Chapter Eighty-Three

                                    

                                          
Everything is moving in slow motion. I am running toward the enemy. They race toward me. Their black armour has no shine to it. No hint of light. Their skeletal masks show no kindness.  Only evil. They are terrifying. I look beside me on either side of me. Watching as my people charge by my side with weapons drawn. The rhythmic thump of our feet hitting the ground as we run is all I can hear. Everything else is background noise as I focus on the enemy rushing toward us. Closer and closer they get and they just get bigger and bigger. I feel so small as this huge mass of darkness rushes toward me. Then, there are the monsters. Monsters that have been let off their leashes and are charging through the NightShade ranks straight for us. 

                          
There is silence for a few seconds. All I can hear now is my own heart racing loudly in my ear. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins and I am scared. Very scared. My lips have dried along with my throat. I can feel my hands shake as I hold my sword. My eyes widen and I take a quick, deep breath as the NightShades completely fill my vision with weapons outstretched and the bright lights of their deadly spells flashing around us. I scream and jump forward, swinging my sword. I knock the spear away from the first NightShade I encounter and arch my sword. It swings into their neck and takes their head clean off. There is a large oomph sound as both sides meet. Swords clang and the sound of exploding spells and screams fills the air. I breathe heavily as I look around me. It is complete chaos. With wide eyes, I can't help but stare. My breathing is loud in my ears as everyone clashes in one giant mess. I let out a shout as a NightShade runs toward me, wildly swinging an axe. I duck underneath it and ram my sword into their chest. It pierces their armour easily and blood sprays everywhere as I pull the weapon out again. Something slams into my back and I stumble forward. I twist around and clash my sword against another NightShade. I kick out at him and dodge another blow. As I am about to strike my own blow, a Shifter running past swings their axe into his head. They pull the axe out and carry on fighting, leaving the NightShade's body to fall toward me in a bloody heap. Come on, Isla. Get a grip! I say to myself as the bodies pile up around me. Though I can't help but watch for a few more seconds as NightShades and shifters run around each other in a chaotic mess. Another NightShade runs toward me, only to be cut off by a spear ramming into his chest from behind. his body rockets forward as the spearhead buries into the ground and leaves his body hanging limply from it.  My breathing is heavy in my ears as I watch my people die around me. I watch as their limbs are cut from their bodies and blood sprays out of gaping wounds. I let out a shout as I jump out of the way of a monster. It is one of the huge, black furred beasts. Its limbs are thick with muscle and the long claws at the end of its feet curl sharply and are lined with Black Root. Lots of little red eyes all target me. It opens its mouth and lets out an enormous roar knocking me to the ground. Layers of teeth, covered with more Black Root line inside its mouth. I gasp and clench my hand around the hilt of my sword a little tighter. It charges toward me, the ground shuddering as it runs. I have fought one of these monsters before. Only a few days before we were even found by the shifters. I can do it again. I just can't rely on my powers and strength this time. I charge for it. It rears and aims to stamp on me. I slide under its belly. A scream leaves my mouth as I drag my blade along its stomach. Once I am out from under it, I spin round to it. The beast is on its hind legs, clawing at the huge gash down its stomach. Blood is soaking its fur as it leaks from the open wound. That isn't what is causing it to scrape its belly, however. Ice crawls out from the wound, spreading over its body until it can't move anymore. I stare wide-eyed as the ice creature begins to crack and it explodes into a million shards. I bring up my shield to block my body from the shrapnel of sharp ice. With wide eyes, I look down at my glowing blue sword. I smile and charge further into battle. Grunts leave my mouth as I cut my way through NightShade soldiers. I duck under their weapons and slice at their exposed flanks. Any I don't kill in the first blow can't escape the ice that crawls from their wounds and consumes their bodies.