in
January 19th, 2003
Rakark winced in pain as the arrow plunged through his breast feathers, narrowly missing his
heart. The look-out had been mistaken in his count, for others had lay hidden among the sand. The
Carcans had anticipated the attack somehow. His Caraks had killed many of the lizardmen, but many
remained, more than 8,000. The infantry had seen the birds diving and rushed for cover under the
reptillian leviathans which lugged their supplies. Keen-eyed archers fired from howdahs lashed to
the backs of these huge beasts, killing many wing-brothers. Tarsh was the only leader left alive
aside from Rakark, and both were fading in strength. The head-strong warrior flew painfully up
beside Rakark,"Rakark, you, I, and 8 wing-brothers are all that remain!" "I know, young one!!!! The
old may loose strength but not their consciousness!" "Forgive, me, Elden One, I spoke rationally,
but there is such a chance of defeat as the chance of rain in a storm!" At that moment a cloud of
black arrows flew upward from beneath the two warrior; two catching Tarsh in his left wing and
another striking Rakark below his breast. They both fell painfully to the ground and were at once
surrounded by Sare Carcan pikemen whose long weapon hafts gave them the advantage. Seeing this the
remaining Caraks swooped down on the rear of the pike unit, slaughtering them with beaks and talons.
But then these too were surrounded by the whole of the Carcan army. As the foot soldiers moved in
and the archers drew back their shafts, Rakark uttered his last words to his wing-brethen "Stand
fast, brothers! Do not fear death, for the end of life is only the beginning. Let us make such an
end for this battle as to be remembered in song! Caraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!" And with that, the
Carcans enclosed and Rakark and his wing-war
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