Taste of ash

As the ash cloud clears I turn just in time to see the portal close behind me, grumbling I turn to get my bearings and take in my surroundings looking around I see a waste land with scattered scorched trees some of which are still soldering or outright on fire in the distance the smoke of fires obscures my vision, moving my gaze up slightly I notice that the smoke doesn't raise to far of the ground, it seems to only reach to the tops of the trees before strong winds disperse it in to the air properly, moving my gaze up even further I see that the sky is full of dark clouds with the occasional flashes of what seems to be explosions as I finish my turn I see the land mark

The volcano in the distance is huge and erupting with large flows of lava criss crossing all over it, heaving out a sigh I unfurl my wings and go to take to the sky. But just as I do a gust of wind howls though the clearing, I'm on which almost throws me off my feet, stabilizing myself I grumble to myself.

"it can never be that easy can it"

As I finish grumbling to myself I freeze as a chorus of roars reach my ears, my mouth goes dry as I slowly turn to see what made the noise but I already have a feeling what it could be or what they could be, looking in to the distance I see several figures walk out of the smoke, at this distance they look just like normal humans I shift my grip on the war hammer another roar rings out to my side I turn to look and there is more of them but these ones have what looks like wolfs with them, I turn so I can keep both groups in my sight but a third roar rings out to my other side, sweat begins to build up at the back of my neck and the palms of my hands looking over my shoulder and my heart sinks as another group moves out of the smoke this group doesn't have any wolfs with them and I let out a sigh of relief but as my breath leaves my body a much larger creature steps out of the smoke behind them and I curse.

I stare at the large war rhino moves further into the clearing, I spin to look at the other groups and begin counting, okay six humanoids there, next group five there with three wolfs and back to the group with the rhino only four that side, as I'm counting all three groups begin to sprint towards me, I turn to face the group with the wolfs as they will be the first to reach me, I charge the wolfs and as I get closer I het to see what they look like, they mostly look like a normal timber wolf except all of the fur has been burnt off and there skin I charged back the crack in there burnt skin glows with the amber glow of fire and the eyes are a Smokey white.

The wolfs get close and howl out their challenge just at the lead wolf leaps towards me I bring the war hammer in and ark and as it makes contact with the side of its head it bursts into ash, the second and third wolf continue with out breaking stride, with out slowing my spin I turn in a full circle and bring the war hammer down in top of the second wolf, but the third latches on to my arm that is holding the hammer as its teeth puncher my arm and blood begins to flow another roar echoes in the air but that is the least of my problems as I stifle a scream as a burning sensation radiates from the bite, without missing a beat I reach for one of the daggers strapped to my back and draw it and stab the wolf on one motion and the third wolf burst in to ash, I wave my hand to clear the ash from in front of my face.

As the ash begins to clear the I feel the floor vibrate as I catch sight of the rhino as it closes in my eyes widen at how close it has gotten and twist to the side only to be knocked sprawling as the rhino hits me another burning sensation ripples up my arm from where the rhino clipped me luckily I kept hold of the hammer, getting to my feet I see the rhino turn kicking up dust and ash as it begins charging me again, gritting my teeth and call out to the rhino as I shift the hammer in my grip.

"come on big boy time to play chicken!"

The rhino snorts as it lowers its head and leads with its horn, I begin bouncing on the spot psyching myself up, the rhino gets closer and closer once its within range I bring down the hammer on top of its head as I scream out.

"fuck off!"

The rhino bursts just like the wolfs, unfortunately because I was screaming at the rhino I had my mouth open at it burst so I got a mouthful of ash, I leave the hammer on the floor as I sheathe the dagger and draw my sword knowing that the fifteen humanoids are going to be next, as my swords free them self's from there scabbards they are on top of me the first goes for a leaping tackle but my right hand blade takes its head but before I can celebrate another comes in from the left I dance back as I remove its arm and with a poof its gone a third and forth come from ether side with a fifth coming from behind so I roll forward and take one of their legs of and just like that I'm down to twelve more scorched.

As I come up from my roll I take a few steps to get all twelve in front of me, I turn to see all of them now charging me all of their faces contorted in to a horrifying snarl, I spit to try to get the taste of ash out of my mouth and snarl right back, I channel lightning in to my limbs and charge them like I'm a bowling ball the they are the pins as I do I lash out the my swords extending my reach to get as many as I can, breaking through the other side I skid to a stop and look at the ash cloud I left behind, I wait for a few seconds to let the cloud disperse to make sure I got them all, as it dose a smile brakes over my face as its clear I have sheathing my swords I look over my already healing wounds and grab the war hammer from where I left it, as I dust myself off I say to myself.

"that wasn't too bad, but ash tastes like crap"

As my words leave my mouth a huge roar rings out once more, I turn and look at where it came from and my heart stops as hundreds if not thousands of scorched walk out of the smoke.