In the Valley - Part 7

Expecting an all out attack from the the Capote, the warriors stood guard at the perimeters of their villages.  As night fell, the Capote began to infiltrate the boundaries of the villages.  Taking on the image of the guards, they captured some of the villagers who appeared unafraid.  The Capote leader attempted to intimidate the villagers into revealing where their leaders were. The leader, Brayak, growled loudly at the captives as spit flowed from his jagged teeth.  "You will tell me what I ask or you will die", he bellowed.

  One of the villagers stepped forward and said to Brayak,  "If you leave now, we will allow you to go in peace."

     The Capote chief, rose up to his full height, puffed out his budging chest and let out a loud hissing fowl laugh.  "You will allow, You will allow!  We will destroy all of you. There will be nothing left of this place when we are done.  We have destroyed thousands,  you are nothing to us.  Only fuel for our bellies."

 With that, he turned and revealed writhing tentacles rising from his back and shoulders.  As the tentacles stretched toward the villagers,  a hum began to vibrate the ground, and a piercing blue light filled the air. The villagers bowed their head and began to speak to the One.

  In an instant the villagers were gone. Left in their place was only those shape-shifter Capote who had taken on their images.   Brayak's tentacles struck them just as the villagers disappeared. Being rather single minded creatures whose only focus was Attack and Destroy, the Capote became  disoriented.  They began to attack the impostors not realizing that they were not the captured villagers. The blinding light made it impossible for them to see their enemy.

  As the bright blinding light began to diminish, Brayak realized that somehow they had been moved further from the villages.  As he looked at the fallen, Brayak began to scream a hideous, awful, curse because all of the dead were his own tribe. 

  Brayak wondered aloud, "How is this possible.  None have ever defeated us."  "RETREAT!, Now!", he ordered.  Understanding that he needed to study his enemy before attacking again.  Brayak began to form a new plan.  "I will be victorious", he vowed.

....Meanwhile, back at the SaHillelyra village, the villagers that had been saved from the Capote began to emerge from the giant roots of the trees.  As the people rejoiced,  the Guardian, Priya stepped forward and spoke quietly to them.  "You must not go to your homes yet.  Come with me and I will explain.  Though you appear uninjured,  there may still be danger. " 
 One of the formerly captured villagers said, "Guardian Priya, I was cut by one of the enemy.  I feel fine but they watched me closely after they cut me.  Please tell me what to do."

  Guardian Priya bowed her head for a moment.  Looking up into the eyes of the villager, she said "I will help you.  Fear not. "