Chapter Text
12th of Onis, 5 BVE.
Lower Human Basin, Near Nitri.
"It came this way." Dominax whispered, keeping his voice low as he examined the deep marks in the reddish dirt. The forest breeze ran gently through his black hair and short beard.
"Good, let's finish this." Cendra replied, following closely behind her adopted son as they inched forward, crouching.
Briza hushed them, listening closely to their surroundings. "It's close."
Confirming her words, Dominax pulled apart the vibrant green foliage blocking their path, revealing an opening in the trees. In the center sat their target, an Avidion. With a serpentine body that stretched over twelve feet long, it had a long beak with several rows of sharp teeth. Rather than scales, it was covered in brightly colored feathers, consisting of blues, greens, and yellows. Near the head, it had two long arms that dragged its body along. Dominax readied his sword and took a step forward, his white cloak dragging in the mud behind him. Only a crude chest plate protected his body, with a dark tunic underneath that reached his knees. A belt known as a Turinis was strapped around his waist, consisting of several hanging strips of leather that served to add a small amount of protection to his lower half. With such a small amount of armor, he’d have to remain noiseless.
Briza loaded an arrow into her bow, freezing when she heard the snap of a twig beneath her boot. The sound caused the Avidion to whip its head around in time to see Dominax carefully approaching it.
The Avidion met Dominax's silver eyes for a split second before attacking, using its legs to launch itself at him. The beak closed upon his left forearm, it's many teeth piercing his skin as it dragged him to the ground. The pain felt like dozens of tiny swords digging into his flesh, ripping a cry of agony from his lips. He swung his sword, frantically striking at the creature in an attempt to free his arm while it thrashed its head, pulling him along the ground.
His brunette companions rushed to help him after throwing down their bows and unsheathing their swords, unwilling to risk hitting Dominax with a stray arrow. Cendra reached the beast first, driving her weapon deep into its serpentine body. In response, the Avidion unclenched its beak and released Dominax, leaving him on his back in the mud while clenching his wounds.
The Avidion let out a high-pitched shriek, swinging its long body away from Cendra and wrenching her sword from her hands before she could pull it out. It then followed up the move by swinging back and crashing into both girls, knocking the wind out of them while sending them to the ground.
Still on his back, Dominax watched as the creature moved towards his companions, readying to strike. He raised his blood covered hand, concentrating. A bolt of electricity erupted from his fingertips, slamming into the side of the creature's head.
The impact sent the feathered beast stumbling over and falling heavily onto its side, letting out a sickening shriek once more. The sound sent chills through all three of them.
Dominax hurried to his feet, gripping his sword in both hands. He groaned in pain, feeling his blood drip into the mud. The Avidion rose back up onto its strong legs and turned to face him, half of the colorful feathers on its head now scorched black. His face hardened as he prepared himself, turning the blade to point outwards towards the creature.
It attacked, launching itself with rage at Dominax. He held his sword tight and firm, allowing the Avidion to crash into him. The blade's position put it directly in the path of the beast's beaked mouth, causing it to practically stab itself as the blade pierced all the way through and exited behind its head.
The force of the attack lifted Dominax off his feet once more, slamming him onto the ground. The Avidion landed on top of him, lifeless and limp.
Cendra instinctively let out a scream at seeing her adopted son get smashed under the serpentine creature, rushing to his side with Briza. They both put their hands on the beast, using their combined strength to roll it off him. They crouched down, looking for signs of life.
Dominax broke into a fit of coughs, groaning as he slowly sat up. "I'm fine! I'm fine!"
Letting out a relieved breath Cendra wrapped him in a tight hug, her large breasts pressing against him. She had raised him from birth when his mother was executed by drowning, and she wasn’t going to let him be killed.
"Mother, he's hurt." Briza said, holding out a roll of cloth that acted as bandages. With her long dark brown hair pulled back in several loose braids, the twenty-one-year-old appeared like a young version of Cendra. Though she had slightly smaller breasts, both women had desirable toned bodies that were only an inch shorter than Dominax's well-built six-foot-tall frame. Briza's strong, yet womanly form was concealed with a top made of dark cloth that held her firm breasts together, exposing her alluring abs and flat stomach. A simple loincloth hung from both the front and back of her waist, leaving her powerful shapely legs on display. The leather strips of her Turinis lightly slapped against her gorgeous thighs whenever she walked, caressing her flawlessly smooth skin.
Taking the bandage, Cendra began to wrap it around Dominax's bleeding forearm. He gritted his teeth though didn't flinch, as he had experienced far worse injuries during his twenty-two years of life.
