Describe
Hunaruan looked out across the fields, his face grave. He sighed in despair. "He may be mighty and great, but in the end he will suffer fate," he murmured to himself. His thoughts were interrupted as a messenger approached.
"Lord Hunaruan," he said, "the spies have returned. Redworn, King of the Redheads, brings at least 10,000 soldiers. This is too great for us, as our garrison only has 3,900."
"Were they caught?" asked Pumperin, who stood next to Hunaruan.
"Yes," answered the spy. "Two died, three survived, one of which is wounded. Now, the Redheads ride with all speed. The spies only made it through a shortcut."
The spy shrieked and fell back. "Look!" he cried. "Redworn and his troops are coming to bring us doom."
Hunaruan looked back and saw Redworn and his at least 10,000 troops. He ran down the old, ruined stairs and onto a lower battlement. He surveyed the ruins of the once-great city. All that remained untouched were the three great catapults.
"Perhaps these will bring us success," he thought. Then he cried aloud, "Sound the horn! Call for aid! Do not despair!"
The horn sounded loudly throughout the ruins of the city as the soldiers ran to their positions on the ruined walls. Some archers took their positions by the three catapults, and others prepared giant boulders to fire through the great catapults. The ruins were full of light as many torches were suddenly lit. Hunaruan gazed out at the setting sun with Pumperin by his side. He sighed and turned to Pumperin.
"If we are to die," he said, "let us die defending this once-great city." Then he ran down the steps and onto the front battlements, ready to face his enemy.
The Redheads had prepared large catapults and lines of archers that were ready. Redworn cried out, "Prepare! Ready to fire!" The archers faced the walls with their bows, but suddenly Nethstel shouted and the three great catapults fired with fire ablaze. The rocks fell, crushing many Redheads. Fire and dust flew through the air. The Redheads ran, and those who could not make it were crushed. Then the Redheads answered with flying rocks and singing bows. The already ruined walls fell apart where the heavy rocks of the Redheads landed. Archers fell from the walls and others were crushed.
"We must destroy their catapults before we are destroyed," cried Nethstel. "Aim for their catapults! Crush them!"
The great catapults fired. Fire hissed through the air and crushed some Redhead catapults. Wood and dust flew through the air, knocking down many Redheads. The Redheads countered with their heavy rocks, crushing many soldiers. The Redheads' rocks were covered in red paint.
"Look," said Pumperin. "They love red so much that they must paint their boulders red."
Nethstel cried again, "Fire the catapults!" The catapults fired, knocking down many Redheads. Hunaruan suddenly cried, "Where are the foot soldiers? The Redheads are ambushing us!" Suddenly, many Redheads fell upon the city, crying aloud. They struck the large gates but to no avail.
"Archers, fire!" cried Nethstel. "Bring the Redheads down!"
Arrows flew, knocking Redheads down. Redworn cried, "Fire the catapults!"
The Redheads suddenly fired their few remaining catapults. Fire flashed, and the great statue of Nubarana the first fell, crushing soldiers. The head rolled, pushing the gate open. It rolled over the Redheads, crushing them. The Redheads began to run, and the soldiers all ran to the gate, fighting the Redheads. But the strong Redheads easily beat down the Rowbins. Nethstel cried again, and the archers fired. Then Nethstel ran down the stairs. He drew his sword and slashed a Redhead down. Hunaruan ran over to the gate. He stood by the gate, slashing down the Redheads that neared him.
The Redheads cheered as Redworn, the Blood King, approached the gate with his heavy axe in hand and many Redheads cheering around him. Redworn swung his axe, knocking Hunaruan's sword out of his hand. He raised his axe to crush Hunaruan, but a blast of flames flew through the air, knocking Redworn down. He dropped his axe and fell. Pumperin ran forward at the king, but Redworn punched him down. Nethstel cried and charged Redworn, who was now up. He swung his axe, but Nethstel slid under it and pierced Redworn's thick leather hide. Redworn fell back, blood streaming from his leg. Nethstel turned to meet a large group of Redheads. He cut one down and knocked an axe out of another's hand, then he stabbed it straight through the gut. Suddenly, a Redhead from behind knocked Nethstel to the ground with his mace. The sound of iron was heard as the mace and helmet collided. Nethstel fell off the bridge and down ten feet into the dried moat. The Redheads had now broken into the city, and the walls were falling. Blood smeared the walls in spots, and soldiers blanketed the ground, both Redheads and Rowbins. The Redheads' catapults were successfully destroyed, but they no longer needed them, for they had now broken into the city.
Hunaruan ran up the stairs onto the battlements. Below was death and chaos. The Redheads began to ascend the stairs, but Hunaruan stood there, blocking their passage. He ran back up the stairs, and then the archers fired, knocking the Redheads down.
"Fire the catapults!" Hunaruan cried. "Fire at the stairs! Block the Redheads!"
The catapults fired in three different directions, knocking stairs down and blocking the Redheads from passing.
Pumperin ran to the stairs and tried to climb them, but they had collapsed.
"Hunaruan!" he cried. "Hunaruan!"
