Chapter Twelve: War Interrupted

Tomakaya could hear the bellowing Habade. The trees – so ancient and solid - fall before the great beasts' onslaught. The ground beneath Donona shudders with their approach, the air reverberates with the shockwaves. Underlying it all was the buzzing sound of the thousands of Noa coursing ever closer to the ancient city.

On the breeze she caught their scent, the vents in her mask not hiding it from her senses. Her clawed hand tightened in anticipation of the pending battle. Her other hand pulled at the various straps across the armor that leaves little skin still exposed to the humid air. A hunter would be shamed to wear so much protection.

This was not hunt, however, this was war, and a totally different set of rules applied. To survive they needed to remain protected against the gouging claws and the desiccating venom of the Noa's bite.

Nervously she flicked and retracted her sraha, wishing the armo of the Noa would hurry up and arrive. The waiting was the worst part of all of this. In the heat of battle there was no time for worry. She longed for the loss of her pessimistic thoughts.

Tomakaya's station was at the rail of Donona's south defensive wall. Her orange eyes scanned the gaps between the trees; looking for the assault she knew was coming. Her mandibles clicked and ground together behind her mask, the sound echoing loudly in her ear slits.

She glanced to one side, locating the next sentry along the low wall, noting quickly it was another of the Taysa.

Frustration built in her as her gaze strayed further from the forest below and in front of her, noting that each warrior on this section of the rail was from her defunct city. This wall was predicted to be the first hit by the incoming Noa horde. She didn't know whether to be honored by that fact or incensed. The latter was at the forefront, unable to help the notion that Donona had put them all here in order to be quickly rid of their presence.

Tomakaya refused to let that thought rule her, steeling herself with the notion that no matter the purpose of their "strategic" positioning, her clan would fight with honor and dignity due the ancient lines.

That was what mattered, not the petty politicking of the Ot Eesan.

Nobaya drew her attention when he passed by her. "Have you seen Eesa Lyonas?"

She blinked, even when the consternation couldn't be seen through the material of her mask. "He has not made it to his post?"

Nobaya shook his head. "None of the Taysa has seen him for a full rise and fall of Chai."

Her indrawn breath was loud in her helmet. "But he is to lead our assault. He was well aware of the Noa army descending on us."

"Aye," Nobaya agreed. "The idea that he has abandoned us is worrying."

"He would not abandon us, Nobaya." She defended their leader, "He is probably on a mission of his own choosing."

"What good is some side mission when we are threatened with extinction? Perhaps on this very day."

"Do not question the Eesa, my mate. He will not let us down."

A clicking growl escaped her mate's throat, "I hope that you are right."

"Get back to your post!" A strange Soua snarled at Nobaya, "You're lax Taysa ways are not sufficient here. I'll not tolerate sloth from the likes of you."

Nobaya glared at the new entry. The creature was a monster of a Soua, matching the height of Yaha and thicker.

"You are not our squad leader, Taura."

"I am now. Your Lyonas has come up missing, is presumed to have deserted the city to save his own worthless hide. I have been sent to replace him."

Tomakaya saw the struggle in her mate not to lash out at the larger Sougra.

"We do not need outside leadership. I will take the squad," Tomakaya chimed in. Nobaya was a good warrior, but loathed leading.

The Sougra snorted, "I have my orders, Sougara." He at least gave her the courtesy of the correct title. "And so do you. Get back to your posts; scouts are reporting the first wave on the move."

Tomakaya wanted to argue more, but merely squared her shoulders and turned back toward the rail. That fight would be for another time, for now she had an adopted city to defend.

She did not look over her shoulder as Nobaya took his leave of her, resuming his place in the defensive line. Under her feet she saw the grunts moving out into the forest, a meager attempt to stave off the attack and keep the intruders from gaining access to the lifts at the base of the tree. She knew it was a failure before she saw the first warrior fall.

Tomakaya did not know what started the Noa on this path, but she knew that they were set, determined to decimate the Soua population beyond hope of recovery. She envisioned the city swarming with Noa by the evening. Their previous assaults had weakened the cities defenses, taken too many warriors.

There was a part of her that was certain that these would be the last days of the mighty Soua race. The Noa would see to that, in short order. That did not mean, however, that she was resigned to such a fate. She would go out fighting, down to her last breath and trickle of blood.

Adrenaline rushed through her system as a trickle of Noa foot soldiers made their way through the line, surging toward the anchor line. The incessant clicking became louder, irritating and frightening all at the same time. Nobaya took aim, slaying three before they could make it under her perch. She swore as the growing numbers flooded past the smaller trees. She fired until the plasma cannon grew hot on her shoulder, and still she only made a small ripple in the stream of bodies that belonged to the enemy.

She found herself cursing with each shot, unsure whether it was frustration or the blistering pain making its way through the padding between her and her weapon. For each Noa she slew, fifteen took their place, the body trampled or eaten as the warriors continued their assault on Donona.

It would be a bit before the Noa made it this high, but she was sure that the creatures would find their way up here eventually.

