The Third Breed

New plan

“I saw how Jude was looking at you,” Ariel whispers as they walked beside each other.

Jude and Darius were walking ahead while Max remained behind them, they just let the two go on ahead as it seems they already know the way.

“He’s always like that, don’t let it bother you,” he waves it off, sensing the discomfort of his friend.

He had to admit Jude and him never really got along, even though they’ve been together from the very beginning, he just never really liked how the man would always boss around newbies and other people. Lance doesn’t even understand why Jude even joined the scouts, knowing full well that there was a position waiting for him within the council. Yet, he commended the man for risking his life here in the dead lands.

“I don’t feel good, having him around,” Ariel crossed his arms and gave Jude a sharp look.

Lance chuckles and taps his friends shoulder “We can’t be choosy in fighting monsters and saving people,” he reminds him while raising a finger in a teacher like manner.

“Lance are you okay?” Max joins in on the two of them.

Their companion was still behind them but was now much closer. His gaze also gave out a piercing chill of anger while staring at Jude’s back.

“Of course Max, why?” He says in a soft assuring manner, trying to calm the mans nerves.

It somewhat made Lance’s skin crawl just sensing the anger that was radiating from him, he suddenly felt worried for Jude, knowing how strong and dangerous Max was.

“Don’t worry Max, those two can’t do much, not like our friend Lance here,” Ariel put his arm around their friends shoulders as he loudly stated that, still giving Jude a malicious glare.

“Right.” Max nods in agreement.

Somehow Ariel’s words lighten their mood, and their friend started recalling how the three of them took down the horde a while ago, mainly praising Max’s incredible skills.

Lance on the other hand saw Jude and Darius sudden shivering as they were talking, he knew for a fact that the two did hear them and somewhat felt a bit sorry for them.

They decided to take the clear stone path in order to speed their trek since Jude and Darius seemed really tired, taking them almost two hours to reach the halfway of the summit.

He and Ariel didn’t worry much knowing that they had taken care of most of the horde and Max was able to sense any from a far.

“They’re fast all of a sudden,” Ariel blurts out seeing how far the two had gotten.

Lance got tired calling out to them, since they didn’t seem to listen at all, so he just let them be. While

the three of them remained walking in a steady phase, making sure to conserve their energies.

“I think they’re hungry,” Max suddenly says.

“I’m actually starving too, specially after all that fighting,” Ariel patted his stomach it then made a loud growl like sound making them all laugh.

“Me too,” Max seconds.

They didn’t bother to bring a lot of food, since they were close to the camp and he’d rather have weapons than provisions in their bag. Wanting to make sure that they got rid of all the infected that were marching towards the camp.

“Then I think I’ll make some pasta for dinner, with a lot of meatballs,” Ariel states while doing an imaginary fork turning action.

“And cake!” Max cheerfully adds.

“Yes, I think there’s still that strawberry one in the fridge.” Ariel quickly answered.

Making Max ask what other food they could try that would also be delicious. Lance was both pleased and happy that his two comrades were of the same mind. It was easier for him to make decisions, ensuring their safety. Though he worried about the other two addition in their group.

Their conversation stopped when Max suddenly held his swords and crouched, eyes moving left and right looking for something. They immediately went on alert.

“Max, is there an enemy nearby?” Lance was still trying to find anything suspicious around them.

“I hear noises,” Max looked straight ahead of them, past the two men that were reaching the top of the road.

Lance was quite sure it was the area where they had set up the makeshift barricade, and he remembered Ariel mentioning some stragglers on the road a while ago.

“Stay alert you guys,” Lance signaled his companions to run.

He and Ariel grabbed hold of the two other men when they got close. Surprising them as they were suddenly there. Lance placed his finger on his lip telling them to keep quite.

“What is it now?” Jude whined then shrugged his arm off.

“Go up to the trees,” he whispers then pushes the two onto a slope going uphill.

“What, why should we do that?” Jude retaliates again as the man now looked furious.

“Ariel on the look out now and take these two with you, Max stay close,” he orders not wanting to waste anymore time.

The two of them strode uphill before the road made a turn, hiding themselves in the bushes. From there he could hear the growls and screeches of several infected. He took a peek from behind a tree making sure to stay in a safe distance. He could see a dozen zombies running around the place scattered in different directions trying to reach several scouts.

It was from a group of survivors from their team, some made it on top of the barricade crates, while a few got left behind on top of some trees. Everyone seemed to be in a safe place, but the group still kept on fighting the horde with their spears and swords from where they were.

Lance checked the winds direction with his finger, then went back to where he saw Ariel. He signaled him to get closer to them. The three crept towards as quietly as possible.

