a True Battle

Each group slowly moved toward the other, steady and controlled across the open grassland, but strangely quiet too.

There was no yelling to intimidate, or shouted orders, apart from the collective stomping upon the field as the distance closed.

Tracey stayed out in front, her weapon in her tight grip, and slightly quickened to stay ahead, ready to bat away the sharp spears first, that marched closer.

Her eyes darted about the many Beastmen with almost unison armour, thick across their chests, upper arms and forearms, with lighter protection around the hips, thighs and shins, while they carried a wide assortment of weapons.

There were several from differing tribes too - the strong and muscular Ox and Horse ones, the lighter and agile Cat and Rabbit featured members, as well as several Dog and Sheep folk that made the bulk of the number also rushing towards her.

A few of the more rag-tag Humans broke formation and charged forward, then suddenly the yelling started, followed by sounds of metal clashes and harder crunches.

Tracey met the first pointed spears and with a hefty and wide swing, as she easily either knocked them away, or sliced their lethal tips clear off, before plunging straight into the carriers.

She used her sword in front of her to clash into the first couple, knocking them back off their feet, before leaping over them and kicking another couple down on her right, before needing to block, the first of many blades that swung for her, on her left.

The noise of battle surged around her strongly, as she was in the thick of it all, franticly blocking and parrying incoming blades and even fists in the densest grouping, but all successfully as she pressed onward, delivering her own much more decisive blows.

Amanda and Tracey moved forward in a tight tag-team, and when one required taking a defensive action, when possible the other weaved in to apprehend the occupied attacker, to bring them down without even cutting them at all, and it was quite effective.

Tracey's speed and power soon let her bounce about, assisting not just Amanda, but any other Human who was in trouble near her too, and after a dozen Beast-men fell to the ground injured or knocked-out, a hole had been made in the mostly black wearing army's first line, and they were met by the slightly trailing second wave.

A heavy and strong Ox-man brandished a thick blade at Tracey, but she surprised him by taking the hit neatly and then drove his weapon away, to flick his leg out from under him, and give a knee hit to the side of his falling head as she passed, to keep him flattened out for a while.

Amid the chaos Amanda stayed stuck by Tracey, providing needed support as well as a well defended side, while Tracey dispatched another two hasty aggressors with relative ease, before needing to throw her sword back and intercept another Human's blade.

The man in dull red and grey - usual Imperial Army colours, was about to bring his sword down on an already downed Beastman, but an angry look from the white and light-blue wearing one received a quick glance back, as he understood why he'd been stopped, and then quickly sort out another standing opponent.

A group of four Beastwomen, with dark cat features rushed at Tracey next, attempting to take her down with superior numbers, but Amanda intercepted one, locking swords with the slightly tallest, while another stumbled, slipping on an already fallen man. Quick and agile, the two who reached Tracey first leapt at her, but underestimated the girl's power, as one true swing caught them both, and even-though they defended against the blade with their own, they were both hurtled away slightly.

The last to arrive hesitated slightly at that sight, but when she went to bring her curved sword down at Tracey from above her head, the teen propelled into her, slipping under the raised weapon and delivering a heavy blow to her body, dropping her instantly.

The previous two recovered quickly, still working together, they attempted to come from both sides simultaneously, but a quick step to avoid one let Tracey block the others strike, then spin away to wack the missing ones side, before returning swiftly to the other and giving a similar hit.

They fell to the grass either side of Tracey, who turned to Amanda, who still held the last of the four at bay, until Tracey caught her eye, she then attempted to get clear of Amanda, but failed, and without an assist; the last one was knocked out by a well placed fist from the blue-haired woman.

After that quartets defeat, the other unoccupied Beastmen seemed very reluctant to engage either woman, but if they did, or where forced to by them, they too fell rather quickly, leading to further reluctance and greater space and opportunity for the other Humans to start to take a more commanding stance.

It wasn't long then when Tracey had broken through all of them, to find no rear guard or further waiting numbers, and with the flanks beginning to faultier too, the separated Beastmen grew more unorganised, as several tried to pull back toward the forest.

A few who braved an attempt at Tracey fell unconscious at her feet, and after seeing her tear through their numbers some of the few who had only watched suddenly threw down their weapons and dropped to their knees, with hands razed.

More and more around Tracey reluctantly surrendered in this fashion, before she got to them next, till only a small handful of undefeated remained standing, now back to back with swords swinging to stave off the outnumbering and surrounding Humans.

"Yield - you've lost!"

Amanda shouted at the nearest and biggest group, who grew still when Tracey marched nearer.

"I'm warning you - we'll go down swinging!"

The toughest looking Dog-man barked back, but went still with fear as Tracey stepped near.

"Drop you weapons..."

She ordered, but he gulped as his blade shook slightly, while his remaining companions looked to him for guidance.

"You're going to cut us up and eat our flesh anyway..."

Tracey let her sword lower, to appear less threatening, but remained ready.

"We're not - can't you see we've been intentionally making sure everyone remains alive?"

He briefly flicked his eyes about, seeing the surrendered being marshalled together, while some of the downed were tended to or watched closely.

"Y... you're just keeping them fresh -"

The nearest horned one on his right gave Tracey a defeated glance, then dropped his blade and caught his fellow Beastmen by surprise

"...we're beat Danny, don't forfeit your life for pride."

A different Dog-man let go of his spear and stepped clear too.

More abandoned the apparent leader, who was completely encircled by armed Humans.

"You'll treat us fairly then?"

"You have my word."

Tracey promised him, and although still reluctantly, with her promise, he too finally submitted.

With that the battle was done.

It had been surprisingly quick, and despite being 'a clash of two armies', it was rather one-sided.

But then came the aftermath - the wounded needed tending to, the weapons needed gathering, the captured needed guarding and the dead needed to be removed.

Thankfully, the Human group had been true to Tracey's wishes, and there were very little fatalities amongst the Beastfolk. The Imperial military and Sword Skill School members had fared well too, as only a few of her followers had sustained injuries, but none had life threatening ones - since they'd stuck close and looked out for one another. The more reckless, less disciplined amongst the group had however been less fortunate, or had caused others to fall by their actions too.

All up; there had been at least thirty deaths amid the clash, and there could be perhaps a handful more if not properly tended to, but from a battle of the size it was incredibly lucky.

However their luck ran out there, as soon treating the wounded with their limited medical supplies, and feeding the large number or captured soldiers would be quite problematic, and there wasn't any sign of more relief coming from the Empire anytime either.

There was only one real option left to them - go onward to Kibble.