Defending the Realm

by Steve Doyle and Trevor Nutt

(Written for the Herscher Project #41 “Let the Games Begin”)

The grizzled attacker tightened his powerful grip on the club. Beads of sweat glistened at his hairline and trickled past the corner of his eye. He raised the heavy club high above his head and glared at the defenders. One hefted a fist-sized rock and hurled it at him. With an angry grunt, the burly beast swung the club and belted the rock, shattering the club to splinters and sending the rock sailing through the sky. His adversaries scrambled madly after it. He dropped the smashed club and sprinted toward his enemies while they chased after the stone. He chose a target and charged furiously.

The defender defiantly stood his ground even as the running figure leapt and dove at him, arms outstretched, fingers clawing for his face. Another, who had retrieved the rock, threw it to him. He snatched the weapon from the air and gently touched the airborne aggressor with it.

A masked creature shouted, “You're out!”