Chapter 2: Fallen on the Field

At dawn, a sense of danger looms over Venura. A line of two thousand troops approaches the city gates. Kiora walks up the flank swiftly in order to reach their queen. She marvels at Dienti's magnitude. The proud queen leads her army while wearing silver and emerald armor.

Dienti greets her with a smile. Kiora returns her warmth with a bow. Kiora observes her borrowed Venuran gauntlets. 'Such comfortable armor!' She beams. 'The armor is light.' Kiora hears a chuckle from beside her.

The lone soldier turns to see Dienti grin. 'She seems glad to see me enjoying their handiwork.' Kiora observes.

"I'm ready." Kiora nods.

"Oh?" Dienti raises a brow. "Where is your friend?"

Her gaze shifts towards the sky.

"Shik-Draik will guard the city," Kiora replies. "We have a…feeling...that someone ought to remain at the home front."

Kiora's statement contradicts the initial plan. She evades Dienti's eyes without wanting a negative reaction. Regardless, Kiora does not sense any disagreement. The Venuran queen concedes.

"Very well," Dienti sighs.

The young Daemik studies the queen. Dienti's expression is difficult to grasp. 'Is she upset?' Kiora wonders. She releases a soft breath. 'No matter.' Kiora watches as guards shuffle ahead.

The two guards standing beside the bronze doors stare with a mournful expression. They wait for their queen's signal. A raised arm beckons them to open the path. Silently, the soldiers march onward as they dread to face the war ahead.

The Venuran army climbs through hills for two hours. The land rises and falls like an ocean. After the next decline, a soft wind blows through a grassy field. Soon, dirt turns into sand. Kiora gasps at the emerald sea.

"Why are we here?" Kiora asks.

The Venuran queen extends her hand towards the distance.

"Further along the shore lies our destination," she explains. "In order to reach the battlefield, we must take sail."

"I understand," the lone soldier replies. "At least we'll have a chance to recuperate."

Dienti nods in agreement. The Venuran soldiers have yet to rest. The urgency in movement supersedes any fatigue. The queen walks effortlessly through the sand despite her metal boots. Kiora's tail flicks with a sentimental emotion.

'The queen isn't just marching as a soldier.' She internalizes. 'Dienti is a mother lion defending her cubs.' The Venuran's elegance is easily noted in her countenance. Within several paces forward, a new grandeur takes hold of Kiora's attention.

"Incredible!" The lone soldier shouts.

Two great ships wait by the dock. The vessels stand eighteen stories high. Kiora studies the intricate filigree carved into the wooden panels. She glances around to the bow of one of the ships. An albatross with its wings held high decorates the front.

'Such craftsmanship!' Kiora delights with a swish of her tail. There are several crew members already present preparing the vessels for sailing. Kiora watches as the soldiers behind her load up their provisions. A hand on Kiora's shoulder brings her to the present.

"Come aboard, little one," Dienti insists. Although she smiles, there is a hint of sorrow. "The time is nigh."

"Understood," Kiora replies.

The two warriors board their ship. As the Venurans keep amongst themselves, the lone soldier slides to the rear. Kiora watches as the ship sails away from the beautiful shore. For some reason, she feels melancholic while watching the forests disappear.

As the ship rolls along the waves, Kiora spends time observing her fellow combatants. However, she shortly denotes an air of uncertainty. Dienti openly accepts the extra set of arms, but her soldiers are unmoved. Kiora's pointed ears eavesdrop on a nearby conversation.

"Why is 'she' here?" A soldier inquires in the Venuran tongue.

"I'm not sure," another answers. He stares at Kiora with curiosity. "It doesn't appear that she knows our language."

"If only the dragon warrior came!" The initial soldier scoffs. "He looks more promising!"

Kiora cannot help a passing glance at the two. True, she does not know the Venuran language. However, the word for 'dragon' bares similarities to her Daemik tongue. Once Kiora hears the soldiers mention a 'dreikan,' she realizes the situation.

'They don't trust me.' She sighs while looking back at the sea. 'It's fine. Their queen believes in me.' The lone soldier lays against the railing. With tired lids, her eyes close.

Time passes and Kiora wakes at the rear. Her focus turns to the waves. She regards a peculiar looking porpoise with violet and turquoise scales. The animal jumps out of the water to avoide the waves caused by the vessel. Kiora mimics the animal. She laughs at receiving a reply.