"You fought well, Dominax." Cendra commented, finishing applying the cloth. She then turned to her daughter with a stern expression. "Though I thought I trained you better, Briza. This all would have been avoided if you had simply been aware of your surroundings and watched your footing."
Her daughter prepared to defend herself, though seemed to change her mind at the last second. What could have possibly been the start of a lengthy argument was reduced to a simple nod of acknowledgment. "Apologies mother, I'll do better next time."
Taken off guard at the younger woman's non-combative response, Cendra paused for a moment before smiling kindly. "I know you will, my child. Let us get back to camp while the sun remains above the horizon."
After helping Dominax to his feet, the three of them began to harvest the meat from the Avidion, which they wrapped in a bundle of leaves from a Mitir plant to preserve it for several weeks without spoiling.
***
Nightfall had already arrived by the time they reached their camp. They quickly added the wrapped meat to their provisions, prepared for the other members of their settlement known as Nitri.
"This'll be the last night before we return." Cendra announced as they prepared the firewood. They had gathered enough food, which was the purpose of their excursion. Every few months the elders sent out large numbers of groups to hunt and provide for the other settlement members, making up any deficits that they weren't able to provide through trade.
"I agree. It's foolish for the elders to thin our number of capable fighters with these hunting expeditions." Dominax replied, feeling his revulsion increase slightly. Though Cendra had always refused to explain why his mother was drowned, he deeply despised the elders for giving the command.
"Perhaps, but it's not our place to decide that." Briza replied absent-mindedly as she finished preparing the firewood. She then stepped back and put her hands on her attractive hips. "Well, do your thing."
Sighing, Dominax crouched down and reached out his hand. A small flame ignited in his palm, and he held it close to the firewood until the flame took to the flammable material, growing into a healthy campfire. He straightened back up, looking into the flames as they illuminated their surroundings.
He had possessed these strange abilities for as long as he could remember, being able to create fire, lightning, and even heal faster than normal humans. Unfortunately, however, Cendra absolutely refused to allow him to use them around anyone besides Briza and herself. Though she remained tight-lipped as to her reasons for secrecy, it didn't take much for Dominax to observe them for himself. Their fellow inhabitants of The Lower Human Basin were widely known to be extraordinarily superstitious. Just as many would immediately determine his powers to be a sign from some miscellaneous deity or two, he knew just as well that others would do everything they could to snuff out his heretical existence. Thus, while he had always been frustrated at her secrecy, he dutifully followed her rules. The only strange qualities about him that were impossible to conceal were his silver eyes, which seemed to glow whenever he used his powers.
While the fire warmed their athletic bodies, Dominax pulled his cloak tightly around himself and let his gaze wander to the horizon, settling on the massive white metal structure hovering in the sky. Known as The Chimira to his people, it had been there his entire life, miles long and far too high to ever even dream of reaching. No one could remember when it arrived, as stories of its existence went back countless generations. Some claim that its presence stretched all the way back to the creation of the world itself, though none could say for certain. The only thing his people knew for sure was that it had remained in the same position for as long as anyone alive could remember, as constant and unchanging as the mountains around them.
Briza stretched before sitting down to lean against a tree. "Well, I'm exhausted." She gave Dominax a quick nod towards the forests, and he immediately recognized it as the signal.
***
As soon as Cendra fell asleep, Dominax and Briza snuck away into the forest without their armor. They walked until they were sure that they were out of earshot from the camp before finding a small clearing in the trees.
"Took her long enough." Briza said, beginning to untie her cloth top.
Dominax slipped off his worn sandals after undoing the straps around his shins. "We probably could have left sooner, as I'm certain she's figured out that we do this by now."
With her top untied, she removed the cloth, revealing her gorgeous breasts. Slightly on the larger side of medium and with perfect roundness, they suited her strong body excellently. "Maybe, but I'm not about to make it obvious for her in case she hasn't, dumbass." Briza replied, smirking as she gave him a playful shove.
He returned her smirk, removing his dirty white cloak and laying it on the forest ground. From anyone else, the lighthearted insult would have never passed by him so easily. "Either way, I'm not complaining." He replied, pulling his tunic over his head before tossing it to the ground, entirely exposing his body.
Briza eyed his naked form hungrily, examining his many scars. Her beautiful brown eyes traced down his abs, reaching his groin. Though she was MORE than familiar with his large manhood, the sight of it never failed to bring a tingle of desire to her loins.
