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The dust settled over the town as the last of the townsfolk fled up into the woods. Their horses and oxen carrying them to supposed safety. Their last refuge lay deep in the woods. This was the only chance for them to avoid death's unyielding gaze. There was little they could do to protect themselves from the marauders. Weak, and innocent, even in these terrible days. These men and women were incapable of gathering the courage to overwhelm their impotence. Completely devoid of any bravery, their courage would always fail. It has failed everyday with these men. Too scared, and too broken. This was the fate of most after The Failing, or so it was said. Few still lived who showed the ability to look past their current struggles, and find the path through them. Most simply cowered during these ill-gotten days, humbled to the point of despair. There was little strength left in the hearts of men. Although the desire to live stayed with them. And so they lived in whatever manner they could manage.

Daid watched the last of the people pass into the limited safety of the trees. 'Good people' he said to himself as he shook his head in dismay. They were relying on these last six men to defend them, to save their community, their crops, their homes. These were high expectations for so few to achieve. The faces of the other five men, huddled with him, betrayed their fear. None wanted to die, no matter the difficulties of life. These men would not back down, their fear would be subdued, but it still glimmered in their eyes, in the corners of their mouths, in their quickened breaths. Daid caught himself as well, and consciously slowed his breathing. His gaze passed over their faces once more before turning out to the west, where a growing cloud rose into the air. With every passing minute the dust rose thicker and closer as the invading force moved towards the community.

Most likely they were the Savages. Men whose minds were lost. Men who were born without reason, or kindness. Only destruction lay in their hearts, if they held such. Fortunately, their minds held no intelligence, and thus their savagery could be overwhelmed. Perhaps they were marauders, another group of survivors bent on pillaging anything useful which they could find. These had attacked before, falling before the small group of defenders. The last time was three months earlier, and it had proved costly. There were ten men then, who still held the courage to fight

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