Vanguard Attacks the Camp, Part Two

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Two thousand Guamare warriors climbed the low hill and charged within fifty paces of the Red Deer camp, and the Dog-kin hunters' bone arrows came down like a sudden storm. A dozen or so warriors were struck in the head and face, screaming as they rolled down from the hill, leaving trails of blood behind them.

"Rear ranks, suppressive fire! Front ranks, charge with me!"

Kino, Chalki's eldest son, was clad in bronze armor. His cheeks bulged as he shouted at the top of his lungs. The officers of each unit had long since prepared and acted according to the order. The warriors' formation quickly spread out, dividing into front and rear sections.

Five hundred warriors in the rear ranks drew their bows and nocked arrows, firing rapidly at the camp to suppress the hunters inside. The howling rain of arrows shot over the palisade; a dozen or so Dog-kin hunters were hit and wailed in pain, and the incoming arrowstorm weakened.

The fifteen hundred warriors in the front ranks seized the chance to quicken their steps and reach the palisade wall. Five hundred vanguard warriors, clad in cotton armor, climbed straight over the wall, roaring madly as they fought the Dog-kin behind it. The warriors formed teams of three to five, swinging war clubs and hacking open their enemies' chests and necks; the Dog-kin bunched up like hedgehogs and took turns thrusting out stone spears, stabbing into their opponents' waists and bellies. Weapons pierced flesh, blood and entrails flowing out along the wounds, and the sharp stink of blood spread in an instant.

From time to time, Red-hair hunters loosed cold arrows from cover, striking vital spots and shooting warriors who had climbed the wall to the ground. From time to time, warrior archers fired in