[Trade] Death Comes At Night's Twilight

A sweet cold breeze ruffles the tree tops above where Halberd and Talos were keeping the night watch. The night had seemed calm and uneventful, but these two knights were still holding a vigil in their service. Neither of them tired, nor under prepared. Both of these proud ethereal knights were clad in metallic armor and prepared for a fight should one occur. 

Talos perked his head up as a cold snap of a twig echoed in the dark night of their post. He glanced at Halberd and saw his fellow watchman prepare his tail in the air for a fight. Talos took up his own stance and watched as it looked as though the night sky was moving in front of them. 

Across from them were three, big, hungry carnivores. One was entirely blackened with volcanic spotting, one was black with a macaw face, and the third looked as though his ribs glowed like eerie gray-green fog. Two suchomimus and a carnotaurus. This wasn't their first fight against three larger carnivores, and neither expected it would be their last. 

Maul snarled under his breath as he approached these two herbivores. A smirk crossed his face as he assessed these two knights. Rocket rounded the corner to the starboard of the two herbivores. Tilting his head and almost mocking them. Haunt on the other end seemed to be waiting for something, like a master and his aggressive dogs looking for a moment to strike. 

In a flash of moving night, the two suchomimus leaped into action. Both going at the herbivores on either side of them. The carnotaurus sneered and smiled as he watched his companions rip into the two herbivores. Talos and Halberd held steadfast and swung their tails to fend off the vicious attackers. These does were formidable and certainly nothing to scoff at. Their bites were vivacious and strong. Thankfully both of these herbivores were indeed clad in metallic armor that reflected the majority of the bites from their hardened scaled backs. 

The carnotaurus chuckled watching his henchmen tear into these so-called nights. His greenish mouth gleamed in the moonlight. “Have you had enough?” Haunt called. “Or do these suchomimus need to tear into you some more?” Talos considered his words, but grunted and continued to struggle against Maul. Halberd was busy with Rocket and couldn't respond. 

“We will never surrender…to the likes of you!” Talos called out like a fierce knight would. Maul snarled and continued his attacks. He tore into the tough skin of the euoplocephalus and showed no signs of backing off. This also made Rocket dig into Halberd more and start to scratch the soft sides of his belly. 

“Very well…” Haunt answered with a chuckle. “Maul and Rocket will continue their attack on you…unless you yield!” He motioned his muzzle towards the suchomimus duo as if to signal for them to show no further mercy upon these herbivores. “Have it your way.”

The signal have the duo permission to rip into these two herbivores and eat them alive if need be. The sounds of the scuffle could be heard vibrating through the twilight forest. Blood soon pooled across the ground from scratches, bites, and even torn flesh. Talos was able to get a good smack on Maul, but even as he tried to get away Haunt was quickly on to him and joined in on the frenzy. Talos was quickly over run with the two carnivores chewing on him like a dog chewing on a squeaky toy. 

Halberd was lucky to only be dealing with Rocket. He took time to send precision attacks to the suchomimus and even aimed his club tail for the joints in the shoulders and hips. Anything to slow down this carnivore from tearing him to shreds like they were to Talos. Talos was breathing heavily and soon wheezed in agony. 

Halberd glanced over to see that Talos wasn't going to make it much longer if the assault kept up. He was being actively eaten alive by Maul and Haunt. The two carnivores were barely tearing into the armor of his back, which meant there was so little time left for Talos before he did become a meal to these hungry animals. 

Halberd rose to his feet on his shaky legs and gasped for air before smacking Rocket square in the face and sending him falling on his side with a loud howl in pain. Halberd had hit true and might have injured his jaw in the process. He glanced over to see Maul and Haunt continuing to try to eat Talos.

“Stop!” He finally called out. “If I yield to defeat, will you let him live?” Halberd asked loudly. “I'll be willing to bargain our defeat in the chance you let my companion survive!"

“You would admit defeat and allow us to enter these lands?” Haunt questioned while licking at the blood that dripped from his lips. “I hope you know what evil you will be unleashing if you did.” Halberd could hear the sinister laughing from Maul. 

“I'll deal with the consequences.” Halberd admitted. “I just can't see my my companion perish in this way. He deserves to live a full life still and as a proud knight of this kingdom, he deserves that much.” Halberd glanced to his fallen companion with desperation in his eyes. “Please let him live and you may go to enter the kingdom and the lost city with no trouble.”

“Very well, he may live and you will hold up your end of the bargain.” Haunt glanced over to where Rocket was still picking himself up and looking quite dazed from being hit so hard. “As promised we won't slay your friend today.” He glanced over to Maul who dropped Talos reluctantly. “Remember our deal, we won't kill him and we roam without hindrance from your kind.” Halberd nodded and that was enough for Haunt. 

Halberd watched as the trio of carnivores pick themselves up off the ground and headed back into the night's twilight the same way they had exited. Talos lay bleeding and breathing shallow. Halberd had just hoped he had stopped the fight in time to save his companion from death’s clutch.