Chapter 7: Waiting for...

It all started in a small village far past the forest. The rising and falling still hills, past the bodies of water from the ocean and through the dry crumbling rocks. It was a lovely green place, it reflected our spirits well with the different colours from the flowers and the glass hanging from our homes. We lived in the trucks of trees and under its roots, we all had important jobs in Slime Hope. We greeted everyone that passed by, no matter who they were.

Because we knew we were protected.

Protected by the Greatest Warriors who ever lived.

The Slime Warriors.

To be a Slime Warrior you had to be strong, quick witted, and brave. You were never alone, you always had to have someone with you at all times. Because the monsters out there were dangerous, they’ll trick you how ever they can. In retaliation we started building stronger walls to keep the bad monsters out, just too many warriors coming back wounded.

Until one day, a dark shadow covered the sun.

In the distance in other villages we could hear screaming as the dark clouds cover more of the sky. Soon it was no longer a dark cloud but a blaze as something bigger was beginning to approach. That thing was a Dragon! The scales as dark as midnight on a moonless night, its eyes as yellow as the stars. The fangs as big as the smallest of you, and the claws as long as the biggest of us all.

We fought for three nights and two days before that Dragon claimed our home and we had to flee. The small numbers we had gathered between Bugs, Brave, Protect and I were far to few than we had hoped. Escaping with those numbers wasn’t easy, we had to make sure that the Dragon was asleep. The burning houses to shield us from the other monsters that had gathered to loot and plunder.

So Protect and Brave thought of how we could escape while Bugs and I looked out for enemy monsters that would harm our families.

“Untameable, we’ve fought hard but we couldn’t defeat the Dragon,” Bugs had said.

“Our home is gone, we need to accept that Bugs. Whatever we do from here on out, we will make sure that everyone is safe.”

“Yes, your right. There was nothing we could do here against such a strong foe, we’ll have to come back after we’ve become stronger.”

“Stronger, we’ll need other’s help as well, that Dragon is too much for us. If we want to go against it again soon well need the help of something that can get stronger.”

“Much like yourself? You’ve done nothing but improve since you were younger, granted you are still young but to make a Warrior at that age?”

“I am fortunate, but it won’t be enough.”

“That is true, when will there be others like you?”

“When we leave, I’m sure there are others like me out there, we have to get to safety first before we can start looking for them.”

“Bugs, Untameable! Brave and I figured out a plan.”

“Wonderful, lets get moving.”

The plan was to walk through Slime Hope to the front gate, it would be the only place where monsters wouldn’t be. But we were foolish to believe that we would get out without a scratch or being seen.

There stood one of our own Knights, they didn’t look right. I instructed the other Slime Warriors to leave while I took care of the Knight. Taking out a bow I aimed it at the Knight who wielded a sword. A sword gifted by our King to those that choose the path of the Warrior of the Sword. It was also heartbreaking that the Knight that stood before me was a long time friend. They’ve helped me in more ways than one, they helped me to be better for Slime Hope. But the look on their face was not of my best friend.

“Please, don’t make me do this!” he lifted his sword higher and lunged at me with everything he had as if he hated me for who I am. Trembling I shot the bow but my arrow was not true and missed instead it just knocked his helmet off. Taking out my own sword I quickly blocked his next attack. “Don’t you remember who I am?”

He stepped back swinging his sword at me again and once more I blocked him, the sound of our clashing swords mere echoes in the ever burning village of Slime Hope.

A closer look at him, he was no longer my friend, but of someone that had no life left in them. Their body was taken over by something or someone that controlled the dead. Just as I had to accept that our home was gone, I had to accept that my best friend was also gone.

Knocking the Knight away from me I brought up my sword to the enemy. I felt nothing but rage then, the good memories of us was no more as those too burned up in the fire.

My core shook then it stilled.

The tip of my blade steady as the orange glow from the fire reflected off it.

Just as the fire burning in my blade, the fire burning within me started spark and roar.

They were after my family.

The Slime's that survived and protected, they were after them with a cold dark blade. I have to protect my family at all costs.

With this blade, I will not fail.

With these dreams, they will not die.

As long as I stand between the enemy and my family.

 THEY WILL NOT FALL!

Running forward I slashed at the enemy, their reflex good blocking my every attack. But I will not back down for each breath was a second that can not be wasted.

Our swords clashed with each swing.

The heavy hits were only getting stronger.

Even if we were getting weaker we can not back down. For if we do could mean our end, and there was someone waiting for me to return to them.

Slashing, blocking, barely getting a good hit in. It was nothing but an endurance fight then. Back when we were sparring, we always Tied.

He got a hit on me and I was winded, blocking their next swing with the strength I had left. I shoved them off and counted with my own swing, I landed a heavy blow and repeated my attack until an opening showed itself. It was nice knowing that they still had the same openings as they did when alive, but it hurt knowing that this was the end.

Piercing into their core they melted, I don’t know what I saw or if what I saw was true. They smiled before turning into a puddle, that was then absorbed into the earth.

Protect had lead the Slime's to a different route but that too was blocked but by a river of black and red lava. Exhausted but catching up to them I looked around and thinking quickly, I went to one of the big homes and knocked it over so we could cross the river of fire and rock that the Dragon and monsters brought over.

It wouldn’t last long so they had to make it across quickly. One by one the Slime's went across the log burning now I was the last to cross. Looking back our home was reduced to fire and rivers of it, the ash rising from the flames of our lost homes into the night sky. Hoping that the burnt ashes was rising to the Clouds where our homes will be rebuilt. We watched for a long time of our homes just being eaten by the fire and lava. A lot of us mourned for the safety of our beds and the welcomes of loved ones.

Until the Warriors said it was time to leave.

We walked through the dry rocks facing enemies along the way, I don’t remember what or who I fought I just know that they were attacking us and they needed to be brought down.

We walked by the water where creatures of the deep started rising and attacking us as well, everywhere we went we were attacked. But that didn’t stop us, for we lost no one along the way. We only grew stronger as we travelled away from the awful monster that now resided in our old homes. We’ve crossed sands, meadows, lakes, rivers, forests alike until we finally found a place where we can rest without fighting everyday.

The three Slime Warriors divided up the work on helping making a new home for us, while I collapsed where I stood. It didn’t feel like I was sleeping for a long time, but each time I woke up the others were older or gone and new warriors took their place.

“Is that really what happened? Mal said that you brought us here to continue to be attacked and slain,” the Orange Slime asked.

“Mal? Is that Protect’s son? I’ll tell you what I’ve told him. I don’t know why you didn’t leave me, I don’t know why you didn’t move. All I know is that those monsters were getting closer and there was nothing I can do without getting tired.”

“If that story is true, why would monsters show up here if it was safe?”

“They were not here before, they only started showing up later. If you don’t like my story, than I won’t blame you. It’s for you to decide if the story is real or not, it’s for you to decide that we once were Warriors that fought back against a Dragon. I don’t blame you for not believing, but to me, that is what had happened. To us...” They stated not sure if the message had gotten across but they hoped that it put some questions to rest. “We fought with everything we had.”

“Let’s go, our Guardian is getting tired.” They remembered this Slime, and only now they remembered who they were.

“Good night, young Slime Warrior, Oob.”

“I-I thought you-” Oob was shocked and wanted to ask more questions, but the sun was rising and the Players were going to return soon.

“They are waking up now, hurry along.”

“Good night Guardian."