Acting upon her momentarily distracted state, he lunged forwards, practically tackling her onto the cloak. She laughed as he pinned her to the ground on her back, very accustomed to being handled roughly. Throughout their childhood they had wrestled each other, testing their strength until it became something...more.
"Well, you're certainly more eager than usual tonight!" She exclaimed, fighting against his strength for control. Their naked bodies pushed and rubbed against each other as they wrestled, with only her loincloth separating their arousal.
"That's because tonight I'm not pulling out." He said with an insidious grin, gently biting her neck as he forced her arms above her head. She was strong, though whatever chance she had of beating her adopted brother had been lost long ago. The boy she had been raised alongside had grown into a capable man, easily overpowering her.
Briza's eyes widened in surprise, pausing her struggle as she adopted a serious tone. "Dominax, we can't..."
Quieting her with a deep kiss, he released one of her wrists as he dragged his left hand down her arm, sending a chill down her spine. His fingers glided over her side, before resting on her waist.
The kiss separated, and she moved her free hand to cup the side of his face, feeling the short hairs of his pointed black beard. She could feel his manhood hardening, pressing against her loincloth "You know we can't risk it…"
Dominax nodded, though his hungry grin remained. "I'm aware of the consequences." He began, pressing his forehead against hers as he moved his hand onto her toned abs. The feeling of her flat stomach only increased his arousal, as he knew that her fertile womb lay just beneath. "Yet, I desire nothing more than to bear those consequences…"
She peered into his silver eyes, feeling his warm breath. The revelation brought a tingle of desire through her loins, feeling his powerful body over her own. "We've discussed this already...I'd like to wait before I have children…"
Bringing the right hand down to support himself, he began to use the other to unfasten the strap holding the front of her loincloth to the back, using his leg muscles to separate her strong thighs. "Yes, though we've waited long enough." He said, kissing her once more. "Briza...there's no other woman I'd prefer to bear my first child than you."
She was forced to bite her lip to prevent herself from moaning due to his pure primal desire to get her pregnant, sending a rush of arousal flowing through her body. Dominax finished undoing her waist strap, allowing him to slowly pull away her loincloth and expose her entirely. Her tight, naturally hairless vagina awaited him, ready to accept his length despite her reluctance. "Dominax...now isn't the right time for a baby…"
With nothing remaining between their naked bodies, he pressed his cock against her labia before returning his hand to her waist. "I won't force you to carry my child…" He began, leaning to whisper into her ear. "Yet my cock also isn't going in until you agree…"
She let out a frustrated moan, moving her hands to her breasts. "You know that's not fair!"
He simply smirked deviously, starting to rub the underside of his shaft against her pussy lips. "Yet that's my price."
Briza bit her lip once more, feeling tingles of pleasure as his cock pressed between her labia, gliding over her sensitive clit. "You're an asshole sometimes, you know that?"
Dominax merely grinned. She would agree to his terms or leave empty handed.
Throbbing with lust, her vagina yearned for his length as she looked directly into his silver eyes. With each movement of his hips to drag his hard manhood over her waiting folds, her willpower was chipped away slowly. Her mind worked overtime, weighing her options.
Leaning over, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her as he slowly grinded against her. The sweet taste of her lips only added to his desire to ram himself as deeply as possible into her fertile body, yet he remained true to his word.
Gently closing her eyes, she began to play with her supple breasts, lightly stroking her sensitive buds. As she did so, she began to feel an intruder between her lips as Dominax slipped his tongue inside. In response, she met him with her own, their slick appendages squirming and writhing against each other in her mouth.
Separating their lips, he pushed himself away from her body slightly, allowing him to peer down upon her beautiful warrior body. "So? What will it be?"
The question forced her to moan in irritation once more as she opened her eyes. There was nothing in the world that mattered more to her in the moment than the desire to be penetrated, yet she was hesitant. Was she ready to have a child? She was young, though FAR from being considered too young. As she was currently in her twenties, women her age typically had a child or two already clinging to their hip, though she remained reluctant to begin that part of her life.
It wasn't as if she didn't care for Dominax enough, as in fact the opposite was true. Though they weren't in any type of official relationship, she had refrained from pursuing any other potential mates, content with sleeping with Dominax occasionally. Many other men in Nitri had desired her, of course, though she always turned them down. This had confused many, and sometimes even herself, though the truth was that her feelings for her adopted brother went deeper than any potential observer could have guessed upon first glance.
Yet these feelings were not one sided, as Dominax did little to conceal the fact that he cared deeply for her. He made no promise of exclusivity, as even their culture put only a miniscule amount of value into monogamy, though Briza still knew that he'd protect her ferociously.
