The two forces stood there motionless, staring at one another. It was mere seconds that passed but for Kaia, it felt like an eternity. The smoke, full of embers and ash, still billowed through the clearing, giving their attackers an ethereal appearance. The monster's, with their glowing red eyes, snarled and snapped their massive jaws, as though eager to rip through flesh and bone. The horses, which some of the soldiers sat upon, snorted and stamped their hooves. They were not like the Razaak's desert stallions, these were much more like the horses that Kaia had seen in Creed, shorter and sturdy with mottled colors dancing along their hides. Kaia could not see the faces of the men well through the polluted air, but their stances were clearly ready for battle. The Razaak stood coiled li
