clans poured through the opening and began raiding the nearby buildings. A cacophony of screams melted with the thunder creating a beautiful symphony of death to Draxz’s ears. He growled again in frustration, walking over to his contingent of soldiers with his banner, their spiked shields engraved with the head of a wolf.

“My lord, if you continue to humiliate our brother like you do, I may not be there when his fury falls upon you.” Goren said once Draxz was out of earshot.

“Thank you, Goren, for your concern, but our brother is too feral. He must continually be put in his place.”

“Elder would disapprove of your tactics, Draxz is second in line to the throne.”

“He is the eldest and would have been king if not for his uncontained primal urges. Now he openly gives into them.” Rurak looked over to Draxz and his four legionnaires in disappointment.

“As you say my Lord.”

Rurak looked away from his older brother and watched his fodder continue to flood into the city driving deeper and deeper, cutting off any escape as they set a perimeter inside.

“Lasteel does not have any protection beyond the wall.” Goren said following Rurak’s gaze.

“Last I was here; our father celebrated your birth. Even then, there was minimal resistance.” Rurak paused, a smile teasing his muzzle. Leaning closer to Goren he lowered his voice. “Father indulged himself with a human that night.”

“Never, our blood line is above the lust for humans. It was Draxz.” Goren said with narrowed eyes.

“Draxz had control of his desires then. It was the only time father had engaged with a human.

‘Humans bleed out the bloodline and weaken us’ father said to me regretfully as we watched the city burn.”

They sat in silence watching the last of the fodder enter the city. Rurak heard heavy footsteps and looked over to see Draxz and his legionnaires.

“You have kept me long enough from my desires Rurak.” Draxz said, his raspy voice laced with anger. Rurak motioned to the open wall, watching Draxz and his soldiers disappear into the city.

“Go make sure my brother does not find a sword in his back while in his endless lust tonight.” Rurak said to a pure blood at his side. After slamming a fist to his chest, the guard ran off after Draxz.

~

Draxz and his soldiers stalked into the city, dead bodies littering the streets while buildings burned around them.

“We will have nothing to kill.” Draxz snarled as he watched a half breed slay a man with a shovel. Moving deeper into the city the human soldiers began to form resistance. Draxz grinned watching the half breeds being pushed back.

“Time for some fun.” Draxz moved forward, his soldiers creating a small wall of shields. As one they ran into the makeshift defense of the humans. Easily, the pure bloods crushed through the lines of humans, trampling half breeds as they pushed forward. With his axe he cut through the humans, even catching a half breed. He laughed watching the human shield wall fall to their strength. Draxz slowed to a jog and a pure blood ran up behind them.

“Goren’s dog.” Draxz grumbled, eyeing the armored pure blood.

“Oltu, Lord Draxz.” He said slamming a fist to his chest. Draxz snorted, his legionnaires snickered, shaking their heads. Draxz looked behind Oltu and noticed half breeds pouring through the opening in the human’s resistance.

“Have your fun before they have it for you.” Draxz’s soldiers smiled and split apart to cause their own chaos. Draxz walked over to the closest building and kicked in the door. A young man held a rusty sword, his mate at his back. With a smile, Draxz walked forward, his horns scraping the ceiling. With a thrust, the man attacked.

Draxz caught the blade before it touched his armor.

“Your blade is dull.” He tried pulling the blade back, but Draxz had it firm in his grip. Draxz moved fast, his other hand closing around the human’s screaming head. He tightened his grip, causing the human to drop the sword and claw at Draxz’s hand. With a twist the man went limp and Draxz threw the lifeless body through a window. Screaming in terror, the woman tried to leave the house edging towards the shattered window, but Draxz blocked the way. Three times her size, he stalked forward with a laugh, backing her into a corner with no escape. She continued to scream as Draxz’s shadow slowly descended upon her.

He ripped the woman’s dress from her body and succumbed to his lust as she lashed out with all her ferocity.

Oltu turned around preferring to watch the skirmishes. Half breeds fell to large groups of humans, but still they pushed forward into the city, crushing the resisitance. When the woman’s screams stopped suddenly, he peered into the doorway. Draxz rotated the woman, but her fight had stopped, he slapped the lifeless body, but still no response. Turning around in disgust, he spat.

“A disgraceful mark on the Aesturion blood line.” Oltu whispered.

Draxz appeared next to him silently holding the lifeless woman, his yellow eye boring into Oltu as the white eye seemed to search his soul. He looked up to meet Draxz’s gaze, but fear filled Oltu, knowing Draxz would kill him without a second thought, and he looked to the mud.

“Your turn.” Draxz said dropping the woman by his feet, mud splattering on his boots.

“I’m here to assist, not enjoy the pleasures.” Oltu said, his voice low, looking away.

“Your loss.” Draxz started laughing, the air around Oltu less constricting.

Draxz’s yellow eye darted to the right where he noticed three humans defending a building from a lower clan minotaur.

“Let us show them the glory of a true Pure Blood.” Draxz said more to himself then Oltu.

