Turn left.
On near silent steps, he rounded the corner.
Walk ten paces and turn right.
Reaching the corner he paused to listen. Dead silence.
Anger began building in is chest. He pushed it down. Not yet, but soon. Leading them into the trap was more important. Away from his people. Away from his woman.
Ghostly winds swirled around him, cooling his dampened skin. Clearing his mind. Invisible hands began to pull and tug at his clothing. Huurrrryyy.
He turned right and quickened his steps. The darkness made it hard for them to follow him. His advantage.
The ground went from smooth to rough and he knew that he would be out of the tunnels soon. His ears twisted back at the sound of faint scraping. If the darkness weren't so absolute, the gleam of his teeth, when he smiled, would have been frightening. Once he was in position, they would find out exactly what they were dealing with.
He could smell the fresh air, now. The darkness of the tunnel was beginning to lighten. The moon was full tonight. We're waiting for you. Stop wasting time.
Within moments, he stepped into open air. Continuing to walk, he soon stood amidst his allies.
He looked around and smiled. The dead. Hundreds of them stood waiting. Some were fresh, others were mere bones. Sprits, unable to rest, circled above their heads.
All were here to destroy their enemy.
The dead protected their land and the people that lived upon it.
He was glad they were on his side.
Sounds were beginning to come from the tunnel and as a whole, they turned to face their foes.
The whispers from the dead filled the air, gaining volume as the first man tumbled from the tunnel.
They tried to stop when they saw what awaited them, but were pushed forward by the remainder of the group that continued to spill from the exit.
Beneath the moon’s warm embrace, he changed.
Bones cracked and snapped, teeth lengthened until they could no longer be contained in his mouth. Watching the last man draw to a stop at the sight before him, he let his claws extend their full ten inches.
The men shuffled backward, away from the scene that greeted them. They didn't go far.
The loud crash behind them had them spinning around to stare in dread at the large metal gate that closed over the exit they had just left.
There was no escape for them, now.
With a shriek that resinated through the air, the dead pushed forward. Moving as a whole, they headed toward the terrified men.
By the end of this battle, there would only be one left alive. That would be him.
