Totem Warrior

We are Doomed

I ran faster, so did my group. We could already saw the shelter in front of us, not far away. I smiled because we would finally be safe and reach the shelter before it got dark.

However, my smile was like a lamp that suddenly dimmed when I heard the faint sound of something buzzing and very disturbing. A few moments later, I saw a mosquito the size of a hen, just like the mosquito I had seen earlier in the forest. There was only one mosquito, but it gave me bad thoughts. What if the mosquito turns out to bring the swarm? That would be terrible.

A second later, I regretted my bad thoughts because I heard an increasingly loud hum from behind the trees. A few more mosquitoes came closer. I even saw the Totem Warriors at the front starting to panic.

"Faster!" exclaimed our leader.

The flaming torch was burning brightly to keep the mosquitoes away, but a second later my eyes widened to see a swarm of mosquitoes coming towards us. From a distance, I thought it was a flock of migratory birds, but their deafening buzz said it all. The sun was almost setting and the mosquitoes covered the sky until it looked very dark.

We ran until our lungs felt like they were about to explode but suddenly we had to stop because the mosquitoes were like a black storm blocking our steps. The Totem Warriors used flaming torches, but the light of them was getting dimmer and the range of the aura wasn't as great as before.

“Snuggle up!” cried our leader again.

Soon enough, we managed to move again, and we moved fast. I ran as hard as I could, but my short legs made me couldn't move as fast as I wanted. I'm getting behind. My heart was pounding really fast and sweat started pouring from my forehead. The mosquitoes came more and more and surrounded us. The light of the flaming torch was really dim now and I was getting scared.

Right at that moment I heard someone scream behind me. I barely dared to turn my head, but I finally did.

"Wait!" exclaimed the person.

I recognized him as a member of the logistics team. I was about to scream for someone to help him, but suddenly his body was covered in mosquitoes. The next thing I saw was the mosquitoes leaving him dry and bloodless. I screamed and tried to run with the group. I couldn't let me and my little new body dry up to death like that.

A moment later, I noticed my group was starting to slow down. Several people started clutching their chests and also moaning in pain. At that moment, I was confused as to what was going on, but a second later the pain and difficulty breathing also began to attack me. I tried to breathe as I walked, but it was really hard.

I just remembered about Bloody Marks, they must have appeared on the moon and the sun had really set. We couldn't see it in the sky, because the mosquitoes were so densely covering everything. Our only light is from the flaming torches which are now almost out. I really thought that we would die by now.

However, suddenly I heard someone scream, and immediately there was a flash of fire that flooded us all. Instantly, I felt better. Soon after, without warning, everyone moved forward. The flaming torch re-ignites even if it's dim, it's our only hope. I really hope the torch stays lit until we get to the shelter. The shelter must not be far away, we will arrive in no time.

The Totem Warriors who were at the front kept the mosquitoes away while making sure the group could move quickly and tightly. I really thought by now we would survive. However, again I heard someone scream. I wanted to ignore it this time, but I recognized the voice of the person screaming.

“Noe!” I shouted when I really saw he had fallen and was almost left behind.

In less than a minute, Noe would definitely be unprotected from the light and aura of the flaming torch.

"Shit!" I shouted. I cursed because I couldn't leave Noe and I know that was a very stupid idea.

Without thinking I ran towards him, leaving my group and the torchlight that was supposed to protect me. I know this is crazy, but I really can't help it.

“No! Leave me!" Noe shouted at me while waving his hands, trying to chase away the approaching mosquitoes. We're still in the flaming torch's light area, even though it's at its edge. The light quickly left us.

Two mosquitoes started coming towards Noe, and soon enough a swarm came closer. I picked up a knife that I was supposed to use for cleaning the meat and shook it around as I dashed toward Noe. I managed to injure a mosquito, but it seems that made the mosquito swarm even angrier.

“Oh shit!”

Now we were not being protected by anything anymore. I'm really going to die stupidly in a world that's also really ridiculous. Who would believe that the mosquitoes here are as big as hens? If I could see uncle Arthur again and tell him about it, he'd probably laugh at me. Uncle believes in crazy things, but it can't be this crazy.

A mosquito was charging toward Noe at full speed and with audacity, he tried to swat it away. Noe succeeded, but he fell. I screamed and swung my knife at the mosquito and unexpectedly I managed to stab it and black blood was splashed everywhere. I winced in disgust because the smelly blood was now all over my body and face.

"Noe, come on!" I shouted while pulling Noe's body to stand up.

“You are crazy, Rex! You will die with me!” he exclaimed.

Noe's statement was undebatable. I knew it was true. A swarm of mosquitoes was really in front of us and I couldn't possibly stab them all with this little knife. We were really doomed.