She moaned as he pushed aside her hand to use his own on her breast. With her nipple hard with arousal, the pleasure only added to her confliction. Perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible to finally relent and allow a man to spill his seed inside, finally granting her the baby that her mother expected from her. Perhaps it was finally time to take a break from the hard life of a warrior to focus on a pregnancy. Perhaps…
Briza grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him close to her as she whispered in his ear. "You want a baby? Fine. But you better give me all you've got." She agreed seductively, overcome with arousal. There truly was no other man she'd even consider to father her children.
With an evil glimmer of delight in his eye, he gave a quick nibble on her neck. "I knew you'd give in." Reaching down, he lined his cock up with her vagina, pressing the tip into her soft folds.
They looked into each other's eyes with pure lust before he moved his hips forwards. Instantly, he felt her tightness squeezing down against his girth as he slowly sunk inch after inch into her eager tunnel. A moan emerged from each of their mouths as pleasure cascaded through their intermingled loins, basking in their mutual bliss.
With her arousal built to its peak, he used her wetness to his advantage as he hilted his cock as deeply as possible. The tip pressed hard into her cervix, coaxing a groan from her lips that contained a mix of pleasure and pain as he reached her deepest depths.
Filling her sex completely with his manhood, Dominax remained still for a moment as he savored the exquisite texture and tightness of her warrior vagina. No matter the number of times he had entered her in the past, his body had never grown accustomed to the pleasure she granted him. Each time he penetrated her toned body, the wave of primal ecstasy he experienced was exactly the same as the first time they had finally indulged in their desires so many years ago.
Then with slow, methodical movements, Dominax began to rock his hips, moving in and out of her pussy repeatedly as he supported himself using his strong arms. She groaned beneath him, placing her hands on his sides with intense desire, urging him along.
The slow pace of his movements was mind-numbing, as his body ached for more. Yet he retained control over himself, utterly enjoying every second as his cock pushed in and out of her beautiful athletic form. There would be only one outcome to their lovemaking, and he didn't wish to rush it.
"You're so...fucking big…" Briza moaned, feeling her pussy stretch around him as he moved in and out. A part of her questioned if she was making the right choice, while the rest of her simply screamed in lust.
Overcome with pleasure, Dominax steadily increased his pace, repeatedly pushing through her vagina's grip as it caressed every inch of his shaft.
Thoughts of her athletic warrior body swelling with his child ran through his head, fueling his desire. NOTHING would prevent him from breeding her, here and now. The primal urge to impregnate his attractive companion had remained firmly inside his mind from the moment he reached manhood, yet only now did he feel that the time was right. There would be no further excuses, no more feeble misgivings slipping through his mind at night, wondering if he was ready to raise a child. He was committed, utterly.
The echoes of their moans intermingled with the surrounding sounds of insects throughout the trees, obscured by the darkness of night. Only moonlight shone down upon them, allowing him to see the perfect details of her body as he slammed into her over and over.
"Oh...gods...Domi..nax…!" Briza moaned, her pussy burning with delight at each thrust. She parted her strong womanly legs further, as if begging for more.
He happily obliged, ramming into her with renewed speed as his tip punched against her cervix each time. It was as if his cock knew that her fertile eggs lay just behind it, waiting for his seed.
Whatever doubts remained amongst her thoughts were finally pushed aside, her mind reeling in bliss as she gave into her primal urges. She would gladly accept his child, to lovingly grow it in her womb. "Y...yes! Breed...me…!"
A cry of passion that was nearly a roar erupted from his mouth as he furiously pounded into her tight vagina. The surrounding world no longer mattered to him, as his reality only consisted of their two interlocked bodies moving against each other. The cool night air, the sounds of rustling leaves, even the softness of the cloak beneath them, all were pushed to the back of his mind.
Through her haze of passion, Briza lightly rubbed Dominax's sides, feeling the powerful muscles underneath. He had grown into quite a formidable fighter, and she knew that she would grant him a strong child, born from her own warrior body.
Dominax moved his right hand, placing it firmly on her round breast before giving it a light squeeze that caused her to let out a moan. Then, using his thumb and pointer finger, he gently pinched her sensitive nipple, gritting his teeth as he knew that it would one day feed his baby. The thought made his balls ache, desperate to release their contents inside her fertile body.
Consumed by overwhelming desire, Briza pushed aside his hand, wrapping her arms and legs around him as she pulled him close to her body. She held him tightly, moaning against his neck as he continued to thrust repeatedly into her tight tunnel, never stopping.
