Commando Part 14

      Out of the thick jungle emerged a large reptilian creature standing on its hind legs upright. Standing about three stories tall this reptilian carnivore had scales of a dragon and snake, thick hind legs for running, arms with claws for grabbing and a large head full of razor sharp teeth as long as swords. Its body coincided with the size of its head making it almost colossal. The tail reached thirty feet in length and swung back and forth as it gazed at the mass of fighters. Every single Beast Man turned to this carnivore in fear. The air was silent and still within the jungle. Not a single muscle stirred or any movement made. Everyone seemed frozen in place like statues with their feet stuck to the ground. It sniffed the air around them then proceeded to sniff them as it approached. Whatever type of carnivore this was it had a hungry look in its eyes. Without warning it roared again. This roar was elongated and louder than the last one.

      Not even hesitant the Beast Men made a run for it. All the tribal warriors fled from the area scattering in fear. Seeing it had hundreds of fleeing food to choose from this large reptilian carnivore chased after the hundreds of Beast Men. As it pursued the tribal warriors this carnivore roared. As soon as it disappeared into the jungle the whole party went into action. Scared and preferring not to become this reptile’s next meal they got in their feline steeds. The non-combatants were loaded on the back of the saddles with enough room for a sack. Each passenger held on tightly as the Prowler, Tuxir Trackers led the party at a southward course through the jungles. Speeding through the jungle on the backs of Jumbo Cats Maurice felt leaves, and brush skim across his cheeks, and his body. His own steed followed the other cats with several other cats behind him. Covering the rear of their pack Amonif rode armed with a long lance from the Tuxir fighter. Their Forsythan friend did have the strength to fend off the beast but not even he seemed certain if he could kill one so large.

      In full gallop the enlarged party rushed through the jungle passing trees, brush, stones, tribal pillars, nests, totem poles, abandoned villages, shacks and other things found in the jungles. His own steed leapt over fallen trees, logs, low branches while following Brittany’s steed. For some time they sped their way through the jungles in a serpentine like pattern. Allowing their steeds and the leaders to drive the party forth they came to a slowed halt in the middle of a clearing. This clearing stretched barely less than ten thousand square feet on all sides. Most of it had been made, but was starting to show signs of regrowth. Twelve steeds with two riders each circled this clearing that was full of abandoned tents, equipment, sheds, and the makings of a military campsite/outpost.

      All of them stopped where they were able to dismount. Dropping to the ground the party members let their steeds rest who went to a group of trees for more shade. While their large feline steeds rested by a patch of trees in the clearing the riders and rescued captives studied their surroundings. Looking around it was apparent to those familiar with military camps that this was indeed a Vestrisian forward camp. It appeared to be in the process of becoming an outpost. Maurice’s memories of such camps and forward outposts being founded beyond their fronts came back. Investigating his own memories the commando recalled about seven known outposts created back in the year 1845. That was the very year he lost contact with the rest of the Vestrisian Army as it retreated out of the Unknown Lands.

      He shook the horrible memories of those weeks and months out of his head. Within moments of shaking the bad memories away Maurice observed his surroundings. Some parts of the camp appeared to be intact and in working condition. This Vestrisian camp-outpost had about seven or so pitched tents in quite horrid, tattered condition. Only a few of these tents seemed inhabitable for a short amount of time. These tents were arranged in the standard military style with gaps in the set up where tents used to be. On one side of this camp outpost was a larger tent with multiple sections and rooms. It must have served as the officer’s lodging and the main headquarters until the camp became more of an outpost then transform into a base. Opposite the headquarters was the first structure of the outpost made from wood, metal, and logs cut from trees. The logs were set in the back of this structure as part of the wall like fence that was to go around the outpost/base.

      Next to this structure were the tool shed and the ammunition depot. To one corner was the construction of a watchtower. One of the three standing guard towers was broke down and collapsed. Maurice looked towards the entrance which faced south where a machinegun nest rested next to it opposite a check in shack. He turned his head with the others circling around out of curiosity. Most appeared disturbed by the discovery whereas others looked around nervously with paranoid expressions. On the west side of the camp four cabins lined the wall where the fence was missing. Each of these cabins was the size of a one or two room shack. All of them appeared empty and abandoned with no signs of life exempt the vines and vegetation taking over.

      As he turned around to check the other parts one of the zoologists checked one of the cabins out of curiosity. She looked into one of the more broken down cabin. His gaze turned back to face the tents and their cat steeds. Their steeds made themselves comfortable under the shelter they found. He studied their surroundings a bit more as his fellow companions wandered the old camp-outpost. One of the spaces where a tent used be pitched seemed odd. Maurice approached this particular space and found it was a sheet of dust, dirt, and jungle waste covering the collapsed tent. Finding this suspicious, and feeling curious he checked it out. He picked up a stick and began picking through the debris. As he brushed off the dirt off the tent something under the tent caught his eye. Pulling part of the tent back revealed the skeleton of a deceased soldier of the Vestrisian Expedition. It appeared mostly decayed with hardly any tissue or remaining flesh after decomposing. The under shirt of the Vestrisian uniform was mostly tattered and the cap rested on the skull. Looking at the smile of the deceased comrade Maurice noticed the dog tag around its neck. Just as he reached for the dog tag someone screamed a horrified scream.

      The scream nearly made him jump out of his skin since it was so sudden and out of nowhere with little to no warning. Moments after the scream he regained himself and yanked the dog tag from the skeleton. Turning around to the source of the scream Maurice discovered the scream came from the nosy Zoologist. She ran away from the cabins whimpering and trying not to cry while regaining composure. Others went over to the cabins to see what made her scream of fear. His party of fighters went on their guard expecting something to come out and attack them. The Onyx Cougars, and Silver Harpy yelled at the zoologist for their foolishness. Maurice ignored them while Brittany brought them to heel. Amonif, and the prowler approached the cabins. Holding the dog tag the commando took a look inside the cabins. Inside two of these cabins were skeletons of Vestrisian soldiers stuffed inside.
    Taking this chance to complete part of his mission Maurice Viyamor began snatching up any dog tags he could see and reach from the door or window. He had Amonif and Hilastes help him get the skeletons out of the cabins. Regardless of the zoologists, guides, and anthropologist’s fear and disgust of this the commando collected the rest of the dog tags. All together Maurice gathered seventeen dog tags from the skeletal corpses of fallen comrades.