A Lizardman's Journey

With the wide expansive field lay before them, a wind from an unknown source wove through the blades of grass and washed over Bob and Ted's scales. The cooling breeze comforted them, the temperature being right above the threshold for slowing their movements. Two broken logs lay flat down and served as a resting spot for the brothers while they conversed. The usual resting spot for the 7ft Lizardmen had slowly moulded to their form over time, with worn out marks along the logs and bare patches of dirt where their clawed feet had stretched out.

Letting out a long sigh, the red Lizardman directed a question to his blue skinned brother.

"Do you know what Ted, when it's so peaceful like this, it's easy to forget our fate"

Ted did not answer immediately, his large clawed hands where in the process of completing a daisy chain. Being as careful as possible, he slowly inserted the daisy's stem into another, finally completing his masterpiece. Looking at Bob with what passed for a smile, he spoke.

"I like peace Bob, I guess we will be restarting again soon.....Do you think that Demon will take you again when it goes dark?"

Bob flinched at hearing his words, before he quickly tried to hide his show of cowardliness with fake bravado.

"Ha Ha! Ted, you know that Demon is no match for me!"

Ted reached out with the daisy chain that formed a crown and placed it on his brothers head. Planting a hand on his shoulder, Ted spoke with a calming voice.

"It's okay Bob, only you know what happens after we are mercilessly dispatched. If you need to cry, you can do. No one from the village is around"

A solitary tear fell from Bob's eye and was soaked up in the dirt by his feet. Reaching a hand down, he took charge of his club that lay on the ground. With the weapon reclaimed, a sense of comfort filled him.

"I'm okay Ted. That Demon confuses me, it toys with my emotions, I don't know if I should be angry, or happy!.......Anyway, it's usually around this time for a reset"

Ted released his hand from his brothers shoulder and also claimed his weapon. Looking out into the distance, his eyes focused in on a large stone ring with a shimmering portal within it. Stretching out his arm, he pointed his weapon at the portal and spoke.

"Bob, what do you think? I'm aiming for two!"

Bob stood up, his large tail swung behind him and slapped Ted in the back of his head with a soft thud.

"Ha Ha! Ted my little brother, I'm aiming for three!"

Joining his brother in standing up, the Lizardmen faced each other, eye to eye. Ted flexed his tail behind him and replied to his brother.

"Bob, don't get ahead of yourself just because your tail is longer by a scale"

Letting out a guttural laugh, Bob spoke triumphantly.

"Ted, a scale is still a scale! I think even Suzy notices it!"

Ted's eyes opened wide, slamming his free hand into his face, his head dropped low.

"Bob, I forgot to tell you that Suzy was looking for you earlier!"

Shaking his head side to side, Bob replied.

"It's okay Ted, you were born a moron and are still a moron. At least you haven't got any worse!"

Ted scowled angrily at his brother, lifting up his leg he stepped onto Bobs foot and spoke.

"Listen here Bob, at least I'm blue and not stupid red"

Letting out a grunt, Bob stepped on his brothers other foot.

"Reds better than blue, you blue fool!"

The brothers pressed their heads together, their battle of determination slowly heating up.

"No Bob, blue is cool, I heard a Human say it!"

"Shut up Ted, we don't even speak Human!"

"Do!"

"Don't!"

At the same time, both of them immediately stopped their bickering and took a step apart. The portal in the distance had started to emit sparks of energy, as a group of Human Adventurers began to appear from it. Five Humans in total, a man wielding a large shield that matched his bulk and carrying a double sided axe in his other hand. Behind him, a slender man wielding two swords looked at his surroundings, as a small black clad man holding a dagger behaved cautiously. At the rear of their party, two girls held Magic staffs, their nervous grip on their weapons evident by the blood loss in their fingers.

Bob and Ted's demeanour instantly changed, their bright eyes that were full of longing for life suddenly vanished, their colour being replaced with a vibrant red. Staring at the party of Adventurers, they hoisted their weapons into the air and charged at them while shouting.

"DIE, DIE, DIE!"

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Although the Humans had no idea what the Lizardmen were shouting, what they did know was that they were charging forwards to attack them. The Lizardmen's weapons were being brandished as they ran across the open field. The Humans got in place, the shield bearer at the front, the swordsman and assassin to his sides and the two Mages to the rear. The girls wasted no time and cast buffs on their fellow party members.

Ted was slightly in front of his brother, his sense and reason now completely vanished. He was only able to watch as his body reacted, almost as if he was viewing a movie that he knew would have a tragic ending. Aiming for the dual wielding swordsman, Ted's club flashed down and was easily halted in place by his opponents sword. Raising it back to attack again, his weapon lost all momentum, the signal from his brain to his arm had been severed. The swordsman's other sword had sliced clean through Ted's neck, decapitating the blue Lizardman easily.

Bob saw his brothers demise, the same feeling of regret washed over his heart, yet it did not impede, or bolster his actions in any form. Bob's club slammed down into the Humans shield, bouncing back off the massive chunk of metal, he tried again and was once again rebuffed. From his side the assassin approached with the intent of striking with his daggers. Bob's tail caught him by surprise and sent him flying. The shield bearer let out a roar and slammed his large axe down.

Bob's body split in two, from crown to crotch he separated and the glow in his eyes disappeared. The daisy chain that his brother had gifted him, was severed in two, the two halves falling to the ground and laying atop the pooling blood.

With the two Lizardmen easily defeated, the party of Adventurers looked around for anymore enemies. After seeing non in the vicinity, they congratulated each other on their successful first battle. With the three men taking the lead they started to walk towards where they knew the village was. Just as the two Mage girls were about to follow them, one of them halted as she stared down at the deceased Lizardman. Her eyes falling on the severed flowers, making her crouch down beside the bisected dead body.

"What's wrong Cassandra?"

The three men realised the girls had stopped and so halted, while they looked at them with concern in their eyes. Cassandra had grasped a small stick from the ground and retrieved the daisy chain. Looking up at the girl who spoke to her, she replied.

"Look at this. That Lizardman was wearing a daisy chain. That doesn't make sense, does it Sarah?"

Bending down she examined the flowers, her lips pursed while she thought about it. Before she could voice her thoughts, the swordsman of their party spoke up.

"It's just a dumb monster, they can't think, or do anything but attack. Even the village they live in wasn't made by them"

Sarah and Cassandra ignored Eric's words, rising back to their feet, she discarded the bloody flowers. Sarah hugged her tightly from behind and whispered in her ear.

"We will let the Guild know when we get finished Cassandra. I used to make those all the time when I was a kid, so I agree it's weird"

"Thank you Sarah"

The three men rolled their eyes at the girls sign of affection for one another and turned back to carry on with their mission. At that moment, multiple Lizardmen started to charge out of the trees. All of them were waving their weapons about and shouting, a barrage of noise emanating from their mouths.

""ARGHHHHH""

All were cut down in the midst of their incomprehensible shouts!