Free Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream by Saxon Andrew

yards from the tree. Two hundred archers began moving down the mound in each direction, killing anything that moved in front of them.
     
    No one had ever determined how the Torg communicate. They had to possess some means of communication; they attacked in teams and moved together in herds. However they did it, a message was sent and the thousands of Torg in the forest turned and fled. It had somehow gotten through their simple consciousness that nothing awaited them in this forest but death. The Zord flying high over head could hear the roar of the gigantic battle but were unable to see through the tress. Suddenly, they saw Torg running out of the forest into the wasteland bordering the forest.
     
    Teelee, circling high overhead, saw the Torg and wondered what was happening. Then she saw thousands run out of the forest. As she watched, the numbers escaping stunned her. The huge herds escaping approached a hundred thousand, and the mass continued to run out of the trees. Zreeg joined Telee circling the forest and as the roar of the Torg at the nesting ground faded, they could hear the yelps below. Telee felt her heart skip a beat as she heard the distinctive yelps of her six children. She screamed in answer and flew twists and turns as she celebrated her joy. Zreeg felt his love and joy for his mate and her newfound heart. Her joy overwhelmed him, and he joined her in an acrobatic flight demonstrating their love for each other.
     
    Scotty collapsed next to Vring and said, “We have got to quit meeting like this.”
     
    Vring lifted his wing and winced, “I will if you will.”
     
    Scotty looked at Vring and said, “If you had not arrived with more arrows, we would have all died. You saved us.”
     
    Jingo came around the giant tree’s trunk and fell flat on his back on top of a giant, dead Torg and said, “That’s it! I’m done! Someone wake me in two years and while you’re at it, have them bring me some new arms.” and fell dead asleep.
     
    Vring and Scotty looked at Jingo and Scotty smiled at his sleeping friend. “We would have failed without him. He made the difference.”
     
    Vring looked at Scotty, “He certainly carried more than his share of this load, but it was you that gave your warriors the heart to fight on.”
     
    Scotty lay down and stretched out, “If you say so, Vring. When help arrives, please have someone help me get up. I don’t think I can move my arms anymore.”
     
    Vring smiled, “So, I’m not the only one with bad limbs?”
     
    Scotty never heard him. Neither the yelps of the thousands of newborn Zord or the screams of their parents overhead could wake him.
     
    Vring looked at the surviving exhausted archers sitting in the nesting ground and counted seven hundred forty six. He felt a great loss for those that died. Not one Zord had been killed, though he had come close. Vring knew the two-legs were owed a blood debt. He turned and saw Bleath leading the community up the path toward him. The huge Zord had no trouble climbing the mounds choking the path. He saw the amazement of everyone as they witnessed the number of dead Torg surrounding the nesting ground. Joyous parents rushed forward to find their children, while Bleath stayed with Vring and looked at the two sleeping beside him. Bleath felt Vring’s feelings and said, “Show me what you saw, son.”
     
    Vring showed him.
     

Chapter Five
    T he archers had gathered at the edge of the nesting ground and ate as they mourned their lost friends and brothers. Many owed their lives to the brave archers that stood their ground, killing charging Torg until they were overrun. Scotty and Jingo had their arms in slings and winced every time they moved. Most of the archers were not going to lift anything larger than a grellup pod for weeks. The recoil from the bowguns left bruises on their shoulders. Lifting the weight of the guns for nine hours had been exhausting.
     
    Scotty looked at Jingo and said, “It looks like that war