Deep Down the Dark Abyss

Prologue

It was a late night of frosty skies and breezing winter air of the 1800s. Although very remote from the city, Bailey can hear the crunching briar patches from a distance.

"It is unsafe out there. We have to get the blood clans away from here," Adler calmly said as he was partially hiding from the blinds.

Even though the hall is fully equipped with food supplies and armors enough for thousands of blood clans, the animal demons couldn't hold their guard long enough before the human villagers reach their location.

"We cannot send anyone out there; it's too dangerous. The humans have blasting torches and metal armors. We are of no par." Adler said as he was eyeing the people coming to their place.

They were over a kilometer away but, Adler's eagle eye helped them to plan out ahead of time how they would escape and protect the blood clans and abyss at the same time.

Maximilion has been quiet all the time. He has been thinking of all possible ways to get rid of the impending doom but, now, he's been unease by the situation.

He's not thinking right. He has been walking back and forth across the hall. Thoughts were flooding his mind but, none of them were helping to alleviate the situation- which makes everything worse and their agony prolonged.

Maximilion is the head of the animal demons as he is the lion persona. He was in charge of all decision-making in the abyss so, that thought worsens his already reeking anxiety.

"We have to set out a plan, Max. They're getting nearer." Flynn urges their him. He's also losing his patience alongside his fear of being haunted down by humans.

Maximilion's temper snapped off as he was interrupted in thinking. He faced him and glared at him with annoyance, "You are of no help, Flynn."

The other temperamental animal demon blurts out a big fuss, "At least, I'm putting up ways on how to help the blood clans. We have to work out a plan, Max! Our villagers are in danger! We are in danger! Fear has no place for--" Bailey cut him off and centered himself over the heated Lion and Jaguar demons.

"Stop! Will you? At this point, our only defense is to send someone out there to at least scare them away. We should not be arguing now. Lives are at stake. Please." From his tone, Bailey was stressing out that they are becoming divided amidst the impending terror.

The animal demons looked at the blood clans. They were in such despair and were terrified by the impending encounter. The blood clan villagers- although non-human- can't fight against human villagers as they consider them to be their deadliest enemy.

"This is not going to work this way; I'll go first. I'll be giving you my signal at any point, so please be vigilant. Flynn, take the blood clans to the North Village. Let's hope that the humans are not going to be able to make it there." Adler remained optimistic. He knew that it was the only way to protect the abyss and drive the humans away.

"No! You know we can't do that. If any of us leaves, you know what will happen!" Flynn objectified.

Although they are eligible to use their powers, they cannot blatantly show it to humans. After all, they should not know that there are more than wild animals and non-human villagers living on their ground- except when they impose threat enough to lead them to kill them which, is not their thing.

The demons kept eyeing the outside through their stained window hidden by blinds. The humans are getting nearer, carrying their wooden torches, swords, and rifle. If they are not going to escape sooner- it'll be the end of them.

"What if we send everyone to the lake? There is a hidden fortress there. We could provide the blood clans a temporary shelter long enough to take the humans down," Everyone in the hall looked at Maximillion in strangeness.

Every resident of the abyss knew that the fortress doesn't reveal itself that easily. Even the demons don't have enough capability to disclose it as it is a sacred place for them that is not for entry. Plus, the travel to the lake would take them days.

The abyss has intricate paths, and if they take the bait: the humans would be able to follow them.

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but we have to take the risk. And it is the only way for us to hide from their possible route."

Everyone was puzzled. Either of the options; they are to die either in the hall or in the lake. Whatever choice they'll be taking will be resulting in death.

The screams from the humans outside of the abyss intensified, and it made everyone crumble in fear.

Each family was hugging each other, which broke the demons' hearts as they were above them but, they are of no help to alleviate their fears and anxiety.

The demons were in haste to come with a survival plan but, no one had their word. Thus, forcing them to use all available resources as a line of defense.

Although dark and frosty, the flames from their torch were visible and physically sensible, enough to heighten the fear of the blood clans.

Adler partly opened the blinds and saw the mass of humans, partitioned by a medieval garden filled with massive tree twigs between giant trees crisscrossing over each other.

The twigs that are somewhat protecting them were centuries old that they are of no use and gave the humans a swift entrance to the gates of the abyss.