He ran forward, his yellow hair flying in the wind, and with a great cry, he brought down a Redhead, and then another. Arrows flew in all directions. The sound of singing now was heard in his ears, and one Redhead hit Pumperin in the back with his red feathered arrow, and he fell with a groan. The Redheads were making their way to the three catapults, screaming and yelling. The catapults fired, crushing Redheads and blowing dust. Redheads screamed as their hair burnt, and fire consumed them. Hunaruan ran up one of the last remaining stairways to the great battlements, where the catapults were firing their huge rocks, crushing Redheads and burning buildings. The city was mercilessly being burnt by fire and being crushed by rocks.
"We must put the fire out before we are burnt," Jonren said.
"Yes!" cried Hunaruan. "But how?"
"Build water carriers," cried Jonren. "And fire them down there."
"Yes!" cried Hunaruan. "Build water carriers."
Then, he looked around.
"Pumperin!" he cried. "Where's Pumperin?"
"I do not," cried a soldier.
"Now we can only hope he'll survive," cried Jonren over the sounds of battle.
The soldiers and Jonren had found wooden water carriers, which they filled with water.
"This is very foolish," cried Hunaruan. "We are wasting our water on our enemies."
"No," said Jonren. "We are using our enemies' water."
"How?" asked Hunaruan.
"I'll go," replied Jonren. "I'll go and get it."
"No!" cried Hunaruan. "They'll kill you."
"No, they won't," said Jonren, pulling a red wig out of his bag.
"Well, go then," said Hunaruan. "Soldiers, take the water out of those carriers."
Jonren motioned to his two friends, who followed him, and they disappeared into the darkness.
Hunaruan stood on the battlements, watching the chaos below. The Redheads were still advancing, but the Rowbins were holding them off, even if it was just barely. The sound of battle filled the air as swords clashed, arrows flew, and rocks fell. Hunaruan felt his heart beating fast in his chest, knowing that this battle would determine the fate of their city. He looked up at the night sky, seeing the stars twinkling above, and wondered if they would ever see them again.
Suddenly, he heard a shout from below, and he ran to the edge of the battlements, looking down. He saw Jonren and his friends running towards the city gates, being chased by Redheads. The water carriers were still in their hands, but they were almost at the gate. The Redheads were closing in, and Hunaruan knew he had to act fast.
He picked up a torch and ran down the stairs, past the archers and soldiers fighting below. He reached the gate and swung the torch at the Redheads, driving them back. Jonren and his friends ran through the gate, and Hunaruan slammed it shut behind them.
"Quickly!" he shouted, motioning towards the water carriers. "Pour them out!"
The soldiers ran forward, grabbing the water carriers and pouring the water over the burning buildings and fires. Flames fizzled out, and smoke began to disappear. The Redheads were still advancing, but the Rowbins had gained a second wind. Hunaruan could see the hope on their faces, and he knew that they had a chance.
He turned and ran back up the stairs, his heart racing, and his mind focused on the battle below. He reached the top and saw that the Redheads were now retreating. The Rowbins had pushed them back, and they were now fleeing in terror. Hunaruan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they had won the battle.
He looked around, seeing the destruction and devastation that the battle had caused. The city was still in ruins, but it was still standing. The rowbins had fought hard, and they had won. Hunaruan knew that they still had a long road ahead of them, but at this moment, he felt hope for the first time in a long time.
Analyze
Hunaruan looked out across the fields, his face grave. He sighed in despair. "He may be mighty and great, but in the end he will suffer fate," he murmured to himself. His thoughts were interrupted as a messenger approached.
"Lord Hunaruan," he said, "the spies have returned. Redworn, King of the Redheads, brings at least 10,000 soldiers. This is too great for us, as our garrison only has 3,900."
"Were they caught?" asked Pumperin, who stood next to Hunaruan.
"Yes," answered the spy. "Two died, three survived, one of which is wounded. Now, the Redheads ride with all speed. The spies only made it through a shortcut."
The spy shrieked and fell back. "Look!" he cried. "Redworn and his troops are coming to bring us doom."
Hunaruan looked back and saw Redworn and his at least 10,000 troops. He ran down the old, ruined stairs and onto a lower battlement. He surveyed the ruins of the once-great city. All that remained untouched were the three great catapults.
"Perhaps these will bring us success," he thought. Then he cried aloud, "Sound the horn! Call for aid! Do not despair!"
The horn sounded loudly throughout the ruins of the city as the soldiers ran to their positions on the ruined walls. Some archers took their positions by the three catapults, and others prepared giant boulders to fire through the great catapults. The ruins were full of light as many torches were suddenly lit. Hunaruan gazed out at the setting sun with Pumperin by his side. He sighed and turned to Pumperin.
"If we are to die," he said, "let us die defending this once-great city." Then he ran down the steps and onto the front battlements, ready to face his enemy.
