Chapter Twelve: The Dwarves

Heading north along the stream, the three walked side by side. On better terms then they were before, some small talk was created, not a whole lot. Smelling the aroma of the environment, they've been listening to Jack, in hopes to avoid any ambush of human soldiers, laying amongst the bushes or trees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Coming up to a clearing, they slowed their paces, to see whether if it was safe or not to just run ahead. Arya went ahead to check, looking over, it was not a cliff, but a small drop, and looking ahead, she could see what they've been looking for. Four days, roughly fourteen hours of walking, and they have finally reached their destination, Dwarven territory. The Dwarfs homeland had lacked many trees and farmlands within it, but with the abundant amount of minerals they have, as well as their advanced technology compared to other tribes, they were valued craftsman and good trade partners. Allied with the Human's, the Dwarves were forbid to trade weapons, but could trade other goods. Signaling to walk forward, Treyala took lead now, Jack and Arya behind now. A Dwarf caught sight of the three. The Dwarf's hair was all braided, holding a dark brown colour, like a grizzly bear. Complementing his hair, was also his braided beard, if he weren't so short, he'd be surely a viking, an extinct tribe from long ago. And hiding underneath his hair, was his eyes, a dark green colour, one strong enough to break another's will. Going up, and stopping the three in there tracks, he was at least, up to Aryas knees, a little taller, yet short.

"Oi!" He yelled loudly for such a short person, "What be your business here!"

Looking to Jack, Arya tried to figure that out.

Looking back at her, he shrugged too.

Neither Arya or ajack knew why they were in Dwarven territory.

"Well you see mrrrr?"

Responding to Treyalas question, "They call me Muck," he extend his hand out to Treyala.

Taking it and shaking his hand, he repeated,"What is your reason being here?"

"Well thank you for asking my name Muck, I'm Treyala, and these are my companions, Arya," she points to Arya, "An elf, and Jack," She pointed to a now, empty spot.

"Who?" Muck was pulling out his dagger.

The two started to worry, not wanting to alert the humans of there locations, seeing as they're allied with these short creatures. Then, holding eachother in panic, Jack walked from outside the treeline, pulling up his pants, "Sup," he scratched his crotch.

"Ah I see," he was putting his blade away, "Just talking a wiz were you?"

"Uh yeah, what else would I be doing," he snarled.

"And as you can see, that's Jack, or rather, wild member. Part of the Animila family," Treyala whipped the worry off her face.

"So your here why?"

"We'd like to see a map," Treyala have a smile.

"Well that doesn't seem to hard, just follow me, go anywhere else, and we'll kill you," Muck turned around, and began to walk.

Although Dwarves lack magic and height comparing to the other clans, there advanced technology and knowledge, is far to great. While following Muck, another dwarf approaches him, and pulled him aside. The three now just stood there, waiting.

"Whatcha want Spunk?"

Spunk, the other dwarf, signed with his hands for Muck to shut his ruckus, "News came in from boss," he whispered.

"What news?"

Spunk handed Muck three papers.

Examining the papers, Muck recognized two of the three faces, Treyala and Arya. "Wait, but these two woman are of the folks I'm escorting?"

"I can see that, and we've been given orders to bring them in alive, or kill em, whatever comes best to us."

Muck turned and went back to the three while Spunk went to a group of dwarves off on the left of them somewhere. "Ok, I'll be real honest with you three,"

Jack glared at Muck, he knew what he was gonna say, "Humans want us? Innit what you were gonna say?"

Muck sighed, "Yes. Because of that, I say give up, come in alive, we're allied with the humans, and you know that."

Arya wanted to trust Muck, but she was wary of what would become of the three if captured.

Treyala and Arya huddled and whispered, "Maybe we should?" Treyala suggested.

Arya bit her lower lip, "But will we be able to escape?"

Annoyed by the pointless discussion, Jack revealed his wolf like claws, sharp like a steel blade, and he beheaded Muck. Such a clean slice, sending the dwarfs head into the air, and catching it with his left palm. Gripping his hair, he showed off the head, "Come kill us provoke us more! I'll murder every single one of you!"

Arya and Treyala sighed at the sight, "What the-why-What's wrong with you!" Arya threw her arms to her side, "Now they won't take us in alive!"

Jack and Arya had begun to argue, but Treyala was watching the Dwarf huddle, but she was confused, why aren't they attacking? Then a sound came from the bushes. Glancing over from where the three originally came from, she saw an army of Dwarves rushing out.

These dwarves carried strange weapons, ones that they've never seen before.

"The hell are those things?!" Arya shouted.

"Fuck if I know!" Jack panicked now.

The dwarves had stopped now and the one with the biggest weapon stood infront of then now. His weapon looked like it was made of steel and had many chambers, feed into it, it looked to be lead maybe, the dwarves were gifted when it came to the minerals they had access too. Now the other dwarves raised their weapons, pointing the barrels at the three, "Ready! Aim," a dwarf with a red cap behind them was yelling.

Treyala knew something bad was gonna happen, so she placed her palms upon the ground, making thick roots sprout up and surround the three, improvised shield, she called this move.

"Fireee!" After the command, followed loud noises. To the three, these weapons had created an ear bleeding sensation of a sound.

"What are we going to do," Arya held herself.

"For once, I will say this....yeah I fucked up," Jack places his palm on his forehead.

Treyala, pissed at the two, she nearly blew a fuse and cursed them both right their, but keeping up this shield drained her. Then the worst to imagine happened. The lead being shot out of those mystery weapons, started cutting through the shield, some came more plentiful then the others.

Jack and Arya crouched down to Treyala. "Thanks for trying to protect us," Arya but her lip, "but I try to save you both, my cat can transp-"

"NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND," the silent beast roar. Treyala was exhausted, any moment she could fall, "I don't want to live, knowing I made another die for me!"

Jack looked elsewhere, "I guess shes right," saying that, made Aryas eyes tear up.

"Yeah," she sniffed, wiping her tears.

In the distance, the barrage of projectiles would stop, probably to stock up, then go again, but this pause was much longer than before. Then screaming was followed.