Snowfall

“We are in position.” A voice emerged from Bryson’s Communicator.

“Alright.” Bryson whispered, “Await my signal.”

“Understood.”

Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The giants had set up their camp inside a massive basin of land. The shape of the area meant that the area was relatively easy to enter and climb out. Not too steep, one could safely get in and out. It also bore signs that this place was inhabited by things aside from the giants in the past.

Dragon-sized indents in spots, and a large scratching post with massive claw marks sat on the outskirts of the camp, appearing to have been moved somewhere for more space within the camp. Within the center of the basin was the campsite with all the giants inside.

Well, this is it. Bryson thought as he looked over to Florence and Coni, “Are you two ready?”

“Yep.” Coni said with a nod.

“I suppose we don’t have any other choice then.” Florence muttered as she adjusted her hat.

“Still bitter?” Coni asked.

“Still concerned for him?”

“Still looking out for his safety.”

“Thank you mother, now can we start?” Bryson said mockingly.

“Hmm.” Florence simply grunted in dissatisfaction.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Bryson muttered before turning his attention back at the camp below. Raising the Communicator back up to his mouth again he gave the command, “Team B commence firing.”

Less then a second later a loud thundering crack was heard. A moment after that one of the massive hide tents exploded. This got the attention of the giants as they pointed at the fallen tent and then up at where the shot came from.

Bryson focused down at the camp below. Using a bit of magic to enhance his eyes. He stared down and could see a ice giant crawling out of the destroyed tent. It was extremely wounded, bloody and evidently not doing well.

“That was powerful. What in the world were those artillery pieces enchanted with?” Bryson muttered before lifting up his Communicator to his mouth again, “Team A fire!”

Another volley of artillery struck the campsite. As more snow and rubble flew into the air, the giants began to gather themselves. Pointing at the two directions where the attacks came from they began to move their way over.

One of the giants let loose a makeshift arrow and fired it in the direction of team A. It hit alarmingly close to the group. A massive crater appeared at where it landed.

“What in the hells?” Bryson screamed in disbelief.

“They were able to chase a dragon away.” Coni reminded him.

“Can you shield them like you did with the dragon?” Bryson asked.

“Only one of them.”

Bryson looked over to the battlefield. Team B was located at a further distance while team A was currently drawing the attention of the giants, who were exchanging volleys of fire.

“Get to team A.” Bryson ordered. Quickly, the pixie zipped off and over to the group at astonishing speeds.

“Alright Marsh, you’re up.” Bryson said.

With a curt nod she drew her miniature artillery piece she called a handgun and fired a massive blast at the giants. A direct hit on one of the giants caused it to fall sprawling onto the ground. Bryson then slinked off towards the camp.

From this three-pronged attack, the giants were thrown into a stupor. They pointed shouted and ran in circles as more and more artillery blasted at them.

Now to cut off the escape route. Bryson thought. The giants were likely to realize that fighting was a fool’s folly soon and retreat. Bryson needed to make sure that they didn’t go anywhere. Lest there be any roaming ice giants causing issues to the villagers.

Currently the only route away from the attacks was back through the camp, up the basin and down the mountain. After they make it out of the indented land, they would have an easy way down the mountain.

If they do that the artillery pieces would be forced to stop and move further downwards. That, coupled with the time it takes to set up the equipment would mean that the giants would be far away in safety by then. Bryson planned on making it a bit more difficult for something like that to happen.

Just need to make it harder to climb out. Bryson thought as he snuck into the camp. As he moved through it, he noted a small pile of dragon scales that were shed. That’s valuable. He thought as he made his way over to the other end of the camp.

Bryson then took pause as he spotted a pile of books near the fire. It seemed that it was being used as fuel, but it was strange why it was there in the first place.

Stopping halfway through the camp he stumbled upon the first ice giant that had fell from the hail of artillery. Its legs had been mangled and shrapnel covered it from head to toe. But it was still alive.

Even on its hands and knees its eye level were at a height several time’s that of Bryson. Bryson stared up at it wide-eyed while it looked down at Bryson with equal surprise with its single eye.

With a piece of shrapnel stuck in one of its eyes, it gurgled at Bryson, and in response, Bryson immediately raised his hand and cast a spell. In an instant, the metal embedded in its body began to glow red hot.

It gave a gurgled cry as its arms no longer had the strength to support it and it collapsed onto the snow. The sound of sizzling flesh and the smell of foul burnt living tissue hit Bryson in a wave.

