The shout came while she had been berating a female recruit who had lost her composure in front of some of the men. There was no place for tears in war and she was definitely not going to be an embarrassment to the other sisters with her behavior.<br/><br/>“Are you a warrior or are you a child?” Ausan asked her coldly.<br/><br/>“A warrior…” the still emotional woman squeaked out.<br/><br/>“What was that? I can’t hear your pathetic whimpers. Are you going to run off and suckle from your mother’s teet? Or, are you going to suck it up and get back out there before I-”<br/><br/>Loud, low and deep the warning horns went out through the camp. The ground seemed to tremble as the notes carried through the area, alerting all those present that it was time for battle. War had reached their doorsteps and now was the time fight for what they believed in.<br/><br/>“Why aren’t you going to be on your horse again?” Cameron asked as he got the mount fitted for his armor.<br/><br/>“That will be later in the battle,” she said as she checked her own armor. “Foot soldiers first and then Calvary later,” she explained for what felt like the third time. “I volunteered/demanded that I be at the front lines with the others. They need my sword and shield there,” she turned to face the troubled youth and smiled fondly at him. “Worried?”<br/><br/>“I’m always worried when you ride off into battle; I mean you are like…my family. If something happens to you…” he began but did not finish for both knew what he meant.<br/><br/>“Then you would be taken care of,” she said as she clapped the young man on the shoulder and pushed back his Golden locks from his face.  “No matter what happens, I promise you that you will be kept safe and sound,” the words held the passion and conviction in her words. Words, spoken with love and honesty to the young man she thought of more like a son than just a squire. “Come, let us get finished…”<br/><br/>------------<br/><br/>The arrows whistled through the sky like a deadly swarm, intent on their targets and infused with the prayers of those who launched them. Even as the ground trembled beneath their feet, Ausan never felt so ready for this. It was like the long awaited game was over, now was the time for them to show these demons just what they were made of.<br/><br/>The pendant about her neck was taken from beneath her armor, the cool metal brought to her lips as she prayed.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Naiya, Goddess of Fire and life, hear my prayer this day and spare those I love the pain of death. Should an offering in your name be needed….take me.</span><br/><br/>A kiss was placed on the scared metal before she tucked it back away. The time was coming, soon they would be sent out to meet the enemy.<br/><br/>“Today will not be the day that we fail,” Ausan said aloud to those near her. “Today shall not be the day that we lose,” she looked down the line at those with her. “Today will be the day that we stand united! Stand together! Facing a foe from our nightmares we are not afraid! We will fight against the darkness! We will stand together and face our enemies! We will not let them pass our lines!” Sword thrust into the air to drive home the point, which elicited a roar from those within earshot. Together, as a unit, they began to bang their swords against their shields. The sound built and built so that when Barth called for them to run forward it was like a wave of energy and power rolling across the land.<br/><br/>Long strong strides carried her toward the enemy, the goal simple. Kill. Where there had once been the roar of those beside her, there was now the deafening roar of the enemy as they closed it. It drowned out their battle cries though it did little to stop their spirits. This was not just a fight over petty civil issues; it was the battle for the right to exist as a species. Man would not allow this darkness to swallow them, not without a fight.<br/><br/>The first Tutar Ausan spun past with a strategic slash to its tendon before she charged forward. She did not even look back to see if those behind her finished him off, because at that moment she jumped up and used the leg of another to leap and propel herself up shield first into its jaw. It was like contacting with a wall and she barely moved past that single action, but she took advantage of the bastard being momentarily stunned to stab it down into the main artery between its shoulder and neck. Its dark blood pumped out and splashed her face though she paid it no mind as she yanked her blade free and fell to the ground to continue the fight. Another Tutar at her back, she dodged with a tumble to the side, her shield thrown up to take the next down swing from the same Tutar.<br/><br/>“Ugh!” she grunted from the impact, her arm instantly tingling and going slightly numb from the impact though she powered through it to push back to her feet. Now she faced the Tutar who thrusts at her with his spear, the weapon dodged and her sword brought down the chop the more threatening end off. The thick wood splintered under the keen edge of her blade and she followed through with a kick to try and dislodge the weapon before attempting to stab at its mid-section. Around her, the battle raged on and she worked to defeat her current foe. Goddess willing, they would survive long enough for the Calvary to be sent in.