Story Challenge, Day 3

Made it through day 3, and another story down! Have to admit, I'm actually a little impressed I've been able to pull it off so far. Of course, this weekend will be the real challenge, since I seem to have a much harder time staying on task during the weekend than during the week. But so far so good, and I've got the basic idea for tomorrow more or less formed, so that's always good. Oh, today's story prompt was to right about a battle where no one's feet touch the ground. So here you go:
 

Those Damned Dirty Apes

“Something must be done! We need the lumber from the forest if we’re to continue expanding the town, but those vile talking monkeys keep attacking us any time we get anywhere near it.”

“I can see your dilemma,” Sir George said. “But have no fear, my men and I are more than up to the task. Why just a few weeks ago we slayed a dragon, didn’t we, men? Something as simple as talking monkeys will be a trivial task. Trust me, we shall have your forest cleared and ready for you to chop down in a matter of days. Now, we are clear on my fee, correct?”

“Yes, yes, the money is all arranged. And as you requested, we have half ready in advance.”

“Excellent! Well then, let us get started!”

*****

Marcellus quietly dropped from the window where he had been spying on the humans. He had to get this information back to Crassus! He made his way to the nearby stables. While his body was not ideally suited to riding horseback, he knew enough of the basics of horse riding to make it work, and he needed to get back home much faster than his legs would carry him.

Grabbing hold of the nearest horse he saw, Marcellus led it out of the stables, then climbed on and kicked it in the ribs. The horse jumped and started running. Marcellus guided it out of town and headed towards the forest. As soon as he reached the edge of the trees he jumped from the horse and climbed up into the treetops.

The apes had managed to build a small but thriving community in the tops of the trees. Houses were built into the highest branches, with bridges connecting the trees together (the apes generally would swing from branch to branch more than they would use the bridges, but the bridges made it easier to move materials and supplies between houses). Marcellus reached treetop level and then went straight to Crassus’ home in the center of the village.

“Crassus, I have news!”

Crassus looked up from his meal. “What is it, Marcellus?”

“The humans have hired mercenaries. They are planning to attack us!”

Crassus sighed. Why was it always like this with the humans? Ever since his grandfather had begun the revolution that had led to their freedom from the witch who had granted them intelligence and speech, it had been a constant struggle to find a place free from human interference. They had been nomads through his grandfather’s life and much of his father’s. But when Crassus had been a young child they had discovered this forest, and it had been a perfect place for them to settle. The tree were large and solid, well-suited for building their homes in. And the nearest human settlement had been nothing but a small trading village.

But then several years ago a vein of gold had been discovered in the hills outside the village, and overnight things had changed. People began pouring in, eager to hunt for gold, and in no time at all the village had become a town, and that town continued to steadily grow. All of which meant a need for wood – wood to shore up the mine shafts, wood for new buildings in the town.

So far the apes had been able to make it clear to the humans that they were better off getting that wood elsewhere. But none of the other nearby forests were as close or as large as the one that the apes had made their home. Deep down Crassus had always known this day would come, but he had foolishly hoped that maybe, just maybe, his people would finally have been able to live in peace.

“Gather everyone together. We must prepare for the arrival of the humans.”

*****

Sir George and his men (supplemented by a dozen men from the town guard) made their way to the forest shortly before dawn the following morning. They dismounted just beyond the tree line, then crept forward, using hand signals so that no noise would give them away. Once in the trees, they began looking for the ladders leading up into the treetops, which Sir George’s men had observed while scouting the area several days prior. But no ladders were to be found.

“It seems our arrival is anticipated,” Sir George said, realizing that stealth was likely no longer necessary.

“You are correct, human!” a voice called out from somewhere above them, hidden from view. “Now leave this place. You are not welcome here.”

“I am afraid that we are not going anywhere,” Sir George called back. “We have been very well paid to get you out of the way so that these trees can be put to better use. So either you and your people leave peacefully, or we will be forced to drive you out.”

In response, a spear flew out of the upper branches of the trees, straight towards Sir George. He lifted his shield, easily deflecting it.

“All right, men, you know the drill. Archers, cover our advance.”

Sir George and his men pulled grappling hooks and ropes from their packs, while the guardsmen fired arrows up into the trees to provide cover. Sir George always made certain to be prepared for any contingency.

*****

Crassus ducked behind the tree trunk as an arrow whizzed by his head. He watched as the humans sent their grappling hooks up into the trees. As soon as they had caught hold in the lower branches the men hauled themselves upwards into the trees. Crassus had to give credit to this human – he was resourceful. But that would not keep Crassus from killing him if he pressed this fight.

He watched as the leader of the humans ascended into the trees. He tried to aim a spear at him, but the archers on the ground were sending enough arrows up into the branches to force him to hold back. He did get the satisfaction of seeing one of the archers impaled by an ape spear, however. Throwing his own spear down towards them, he picked up his heavy club and made ready for the arrival of his opponents.

Upon reaching the level of the apes’ homes, the humans burst into the first house they came upon, but found it empty. And so they charged forward across the nearest bridge, moving deeper into the ape village. The lead human had a fighting axe in each hand, both raised up in front of him, ready to meet the enemy. From the branches above him an ape dropped down, his spear point held out in front of him. But the human easily shifted out of the way, bringing one of his axes down across the ape’s neck. He pulled his axe free, kicking the dead body from the bridge as he continued forward.