Locked in a tight hold, Dominax savored the texture of her skin as their naked forms pressed against each other with a slight perspiration from their rough lovemaking. He hammered her into the ground of the forest clearing with only the white cloak separating them from the reddish dirt.
Neither cared enough to quiet their moans and passionate screams, as they echoed loudly into the night. They could only hope that they were far enough from camp to remain undetected from Cendra, though the thought mattered little to them. Only their pleasure remained important, as if they were the only two people in the world.
With her arms wrapped around Dominax's neck, Briza shifted slightly to run her fingers lovingly through his short black hair, wondering if their child would inherit it. The thought seemed to flick a primal switch inside of her mind, and she nearly screamed as she orgasmed.
He felt the tightness of her pussy increase as she squeezed down, squirting hard around his cock. His unrelenting thrusts drove her orgasm further, extending it with each movement until it finally passed after several seconds. Her toned body relaxed somewhat, despite remaining wrapped around her lover.
Dominax's cock felt like it was exploding with pleasure each time he rammed it as deep as possible. He knew that he couldn't last much longer, as his own orgasm was threatening to overtake him. "If you want me...to cum…you'll have to...beg for it…!"
"Oh gods...yes...cum inside me!" Briza yelled, her mind nearly lost to pleasure. "Make me...a mother!"
Her words fueled Dominax, forcing him to thrust faster and harder. Every second that passed seemed like an eternity of bliss, his cock wrapped in ecstasy. His balls practically screamed, begging to breed.
"Put your...baby...inside me! Give me...your cum!" Briza begged as she held onto him tighter, her loins yearning for his seed. "Get me...pregnant…"
With the last of her pleas pushing him just over the edge, he slammed into her one final time, smashing into her cervix with a roar. His entire body tensed up as powerful jets of potent sperm gushed from his cock, shooting deeply into her fertile young womb. Overwhelming pleasure coursed through him, seizing his entire being as his balls violently drained themselves into Briza's athletic body, seeking out her eggs.
The sensation of his seed spurting as deeply as possible inside of her sent Briza’s arousal into overdrive, as she orgasmed once again. The sensation was far more intense than her previous climax, experiencing the pure pleasure of fulfilling the deepest primal desire of every living creature, to breed.
Dominax’s cries of ecstasy echoed throughout the forest, as his legs shook from the intensity of his climax. Several seconds slowly passed by before his pleasure finally, mercifully, began to fade. His muscles went limp on top of her inseminated body, leaving him gasping for breath.
“I...love you...Dominax…” Briza muttered after several seconds, closing her eyes to enjoy the feeling of his weight on top of her.
They remained together for what seemed like an hour, though was most likely little more than a few minutes. Briza released her tight hold on him, and Dominax rolled off her and onto his back.
He looked up at the starless sky, as black as an empty void. Only two of their eight moons remained high in the sky, along with the massive structure of The Chimira. He reached over, inciting a pleased murmur from Briza as he placed his hand on her abs. Just as he always seemed to know that they hadn’t had an accident after pulling out, he also knew that their attempted conception would be successful. Though it seemed impossible, the certainty he felt was unquestionable to himself, as if it were natural.
She would birth his child.
***
It didn’t take long to sneak back into camp, where they were both relieved to discover that their little escapade hadn’t disturbed Cendra’s sleep.
Their covert session had been tiring, yet it was only when Dominax sat down and leaned against a nearby tree that he felt the full effects of his exhaustion. Within moments of closing his silver eyes, he was lost to a deep sleep.
The dream that met his sleeping mind was one of keen familiarity, repeating often throughout his life. Consisting of a cloaked figure aboard what could only be The Chimira, Dominax could only watch as the hooded stranger peered down at the world.
He had experienced the dream since childhood, though it seemed to increase in frequency as he matured. Never changing, it occurred the exact same way on each occasion.
Dominax had attempted to make sense of the strange vision, even confiding in Cendra and Briza, yet all three of them remained completely baffled. It was only when he had given up on analyzing the dream that it actually became somewhat comforting to him, a recurring piece of his existence that remained firm and unchanging.
And so he remained, peacefully watching the stranger gaze down at them as he slept, unaware of time.
***
Startled, Dominax's silver eyes opened quickly as Cendra shook him.
"Wake up, child! I spotted smoke coming from Nitri!" She shouted in panic, already wearing her armor.
He hurried to his feet while Briza slowly awakened, as her mother's shouts had disturbed her sleep as well.
