Incoming Storm

Chapter One: Broken Fingers

Tyler Shanae winced as she stepped on yet another sharp stone. I need new boots, she thought, cursing the fact that she didn't get paid for keeping the country safe. Oh sure, they got a little pocket money from the military camp, but for good boots she would need more than pocket money. Returning to the matter at hand, she glanced behind her.

The first thing she saw was her rival, Faren Rhett, a guy of about seventeen. He was grinning mockingly, as usual, showing straight white teeth. His black bangs were pushed back by the wind. He was tall and lean, well muscled despite his thinness, and he was running for his life.

Tyler scowled at him. He smiled sweetly back and winked, giving a slight wave as if he was just going for a casual jog. She glared at him and shifted her gaze back forward just in time to feel a burst of pain shoot up her leg. She gasped and fell to her knees, sliding along the forest floor, then rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. All in all, it was a spectacular fall.

Dazed, she sat up, grasping her ankle and moaning. Everything looked blurry and out of focus. She blinked rapidly, and her vision cleared enough so she could see the creature that was chasing them leap at her, claws extended, like a cat pouncing on a mouse.

It was big, about the size of a pony, with several tubes running from various places on its skin to a metal tank on its back. Glowing greenish-blue liquid oozed through the tubes. The thing itself had dark, brittle fur covering its body. Its eyes were mere slits, and they glowed the same color as the tubes. Its face was rounded, and it had feet shaped like hooves with three claws on each foot. It had large canine teeth whose points could be seen even when its mouth was closed. Its tail was bristling with seven inch long quills. I should probably avoid that, she thought distractedly as she scrambled to her feet. She wrenched her dagger out of its sheath and threw it at the animal. The weapon embedded itself in its gaping maw. The creature gave a yelp of pain as it tumbled out of its desired path towards her throat, dead before it hit the ground. As Faren sprinted past her he grabbed her wrist and yanked her into motion. He kept a vise like grip on her as he dragged her behind him.

He wasn't smiling anymore.

Tyler hissed with pain as she was forced to use her injured ankle. It was only sprained, but it was still extremely painful. On her fifth stride it gave way and she collapsed, hitting her head on a rock that was jutting out of the ground. She watched through half closed eyes as Faren whipped around to face the attacking creatures. He suddenly sprouted a twin, as did everything else, and then it all went black.

Faren unsheathed his twin blades from their places on his back and positioned himself protectively in front of Tyler. General Aiker would kill him if something happened to her while he was with her. He glanced down at her, marveling at how Aiker's favorite could have gotten herself into this. She had an ugly cut on her forehead above her left eyebrow, and her arms were bruised and scratched. The gash was oozing blood into her hair, and her bare shoulder was bleeding. Faren heard a low growl and shifted his glare from Tyler to the crouching Nreth in front of him. The Nreth were a powerful race, more 'human' than animal, if you will. They are intelligent and hard to beat, that is they were, until the Kor mutated most of them and used them to hunt down their enemies like prey.

With one quick swipe, he slashed the clear tubes, separating them from the creature. The Nreth arched its back and writhed on the ground, it's eyes closed. It emitted a low moan, then stood up, looking very, very tired. Despite its obvious fatigue, the creature looked crazy deadly. Faren backed away warily as the Nreth started to move, but he watched in amazement as it trotted over to its fallen comrade and grasped the dagger in its teeth. The Nreth gave a jerk of its head and the dagger slid free. It then turned to Faren, who had a somber expression on his face. The Nreth made a clicking sound, than nudged the dead one with its nose. Faren sheathed his swords and warily knelt by the fallen Nreth, burying it in leaves while watching the other one out of the corner of his eye.