zg_shadows | Back at the Hive

The voice came across the tannoy clearly and loudly. The workers in the back office flinched as they always did whenever he spoke, though tonight he brought some measure of comfort. When he returned with the war packs the rats had fled and the workers had been able to be able to breathe for the first time. The guardians had managed to hold the bawn with the aid of their kin, but everything had seemed helpless until the Army of the Pure Flame broke through the line, smashing rats with each vicious blow.

“We have met the enemy, and they are terribly helpful. Today we broke the Weaver’s hold on London and strengthened our Father, and then the rats killed London. The death toll here tonight will scar the Penumbra for the next century, the fires will ravage the air and there are now millions of humans trapped together with no spirit of a city to tell them how to work together. It is going to be a bloodbath.

“It will be our bloodbath.

“Tonight marks the beginning of the end of our Mother’s pain. Tonight we re-dedicate ourselves to this purpose. The Guardians will go forth and finish what the Rats began; making sure that the humans who oppose us did not survive the damage. The Surfers will travel to the sky and deliver our message to the stars. The Echo will find the hunter and return him to his place. The Army will prepare the weapons for the last battle.”

The voice pauses.

“The rest of you, you have done well. You can go see if our families lived. Spread the great news.”