He approached the smaller minotaur battling the humans, with one smooth motion Draxz swung his battle axe, the blade removing the horned head from its shoulders with ease. Jumping back in surprise, the humans watched the headless body fall in a fountain of blood. Before the humans could react, Draxz swung his axe again, cleaving the man on the right in half. Seeing their companion die forced the other two forward, swords ready. One lunged, his blade wide as Draxz brought down the metal pommel hard, cracking the attacker’s skull. Draxz refocused his attention to the remaining human and breathed deep.

“The smell of fear is intoxicating. But you human, don’t reek of fear. You will die with honor.” Draxz stood straight and dropped his battle axe to the mud. Unsure of Draxz’s actions, the human raised his sword, ready to attack.

This is what he thrived for; the moment that would make him feel the superior. Nothing but his brute force and speed against the human and his small sword. Time seemed to slow as the human lunged forward, his blade aiming for the neck. It was a clumsy attack and Draxz effortlessly side stepped the blade and his sharpened nails found their way to the human’s chest. Stepping back the human touched his new wounds and frowned with pain. Holding his sword in defense, he stood, preparing himself for an attack. Draxz licked his bloodied finger.

“I release you now human, from your…pathetic…little…life.” Draxz lowered his head and charged. Steel collided with horn as Draxz’s other horn pierced the man’s abdomen. Draxz ran on for a few more feet before halting suddenly, forcing the body to continue forward and off his horn. Draxz laughed, as the human slumped on the ground, taking its last breath.

~

Screams of pain continued to assault Anula’s ears while she helped her father with his armor in the dark.

Anula cocked her head. She could hear Thom yelling their names.

“Father, your friends are near the tavern.” Anula said knowing he couldn’t hear the voices.

“We should stay hidden An, this is a fight we may not survive.” He repeated for the third time.

“If we don’t try, our people will be dead.” Anula countered, her eyes narrowing.

“They will be dead either way.”

“We must help, or at least escape with as many as we can. I will not sit here and hide.”

Anula’s father breathed out a long breath and shook his head.

“If we do this, we move swiftly and help only those who can be helped.” His face was serious and stern, leaving no room for debate. Anula nodded and they left the cellar to find Thom, Ian and Andre in the tavern.

“General Bakka, we must flee this city.” Thom said, his playful personality gone, replaced by a serious, battle-ready soldier. Anula looked over to see Ian and Andre also in the same demeanor.

“Just Bakka.”

“We pledged our life to you; we call you what we wish… General Bakka.” Ian said looking out the window.

“Half breeds and half bulls are everywhere. With any luck we will slip out without notice.” Thom said.

“We will gather whoever we can.” Anula said before her father could say anything.

“Not this day. We are over run.”

“We will.”

Thom looked from Anula to her father. After a long pause, Ian and Andre looked over as well. At last, her father nodded.

“We will.”

“Our blades our yours as you see fit General Bakka.” Thom said without hesitation.

“Our blades are yours.” Ian and Andre said in unison. Anula frowned at the men and then back to her father who was standing tall, looking like a man she didn’t recognize. His eyes were hard, his face serious and his stance that of a hunting cat, ready to pounce.

“Stay behind us. Do not break rank.” Her father said, his cold eyes locking on hers. She could only nod in response to his new aurora of command.

“Ian, on my left, Thom, my right.” Her father locked eyes with Andre, his emotionless voice sending chills down her back. “Your blood before hers.”

“On my word.” Andre stepped to the side and looked to Anula.

“Stay in my shadow no matter what. Run if I fall.”

Not use to the overwhelming command of these men, she just nodded, trying to meet his gaze.

“Say it back woman.” Anula looked from Andre to her father who looked at her without emotion.

“I’ll stay in your shadow, I’ll run if you fall.” Andre stared at her with his piercing gaze then nodded, falling in line behind her father as they left the tavern.

Rain continued to fall, blazing fires fighting to stay alive. Looking around, Anula could see battles to the death all around her while others fled deeper into the city.

“Follow.” Andre grunted at her, forcing her to refocus and ignore the dying people. They ran past dead bodies, and men fighting with whatever they could get their hands on, not glancing at them twice. She noticed a young man fighting against a half breed, its horns small and twisting at odd angles, its short muzzle disfigured into a grin. The half breed overpowered the man and kicked his body from the sword into the mud, he clutched his chest wound as he bled out. Four other half breeds appeared, their armor covered in blood, their focus now on Anula and her father. With a roar, the half breeds charged.

Swords collided as her father and soldiers intercepted their attackers, leaving Anula with the disfigured half breed. His sword came in fast, blood still coating the blade. Anula blocked it with ease and fell into the comfortable motions her father taught her over the years. His attacks were predictable and fast, but reinforced by power Anula was not use to. Anula continued to block, picking up the pace, holding strong against his attacks. Anula sidestepped an off balanced attack, thrusting her sword into the seams of his armor. With a growl he stepped back, holding his bleeding wound.

