"Halt..." One of the reptile lieutenants motioned and shushed the group.
The rest of the troop momentarily stopped at the order, all of them made defensive gestures except me that was left standing, I had no reason to fear because I could recognize the persons standing just ahead of us.
"Brother!" I shouted as my eyes widened with excitement.
I observed that the excitement wasn't a shared experience as I saw the tension in my Brother's eyes, he gripped his sword even tighter, looking at me for a brief second before turning his gaze back to the enemies he perceived, the remainder of the group behind him also stood with drawn-out weapons, it seems my brother had organized a fairly large group of combatants and they had set an ambush.
"Easy, Loak... They are friends" I spoke with a nervous smile.
"Stand back... Loak, these monsters must have bewitched you, What have you done to my brother!" Loak shouted as he charged at the reptilians, followed by the enraged men roaring behind him.
The reptilian troops instinctively advanced with drawn-out weapons, Abin was in front leading his men, It was clear that the battle was at hand.
I knew my brethren were no match physically against the reptiles as I saw one of the reptile lieutenants slam two people on the ground with ease while cutting the other. I rushed to get ahead of the clashing parties in an effort to diffuse the tension but I was swallowed up by the giant beings and violent atmosphere that now clouded the area.
All of a sudden, I heard sounds of projectile objects whistling in the air amidst the thumps and grunts of battle, I looked up and realized that there were some archers positioned on higher ground.
I knew the situation would become even direr because my people are proficient archers.
"Stop... Stop!" I yelled with waving arms toward the archers on the hill but my beckoning fell on deaf ears.
I suddenly heard deadly thuds of arrows around me hitting a few of the reptile combatants, they instinctively retreated for cover, away from the archer's reach.
"Come now Thorak, we must retreat" Abin spoke as he grabbed my shoulders swiftly.
At that same moment, I caught sight of my brother as we shared a gaze, he was yelling my name while nursing his wounds. I could hear the echoes of my name but it didn't feel like when the yellow orb called me down in the caves, The few days I've spent with these beings have totally changed me, I've found a new calling, a path I must follow even though it means leaving my brother behind.
I looked back at Abin who was now some meters away from me, motioning for me to come along toward safety. I felt a burn in my chest as I was now torn between two worlds but I must choose one, so I did, with a heavy heart, I ran towards Abin.
I took a final glance at my brother, his eyes were on the brink of tears and his shivering showed tremendous hurt, I restrained myself from telling him farewell because that would only add to his pain.
Shortly afterward, we arrived at a safe spot to recover ourselves from the ordeal we had just survived.
"You did well, Thorak, y-you did well" Abin spoke with an unsteady voice as he slumped.
I noticed that there was a blue discharge oozing from his ribs, he had been shot by a stray arrow, the lieutenants quickly rushed to his aid before he hit the ground.
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