Night faded, and the sky turned pale.
A thin mist hung like a damp veil over Iron Creek Fort's blue-gray walls.
Atop the gatehouse, a veteran on night watch huddled in the sheltered corner between two merlons, his spear slipping halfway out of his arms. His head bobbed, and a bubble of mucus dangled beneath his nose, swelling and shrinking with each breath.
The city gate stood half open.
The drawbridge had been lowered half an hour earlier. Several vegetable farmers pushing wheelbarrows queued to enter, the dry squeal of their axles grating through the quiet morning.
The squad leader guarding the gate deftly accepted a few sweat-stained Copper Leaves, weighed them in his palm, then tucked them into his belt pouch with satisfaction and waved the farmers through.
"Yaaawn-"
Looking at the line of "income" waiting behind them, he stretched.
"You two, stay sharp! If even one coin goes missing, I'm holding both of you responsible!"
He turned and barked at his two subordinates, then glanced at the gloomy sky and muttered, "Damned weather. So damp."
With that, he tightened his belt and ducked into the guardroom on the inner side of the wall, intending to catch a little more sleep.
Just then.
The ground trembled.
It was faint, like a muffled thunderclap in the distance.
The squad leader stopped and looked toward the forest to the west in confusion.
That was the direction of the Blacktooth Forest. Normally, not even a rabbit ventured that way.
But now.
Without warning, a black tide surged out from the edge of that dark green sea of trees.
Heavy, densely packed footfalls sounded like countless little hammers pounding the earth.
"What is that..."
The squad leader narrowed his eyes, trying to see through the mist.
The next second.
A piercing shriek tore