The Gift of Battle by Morgan Rice Page A

backed up to each other, forming a tight
circle, back to back, slashing and jabbing and kicking, keeping the creatures
at bay as they watched each other’s backs.
    They fought and
fought and fought beneath the blazing suns, with nowhere to retreat to in the
vast, open space. Kendrick’s shoulders ached, and he was up to his elbows in
blood, exhausted from his long trek, from the endless battle. They had no
reserves, and nowhere to go, and they all fought for their lives. The enraged
screeches of these beasts filled the air, as they dropped left and right.
Kendrick knew that they had to be careful; it was a long trek back, and if any
of them were wounded, it would be a dire situation.
    As he fought, in
the distance, Kendrick caught a glimpse of the boy, Kaden, and he was relieved
to see he was still alive. He struggled, his hands and arms bound behind his
back and held back by several creatures. The sight of him motivated Kendrick,
reminded him why he had come out here to begin with. He fought furiously,
doubling his efforts, trying to cut through all these beasts and make his way
to the boy. He did not like the way they were handling him, and he knew he had
to reach him before these creatures did anything rash.
    Kendrick groaned
in pain as he suddenly felt a slash across his arm. He turned to see a creature
swinging again, coming down with his razor-sharp claws, right for his face. He
could not react in time, and he braced himself for the blow, expecting it to
tear his face in two—when suddenly Brandt lunged forward and pierced the
creature through its chest with his sword, saving Kendrick at the last moment.
    At the same
time, Atme stepped forward and slashed a creature right before it could sink
its fangs into Brandt’s throat.
    Kendrick then
spun, slashing two creatures before they descended on Atme.
    Around and
around he went, spinning and slashing, fighting each and every creature to the
last. The creatures fell at their feet, piling on the sand, and the sand turned
red with blood.
    Kendrick
spotted, out of the corner of his eye, several creatures grabbing Kaden and
beginning to run off with him. Kendrick’s heart pounded; he knew it was a dire
situation. If he lost sight of them, they would disappear in the desert and
they’d never find Kaden again.
    Kendrick knew he
had to make a run for it. He broke free from the fight, elbowing several
creatures out of his way, and chased after the boy, leaving the others to fight
the creatures. Several creatures pursued him, and Kendrick turned, kicking and
slashing to deter them as he went. Kendrick felt himself scratched on all
sides, but no matter what, he didn’t stop. He had to reach Kaden in time.
    Kendrick,
spotting Kaden, knew he had to stop him; he knew he only had one shot at this.
    Kendrick reached
into his waist, grabbed a knife, and threw it. It landed on a creature’s neck,
killing it right before it could sink its claws into Kaden’s throat. Kendrick
burst through the crowd, closing the gap, running all the way to Kaden and
stabbing another right before it could finish him off.
    Kendrick took a
defensive position over Kaden, who lay on the ground, bound, as Kendrick killed
off his captors. As more creatures closed in on him, Kendrick blocked their
claws in each direction. He found himself surrounded, slashing in every
direction, but determined to save Kaden. The others, he could see, were too
immersed in battle to rush to Kaden’s side.
    Kendrick raised
his sword high and slashed the boy’s ropes, freeing him.
    “Take my sword!”
Kendrick implored.
    Kaden grabbed
the extra short sword from Kendrick’s scabbard, and spun and faced the rest of
the creatures, at Kendrick’s side. Although he was young, Kendrick could see
the boy was quick and brave and bold, and Kendrick was pleased to have him by
his side, fighting the creatures.
    They fought well
together, felling creatures left and right. But, fight as they did, there were
just too many of them, and