The grasses swayed in the breeze, and the only sound was the soft rustling textures floating in the air.
From time to time, a sword would poke up among the reeds.
“Tsugunu, the units are grumbling. They want to know why we’re leaving the battle,” said Earma. “The WolvenPacks are looting everything back home.”
Tsugunu did not answer but kept navigating carefully through the grass. She stopped and surveyed her surroundings.
“Did you tell them to go to the pass?” Tsugunu finally said to Earma.
The warrior nodded.
It irked Tsugunu how the Claw soldiers could be so chaotic and disorganized. You never knew if they would follow instructions or just wander off to do something else. That is the one thing she admired about the WolvenPacks. They were organized in defense and attack. They thought ahead and treated war like one treats a machine. That need for order, however, was also a weakness when you introduced the unorthodox.
“Let them loot,” said Tsugunu. “Let them have their spoils. They've already lost.”
Earma was always mystified by her litter sister. While Earma was talkative and direct, Tsugunu was withdrawn and spoke in riddles that she alone could understand.
The narrow pass surrounded by forest came into view.
“Carry the word,” Tsugunu said. “Take position on either side and wait for the signal to attack.”
"Anything else?"
Tsugunu shook her head. It was no use giving more details, not when you were relying on the element of surprise.
Earma flicked her ears then disappeared in the undergrowth.
Tsugunu moved forward and stopped at the base of an oak tree at the edge of the pass. With her monoscope, she spotted the WolvenPack on the secondary road that led to the pass, loot in tow. Behind them, the smoke rose above the prefecture.
She counted their numbers, looked at their formation. They always walked in formation, so it was easy to determine what parts were missing. They had taken heavy casualties from the looks of it. Their form was now divided.
Tsugunu climbed up the tree and perched on a branch clustered with leaves. With her keen eyes she could see other Claw fighters crouching in their hiding spots, waiting for her signal. Each one had chosen their own position. It was no using drafting a detailed battle plan, especially when their best weapon was disorder. Not even she could anticipate how the battle would unfold, but she knew in her heart, that they had already won it. It was now just a matter of willing it into reality.
The WolvenPack approached hauling their carts. Ragged and muddy. Their formation tight along the road like a cracked phalanx of Roman soldiers.
Tsugunu watched them enter the pass, and when the last of the tail was safely tucked in, she screeched loudly then jumped off the tree.
Her blade glinted in the afternoon sunlight, as a bevy of white doves took to the air.
Previous episodes
Life 1
Life 2
Images generated by @litguru using Stable Diffusion software