The cool breeze swept through the forest trees, the winds whispers through Endal's ears. It was colder than yesterday, winter is near.
Usually before winter comes, Endal tries to gather as much supplies as he needs for his mother and sister. Hunting animals deep within the forests, although he sometimes had to contest with predators that hunts the same preys, but does have it's own benefits when facing against larger beasts. The bigger the kill, the more meat he could provide not only for his family but also for the villagers.
His usual yearly routine had drastically changed, although he still ponders whether this is a good change of pace. He does certainly miss the somewhat simpler days, on the other hand he does feel a lingering excitement for a new adventure.
As Endal and others continued their journey, Endal found himself tripping from time to time on his right side, the lost of his right eye has made traversing rough terrain a little more difficult. Endal gave a slight frustrated sigh. Sigra was right behind and noticed him sighing and wondered as to why, she saw him tripping on a small peace of stone that could easily been avoided. She finally learns that Endal was having difficulty seeing the right side of his vision and remembered his other eye covered in bandages the other day, although he no longer had the bandage, she could still able to tell that he was a having problem.
She ran up beside him and tapped his shoulder. Endal looked at her and asked "What is it?"
As he looked at her she noticed that his right eye was shut and could only guess for the worse. "It seems you are having trouble on your vision are you?" Sigra asked. "Hm, somewhat yes." Endal gave a reply. "I see." Sigra said with a low toned voice. She only guesses as to why he was rather evasive at the question and did not further pushed the question.
"I'll help you on this side so that you don't trip." Sigra said with a smug expression. Endal raised his eyebrows and gave a slight grin, knowing her reasons for her actions. Endal had a much smoother traversal of the terrain now that Sigra is aiding him to avoid pebbles and stones that would otherwise keep tripping him.
As they continued to walk the snowy path, Sigra pondered what the Kenaskin kingdom was like and asked Endal for information. "I don't really know much about the current region, there was no Kenaskin Kingdom back then. And even so, my last...Visit was not exactly pleasant." Said Endal.
Sigra was puzzled as to what he meant by that. Endal decided to tell her the whole story about the his last journey to Kenask was. Sigra was shocked and intrigued by his story about his time in the region. "Then why go back there?" She asked. "Because recent events have forced us to make compromises. Also the Kenaskin queen may provide the support my people needs... Their survival is far more important than my previous grievances for the warriors of Kenask. Said Endal.
As he said those words he stared at Buaros's back in front of them leading the group. Cautious that if there is some sort of treachery by the warriors of Kenask that is escorting them, however no signs of treachery could be found by them, at least not yet.
"Besides, if they have ill intent against us, there are better ways to be rid of us." Said Endal.
Sigra looked at him and saw him frowning, whatever happened to him during his time as a slave of Kenask has made him rather on guard, despite the saber horn riders giving no signs of hostility.
Moments later Buaros's mount snarled on caution, noticing his trusted feline creature to be on guard, Buaros raised his arm and made a halting gesture.
The group stopped and Buaros shouted "On your guard! Something is coming!" The group raised their weapons, the warriors of Lynsk made a circle and readied themselves.
The riders took positions where it would be advantageous for them. Their feline mounts with their incredible hearing, listened intensely, their ears simultaneously moving trying to determine which direction the threat is coming from.
The saber horns moved their heads at the northern direction and gave a sharp snarl and bearing their fangs.
"At the north!" Buaros shouted, unsheathing his sword from his hips, the other riders did the same.
Endal's group prepared their bows at the direction Buaros mentoined.
Moments of silence filled the area but they still stayed cautious.
Endal noticed the snow on his feet were trembling at a rhythmic pattern, soon a thumping sound could be heard in the distance that slowly became louder with each second.
The ground began to shook worse. "Another wyvern?" Sigra said, her bow in hand gripping it more tightly. "No... this feels much larger." Endal said as his hands dimmed with magic.
The trees began to snap in front of them, more and more trees falls as it drew close. Until the thumping stops.
Ten seconds passes and the surroundings were still, yet the warriors still held caution.
A monstrous grunt can be heard to the entire group. A warrior of Lynsk was so incredibly nervous that he accidentally let loose an arrow at the direction of the monster. A thump was heard as the arrow hit the giant monster.
The monster let out a horrific roar of pain that vibrated the surroundings. It began to charge at their direction, many trees continued to snap as it drew closer.
The warriors of Lynsk notch their bows in preparation, waiting to have a clear sight of the monster.
Finally it revealed itself. A tall humanoid creature, with dark fur covering it's body, it's head shaped like an ape with one eye, its pupil is black pearl, his hands were disproportionately long as it reaches it's knees, it's unkept dirty nails were shaped like uneven claws. It stood twenty-five feet tall, its belly shaped like a ball.
"A mountain troll?! Here?!" Shouted Endal with a slightly frightened expression.
Mountain trolls. Giant creatures which usually reside at high mountain caves, rarely do they ever leave their mountains, more so when winter is coming, as they usually hibernate at this time.
Endal did not want to face such creatures, for such monsters are one of the most dangerous creatures in Aesgar, only above the wyvern in terms of danger.
These trolls, although less in aggressiveness, make up for it's horrifying strength. A matured mountain troll could easily snap a young wyvern in two.