"We have no time to escape, hide the clans inside the cells and close their doors. We have to battle with them face to face." Bailey suggested. All the animal demons obeyed his order and sent the clans off inside the cells.

Because they were not enough spaces on the lower floor, Flynn had to dispatch the other families to the upper floor and hid them in all possible places he found. Not long enough, the humans were able to crash the door to the front hall.

As if the four demons were waiting for them, the humans were surprised to see the sight of humans that were supposed to be wild animals.

The humans laughed within themselves and arrogantly faced the animal demons, "Don't be such a selfless fool, release the animals."

Maximillion, who was straightly judging the man's existence, laughed back and provoked him even more, "Animals? Does this house looks like a wildlife park to you?"

The man was not happy with his counterstatement, so he repeated his words, "Show me the animals- while I'm still easy on you."

Flynn is losing his patience, so he stepped out clenching his fist.

Bailey knew that he could shapeshift at any given moment, so he gave him a glare that says "don't do it."

The demons knew that they could not blatantly show what they are and their superhuman powers.

Their ordeal is to maintain the peace in the abyss- and that includes not letting non- abyss residents know that there are more than just wild animals in the darkest grounds of the earth.

However, when lives are at risk. It is probably not bad to break a rule.

Maximilion stepped forward, close enough to feel each other's breath, "then so be it."

Maximilion smirked as his eyes illuminate a golden flare. His face sprang up thick and shaggy furs. His teeth sharpened like a fang as his body broadened and went all the way down in four. His legs thinned and crooked while his skin turned reddish-brown.

Even before the humans process what had happened, Maximilion gave them a growl that shook the humans to their core.

The human physiqued gentlemen they argued with- turns out to be the lion they were haunting for eternity.

Before the man pulled his trigger, Maximilion jumped over him and scratched the man with his claws. The other demons gave each other a look before they turned themselves into an animal.

Bailey howled before he attacked the other human villagers. His vicious appearance as a wolf scared the humans before he even attacked. With his speed and natural predator, he managed to take down numerous attackers without being hit by their armors.

However, the people knew they could outsmart him with their fires in which- Bailey is indeed scared of.

They turned the tables down with the torches, and they started hovering it over Bailey. The wolf arched his body and hid his tail while trying to turn around his attackers.

Bailey took that distraction to sway the torches away and jump over them while biting their legs.

However, the torch Bailey threw away sparked the carpet in the hall that caused a spark of fire near where Flynn and his attackers are.

With the jaguar's instinctive speed, he threw the humans around him to the hurdle of fire while avoiding himself having a burn. However, Adler, just behind his and Bailey's back, reached the tip of the fire.

Although the burn on his right flap was not dire, it was enough to weaken his force: making him unable to use it. Flynn backed him up and became his right flap while Bailey was trying to control the spread of fire with a blow.

Even though Bailey is trying his best to put the fire out, the breeze from the outside aggravated the flames and made it hard for him to manage- causing more damage to everyone inside the hall.

The fire spread out quickly and trapped everyone inside the hall. The smoke penetrated through their airways: causing them to choke and suffocate with dark fumes and debris from the woods and twigs brought by the human villagers.

Maximilion did not hesitate when he saw a burning pillar about to fall and block the doorway.

He immediately changed into his lion form and carried as many blood clans as possible out of the hall. Maximillion dodged the fire like a circus lion and safely delivered a few of their villagers out.

Flynn saw him and did the same thing and attested his speed by carrying double blood clans out of the hall.

Adler and Bailey did the same thing. They came in and out: carrying every single blood clan they could take and moved them out of the hall while dodging the burning debris falling here and there.

No matter how eager they were to rescue their villagers, the fire consumed the hall.

Along with the saved villagers, the animal demons watched the dead bodies from the encounter burn to death.

The villagers they failed to deliver from the raging flames, all died within a short period.

Although they managed to eliminate all the human villagers, they failed to rescue their kind.

The hopes of resurging lives went into thin air as a huge blast crashed the hall and the nearby downtowns and small villages within the abyss' vicinity.

Even with a heavy heart, the animal demons have to bail out the saved villagers to avoid further casualties.

Everyone was still rejecting the image of what had happened earlier.

Scarred, bruised, bleeding, hurt, and broken.

The animal demons looked around at the now dark and bitter home and territory.

It was the last time that the abyss was buoyant and full of life.