Chrysalis

In the distance, a rising tide of fangs, claws and flesh approached. When Morrelia squinted, she could make out the individual forms of the monsters as they undulated across the land and between the trees. There didn’t seem to be an end to the horde. They spread. Like water pooling over the floor from a spilled cup, until they filled the space in front of her.

It wouldn’t be long until they lapped up against the fortifications the villagers had erected and the battle would begin in earnest.

"I’m still not certain we shoulda put ourselves so close to our ’neighbours’," Isaac muttered.

Morrelia rolled her eyes.

"You spent several days with their leader and came home just fine. Do you really think they’re going to eat us?"

The former guard shifted uncomfortably.

"I’m jus’ sayin’ we might want to on our guard once the fightin’ is done. Maybe we look appetising at that point."

"If we live to see the end of this battle, there’ll be tens of thousands of dead monsters right over there. I don’t think they’ll need to turn on us for food," Morrelia pointed out before turning her back on the man.

Despite his experience in the field with Anthony, he still had difficulty overcoming his instincts to distrust monsters.

Not that he’s entirely wrong about that.

cautious, but not afraid. Perhaps

much longer until they arrive?" Enid asked, walking up behind

the leader of the human village and nodded her head respectfully. Enid may never have been a soldier, but she had Morrelia’s respect for her attitude

the horde reaches us. Could be a lot less

as she watched the older woman. Enid looked as if she were staring at dog that had spread mud on her carpet rather than a slavering mass of Dungeon monsters the likes of which the

we’ll have to get our people in position then. Is everyone

as they’ll ever be, ma’am," Isaac chipped

Enid. If the age difference were any less severe, Morrelia would have suspected him of ulterior motives, as it was she believed he was simply accustomed to greasing the wheels of leadership whenever he

ready the troops," Morrelia grunted before she leapt down from the rampart and jogged toward

plethora of weapons that graced her form. Her bow, dual blades, knives strapped to her forearms and sheathed in her boots. Morrelia

’troops’ in this case were lying flat on their backs, many of them asleep, resting in the shade spread by nearby trees. Looking at their tired faces, Morrelia mentally kicked herself. She had to continuously remind herself that she wasn’t dealing with professional soldiers, trainees or mercenaries, but determined

they stood up. When she drilled them to exhaustion, they wanted more. When the monsters charged, they charged

into the Dungeon, had brought everyone to the edge. Morrelia herself had barely slept in the past week, snatching a few hours here and there. She was used to it however, broken sleep like this was standard practice when on a delve. The

you could,

drew a deep

GET UP YOU USELESS SACKS OF SICK! THERE’S BLOOD TO BE SPILLED AND SURE AS HELL IT ISN’T GOING TO SPILL ITSELF!"

villagers a second time as they responded instantly to her call. Sleep was rubbed out of eyes and limbs were stretched as the men and women she had trained

she know that on the rampart someone was having a very

drill instructor to shame," Isaac sighed as he watched Morrelia’s distant form, her shout still ringing in his