Ameranthian Forest – David TyrNathaniel strode up to David at the end of the fifth day of training. David could tell the week was wearing on even the Huntsmen, and everyone was ready for this cycle to be over.“I have more bad news.”“Speak.” David said simply.“I talked with the pilots from the base. They apparently didn’t see any need to report that they have only been out a few times.”David lifted an eyebrow, “And? We are down thirty men. If they come once a day, that would only be four to five times.”“They only picked up eight. They said most days was only two or three.”David’s eyes went wide, “What the hell? Where are the rest?”Nathaniel had out a rolled piece of damp paper. “This was in an arrow message tube. It was shot into my tent pole.”David scanned the missive, “The lady of the forest bids we leave

The Huntsmen teams faded silently into the forest forming a loose net as they moved north and west, hoping to herd the Amdis towards the living barrier fence that separated the empire from the landlocked nation of Amaranthea at the heart of the empire’s territory.With luck, they could use the natural barrier to trap the Amdis and end it. If it escaped into the Ameranthian forest, well, five million square km of virgin forest would hide it some completely that there would be no hope of killing it.The nocturnal sounds of crickets and the occasional hooting of an owl filled the night as the Huntsmen made their way through the woods in search of the Amdis that had slain several of the recruits.As the moon reached its zenith, the radio in David’s ear crackled to life.“Contact. Team three. Heat signature two hundred meters. North, north east.”David grinned. Now is when these men would shine. Everyone knew their rolls and the

It was unnerving to have to face their own men without ever spotting the Amris they were hunting. Those who were bewitched seemed sluggish in their movements as if someone else had to order their every move.While this would make it easier to take them out, they were still huntsmen and David was loathe to harm his own men, even if they were now fighting against him. He could only imagine the terror and chaos such an attack would cause in a town or city if an Amris were to leave the forest.“Not bad,” came a haunting and melodic voice. The shadows moved and a lithe figure stepped forward. David shined his flashlight at the figure revealing a slim female figure. The being was nearly completely naked with gray skin.The Amris has made a sash of leaves that draped from one shoulder down to a belt of green vine. Had there been cloth beneath, it might have been fashionable, but as it was, the leaves did nothing to cover her figure.When her eyes gli

The sun had set once more by the time the battlefield had been cleared and the wounded or dead transported back to Perth. David slumped into a high backed chair in one of the newly renovated conference rooms near the top of the Perth Center tower.“And to conclude, our final count is six dead, five seriously wounded. That specialist, Nyx, is still unaccounted for,” Nathaniel said formally.  He stood at parade rest, one arm in a sling and several bandages showed along his neck and arms.“Six dead.” David let out a long breath. More than he had ever lost in a single engagement among his elite soldiers. Not only that, but it had been only three Amris that had caused such ruinous losses.In the many wars he had fought in and led men through, it was not uncommon to lose someone, but normally the loses were far heavier among the enemy. Losing double and damn close to quadruple just to kill three fae was unacceptable and a stain on his lead