<span style="font-style: italic">Thump, thump, thump, thump.</span><br/><br/>The sound of boots hitting tilled ground marched endlessly on as the sun ended it's descent through the skies. The men and women garbed in the blackness of night to come remained quiet and in order as they approached the forests edge. Each of them were armored head to toe in this color, with as little of their white skin showing as possible. Some bore swords, others maces, and other still carried nought but their gaunleted fists. The farmers in the area, as apposed to anger at their fields being tread so roughly, gave them all a wide berth. The air hung heavier with each marched step, but they pressed on, ignoring the feeling of dread that clung to their throats. The commander of this group, a Phillipe Browning, Led on horseback until they finally reached their rallying point.<br/><br/>Among this group of soldiers, warriors, and mages was a young mage by the name of Trent Godfrey. Drafted into service like many among those here, Trent had found himself unfortunate to be considered sub-par in terms of magic. Branded a front-line mage. Deadly in their wild spell-flinging, but also short-lived, and Trent could not claim to be good at the spell-flinging by a wide margin. Deflecting attacks with powerful gusts of wind were the most impressive feats he had managed thus-far. To say that he was afraid would be an understatement.<br/><br/>The men and women Trent traveled with were a varied group of people. Not your usual rank and file masses, it seemed almost all the mages here were novices accompanied by equally green soldiers. It seemed this would be a scouting mission. Among them, quite a few stood out to Trent as odd. First, a mage by the name of Harrison White. Trent liked this man, for he was quiet. A trait not shared by the more rabble loving soldiers in the group, but thanks to this he did not know the mage too well. Then there was the bulky young man Jorran Kallressi. For such a large man he seemed to carry a heavy regret upon his soldiers. Trent did not wish to pry in the few chances he had to speak with him.<br/><br/>Next would be Syed Amir, an aged man who looked more skilled in the sword than in the arcane. Nevertheless he wore the garb of a mage. Intimidated by the experience he had, Trent dared not go near this man for fear of him being like the other soldiers in their group. Hard, crude, and lovers of the drink they were. Next, a very out of place sort for such a military outing. A young girl, no older than sixteen, by the name Kalessi Braunes. Though garbed as a mage mostly, she was also the only mage who carried a bow and quiver. In practice Trent had come to realize that this woman may be the only one in camp less skilled in magic than he, and he formed a sort of mental bond with the girl, though he had never spoken with her. Then, there was Centienne Elwyn, a middle aged woman fairly skilled in magic, Trent admitted he had a schoolboy crush on her, but that was nothing to think about at the moment, for their commander was speaking. Finally there was the pair of mages, Maggie, and her "wild mage" friend. This wild mage was something of a mystery when Trent looked into it. A girl more beast than man when others spoke of her, but Maggie seemed to care for the girl. Perhaps it was pity? Trent did not know, but he kept his distance. Fearful of what powers a "wild" mage could unleash.<br/><br/>"Alright runts. We enter into these woods at the towns edge on a long march. We are headed to the foot of the Sulu mountains." Mild shock ran through some of the younger of the group. "Yes this is behind their territorial lines. Our leaders are betting on the elder dragons to be among the frontlines and we are to strike at the heart of this brood. We are not the only attack, this will be a giant blow to this winged menace!" Some hurrah's were heard amongst the soldiers and some mages. "Now this is a very dangerous mission and the chances of us coming back alive are slim. However We do not fear the beasts do we?!" The no that resounded was loud and confident. "We will not cower before these demons will we?!" The no was louder still. "Are horses for their feast or the very storm that makes them shiver in fear?!"<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">"WE ARE A STORM TO BRING AN END TO THEIR FIRE!"</span></span><br/><br/>"THAT'S RIGHT!" Phillipe shouted. "MARCH!" And as one the group marched forward into the outlying forest towards the sulu mountains. Trent's marching feet created more sound than he did during the speech, for the terror was set deep in his heart now.<span style="font-style: italic">'They've sent us all to our deaths.'</span>