Fiction : Last Stand

The war was at last upon them. Fires ravaged the lands while swords cut down the people. Jial stood atop the lookout tower, gazing across the vast landscape. The sky was tinted orange, mixing with the blazing yellow light of the noon sun. Jial steadied himself against the railing when a sudden squall swept across the lands.

Finally, movement caught his eye. Thousands of black dots appeared over the horizon. Jial drew a deep breath. He could feel his heart beating furiously in his chest. The time was here.

“They're coming!” he called, turning around.

In front of him stood the last human army. Dressed in crimson and blue, the soldiers stood in perfect rows. They had long been preparing for this. It was a battle that was inevitable.

“We stand here today. On this glorious day, the sun blesses us with it's burning embrace. We all know what we face. We know the odds. This is our last day. Our final act. Let us make it a good one. Let the humans be remembered this day. Not for our loss, but for our fighting spirit. We will die today. But we will not give in. We will fight! They will strike us down, but by all that is holy, we will take them with us!” Jial paused a moment. Then he raised his hands. “To arms!”

A huge roar erupted from the human army. Jial smiled. The human spirit would explode in a glorious symbol before it was laid to rest.

Jial turned back. The enemy was almost upon them. He slid down the ladder and stood with the rest of the army. They watched as the huge wooden gates began to shake. Jial drew his sword.

 Then the gates burst open.