The sound of horse hooves pounding against the earth resounded. At exhilerating speeds, the small group of riders thundered across the hilly, boulder ridden landscape. Each rock could hide a new threat, another machination of the Dark Lord Morgoth. These riders knew this, for they scouted this area every day. The darkness of the Thrangorodrim's fumes touched this land; though it was broken and thin compared to the foot of the Iron Mountains.
Dressed in black armor etched with gold, the Noldorin riders were watchful. The gold tints of their armor shone in the gloomy shade. The wing insignias on their cloaks were brilliant, and their horse armor was imposing. Most frightening of all, however, was the might of Valinor itself in their piercing eyes.
One of the youngest riders, Alasiel, gently tugged at her black stallion's mane, "You are doing brilliantly, Homairo."
The charging stallion neighed in the response as the scouts charged on. They were always alert, even if it was quiet so far. So close to the territory of the Enemy, they needed to remain vigilant.
Alasiel's emerald eyes scowered the cliffs up ahead. The red chunks of earth showed no signs of Enemy activity. The harsh winds from riding so fast forced Alasiel to blink. It was then that another member of the group called out, "To the right, up ahead!"
All eyes of the scouting force turned at Maegmirdor's target. Yet, this target was unlike anything they had seen before. The lumbering creature was bipedal, but far more massive than any orc. The wide, grey skinned brute saw the riders and tensed in hostility.
Commander Calaindo shouted, "Whatever that is, circle around and try to get a closer look! But keep your distance!"
"Are you insane!" Alasornaion called out in bewildered terror, "What the Udun is that thing!"
Still, Alasornaion obeyed. As the group circled closer to this creature, they all inched their hands closer to their weapons. The creature watched with confusion yet maintained an aggressive demeanor. With wide, frightened eyes, Mythrenniel cried out, "It must be at least twelve feet high! That creature is massive!"
The creature reached for a chunk of rock, tearing off the entire top of a rocky pillar. Mythrenniel shouted, "Look out!"
With a nerve wracking speed, the monster chucked the boulder towards the group. Alasiel gasped when she realized they were in the firing range. The boulder screamed closer, she muttered words of haste to Homairo. Standing up, she leapt off her steed. Agile and trained, she landed on the ground. Pebbles splattered on her, dust coating her. She was safe, yet heard something terrible when she landed. When the dust cleared, she gasped as she saw that her beloved steed had been utterly crushed.
"Homairo!"
In the distance, Calaindo's voice was stern, "It's just a horse! Move!"
Alasiel heard booming footsteps. The earth shook as she realized the creature was coming closer. Her wide eyes took in the stew of rock, horse flesh, rubble, armor, and streaming blood. After a moment of shock, she grinded her teeth. This monster, whatever it was, would pay for this.
Meanwhile, circling around the event on their own steeds, the rest of the scouting party had drawn their weapons. Alasornaion shouted, "We don't have to engage it, do we! It's going after Alasiel!"
Gripping her spear, Mythrenniel cried out, "Alasiel!"
Calaindo roared in annoyance, "She is an idiot for not running! Why is she just standing there! The fool!"
Mythrenniel gasped, "She's one of the best fighters in this Kindred!"
Calaindo sneered, though it was not visible in the high speed riding distance, "Skill does not equate to intelligence!"
Despite his fear, Alasornaion took up his reigns, "I'm going after her!"
Calaindo barked, "No! I know you can't wait for the opportunity to sleep with her and make her your bride! But think with your head, not between your legs!"
Maegmirdor held his bow up, squinting through the darkness. He silently observed his young teammate turning to face the beast. She did not look happy.
Alasiel tightened her fists as the creature stood over her. Pitch black eyes locked on her at it raised its arm and swept downwards. Alasiel lept aside, rolling mid-air and landing on a foot and a knee. Placing her hand on the ground, she looked up to see the monster trying to smash her again. She bolted away. As the ground vibrated, she darted between its legs and noticed that the ligaments of the back legs were easy to spot. She tore two swords from their sheaths and raised the weapons to slice. As the dumb creature looked around for wherever its victim was, Alasiel built up momentum and power by spinning as she rapidly took out numerous muscles and ligaments of one leg. Black colored blood flew in fray. Without pausing, she did the same to the other leg as the creature bellowed. She skidded to a halt, feeling displeasure in how her swords felt cutting the skin during that manuver.
As the monster fell on its hands, she jumped onto its back and dashed up the thin furry beast. Eyes locking on the neck, she raised her swords and struck the nape. With the spinal chord severed, the monster fell limp. A light shling sang out as blood splattered around. Standing atop the corpse, Alasiel was unmoved by the shaking the creature's mass caused. Homairo was avenged.
Alasiel sniffed and instantly regretted it. "Ugh!"
She sputtered as the sounds of horses approaching drew closer, "That thing smells like an orc crawled inside a balrog and died!"
A loud horse neigh caused her to turn around. Calaindo pulled the reigns of his steed, glaring at her. "You were a fool to engage a foe we had no information on!"
Alasiel was quick to retort, still gripping her swords, "And how do you collect information on an enemy, hmm? Now that I attacked it..." She turned and poked the round furry head with her sword tip, "We know it can be defeated, and how."
Alasiel noticed something about the sword. She lifted the blade for closer inspection and spoke, "Commander?"
She leapt down from the large corpse as Calaindo dismounted. Behind him, the rest of the Winged Kindred joined the party. Alasiel showed her swords to Calaindo, "I was able to defeat the monster, but it has thick skin. My blades are both blunted, and my main hand blade has chunks shattered out of it. Not to mention, I knew the way the swords vibrated off the creature felt bad."
Calaindo took up the main hand sword and tried his best to look at it within the dark. He nodded, "I will take note of that in my report. Thank you, Alasiel."
Calaindo tossed the now useless sword back to Alasiel, whose unmatched reflexes aided her in casually catching the pommel. The hiril smirked, "So I was right to engage it then!"
Calaindo paused from mounting his horse, which snorted in frustration. He sighed, "Engaging the monster was inevitable, but you could have been a little more careful. Regardless of the means, however, we have this intel now and that is good work."
As Calaindo finished mounting, he fixed her with a disapproving frown, "Still, do not be so stupidly reckless in the future." He turned and snapped his fingers at Alasornaion, "Alasornaion! She has no steed. Take her up as your passenger. I know you want to feel her hands gripping your waistline."
Alasiel and Alasornaion were both blushing crimson. As Alasornaion turned his head away in humiliation, Mythrenniel nudged her steed closer to her commander, "Resorting to personal insults because you are angry is too low, Commander."
Calaindo turned to Mythrenniel with cold furry in his ice blue eyes, "You dare question my leadership, Vanyarin weakling! You are the most pathetic fighter I have ever seen, yet you somehow are here! You have no right to talk down on me, soft one!"
With that, Calaindo ordered his steed off. Maegmirdor, who had quiet this whole time, spat, "I hate him more every day!"
Mythrenniel and a still blushing Alasiel looked to each other in equal disgust at their leader's unprofessionalism. Maegmirdor sighed heavily and took off after Calaindo. Alasornaion quietly coaxed his steed forward and offered his hand, "You-you know I would never try anything? Do you?"
Alasiel looked up to Alasornaion, locking her green eyes with his blue eyes. She extended her hand and took his, "I know. I trust you to get me through this safely."
They took the moment to gaze deep, longings burning, before Alasiel was lifted up. As she hugged her teammate's chest, she passed a final, grieving glance at her dead horse.
"Goodbye, old friend."
"Hya!" The two remaining horses followed the rest of the group.
