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As the first creature emerged from the darkness and its outlines became a furry mass at the light of the storm letting loose another bolt of lightning, Sean tried to calm his shaky nerves. He managed to calm them to the point where he at least wasn't visibly shaking. He glanced at Rehan, hoping to draw courage from the hero.
And then with a sudden fury the battle commenced. The adrenaline pumped in Sean's veins and his heart pounded in his throat. He held his shield and long sword high, protecting himself from any feline pouncing at him. The first wave of the attacking animals crashed against the defences and was repelled. Blood glistened on Sean's sword, but given the ferocity of the initial wave, he wasn't sure whether the blood was that of foe or friend. The second wave pushed Sean and his companions close to a breaking point, but they managed to hold their defensive line, but Rehan was swept back, deep in combat with one of the beasts.
"Slash, thrust, parry!" the voice of his trainer from years ago rang aloud in Rehan's mind as he put the well rehearsed moves into practice for the first time in a real combat situation. "Put your left foot in front of the right and bring up your shield arm! The other left foot Sean!"
Sean did as the memories told him, and just managed to avoid a panther lunging at him, bashing it aside with his shield. Once the disoriented animal landed on the ground, Sean pushed his sword through its hide, bringing a yelp of pain and anguish from his mortally wounded adversary.
Even though his life was in danger, and at any moment it might have been snuffed out by a lucky swipe of a paw, or jaws closing around his neck, Sean could not help but contemplate what madness had brought the two sides to fight each other. What will could have pushed the normally secluded creatures to come out in force, with the clear aim of destroying the town of Alesbridge. Was all this mindless killing really the doing of the beasts, or had they been force into doing it against their will?
Sean's train of thought was cut short by a sharp reminder of the current situation as an arrow sent by a friend whistled past his ear, to imbed itself into the mouth of a jaguar, just about to jump at him. Sean glanced gratefully behind him, only to see the archer's jugular slashed open by another jaguar.
The cruelty of the situation threatened to overwhelm him, but gripping his sword tightly he rushed at the jaguar.
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