Now fully awake, Dominax rushed to gather his things as they secured the camp, knowing that they would have to return later to collect most of their supplies. He strapped on his armor and sheathed his crude sword.
"Come on! We must hurry!" The mature woman commanded the moment they finished preparing, launching into a sprint towards their home. Dominax and Briza followed her lead, rushing after her.
Though they had begun to slowly work their way back to the settlement as their hunting excursion neared its end, they were still two full miles away. They sprinted the entire distance, fully accustomed to long journeys.
As they neared the settlement, they could hear the cries of battle and the roar of fire. It wasn't until they emerged from the forest edge that they viewed the full chaos of the slaughter. Looking down at the community from their slightly elevated position, the trio watched as a small army wreaked havoc on the outlying houses, while others ascended the unrefined surrounding wall using ropes and thin ladders. Warriors defended the settlement but were clearly outnumbered.
Without hesitation, the three of them took off running towards the besieged village, knowing that they had to help their people. While the enemy attacked from the West, the trio charged in from the South, attempting to reach their people with as little resistance as possible. The plan mostly worked, as only a small group of stragglers blocked their path. They quickly dispatched them, barely slowing down.
"Hey! It's Cendra!" A man atop the wall shouted over his shoulder, causing the simple wooden gate to be pushed open long enough for all three to enter.
"What's...happening...Avil?" Dominax asked, regaining his breath from the long sprint.
The young warrior, barely older than Dominax himself, descended a shabby ladder to meet them. "It's the Chiefdom of Zilrin! They're finally attacking!" He yelled, loud enough for them to hear over the sounds of the ongoing battle.
Cendra looked back at her two younger companions. Though her expression was strong and firm, Dominax knew her long enough to recognize the concern in her eyes. Concern not for her own life, but rather, the lives of her children. "If that's true, we must push them back! We're not going to let those pathetic excuses for men conquer us!"
Avil slid his battered helmet off his head, dried blood leaking from his left ear as he let out an exhausted breath. "We're trying to, Cendra. There just aren't enough of-"
A loud crash boomed through the air as the Western gate was smashed open. Dozens of enemy attackers poured through the opening, swarming the defending warriors. The men and women around Dominax began to yell, charging to help their companions.
With one last glance at his adoptive mother, Dominax could see that she clearly considered commanding her children to flee yet knew that it would be pointless. They wouldn't allow their home to be burned, no matter the odds. She took a deep breath, before letting out a war cry as she charged forwards, her children following close behind.
Dominax held his sword tightly, rushing to join the people he had known his entire life. The group of warriors reached the enemy, throwing themselves into the chaos of battle. He swung his sword, sinking it deep into the waist of an attacker, before pulling it out and cutting another man down.
The enemy swarm seemed to realize that they were being attacked from the side, as many turned to engage the group of fresh fighters.
Many of their people had already fallen. There were no battle lines, no commanders, only individual warriors fighting desperately to avoid death.
Blocking a strike that would have skewered him, Dominax cleaved his attacker's head from his body, before barely managing to dodge out of the way from yet another attack. Many of the men he fought were older than him, yet he had just as much skill as they did. Cendra had taught her children well.
With the experience that only a life of living in the lower half of The Human Basin could give her, Cendra slaughtered any who engaged her, with her sword dancing through the air in intricate patterns. It seemed as if enemy weapons couldn't get close to her attractive body, as she parried and redirected any that sought to harm her. Many men fell as she made her way through the sea of combatants, assisting fellow warriors as they fought for their lives. However, the sheer number of aggressors forced her to fight with increasing effort, and it became apparent that something would have to change, or they'd all be overwhelmed.
Dominax howled in pain as a sword slashed through his armor and into his chest, leaving a gash that stretched from his left shoulder to his right hip. Though it was semi-deep, it wasn't enough to dispatch him as he rammed his own weapon straight through the man who had wounded him, hoisting him off his feet before allowing the newly lifeless corpse to fall limply to the dirt.
He touched his wound, attempting to assess the damage. Without warning, an arrow slammed into his back, several inches from his spine. He spun around in pain, gritting his teeth as he watched one of his fellow warriors kick the archer in the chest, sending the man stumbling over the wall. His crude armor negated most of the arrow's force, though it still sunk into his flesh deeply enough to cause heavy bleeding.
An incoming sword forced him to duck after he ripped the arrow from his body, allowing him to remove his adversary's legs with a single slash.
