Chapter 9.

Even with the impending threat of an attack from monstrous beings, it was very easy to feel bored when walking for hours. At least that's how Enora felt. How could she not ? Apart from the constant and subtle pain from her feet, nothing really happened, to the point where she felt ashamed to consider wanting an encounter.

She had not had to wait too long for it though, as it came just after the midday break. They had just stopped in a tunnel before sending someone to scout the cave Arsenio saw from afar and were waiting for the report. In fact, they had been waiting for some time. Yet no one came back. With one look behind him, the leader made his fighter understand how bad the situation looked like. He nodded, and advanced, everybody except a few to defend the carriers following in his shadow.

They entered a medium size cave, emerging from the dark at the foot of a rocky slope, with a wall to their left and the whole cave at their right. Above them stood two dozen tents, in the middle of which loud voracious sounds could be heard. Some angry voice, some wet fleshy noises of working lips, with cracking bones and disgusting suction.

Enora had no need to see the nightmarish sight to guess what was awaiting them. Right she was : butchery. Literally, eight little monsters could be seen even from her position, devouring different limbs, or even just parts of them, while most others had to watch. Those were probably the weakest, who could only eat after the strong had finished. And they did not seem close to finished, biting and chewing and swallowing all at the same time. They were famished. And what was left of the scout, head and torso, would not suffice for all of them.

A fighter nearby began belching, gastric acid tainting his palate with its nausea. He wasn't the only one, but being the first made him responsible for getting everyone spotted. Even the eating ones of their enemies stopped their moves, beginning a semblance of a plan until the hungry charge began. The humans were still quite inexperienced but still managed to get in a sloppy formation, shields up and ready to stab or slash, or even bash.

The second the wave hit, the twenty or so defenders began grunting and grinding their teeth, some screaming from a painful bite or the sneaky stab of a bone dagger. Enora was not outdone in that regard, as she groaned and growled, piercing as much enemy skin and organs as she could. Her thrusts were not great, not only missing often, but only inflicting minor injuries most of the time. Still, she did her best, causing losses to the Grey Devils. That was their new name.

As difficult and laborious as this fight was, and even if the monsters outnumbered the humans, they were still winning. The enemy strength was largely below that of a grown man or woman, and only their small stature and long arms allowed them to do any harm. Many tragic screams resounded along the dark tunnels and caves of this seemingly infinite labyrinth until only the choked grumbles of the victors remained.

A deep cut on Enora's thigh forced her to rest against the wall, before slipping to the ground. As she squeezed her limb tightly, she fumbled about to get her medical supplies, quickly taking a look around. It indeed was a horrible sight, bodies everywhere, and even two allies sprawled down, unmoving. One had his left arm torn off, his neck bitten to an unrecognizable state and a fresh bone plunged into one of his eyes. The bone probably came from the scout's leg. The other was beheaded, and the rest of her body was partially crushed, as she had died early and was stepped on by the others. Of course, the Grey Devils had been massacred too, with blood and limbs and wastes covering most of the battlefield, but Enora did not feel like mourning those.

After lowering her pants enough, she quickly chewed the herbs into a paste, filled her wound with it and bandaged her thigh. The most wounded required help to perform this, while half of them only had very light injuries, including Theo and Arsenio. They were definitely good fighters, with the right instincts and reflexes while everyone else had to go through trial and error, getting hurt on the way to mastery.

Fifteen minutes later, the carriers and their protectors arrived, stopping with horrified looks at the sight of the slaughter that transpired earlier. There was a great difference between being told of a fight and seeing it, but beholding the aftermath was close enough for them. Everyone got busy eventually, piling the enemy corpses in one corner of the cave and laying the two dead in another, helping in the treatment of those in need.

Among them, Rose did her part. Enora got a glimpse of the girl cleaning a wound as well as she could while someone else forced her patient to stay still. An hour went by before camp was finally established, using the enemy tents after cleaning them a bit. Enora went to sit near Rose, who was leaning against a tent in front of the fire.

- You okay ?, she asked, more for conversation starter than through curiosity.

- Are you kidding me ?, answered the girl with wide eyes. I should be the one to ask that ! I didn't fight. I didn't even do anything again. Can I do something for you ?

She sounded desperate for some kind of recognition, for someone to tell her simple things like 'you did good' or 'thank you for your help'. It cost Enora nothing to do it, and it would not hurt to have someone who felt indebted to her.

- I saw you help this guy earlier, that was a fine job. Isn't it enough for today ?

- But anyone could have done that, I didn't have to risk my life for it !, continued the blond. What …

- You don't need to risk your life, we're here for that., interrupted Enora. Look, if you feel that bad about today, just get me food and wash my bowl. With the state of my thigh, any sudden move could make it bleed again.

A few seconds passed during which Enora's interlocutor seemed lost in thoughts, or more like she could not believe an opportunity finally appeared. In an instant, she was on her feet, quickly trotting towards the fires where dinner was simmering.

To Enora, that development was quite welcomed as she abhorred washing anything but herself or moving without purpose. Two annoyances were ridden off through one action. Rose came back with two bowls of basic stew and sat next to her new friend wearing a satisfied expression as they both began to eat. They made small talk, trying to think of something other than blood and gore, finding it pretty hard considering their oldest memory dated a few days before. Until Enora saw a yellow book in Rose's bag.

- Where did you get that ?, she curiously asked.

- At the first cave, on the weapons table. I like books and got myself many from the book table, but thought it was quite surprising to find one on the wrong table considering how organised everything was. So, I took it.

- Have you read it ?, asked Enora innocently.

- Yes, it is quite interesting, but I don't know if you would like it : it's fiction, after all., excitedly answered the girl.

Then she went on about the few books she had read at the same time, infinitely happy to have found someone to talk about what appeared to be a passion of hers. All the while Enora faked interest, only thinking of the red booklet she had not read herself.