The next ape charged straight at him across the bridge, leaping forward and impacting with the man’s chest before he could react, knocking him onto his back. The ape pounded its fists into the man’s face, only to have the man behind him bring his sword down onto the ape’s head, killing it instantly. He grabbed hold of his friend’s collar and pulled him to his feet.

“Damned monkey thought he had the best of me!” the man said, spitting out one of his teeth. “I’ll show those filthy beasts what happens when –”

The man coughed up a mouthful of blood as he stared down at the spear that had impaled his stomach. He turned to look at his friend as two arrows embedded themselves in his chest. His friend grabbed hold of him and pushed forward, using his dead body as a shield. Several more arrows and another spear impaled the body before the man reached the far end of the bridge, where he pushed it towards the awaiting apes and took hold of his sword in both hands, ready to engage them. They knocked the dead body aside, eager for combat as well.

A second group of men was making its way across another bridge, where Crassus and several of his fellows waited hidden on the other side. Crassus did not see the mercenary leader with them. These humans would be dealt with, but the leader was the only one he really wanted. When the humans reached the far side of the bridge, they spread out on the platform in front of one of the ape houses. The houses were simple affairs made of sticks woven together with vines and sealed with mud. There were no doors, simply openings in the front to enter and leave by.

“Nothing in this one,” the lead human said, poking his head into the entryway.

“Keep a sharp eye out,” another said. “They’re around here somewhere.”

Crassus dropped out of the branches above, his club held in both hands, bringing it down with full force on the man’s head. Several other apes dropped with him, all wielding clubs and spears. Several of the humans died instantly, but the rest responded with their swords and axes. Crassus dodged a sword thrust as he watched Marcellus slump against the tree, blood gushing from the sword wound in his chest. Crassus screamed out his rage and battered the human in front of him with his club. But in his rage he was too focused on just the opponent in front of him. Pain blossomed through his shoulder, and he turned his head to see the hilt of a throwing knife sticking out of his back.

He leapt up into the higher branches. Luckily the human in front of him was too dazed to attack him as he made his escape. He grit his teeth as he pulled the knife out, throwing it blindly down towards the humans below him. So far his people looked to have the advantage, but too many of them were dying. He needed to find the human leader. If he could finish him, maybe the rest of the humans would give up the fight.

He swung from branch to branch, wincing at the pain in his shoulder with every movement. Below him the battle waged on. He no longer saw any archers on the ground, which told him they, too, had joined the fray among the trees. Then he saw his target below him. The human’s sword slashed through the air, decapitating the ape standing in front of him.

“Human!!” Crassus swung down out of the upper branches, landing on the human’s back. But instead of knocking him down, the human twisted his body, flinging Crassus from him. “You will die!” Crassus snarled. The human simply grinned.

“Well met, monkey. You may call me Sir George.”

“I am no monkey. I am an ape!”

Crassus leapt forward, ducking under Sir George’s slashing blade and grasping hold of his waist. Sir George grunted as he felt one of his ribs crack from the pressure of the ape’s powerful arms. He brought the hilt of his sword down onto Crassus’ head, stunning the ape and causing him to loosen his hold. He hit him again, and was able to break loose from the ape’s grasp.

“You’re a strong one, aren’t you?” Sir George brought the blade of his sword down in a hard swing, only to watch Crassus roll backwards out of reach. “And fast as well. It won’t save you, though. I have fought much worse beasts than you and lived to boast of it!”

Despite his bold words, Sir George knew this was an enemy to be wary of.  Despite being a full foot shorter than the average human, the creature was easily faster and stronger. And the look of bloodthirsty rage in its eyes said that it would not surrender, nor die easily. The two opponents stared each other down, waiting for the other to flinch. Crassus’ patience gave out first, and he charged forward once again, leaping higher up this time.

Sir George slashed out with his sword, but Crassus was clearly expecting this, having launched himself high enough in the air to arc over the blade and come down on top of Sir George, knocking him onto his back on the bridge. He batted away Sir George’s sword and began slamming his fists down on the knight’s chest.

Sir George retaliated with a punch of his own, his gauntleted fist impacting squarely with the ape’s jaw, knocking him from the bridge. The knight struggled to his feet, certain that several of his ribs were broken. He looked around, and was disheartened to see the battle not going in his favor. His beleaguered men had lost many of their number and the few remaining wouldn’t last long.

“This fight will not end this way. We will be victorious, monkeys, if I have to return with a thousand men!”

It was at this point that Sir George looked down, and saw two ape hands gripping the edge of the bridge. Crassus was swinging his body back and forth, building up momentum. A moment too late Sir George turned to run. The ape swung up and around, his body slamming into the side of the human’s, knocking him from the bridge.

Sir George plummeted head first towards the ground. When he hit, the full weight of his body slammed down on his head, snapping his neck. His lifeless body slumped against the trunk of the tree.

“This fight is over, human!” Crassus shouted. He turned to help his fellow apes, but the battle was all but won.