Anula’s amber eyes flashed with fury while she attacked again. Their blades collided, but Anula used more of her strength and increased her pace, knowing the wound would slow him down. He faltered, and her blade found his wrist as he raised his gauntlet to block her attack. With a crack, her blade sliced through the bone and the half breed’s hand fell to the ground. He stepped back, screaming in pain looking down at his bloody stump. Anula stalked forward but stopped when she noticed a blade tip pierce through its throat. With a gurgle of blood, the half breed dropped his knees. Andre kicked the beast in the back, pulling his sword free in one swift motion.

“Follow.” Andre said already moving away.

Anula ran up behind him noticing the other half breeds were dead. Her father with his friends were finishing off another few half breeds who joined into the fight. She watched in fascination as they worked as one, killing half breed after half breed efficiently, their dance of death a beautiful horror to watch. As one would engage, the other two attacked, the half breeds unable to block. Each fell, a grievous wound making their life short as they bled out in the mud. Anula and Andre caught up and they continued deeper into the city.

Clusters of city guards and militia began to form the deeper they went into the city. They stopped their run and her father approached a heavily armored man.

“Shield wall, five deep, twelve wide.” Bakka shouted to the men causing confused looks between him and their captain.

“MOVE!” Bakka shouted again, and the men began to file up.

“Hold this line while we do what we can. Every second of breath to take is another second your family has to escape.” The heavily armored man nodded, soldiers and militia narrowing their eyes at the half breeds in the distance. Anula ran up to her father when they were clear of the shield wall.

“They will not survive; we need to help them.” Anula said glancing back to see more soldiers file in behind the small force of resistance.

“They do not need to live; they need to distract.” Bakka responded coldly.

“They will do their part while we do ours.” Ian said noticing a large building filling with women and children. After some convincing the building was emptied and the large group began moving into the city at a slow pace.

A loud roar cut through the city.

Anula spun, looking back to the militia shield wall in the distance. She could see five towering minotaur charging with shields larger than the half breeds blocking their way.

“Anula, run!” Bakka said pushing her behind him. Anula watched in horror as the shields crushed and pushed aside the half breeds and militia alike. Swords and axes sliced through human and half breeds without concern. Anula watched an axe catch one half breed in an uppercut and the beast flew into the air as if weightless, landing on the militia in the back.

“What…” Anula tried to ask a question, but her father kept pushing her back, his eyes never leaving the giant monsters and their wave of death.

“Pure bloods.” Andre said, pulling Anula along by her armor.

“Clan?” Thom asked looking at the beasts.

“Wolf?” Ian responded looking at one of the spiked shields with a wolf engraved on it.

“Wolf?” Andre and Thom asked as one, stealing a glance at the battle in the distance. The shield wall collapsed and the pure bloods split up, disappearing into the dark, the largest one kicking in a door to a house followed by a slightly shorter one. More half breeds poured through the broken ranks and the militia were over run, their deaths inevitable.

“Anula, we must not tarry. The city has fallen.” Bakka said pushing her along.

“But…” Anula began.

“If the pure bloods are joining in the battle, there is no hope. Lasteel has no proper legion to counter them.”

“We can’t just leave them…” Anula started again trying to resist her father.

“We will.” His words finite in his cold voice. His eyes bore deep into hers, forcing her to look away.

“Bakka…” Ian said stepping past him. Thom and Andre moved forward as well. Anula looked over her father to see the half breeds running their way, lust in their eyes, drool dripping from their snouts.

“Run!” With a push Anula stumbled back, nearly losing her footing. Anula gripped her sword and narrowed her eyes moving forward and thrusting her blade into the side of a half breed who blocked an attack from Thom.

“Bakka, we will hold the line.” Thom said glancing from Bakka to Anula. Her father grunted, removing his blade from the chest of a fallen half breed. Bakka looked around to the other half breeds who ran in all directions to plunder without resistance.

“Fool child.” Bakka said looking to Anula, then looked to his men who finished off the last brave half breed.

“Fucking halvras.” Ian said spitting the blood from his mouth. “Had one hell of a right hook.” Ian kicked the dead body and glared around.

“You can not hold a line here.” Bakka said back to Thom.

“Last stand at the fountain?” Andre said nodding to a large host of militia at the center of the city. Bakka looked from his men to Anula.

“Let us die doing what we love.” Ian said smiling.

“Killin’ bulls is tha only thing I’m good at anyway.” Thom said with a grin.

“I’m tired of keeping you lot alive.” Andre said with a sad smile. Bakka looked over his friends, then back to Anula, thunder and screams surrounding them.

“One last fight then.” Bakka looked to Anula last.

“I wont run. I will fight and bleed with you.” She said looking to her father. He nodded and looked back to the horde of half breeds, with half bulls charging in behind.

“I hate those bull dogs.” Ian said sighing.

“Bull dogs?” Anula asked. Ian pointed to a half bull charging a group of armed militia, its horns glancing off the shields.

“Stupid, but efficient at taking basic orders. One time Thom here thought it would be funny if…”

“Enough of your stories. Let me at least die in peace.” Bakka said with a small smile, his men sharing their last small laugh together.

Turning from the sea of invaders they ran to the city’s last pocket of resistance.