First Contact

The rest of the day proved uneventful, despite the warnings, as did the following day. The next afternoon however, the monks came upon another patrol. Their horses caught the scent before the scene came into view, shying and snorting their concerns to the four riders. Terrance drew a long curve-bladed sword as they came over the rise.
The patrol had been made up of six men. Their bodies and that of their mounts were now strewn over the road and to either side. Two creatures sat feasting on the corpses. The monks own mounts became more skittish as one of the creatures looked up and snarled. Terrance exchanged a quick look with Gregor and dismounted, handing his reins to Duncan. Gregor did the same, drawing his own blade.
“Take the horses back a short way, Brother Duncan. I don’t think we can rely on them in this battle. William struggled to calm his own horse before dismounting and handing over his reins. Duncan did not object, just nodded and turned the horses back down the road without a word. William drew his blade as the closest creature moved away from its feasting and studied them. It snarled again and the second creature pulled its head out from the ribcage of the horse it was devouring. It also snarled in their direction and started circling to their right.
The three monks stood in the road swords drawn.
“Any ideas, Brothers?” William asked.
“Some breed of lesser demon,” Gregor ventured. Terrence nodded.
“It would appear so,” he agreed. “This is what we have trained for, Brothers.” They moved apart, giving themselves more space to manoeuvre. Terrance eyed the closest demon as it studied them in turn.
“They have a long reach,” he observed. “They look fast, too.” He smiled grimly as he saw a gash on the creature’s leg. “But they bleed.”
“The texts have always taught that lesser demons in physical form can be killed like any natural creature,” Gregor supplied.
“But not necessarily as easily,” William pointed out. Gregor smiled grimly.
“Caution in this encounter would certainly be advised,” Gregor agreed.
The closest creature charged without warning. Terrance was ready and moved to intercept, his long sword held before him. It slashed at him with a long clawed arm, not slowing its charge. Terrance dodged aside, curved blade flashing out catching the demon on the arm as it passed. It halted, snarling, then pounced, claws slashing. Terrance dodged again, backing away.
“Watch the other one, William.”
“Way ahead of you there, Brother,” William replied as the other demon snarled and charged at him. His arm flicked out and a pointed disc sprouted from the creature’s right eye. Its charge faltered, but did not stop, closing the distance far too quickly for William’s liking. He dodged back and to his right as it raked the air with its talons. He backed up further, waving his blade in front of him, keeping the demon’s attention on him. The creature obliged by crouching and lashing out low, trying to slash his legs out from under him. William danced out of range, sword weaving the air in front of him.
Gregor hit it from behind. Moving in from the demon’s right, the blow took off the creature’s arm just below the shoulder. It let out a high scream and swung round, blood spraying from the stump of its right arm as the left swept through the air, clawing the air where Gregor had just been standing. He leapt back, barely missing flailing talons as it rent the air again and again. Gregor backed off. The creature snarled and followed, then stumbled as William opened up a wide gash across its back. Screeching, it whirled around, left arm flashing out and catching William’s blade as he backed up. The blade snapped and went spinning out of his hand. He hastily backed up further, left arm flicking out again. Another spiked disc thudded into the creature, catching it in the throat and another in the chest. It recovered quickly and tensed to pounce.
Gregor’s two-handed blow took its head from its shoulders. He turned to see how Terrance was faring as William drew his second shorter blade watching the demon’s body for any sign of movement.
Terrance was backing up again, spinning away, his blade leaving another gash across the side of the demon as it charged past. It turned faster this time, anticipating the move, claws flashing out, tearing a gash in Terrance’s robe as he moved fluidly out of reach of the sudden attack. His own blade struck in return, severing the offending, clawed hand at the wrist. They both backed off, eying each other warily. Gregor moved up behind Terrance, studying the demon. It snarled back, then turned and ran for the nearest trees. It moved quickly on all fours, not noticeably hampered by its missing hand.
Terrance raised his eyebrows as he watched it go.
“I did not expect it to do that,” he commented.
“These things are definitely smart,” Gregor observed. “Though not too smart,” he amended, indicating the second creature. The corner of Terrance’s mouth flicked upwards, his version of a grin.
“Good.”
They dissected the demon where it fell, learning what they could before they moved on.

-Excerpt from Book One of the Ascension Wars