Their claws and teeth are so contaminated with various diseases that a mere scratch could cause sever sickness that would often result in agonizing death.
One would be considered lucky enough to die quickly just by being crushed beneath its massive foot.
The giant monster swung its long arm like a whip, easily breaking trees in its way. The splintered pieces of wood flew directly at them like sharp blades, Endal cast a wall of ice in front of them, effectively blocking the sharp objects, fortunately no one was hurt by the attack.
The riders threw their spears at the troll on all sides, the monster roared in anger and tried to catch the elusive saber horn riders with it's long arms, but struggles to catch even one as its movements are slow due to its massive size.
The warriors of Lynsk loose their arrows as soon as the Icy wall disappeared, pelting the giant beast with arrows, further enraging the beast.
Despite being struck by many projectiles, most of their attacks were not very effective because of the giant's thick fur and muscles.
The giant flailed madly, it grabbed a nearby boulder and threw it against the riders, fortunately they were fast enough to evade the massive object. However the warriors of Lynsk had no mounts to evade the cluster of debris caused by the giant, the rough terrain even made it harder to avoid, they had to make do with whatever cover was provided for them.
Endal had to constantly provide icy walls for the Lynskin warriors, to cast an offensive magic would be useless against the giant's thick muscles. Should they try to flee, perhaps the riders would have the chance to escape, but those on foot however is another matter. For mountain trolls, once enraged, are almost relentless and would kill those that harmed them.
The warriors were running out of missiles to attack the giant, and to fight against it in melee range would be considered as suicide. However some did not know this or simply hounded for glory.
A rider pulls out his sword from his hip and began to charge the giant, slashing him behind its knee causing the giant to kneel. The rider laughed until the giant managed to grab him and his mount.
The others tried to free the warrior but to no avail, the giant crushed the warrior and his mount, as they spurt blood all over like a squashed fruit.
The giant threw the lifeless broken bodies of the warrior and his feline companion at his comrades like a wet rag.
Buaros, seeing the lifeless body of his fellow warrior crash on the ground, his bones broken and several of it protruding from his skin, he grew more furious. He is barely keeping his anger under control.
Endal seeing their attacks producing no good results, desperately tries to come up with a plan. The uneven terrain makes it hard to run and the trees did not yield much cover against the giant's attacks.
Their situation would only get worse. Amongst the chaos of the battle, Endal could hear another loud thumping footsteps. Endal knew what this was and could tell that the situation has turned for the worse.
A rider of Kenask continue to pelt the giant with missiles, until another mountain troll suddenly leap through from a group of trees that hid it's figure, grabbing the warrior from his mount.
The smaller troll grabbed the warrior with it's two hands and tore him apart from his hips and ate his upper body.
The feline creature snarled with fury, for its master was brutally killed, leaps against the troll, only for the troll to smash it aside with its hand that held the lower part of the saber horn's master.
Three more joined their foul kin to the battle, varying in size but smaller than the first giant they were fighting.
The mountain trolls hunts in groups, due to their sheer size it was hard to capture a smaller creature on it's own, but as a group, the chances of capturing their prey drastically increases.
One by one the warriors are caught by the trolls, crushed, ripped apart and eaten. Endal seeing that there would be no chance to defeat these monsters, decided to conjure a spell.
Snow and magic whirled around Endal, the snow at his feet floating in the air. Sigra who was rather distant from him was puzzled as to what Endal was doing. "Endal, what are you planning?!" Sigra shouted to get his attention, but Endal could not hear her as he was concentrating on the spell.
Buaros saw his men being slaughtered, he planned to retreat and let Endal and his warriors become bait so that they could safely retreat, however he remembered his Queen sire's warning to him. You carry my name, stain it, and my blade will be stained with yourblood. Terrifying as these trolls maybe, he fears his ruler more.
Endal's eye glowed bright blue, the preparation was complete, he then cast his spell.
All the snow around the area started to whirl like a blizzard, obscuring everyone's vision, the trolls flailed their hands in chaotic directions, Endal and Buaros's warriors vision were also obscured.
"Everyone! Scatter and head towards south! When you see a river, follow to where it flows! We will regroup there!" Shouted Endal to top of his lungs.
The warriors heard Endal's words and proceeded to retreat in all directions while the trolls were disoriented.
Endal ran south as far as he could with a few men beside him including one rider. Their breathing heavy and deep, once they have checked their surroundings for any sign of the trolls and were glad to discover that the monsters did not follow them.
"Is anyone injured?" Endal asked as he took deep breaths. His men and the rider shook their heads as they took their time to recollect themselves.
"Did anyone see the others and where they were headed?" Endal asked. "We saw the woman heading west while the Riders made east along with some of our men." A warrior responded.
Endal only hopes that they heard him, and go south following the river's flow. "What now?" A warrior questioned. "We head south and and follow the river current, if i remember correctly there should be a lake at the end." Endal responded. "We wait there for a few days." Endal said.
"And if they are not there by then?" The rider asked him. "Then we proceed to make our way east to your kingdom. Hopefully we will meet them there." Endal answers.
After they have fully recovered they then proceeded to walk south, unbeknownst to them however, another follows their trail.