The Redheads had prepared large catapults and lines of archers that were ready. Redworn cried out, "Prepare! Ready to fire!" The archers faced the walls with their bows, but suddenly Nethstel shouted and the three great catapults fired with fire ablaze. The rocks fell, crushing many Redheads. Fire and dust flew through the air. The Redheads ran, and those who could not make it were crushed. Then the Redheads answered with flying rocks and singing bows. The already ruined walls fell apart where the heavy rocks of the Redheads landed. Archers fell from the walls and others were crushed.
"We must destroy their catapults before we are destroyed," cried Nethstel. "Aim for their catapults! Crush them!"
The great catapults fired. Fire hissed through the air and crushed some Redhead catapults. Wood and dust flew through the air, knocking down many Redheads. The Redheads countered with their heavy rocks, crushing many soldiers. The Redheads' rocks were covered in red paint.
"Look," said Pumperin. "They love red so much that they must paint their boulders red."
Nethstel cried again, "Fire the catapults!" The catapults fired, knocking down many Redheads. Hunaruan suddenly cried, "Where are the foot soldiers? The Redheads are ambushing us!" Suddenly, many Redheads fell upon the city, crying aloud. They struck the large gates but to no avail.
"Archers, fire!" cried Nethstel. "Bring the Redheads down!"
Arrows flew, knocking Redheads down. Redworn cried, "Fire the catapults!"
The Redheads suddenly fired their few remaining catapults. Fire flashed, and the great statue of Nubarana the first fell, crushing soldiers. The head rolled, pushing the gate open. It rolled over the Redheads, crushing them. The Redheads began to run, and the soldiers all ran to the gate, fighting the Redheads. But the strong Redheads easily beat down the Rowbins. Nethstel cried again, and the archers fired. Then Nethstel ran down the stairs. He drew his sword and slashed a Redhead down. Hunaruan ran over to the gate. He stood by the gate, slashing down the Redheads that neared him.
The Redheads cheered as Redworn, the Blood King, approached the gate with his heavy axe in hand and many Redheads cheering around him. Redworn swung his axe, knocking Hunaruan's sword out of his hand. He raised his axe to crush Hunaruan, but a blast of flames flew through the air, knocking Redworn down. He dropped his axe and fell. Pumperin ran forward at the king, but Redworn punched him down. Nethstel cried and charged Redworn, who was now up. He swung his axe, but Nethstel slid under it and pierced Redworn's thick leather hide. Redworn fell back, blood streaming from his leg. Nethstel turned to meet a large group of Redheads. He cut one down and knocked an axe out of another's hand, then he stabbed it straight through the gut. Suddenly, a Redhead from behind knocked Nethstel to the ground with his mace. The sound of iron was heard as the mace and helmet collided. Nethstel fell off the bridge and down ten feet into the dried moat. The Redheads had now broken into the city, and the walls were falling. Blood smeared the walls in spots, and soldiers blanketed the ground, both Redheads and Rowbins. The Redheads' catapults were successfully destroyed, but they no longer needed them, for they had now broken into the city.
Hunaruan ran up the stairs onto the battlements. Below was death and chaos. The Redheads began to ascend the stairs, but Hunaruan stood there, blocking their passage. He ran back up the stairs, and then the archers fired, knocking the Redheads down.
"Fire the catapults!" Hunaruan cried. "Fire at the stairs! Block the Redheads!"
The catapults fired in three different directions, knocking stairs down and blocking the Redheads from passing.
Pumperin ran to the stairs and tried to climb them, but they had collapsed.
"Hunaruan!" he cried. "Hunaruan!"
He ran forward, his yellow hair flying in the wind, and with a great cry, he brought down a Redhead, and then another. Arrows flew in all directions. The sound of singing now was heard in his ears, and one Redhead hit Pumperin in the back with his red feathered arrow, and he fell with a groan. The Redheads were making their way to the three catapults, screaming and yelling. The catapults fired, crushing Redheads and blowing dust. Redheads screamed as their hair burnt, and fire consumed them. Hunaruan ran up one of the last remaining stairways to the great battlements, where the catapults were firing their huge rocks, crushing Redheads and burning buildings. The city was mercilessly being burnt by fire and being crushed by rocks.
"We must put the fire out before we are burnt," Jonren said.
"Yes!" cried Hunaruan. "But how?"
"Build water carriers," cried Jonren. "And fire them down there."
"Yes!" cried Hunaruan. "Build water carriers."
Then, he looked around.
"Pumperin!" he cried. "Where's Pumperin?"
"I do not," cried a soldier.
"Now we can only hope he'll survive," cried Jonren over the sounds of battle.
The soldiers and Jonren had found wooden water carriers, which they filled with water.
"This is very foolish," cried Hunaruan. "We are wasting our water on our enemies."
"No," said Jonren. "We are using our enemies' water."
"How?" asked Hunaruan.
"I'll go," replied Jonren. "I'll go and get it."
"No!" cried Hunaruan. "They'll kill you."
"No, they won't," said Jonren, pulling a red wig out of his bag.
"Well, go then," said Hunaruan. "Soldiers, take the water out of those carriers."
Jonren motioned to his two friends, who followed him, and they disappeared into the darkness.