An agonizingly long moment later the gurgling was silenced, and only the sound of a meat being cooked was heard. Bryson very quickly ceased his spell the moment he was sure the giant was not going to get up again.

Bryson wanted to throw up his lunch. The smell made him nauseous. I shouldn’t have done that. Bryson thought as he covered his nose and tried not to think about what he just did. He had more important matters to worry about. He had to focus on those.

Finally making his way to the end of the camp he stared up at the upward slope that would lead to the giant escape. Turning back around, Bryson could see that the giants were beginning to retreat.

Here goes nothing then. Bryson thought as he raised his hands towards the snowy ledge. Just a little bit. Bryson thought as the rocks up on the ledge began to shake and loosen. Snow began to spray downwards; the sound of ice cracking began to echo through the area. Loud enough that even the artillery wasn’t able to cover the noise.

The ice giants turned around in confusion. They began to shout and quickly ran towards Bryson. Ignoring the artillery that hammered at them. As they ran their way over in large bounds another giant was hit directly with an artillery shot.

Once the smoke of the impact disappeared all there was standing on that spot was a mutilated corpse of an ice giant. At the same time the rocks began to tumble down. A few pebbles landed nearer than Bryson would’ve liked and as he continued to cast his spell he moved back.

As he moved to a safer distance, he kept his spell active, continuously channelling out magic, manipulating the natural trace amounts that filled the air. He internally formulated the proper steps to maximize his casting efficiency, doing calculations, and forming steps. By the time Bryson reached a safe distance, he was done.

Relaxing his arms and dropping his hands to his side he admired his work. The moment the spell ended; the entire slope shattered. With the loud sound of rocks cracking apart, the entire exit path was destroyed. In place of it was a mound of broken rock and ice.

A roar interrupted Bryson’s moment of observation. Turning around Bryson saw the remaining three ice giants all standing in the middle of the camp pointing at them.

I took too long. Bryson realized as the ice giants pointed at him. One knocked an arrow back and fired at Bryson. As the arrow soared through the air, Bryson realized that the tip of the arrow was full of magic.

That explains the power. Bryson thought as the arrow soared towards him. As he began to form a barrier to protect him, another projectile hit the arrow before it could reach.

A blinding flash filled the air followed by a familiar explosion. As Bryson covered his face from the aftershock, Florence landed next to Bryson.

“Could have warned me.” Bryson said as he noted that Florence seemed to have had to drop the large backpack, only carrying a smaller medical bag across her shoulder.

“No time.” Florence replied pointing her firearm at the giants. Before she could fire however an artillery shell landed right between the two groups.

In reaction the two groups dove for cover. Bryson frantically pulled out his Communicator.

“Stop firing! We’re still here!” Bryson screamed into it.

“Sorry my Lord!” A panicked response was heard over the speaker.

“We should fall back.” Florence replied standing.

“Good idea.” Bryson said before the sound of a loud rumble caught his attention, “I thought I told them to stop.”

“It’s not them.” Florence said pointing up at the mountain.

From further up the mountain, they saw a violent torrent of snow falling downwards. It was an avalanche. What caused this? Bryson thought looking up at the wave of frost very quickly crashing down upon them.

“Lord Bryson! Avalanche!” Coni’s panicked voice could be heard over the Communicator.

Bryson could see ahead of him that the ice giants had also noticed the avalanche quickly approaching and began running toward Bryson and Florence. Neither needed to do anything as the ice giants came bounding past them and struggled to climb up the rubble.

Bryson estimated the size of the avalanche and took a rough guess that team B should be able to avoid the worst of it as they were located at the side. But team A, being directly in front of the camp wouldn’t. Fortunately, he knew Coni was there.

“Team B bunker down. Pinop! Protect team A!” Bryson ordered.

“What about you?” Coni asked.

“Worry about yourself.” Bryson ordered as he watched the avalanche get ever closer.

Bryson saw just as the snow was about to engulf team A, a barrier emerged around the artillery team. Bryson could see that the avalanche did not have the length to reach team B.

“We won’t be able to escape in time.” Florence said.

“Yeah that’s- woah!” Bryson exclaimed as Florence wrapped herself over Bryson to protect him as the wave of frozen death started to cover them.

The last thing Bryson saw before his vision was covered with snow was Florences pink hair.