Chapter 1

  A year, that’s how long between the first incursion was, the whole west ranges plunged into fear as demons ravaged the lands. There was no warning, no declaration of war, just their sudden arrival.

  A freak scenario had to be. Nothing like this cloud ever happened again.

  A year, long enough for people to become comfortable, short enough for new response strategies to be drawn up however just short enough for them to be fully implemented.

  A year… the demons came back. Appearing from nowhere again seemingly dropping from the sky in random unpredictable ways, the second incursion was bigger; the rangers engaged in futile brawls but nothing came of it defence wise but the few corpses the rangers were able to collect and autopsy gave the rangers a deeper understanding of what exactly they fought. These wear demons from the realm of anything supernatural, it was natural.

  Six months. Surely after that last incursion there was no logic in that sentiment, just hope, any more and the western ranges would be plunged into a dark age. Peoples homes were rebuilt and life started to tick back to its usual pace, the dead were buried and mourned. Life wasn’t easy for the family of the dead but after six months the fresh wounds were closing and a sense of progress and healing began to take root.

  Six months, numbers unlike any seen before ravaged the ranges. The rangers were brutally effective with their freshly drilled combat doctrines. The western rangers stood toe to toe with the forces from a preserved hell and stood victorious. Victorious strategically. Won more battles than lost, more of them dead than us, but the land was ravaged and fields burned to the ground, the demons had changed adapted they used to be leopard like wait people move slowly kill and lure good in small packs in hit and run ambush tactics, these ones were different the leopards still fought but a new unit joined something slightly different more headstrong more willing to run into a head first brawl they new foxes where slimmer and tougher they would frequently shrug off multiple shots I phased and worse yet they started deploying basic tactics to destroy basic ranger formations. Something like this was not naturally it was now showing a constant adaptation on a deep controlled level. And the same constant patterns of hoard flooding in from the east while small groups ravaged the back lines, their coordination grew from random at best to well through through sound and logical warfare methods.

  A gavel struck its sounding block a verdict had been made the rangers had pushed for permission to send exhibitions out east, and today the vote had been cast. Clack, clack, clack. The room stood in silence

  “The bill proposed today would allow for armed expeditions and scouting missions outside of our greater ranges region.” The speaker organised his papers “in front of me lays twenty objections. For one reason or another. And it’s safe to say the proposal is controversial for many reasons.” He cleared his throat “today the bill has left the draft and entered its finalised stage to stage vote if we enact it.”

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  Alexis paced though the muddied cobblestone courtyard, trudging his boots along the pathways he looked at the clock tower, eleven-twenty-three verdict would be received midday. He was anxious it seemed like either way the bill was passed it would be death from being overrun by the never-ending hoard stomping them out, or equally dangerous death my logistics being stretched thin unable to react he had a preference of course but more in the sense of a death row inmate picking the method. Only difference is one had a chance.

  Cyrus found him, and stopped his never ending track. “Kid.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What are you doing?”

  Alexis glanced at the clock eleven-twenty-five “waiting for midday.”

  “Come, get some lunch with me.”

  Alexis nodded “you paying?”

  Cyrus smiled “when have I not.”

  “Plenty of times you old bastard.”

  Cyrus jabbed Alexis’s arm “it was one time.”

  The cafe was small with only three tables and eight chairs around but it was enough, it was going to be a slow day most people either outside the hall waiting for any update or at home waiting for the bell to ring.

  It chimed once, the bell tolled causing the plates and cutlery to buzz on the table. Cyrus’s cup clinked as he placed it on the stone counter top. “Best we go see the results.” And firmly patted Alexis on the shoulder.

  The courtyard was packed, people crammed in as the balcony doors creaked open slowly a man in a leather jacket stepped out. And waved a bell in his hand high above his head for a few seconds letting crowds chatter to fade. “Here ye, here ye.” He rang the bell more and the last conversations in the crowd ended abruptly. “The council has decided in a one-oh-one ruling supporting the rangers to launch expeditions to solve our demon infestations. That is all.”

  Alexis sighed “guess I’m going out then?” He glanced over to Cyrus. “And what makes you think I’d even pick you.”

  Alexis shrugged “my good looks?”

  Cyrus shook his head “no, but close. Ya got till midnight to be ready to report to the rangers stables.”

  “Aye.” Alexis nodded

  Alexis went to his dorm room, it was small and cramped. He packed a large ruck bag and placed it on the bedside table he sat down and quickly and admittedly half assed his cleaning of his rifle. But he kept it in good condition and it hasn’t had hardly any rounds through it so it didn’t need one too badly to begin with.

  It was late afternoon when he had everything in order he set his clock to wake him up at 11:30 pm. And laid, trying to fall asleep.