Mantis Slayer
A year had gone by, and it had gone by faster than lightning.
Sasha was now eight years old, and already one of the strongest, most fearless, most skilled and most ruthless warriors in the toad army.
After months of Grime’s training and teachings, she’d grown stronger, quicker, sharper, and all the more violent. The girl had once almost killed another soldier during battle practice, and would have succeeded had she not been stopped by Braddock and Alric.She was definitely a fearsome little thing- many of the soldiers would back away from her whenever she came near, as if she would attack them at any moment. Others, like Braddock, simply viewed her as a small, angry child who didn’t quite grasp what she was doing.
Grime, on the other hand, didn’t care whether or not his little fire eyed creature knew exactly what she was doing.All he really cared about was that she’d succeeded in becoming one of the best fighters he’d ever known.
He was proud.....proud of himself for training her and proud of how far she’s come and how strong she’d become.
He could only wait and see just how much stronger she’d get as she grew up.
She’d been going on raids with the soldiers-mostly to the towns and small villages in the South. Usually, all Sasha had to do was just show her face to scare the frogs, salamanders or other toads that inhabited the villages they terrorized out of their wits-but if the other soldiers began brawling with particularly stubborn and resistant citizens or simply began fighting or attacking citizens for the thrill of it,she’d immediately join in, thirsty for both blood and the approval and attention of her fellow soldiers.
She hadn’t taken any lives.... yet.....but she’d left some very serious injuries and scars on those who dared to challenge her or simply stand in her way.She herself had accumulated a few scars-but she saw each of them as if they were a medal or badge-a symbol of her achievements and victories.
She carried both her scars and her sword with pride, knowing damn well that she was probably the best soldier the army had.
Currently, she and a group of nine other toads were walking back to Toad Tower, after a long, successful day of raiding the small salamander village of Ditchberg, which had been located just east of Toad Tower, about five miles away.The salamanders hadn’t paid their taxes for quite a while, so Sasha and the soldiers were carrying quite a hefty amount of loot back with them- furniture, rugs,farm equipment, clothing,lamps, lanterns, bushels and crates of crops, jars and jugs of food and drinks of all sorts, Mire was holding up an entire smoked cricket in his grubby hands, and Braddock and Bog were riding a cart drawn by two snails-both the snails and the cart having been confiscated from their previous owner.
A few villagers had tried to fight back and get their possessions back-Sasha had been allowed to put them all back in their places.
She had done just that, using a sharp tongue and even sharper sword to get the troublesome salamanders to submit to the soldier’s orders.
One particularly outraged salamander had tried to attack her, but she’d dealt with them rather quickly.....Gaining both a cut on her cheek and a fresh splatter of blood on her sword.
Sasha had a smile on her face, eyes smoldering with pride and satisfaction as she looked down at the dried blood on her sword-which had quite a few old blood stains on it.She knew she’d have to clean it soon.....but she wanted to keep the reminders of her victories there for her to see for just a little while longer, at least until they began to get thick and crusty and really start to hinder her sword’s sharpness and ability to cut through things.
The soldiers were chatting with one other, one toad was playing a tune on a stolen pan flute, the flute’s shrill whistling mixing with the other soldier’s banter and occasional yells or laughs.Sasha remained silent, examining a small dagger she’d gotten off one of the salamanders she’d fought.The short blade was newly sharpened, but she’d need a new handle made for it-the wooden one it had now was a bit molded and had a large crack in it.Sasha shook her head-how could someone care for their weapons so poorly?
The group of soldiers were halfway home, walking through the forest of dead and almost dead trees that lead to Toad Tower, when they heard a screech - a loud, blood curdling screech-resound through the forest.
They all jumped, looking around rapidly, trying to find the source of the terrifying sound.
The sound of multiple heavy footsteps coming from behind them soon revealed to them the source of the screech---a praying mantis.
A giant praying mantis, bloody red, tattered wings flapping, it’s menacing, angry eyes looking right at the group of warriors.
They all froze.Praying mantises were common beasts in Amphibia-but giant ones were rare and,compared to their smaller green relatives, were INCREDIBLY dangerous to all Amphibians.
The warriors began to draw their weapons-they could take the beast on! It was ten of them against one of it, they could take it!
However, as they set down their loot and drew their swords,axes and maces......another heavy set of steps was heard from behind them.
They turned to see another great red mantis towering above them, emitting a low growl of aggression. A few soldiers began to quiver and shake, their fight or flight senses telling them to get the fuck out of dodge.The others stood their ground.They could still take on two! Five take one mantis, five take the other......
Just as they all began to regain confidence, a third red mantis, a bit bigger than the other two, wandered in, it’s front legs rising up as it prepared to attack.
With that, the toad army proceeded to break out into a series of screams and curses and started running as fast they could, trying to avoid the shrieking mantises as they swung at their tiny prey with large, strong front legs with sharp spines underneath that were ready to impale any toad or other small being that they came into contact with.
Sasha felt adrenaline flood her body as she ran as fast as she could along with the other toads.She could feel her heart thumping against her chest, almost as if it were trying to burst out.She looked behind her, seeing the beasts following them a few feet away and hearing their screeches and yowls behind them.She stared ahead, picking up speed and breathing in and out of her mouth, desperate for air.She then realized that, in their fear and panic, They’d dropped all of their loot - too focused on fleeing the monstrous bugs to remember to grab their things.