"Second wave is on the move," relayed through her com. She sucked air through her teeth, unable to see the break between one and the next.

Light speared through her vision as trees were felled in the great forest. A wide swath of destruction could be seen behind the hulking body of the Habade a cleared path to make the swarming Noa faster through the undergrowth. They were like ants at the creatures feet, dashing and zig-zagging to avoid being pulverized under the gargantuan feet of their prime weapon.

The Habade bellowed again, a sound of indignation, overwork, and pain. The handler between its feathered ear tufts yanked mercilessly on the hooks in its nostrils, steering it directly toward where she was standing on the 30th level of the city. She began to make out the Noa warriors on its side, clinging to its huge shoulder feathers like parasites. If the beast made it to the wall their cause would be lost.

Tomakaya aimed for the beast picking the small spot just under its chin. A clean shot would sever its head from its neck and make the creature one more obstacle for the army hanging well back from its slashing feet and swishing tail.

She ordered her weapon to fire, snarling when the snake-like head twisted away and down from the lancing plasma. Instead of doing its intended job it seared through the ear feathers, singing the rider's shoulder before decimating an already tipping tree.

The Sougara swore as a heavy foot squashed warriors from both sides underfoot.

She nearly fell when a strong tremor moved through the earth below the city. Her gaze shot up to the Habade realizing that the act was out of time with its ponderous steps. The tree supporting Donona shivered a second time, vibration moving through the platform and her feet. She shuffled forward catching and holding the rail before spilling over in to the melee below.

When she stabilized her footing once more, she returned her attention to the Habade. There was something wrong in the creature's stance. As she watched the Habade leaned to one side. She thought at first that it was setting up for a swipe at the mingling warriors, but it wasn't turning it was just tipping.

She narrowed her eyes, as if that would bring the action into better focus. The ground beneath the creature's feet was lifting, pushing the Habade off balance. She couldn't help the grin that erupted on her face when the mammoth animal crashed to the ground, its neck whipping with enough force that the rider came free and slammed into a tree before sliding into the panicked Noa on the ground.

She darted a glance around, realizing that all commotion had stopped. The entire battlefield fell silent. The only sound that permeated the air was the rumbling of that mound to the south of the city.

The soil continued to lift and heave, the mound growing longer, even as it widened the swath of disturbed earth. There was a certain familiarity to the outline of that object, but Tomakaya did not want to believe what her eyes were reporting.

A wedge broke free of the confines that trapped it, dull and ill fitting panels poking through the dirt. It was a…ship?

As it freed itself from its prison she realized that the craft was unlike anything she saw in her life. The face of it peaked in three places, between those equal divisions the skin dipped sharply toward the longitudinal axis. Unfortunately that was all she could see from her angle. More trees fell as the ship; a good five times larger than the Habade took to the air. It did not linger there, only freeing its landing struts, shifting a bit and settling in the newly made clearing in the forest.

The crowd, both Noa and Soua merely stared at the phenomenon. Conversation on both sides was slow to start, only to be hushed again when the ship opened its hatch. The breaking of bones in the bodies under its weight carried even to her ears on the platform.

Speculation began anew when a figure appeared on the ramp.

A Taysa next to her began to shift out of his position.

She snapped at him, "You will stay at your post!"

"But Sougara…that is a Soua on the ramp."

"The immediate threat is the Noa. Ship or no ship you will stand your ground and carry out your orders."

The Soua did not look happy but did not budge from his post.

Her eyes strayed to other Soua, fascinated by the entry of such a strange vehicle in their midst, departing their assigned positions and jockeying at the lifts to get to the ground for a closer look.

She was proud of her warriors when they took her at her threat and didn't budge, even with such tempting sights before them.

A transmission cut through the external chatter. The shocked voice was not known to her. "It is…Eesa Lyonas."

Chancelor: Hee Steve was not a sympathetic character, not by any means. I'm glad that you are sympathetic to my characters here…I tried very hard to ensure that they were relatable to the readers.

Blackdawn: LOL Thanks I have been trying to clean up my grammar.

Wanderer: Hi hi! Yeah I know, I'm like way behind on my updating with this program here…Trophy worthy? Well I don't think any of them would want to keep the skull.

Soulfulbee: Hiya, I'm back (finally) I am a horrible horrible little author for making you all wait so long. That was a long mulling! And yes his death was way too good for him…too neat and tidy!

Zevrillion: Thanks hopes this one is as satisfying!

GoldenWind: Hi lady, long time no hear I know…Been busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest lately. Thanks for all the well wishes…I get to walk for my diploma next month! I am also the student speaker for my school how kick ass is that (Magna Cum Laude besides!)

Caz: cowers thanks for the kick in the butt…I have been way too lax about updates to this one…Sigh, no excuses, and no promises right? LOL But here is the long mulled and quickly written next chapter. Thanks for being so patient? LOL!

Later!

Okay there we are…back in the saddle (I hope)…Later for now!

Darwin