Briza blocked a strike from hitting Dominax, before an incoming Warhammer ripped her sword from her hands. Defenseless, she jumped back, allowing Dominax to engage the large fighter with pained grunts. He swung his sword, colliding with the hammer several times before Briza rolled behind the towering man and jammed her hunting knife into his back. He left out a roar, seized by pain. The momentary distraction granted Dominax an opening, and he pierced the hammer wielding warrior's broad chest.
"Briza!" Cendra yelled out, just as her daughter picked up her weapon. "Help them! We'll hold them off!"
Switching her attention to the direction her mother had pointed to, the younger woman noticed a group of female warriors attempting to defend a cluster of children and elderly settlement members, who were huddled together in the center of one of the walkways. Their houses burned around them, giving them nowhere to hide. She ran towards them, maneuvering around flaming debris until she joined them, assisting as they fought off several enemy warriors.
Dominax spun around to deflect an incoming slash, just in time to witness Avil’s hand become separated from the rest of his arm by an enemy sword. The young man let out a cry of anguish, before a second slash opened a large wound on his neck that finished him off. Dominax gritted his teeth, defending himself as he watched the young man fall to the ground.
Briza's group slowly retreated, attempting to escort the helpless citizens out of the burning settlement. Warriors struck at them one after another as they made their way towards the Southern gate, cutting down her allies faster than they could defend themselves. By the time they reached their goal, less than ten of them remained to protect the large group. Briza took one last look at her mother and Dominax before reluctantly following the citizens through the gate. Though she didn't want to leave the battle, she knew that escorting the cluster of defenseless citizens to the safety of the tree line took precedence.
Dominax watched her leave, desperately hoping that she and his newly sired unborn child would be safe. He then turned his attention back to the conflict, blocking a sword before severing the wielder's arm.
A loud war cry rang out across the settlement, allowing Dominax to glance up just in time to see a winged man land on top of the wall, immediately recognizing him.
A member of the Lanthian species, the man's presence was a rare sight in The Human Basin. With the features typical of his species, the man had large bat-like wings extending from his back. The left side of his body was light green, while the right side was dark green. The two skin tones met in the center of his body, creating a wavy line that was unique to each individual Lanthian. Similar to his skin, his irises were both different shades of green. Though unlike the other members of his species, this particular Lanthian lacked any hair. Instead, his bald head was covered in scars, indicating a past of brutal conflict.
Though Dominax had never met him before, the man's involvement in the battle allowed him to easily identify the stranger as Chief Manith, leader of the Zilrin Chiefdom. Like most of his settlement, Dominax had heard rumors of how the winged man escaped the cruel matriarchal homeland of the Lanthians before taking over a human Chiefdom for himself.
The strange Chief had been a thorn in the side of Nitri ever since, though no one expected the all-out massacre that they were now fending off.
"Find the elders and slaughter all who stand in our way! Make them regret refusing my protection!" Chief Manith commanded, his voice booming over the sea of clashing men and women. He then leaped into the air and landed heavily on the ground, wielding a long spear as he joined his men.
Cendra's breath was strained as she dodged and spun, skillfully evading enemy attacks while cutting down far more than her allies were able to. Yet despite all her experience and willpower, it only took a single unlucky arrow fired from halfway across the settlement to finally hit her, sinking deep into the side of her neck. She cried out in pain, reaching up with her left hand to grip an arrow that hadn't even been intended for her. Whether the wound was survivable or not was soon irrelevant, as one of her attackers took advantage of her pained state by ramming his sword through her abdomen.
Though he was several meters away from her, Dominax watched as the woman who had raised him collapsed to the muddy ground. Witnessing the fatal stab nearly felt as if the sword were piercing him instead. He let out an enraged scream, immediately setting off in her direction. He pushed through the crowd of clashing warriors, cutting down anyone who stood in his way while parrying incoming attacks.
Chief Manith fought nearby, leading his men as they killed members of the settlement. Resistance was clearly a losing battle, yet the warriors fought with everything they had to protect their homes.
Dominax's allies fell one by one, completely overwhelmed by the Zilrinian numbers. He reached Cendra's body, peering down at the woman who had saved his life. She had become a mother to him, the only family he had ever known.
With nothing but pure hatred, Dominax launched himself at the nearest combatant, hacking at the man with fury until he overpowered and killed him, before moving onto the next. Skill had no place amongst his rage, as he used brute strength to dispatch anyone around him.
As his allies quickly decreased in number, it soon became apparent that there was no hope of fending off the Zilrin Chiefdom, as there were simply too many of them. Yet, Dominax cared little, fueled by anger and grief as he fought with everything he had.
