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Date Posted: 23:10:43 08/02/00 Wed
Author: Jax
Subject: Day of Battle, Day of War

High up, fronting the clouds,
we watch as the main force of
the enemy advances.
I can see the seige engines,
and the catapults,
men of war armed with
sword, spear, and mace.
This time the enemy
means to win.
Our forces are outnumbered,
but if their fortifications hold,
they have a chance...
I watch as the catapult
is manuevered across from
the main walls.
I signal Janora to hold fast,
and dive toward the forces
moving the engine.
They hear me coming,
lift their heads and
then slot arrows to bows,
I scream my battle cry
and plunge toward them,
hastily fired arrows
miss or bounce off my
sides. And, I am among them.
My claws and beak strike,
scattering the men,
I lift and dive back
before they can regroup
and hit the supporting
structure... it falls.
I rise again, flying
away from the arrows,
Janora grunts and I feel
her grasp my harness..
"I'm all right!" she cries,
urging me on... "an arrow
grazed my arm, tis all.
No time for scratches,
keep going!"
Leaving the scattered
forces around the catapult,
I center on the forces
advancing on the fortress.
Again and again I plunge
into their lines,
and, again and again,
those lines part and
then close again.
They form a phalanx
and, though no defense
from the air, it takes a
toll as they hack and
spear from each side.
And, their aim is getting
better, that last volley
lodged a bolt in my
left hind quarters.
I can feel the shaft
gouging deeper into my flesh.
But, this is battle
and wounds are to be expected!
Huzza! Once more against
the line! See, they
hesitate, the line wavers,
it breaks. And, this time
as I swoop into the line
it melts away.
Men run towards the back
lines, hoping to escape
but, I follow, swooping
and diving, harassing them.
Then climb once more
into the welcoming sky,
and watch as they regroup
beyond the forted walls,
across the rivers edge.
I feel Janora slumped against
my side, and feel the coursing
of blood along my flanks.
I seek the cliff plateau
and settle down, Janora
slips from my back.
"Old friend, are you hurt?"
"Nay, I'm killed," she said,
and collapsed.
I sank beside her, touched
her body and trilled the
death song over her.
With the battle heat upon me
I did not notice my own
woundings, but, find that
I, too, will make that
crossing from life to death
this day.
The battle is won,
the war is still to be fought.

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