As the nearby soldiers prepare for lunch, Kiora remains stationary. The great feast from the night before still lingers in her tummy-box. Besides, Kiora prefers eating after a battle. The lone soldier has tasted war before, but each new battle can prove unsuspecting.

Doubt surfaces. 'I wonder how many we will have to face against.' Kiora muses. 'Two thousand soldiers may not be enough.' Although numbers have a strong bearing on outcomes, she must remain confident.

Regardless of the uncertainties, Kiora allows her mind to wander. She feels the motion of the ship rocking her. With a sentimental gaze, Kiora smiles at the emerald sea. She finds herself humming along to a melody. As the tune shifts, she looks longingly into the water.

Kiora recalls someone she regards in high esteem. With a soft smile, she begins to sing.

"You are like the ocean," she whispers.

Suddenly, Kiora hears footsteps. She turns around in surprise. Dienti approaches with a plate of food-jerky, apple slices, and a block of cheese. Kiora blushes and adverts her sights onto the deck. Her dark palms extend to accept the offering.

"Thank you," she replies.

Kiora starts to walk away. A hand on the shoulder prompts her to a halt.

"Let me join you." Dienti tilts her head and smiles.

"Very well," Kiora sighs. She avoids making eye contact. "I wasn't expecting any company."

"Nonsense!" The queen laughs. "You are fighting with us. Therefore, you are one of us."

Kiora returns her warm expression. She was not planning on eating. However, now she cannot deny the other's generosity and concerns. The lone soldier eats in silence with her sights on the sea. As Kiora finishes her meal, the Venuran makes an inquiry.

"So, what was that song?" Dienti smiles with a curious gleam.

"Oh, a pleasant work of poetry." Kiora answers while blushing. She shies from singing in front of others. "The waves reminded me of the melody."

"Is that true?" Dienti's expression turns mischievous. "Did your lover write it for you?"

The question hits Kiora like an arrow. Vigorously, she shakes her head 'no.'

"I'm not in a relationship!" Kiora throws her hands into the air. As the plate falls, her tail catches the disc before shattering. "I'm sorry."

The young hands Dienti the plate. The Venuran looks at her with an apologetic expression. She casts her gaze to the ground.

"No, I'm sorry, Kiora," the queen sighs. "I didn't know."

The apology comes as a surprise. Kiora turns to watch as the sun rises in the horizon. Her heartbeat quickens. 'How can I expect someone to love me when I cannot love myself?' The intrusive thought threatens Kiora's core. The captain's cry breaks her brooding state.

"Come on, dear." Dienti ushers her with a serious tone. "It's time to fight."

...

***

...Kiora steps onto the black shore. The sand emits an ashen aroma. She marches with the soldiers in a single-file line. Dienti leads her warriors with pride. Although they serve her, the queen deems to protect as many of her people as possible.

Kiora admires her fortitude and compassion. Battle is never easy, but a kind ruler is harder to find. The lone soldier steadies her breath as she walks closer to the battlefield.

Despite her limited knowledge of the Venura-Azkhazan conflict, Kiora understands one detail. 'For a kingdom to bully and overpower another is fundamentally wrong!' The belief should stand as a fact. The concept further ignites the fire inside of Kiora's stomach.

The lone soldier is ready to fight alongside her Venuran comrades. Even though some have doubted her capabilities, Kiora is eager to prove them wrong.

A mountainous path rises in front of the company. Once the Venuran soldiers reach the peak, they peer down into a wide valley. Kiora watches as the opposing military take their positions. Already, she can see that the defending nation is lacking in quantity.

"We're outnumbered," Kiora utters. "But that doesn't mean we're outmatched."

"Excuse me?" A female soldier asks.

"She's right." Dienti remarks with a proud stance. "Azkhazan may have an upper hand in their count. However, we have a wildcard!"

Kiora smiles sheepishly. She prefers that the queen would draw less attention to herself. The sound of war drums demands attention. Kiora sets her gaze forward. 'We're ready!' She grips the hilt of her sword.

Swiftly, the armies pour down the black crags. Swords 'clink' against one another as two kingdoms collide. As Kiora fights, she is grateful for lightweight equipment. Where the Azkhazan take heavy hits, their opponents forge for dexterity.