“It’s Joseph’s team,” Darius was now behind a tree looking at the group of survivors.

“How are we going to get pass those things, they’re everywhere.” Jude shakily grits his teeth seeing the number of infected in their path.

“Ariel get into position,” he points to a tree.

“Right,” his friend nods then silently moves from the bushes.

“Max, stay behind that tree and wait for my signal, you two get up those trees and ,”

“What the f**k are you planning to do, they seem to be doing fine by themselves?” Jude glares at him.

But he was not going to have any of that, he knew full well that the barricade will not fend off the horde if this keeps up and there was also the possibility that some may get to the camp.

Lance grabs the man’s neck and pulls him closer. “Just shut up and do as I say,” it was still a whisper but his voice sounded like a growl. “Now when you get up those trees, I need you to throw these in that direction when I give the signal. Wait for the smoke to scatter, then try to get the attention of as many zombies as you can.” He then shoves the man away and starts giving them canisters.

Jude quickly brush his shirt of like there was dirt in it then gave him a menacing stare. “What, why would we want to do that?” not taking any of the things and just looking at it in disbelief.

Lance just closed his eyes, breathing heavily as he tries to set aside his annoyance from the hardheadedness.

“I got it,” Darius answers which also gets a glare from Jude. He takes the canisters from him and moves to position.

“Darius stay on the trees, you understand,” Lance repeats which gets a nod from the man.

Jude just took off to the nearest tree he could climb without taking anything, Lance just released his breath and just ignored the pounding on his temples.

He looks at Max who was now hiding behind the tree on the other side, awaiting his signal, ready to attack. When he checked Ariel he was already aiming his bow, Darius was also high up on the tree and just looking at them and waiting while Jude just watched from his place.

Lance raised his hand showing three fingers, then he started counting it down. When he finished Darius threw three canisters one by one at the direction he ordered. The loud clanking of the metallic object got the creatures riled up, setting the zombies into a frenzy searching were it came from. It talk a few moments before the place was covered in smog that’s when Darius started shouting which made the creatures run uphill from where they were hiding. The chemicals we’re already taking effect as the infected have begun slowing down and falling.

The first creatures that managed to get halfway where stabbed and got their heads severed when they passed Lance and Max, a few moments and arrows were shooting down, and Max started his dance of death, Lance took a quick glance on their perimeter and made sure that the smog dispersed properly before charging in.

As he had expected the zombies we’re a bit slower than before, and with the effect of the chemicals within moments, they had managed to clear the infected from the road. As the smoke started disappearing, he and Max stood a top of several none moving corpses swords still jabbed on to the creatures head.

“Ariel, stay on the look out,” Lance shouts to his friend.

“Got it,” Ariel salutes and looks around.

He then turns to his companion. “Max, can you do a sweep and make sure there are no more stragglers around.”

“Okay,” the man nods and then dashes away.

“Is everyone okay?” Lance looks around at the group of scouts whom seem to have had the same reaction as the two before them.

“Everyone, regroup now!” a man shouts making all of the scouts move.

Even Jude and Darius were already running, while he and Ariel stayed on the look out. When everyone had climbed over the barricade, he went to Ariel to make sure they both get back safely.

They are greeted with claps and cheers from the other scouts who were already on the other side.

“That was quite the show you did there, specially that friend of yours,” It was the man who gave the order a while ago.

Lance noticed the design of a gold eagle spreading its wing insides a circle. Attached on the mans right chest pocket, showing a very high rank and position.

“Thank you sir.” He gives him a salute then clenches his right fist and places it on his left chest in greeting.

The man nods and stand firm held up high. “The names Joseph Kaperski and you two are?”

“Two star gold rank, Lance Dullahan sir,” He bows.

“Three star bronze rank, Ariel Lee sir,” His friend does the same greeting.

“And you’re friend there?” the man points at Max.

They both turn to see their friend was already behind them and had a look of amusement on his face.

“His name is Max sir,” He proudly states.

The man frowns confused. “Max, just Max?”

“He’s a survivor sir, he was the one who saved us and has been working hard with us in securing the camp sir,” He informs.

“Really now, then it seems a proper thank you is needed,” Joseph nods then turns to his team. “Everyone to the camp.”

Loud cheers and shouts of excitement echoed around them as everyone started to climb the summit.

“Sir, about the camp.” Lance says.

“Yes, don’t worry. I’m going to give their commander a piece of my mind when we get there, letting those things reach this area with no patrol or guards, this is just unacceptable.” the man scoffs and then jumps down.

He ended up scratching his head as they followed the group.