A cut slashed across his left forearm, then across his right bicep. An arrow launched into his thigh, while another enemy hurled a stone into his cheek. He sustained injury after injury as they did what they could to take him down, yet he fought on. Nearly every single one of his allies had fallen or been captured, leaving him alone in the middle of a burning settlement and surrounded by warriors who wanted him dead.
A crude knife stabbed into his waist, causing him to finally fall to his knees in defeat and allowing his sword to fall to the ground. His strained breathing slowed as he watched the angry men around him readying to strike, while his blood dripped into the mud. He raised his chin and looked into the sky, knowing that he'd be dead in mere seconds. The hovering metal structure of The Chimira hung high above him, just as it had all his life. "Cendra..Briza.."
The man directly in front of him raised his sword, readying to deliver the final blow.
Yet, just as the blade began to swing downwards, the world suddenly froze, draining of all color. Dominax looked at the incoming sword in shock, completely confused. "Wha...I…" He muttered, beginning to look around.
The pain from his many wounds had ceased, and he attempted to stand up. As he did, however, he was surprised to find that he left his body behind when he raised to his feet. He was standing, yet his body was still kneeling, as if frozen. He looked at his hands with fear and confusion, realizing that he was slightly glowing.
"What's happening…? I...don't understand…" He said, looking around. Was this what death was? He didn't quite feel dead...though he had clearly left his body somehow. The colorless world around him remained perfectly still. Though there was nothing but blood and death surrounding him, the silence was actually...peaceful, in a way.
"D..o..m..i..n..a..x.." a voice rang out through the quiet settlement, before a figure began to faintly appear in front of him.
He instinctively jumped back and readied himself, yet in horror and surprise he slowly began to realize that the ghostly form was identical to the cloaked man who had plagued his dreams for his entire life. Dominax was almost too stunned to speak, watching the strange individual.
The old man was clearly experiencing tremendous strain as he seemed to struggle to concentrate, though Dominax had no idea why. The figure held out a wrinkled finger, before opening his slightly transparent mouth. "Child...prepare yourself…run away... far from here…" He said in a pained voice. "This...is not the day you die…"
Questions rushed through Dominax, though before he could even speak he was back inside his body. Color had been returned to his surroundings, as time appeared to unfreeze. His eyes widened as he realized that the sword had resumed its swing, giving him a split second to barely roll out of the way.
The enemy warriors seemed surprised at his newfound desire to live, though they quickly began to move in towards him.
Hurrying to his feet, Dominax turned around and took off running. There was no time to think, fight, or even grieve. All he knew was that he had to escape, and FAST.
"Looks like we have a runner! Get him!" Chief Manith yelled, noticing one of the last survivors of the settlement.
Covered in blood and severely wounded, Dominax used everything he had to stay ahead of his pursuers as he sprinted towards the closest gate. A small group of Zilrinian warriors noticed that he was heading in their direction and prepared to intercept him. In desperation, he reached out his hand and launched a burst of fire at them, using his power in the presence of strangers for the first time in his life. They jumped out of the way in fear and surprise, granting him an opening.
He passed through the gate and kept running. Three warriors riding Lixidions, large four-legged reptiles with long tails and sharp teeth, took off after him. Dominax quickly realized that he had no way of outrunning them, so he turned in the direction of the river which passed by close to the settlement.
The river was wider than most lakes, making it quite an intimidating target. Yet, there was no other way to escape the Lixidions. Every single one of Nitri’s small ships sat half on the beach and half in the water, burning. He reached the sandy edge and dove into the cold water. Immediately, the powerful current swept him away, pulling him underwater as his heavily damaged chest plate weighed him down.
He thrashed underwater, trying to figure out which way was up as his body tumbled and rolled through the water. Arrows began to zip past him as the Lixidion riders galloped down the beach, attempting to keep up with their target.
Nearly out of breath, his head burst from the surface of the water, gasping for air until the current dragged him back down. The riders eventually lost him, and they slowed to a stop while the river carried him quickly away.
Dominax continued to struggle for what seemed like an eternity, keeping his head above the water just long enough to avoid drowning before being pulled back under, over and over.
When he was sure that he wouldn't survive, the current pushed him just close enough to the edge of the river for him to swim with all his remaining strength and finally touch the soft mud of the beach. With great effort, he pulled himself out of the water, digging one hand after another into the slippery mud and using everything he had to drag himself onto land.
With only his legs remaining in the water, covered by his hole-riddled white cloak, he let his bloody head fall to the ground in exhaustion.
His eyes slowly closed as he lost consciousness…