In a fluid motion, Kiora slides away from a strike. 'I may not need my hooves!' She cheers. Her opponent grunts in fury. He lashes at her in a frenzy of strikes. Carefully, Kiora maintains her distance.

She finds an opening in between the soldier's breastplate. 'Here's a vulnerable spot!' She pierces her blade into the Azkhazanian's side. He falls to her feet.

"Curse you!" Another comrade blares above his lungs.

Consumed by vengeance, the Azkhazanian soldier lashes at Kiora. To her advantage, angry attacks are often blind. The opposing warrior swings his sword without precision. Kiora dodges the strikes and drives a deadly blow.

"I hope you fall!" The soldier hisses.

Kiora watches as he collapses to the dusty ground. His crimson skin adds color to the dark terrain. She catches her breath and prepares to advance. Suddenly, her heart races at the sight of beasts. Black bear-cat creatures stampede towards the Venuran army with long claws.

The scene alarms Kiora. 'They have no eyes!' she exclaims. Her observation fills her gut with dread. 'They have a mage!' In order to narrow the gap, Kiora focuses her energy on her feet. She shifts her legs into a pair of black goat hooves.

Despite wanting to reserve her magika, the lone soldier has no other option. She darts across the battlefield towards the beasts. Kiora utters a spell and forms a portal. Several large hell-hounds race onto the field. Their skull faces intimidate the Azkhazanian soldiers.

Kiora leaves her hounds behind to combat the enemy's beasts. Once satisfied, she aims to find Azkhazan's leader. On the enemy's base, Kiora notices a towering soldier. 'That must be their ruler!' She concludes. Her suspicions are proven to be accurate.

"Lord Sharix!" A foot soldier cries out to his king. "That's the soldier aiding Venura!"

The statement is obvious enough from her exploits. Kiora takes a defensive stance. She puffs out her chest in order to display her confidence. The king watches her engage in combat with his subordinate. In a quick flash, Kiora cleaves off the soldier's head. Fortunately, her agility in a swordfight reaches a pinnacle height when using her shifting abilities.

The lone soldier turns to the king. While face to face, her heart drops. 'He is 'actually' taller than Shik-Draik!' The dragon warrior is easily eight feet tall. Therefore, Lord Sharix's stature is intimidating. No matter how large her enemy is, Kiora must succeed.

The state of Venura depends on her.

The great crimson man laughs. To her surprise, he sneers at his deceased soldier.

"He was nothing!" The king scoffs. His voice is deep and textured. "I will finish you off easily!"

The king shoos away several of his subordinates attempting to fight for him.

"She is mine to slay!" Even in his native tongue, Sharix's accent is heavy. "Leave!"

Once the stage is set, the two warriors take their positions. Kiora inhales and slowly releases breath. Calmly, she steps a hoof forward with her tail flickering like a prowling cat's own. With a roar, Sharix lunges to attack. They parry off of one another's strikes. To the king's shock, the little goat is quite agile. After moments of combat, he decides upon a different tactic.

"How can you handle this?" The king growls.

An orb of fire hurls in Kiora's direction. 'It's too big!' she exclaims. Seeing that dodging is out of the question, the lone soldier engages magika with magika. Kiora summons a strong wind. The gale spins around her like a tornado-moreover, dispelling the flames.

"Good move," Sharix jeers. "Though, you look too small to last long!"

The insult seems to hold true. However, with a determined heart, Kiora continues the battle. 'I just have to slay him!' She confers. While deeming to use her enemy's weight against him, Kiora has an idea. She keeps parrying his attacks with a wicked grin.

As an opening comes into view, Kiora stomps a hoof to the black ground. Magika flows into the dust. Soon, the ground trembles and the space beneath Sharix collapses. The proud king is overpowered.

Kiora takes her sword and pierces his throat. In an attempt to take her with him, Sharix releases high amounts of energy. One final blast forces Kiora off of her hooves. She falls hard onto the rocky surface.

As her head slams into the ground, Kiora can only hear the king's laughter. Soon she hears him cough and pass on. While enemy soldiers accept their defeat, they take flight. Kiora's eyes flicker. She vaguely sees Dienti's figure approach in haste.

Just as the queen reaches her, Kiora faints.