Page 10 of Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

4

Darok

Fear hits me in a wave as I witness the mass of Scorp pouring into the streets.

I was not blessed with the mindless bravery of my two battle-brothers. Their auras are strong as I sense their courage through our Bond – burning in my mind like twin, raging suns. The shame of my cowardice flourishes in darkness, so it’s some consolation that the powerful auras of Hadone and Forn buoy me up.

Ignoring my fear, I join the formation and we move as one – our feet pounding on the roof of the structure in unison as we leap forward without hesitation.

My stomach drops as I fly through the air. Together, we thud down on hard ground twenty-feet below. These streets are constructed from packed stone – some kind of hard rock that gives me sure footing. I judge the landscape. It will be tight quarters in these narrow confines, with barely room for all three of us to stand abreast. That’s not a bad thing. The tight confines might be our only salvation against the horde of Scorp Warriors.

This is a trap, I’m sure of it – but I chose my fate. Where my blood-brothers go, I follow.

Women and children scream, and my anger surges – overpowering my fear. I have no way of helping the sick members of my tribe, but I will not allow the helpless to suffer on this world as well.

I glance around. The wall of the structure to my right is cracked at the bottom – with a hole big enough for a small animal to hide inside. Two tiny children are shuddering there, hiding in the nook. I marvel at them. I’ve only seen Aurelian children before – all male – and these tiny creatures look so helpless and scared compared to the strapping children of my race. They’re smaller even than a human female.

I can help these small humans.

A mass of Scorp Warriors pour down the street towards us. I position myself in front of the crack in the wall, keeping my body between the children and the onslaught. I hold my Orb-Sword in front of me, the blade humming with eagerness as three of the Scorp charge.

These ones are younger hatchlings – barely eight-feet-tall, and still groggy from their landing. In deep space, the Scorp lay dormant – their protection against the vacuum of deep space. When they land on a planet such as this one, it takes them time to fully awaken.

That disadvantage will serve me well.

I brace for the Scorp attack. The barbed tail of the first Scorp darts forward, but I easily dodge the dripping stinger and lop the creature’s arm clean off – spraying hot, red blood over the both of us. Beside me, Hadone’s war hammer crushes the second Scorp with a grisly crunch – the beast’s carapace cracking beneath the Orb-end of his powerful weapon. Forn too leaps forward, his twin blades seeking chinks in the armor of the third Scorp – and then easily cutting it to pieces in front of us.

I’m covered in blood and filled with fear as a huge mass of Scorp Warrior reinforcements pour down the street. The tremors of my muted terror ripple through the Bond, to my great shame. My battle-brothers can taste my anxiety as I witness the unstoppable wave rushing towards us.

I spare a glance to my right. The two small humans, one male and one female, are looking at me with awe – as if I’m some great hero from the sagas and not a coward. Someday, I’ll have a mate who looks at me that same way.

The little girl points with a trembling hand at the wall of a nearby structure, constructed of wood and not stone.

They want to go in there.

I reach into the nook, half-expecting the children to cower away from me – yet they come closer. I scoop up the two small humans in the crook of one arm, keeping my blade at the ready in the other.

With the two small children in my arm, looking at me with hope, I feel myself becoming the person they think I am.

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