Damnit! Grime was NOT going to be pleased.....
Grime.
Sasha suddenly halted,the world suddenly becoming still as she thought about the toad captain and how he’d reacted to their actions.
Failing to bring back their loot, running away.......
They were warriors, warriors damnit! They should be charging at the beasts, killing them and bringing their mutilated bodies back with them along with their stolen goods!
Instead, they were all running like cowards.....including her.
Her,Sasha Waybright, the youngest and most skilled warrior in the toad army, the one Grime held in the highest respect.....running away like a pathetic coward.......
Grime would be ashamed of her.
She felt a wave of shame, trembling a bit.Then, as she heard the roar of the Mantises behind her, she felt her shame turn into determination.
No,she was NOT going to run away!! She was a warrior, and damn her to frog hell if she didn’t prove it!!
She turned and ran towards the mantises, screaming as she ripped her sword out of it’s sheath, clutching the dagger she’d stolen as she charged at one of the mantises like an angry bull.
The creature looked down at her, screeching as it brought one of it’s front legs down. Sasha dodged it just before it came down on her, the spines on it’s arm sinking into the damp ground. As the creature tried to pull it’s arm out from the ground,Sasha jumped on it’s arm, shoving her sword deep into it, yellowish blood oozing up out from where the sword penetrated.
The creature squealed in pain, ripping it’s arm out from the ground, Sasha holding onto it tightly as it pulled its arm close to it’s face, eyes glaring at her.She then pulled the sword out and jumped onto the animal’s face, shoving the yellow coated sword into it’s eye, another scream coming from it’s mouth.
She then took the dagger and plunged it deep into it’s scalp, pulling herself up onto it’s head and pulling her sword out of it’s eye, swiftly bringing it up, then swinging it down hard at the creature’s neck, pressing the side of the blade into the softest area of the creature’s throat and applying pressure as she dragged it across it’s neck, yellowish blood spouting from it’s neck.
The animal let out a screech, which then turned into gargling as the creature slowly stumbled and fell to the ground, Sasha holding onto it’s head as it came crashing down onto the ground.
She was breathing heavily, heart pounding in her ears.She looked up, just as another mantis was about to bring it’s spined arm down upon her.
She grabbed her sword and swung upward, the blade piercing through the mantis’s arm between two spines, Sasha barely avoiding getting stabbed by them.The creature let out a blood - curdling screech, Sasha immediately looping one arm around one spine, going up as the beast lifted it’s arm. It began shaking it’s arm up and down in an attempt to get Sasha off. Sasha clenched her teeth, looping her arm around the blade of her sword, grabbing the dagger from her other hand, then swinging her arm up, digging the dagger under the spine, loud screeching filling her ears as she felt hot mantis blood spill down onto her arm, threatening to make the spine slippery and make her slide off and fall to the ground.
The mantis eventually brought it’s arm down and threw the girl to the ground, Sasha grunting as she felt her back come into contact with the ground.
She quickly got up, dagger and sword both coated in sticky yellow blood.She glared at the creature, which took another swing at her, only to have her swing at it and slice the tip of it’s arm off, the beast screeching in agony as it’s blood spilling onto the ground, Sasha charging at it and digging her sword into it’s underside, gutting the beast, jumping back as it’s gooey innards spilled out, the beast slowly swaying back and forth before finally falling.
Not long after the creature fell to the ground, it’s final companion- the biggest one of the three, came up behind her, it’s head immediately going down, mouth wide open.
Sasha braced herself, one eye shut as the beast’s open jaws came down upon her.
As it tried to close it’s mouth around her, she dug her sword into the roof of it’s mouth, the blade going through it’s mouth and head, and stabbing the bottom jaw just under it’s tongue.The beast threw it’s head back, it’s mouth being forced open by the angry, adrenaline pumped child that now stood in it’s mouth, using all her strength to push it’s jaws open as she thought of what to do next.
Acting quickly, she pulled the dagger out of it’s bottom jaw and stabbed one of the beast’s eyes, jumping out of it’s mouth and onto it’s head, pulling her sword from the creature’s head as it screeched louder than before. She dug her sword into it’s other eye, the creature stumbling around in blind pain.
Sasha smiled wide as she took both her dagger and sword out of it’s eyes and placed them both on the animal’s throat, slitting it, watching as yellow blood spilled and spurted out like a waterfall.
The best thrashed around, Sasha digging her sword and dagger back into it’s eyes and holding on tight as it slowed down and finally collapsed against a rotted tree, both the tree and the now dead mantis falling to the ground with a loud thud.
Sasha breathed heavily, still grasping her weapons in her hands.
She was splattered with sticky, stinking, yellow mantis blood, and both her sword and dagger would need to be thoroughly cleaned along with her armor......but that was of least concern.
All the girl could think about was that she’d just single handedly killed three red mantises.
She slowly sat up, then, after a few minutes threw her head back and began to laugh-a laugh of pure joy and victory, a laugh that resounded and echoed throughout the forest.
She couldn’t wait to tell Grime.
_________________________________________________________________________
The rest of the group of toads were almost at the tower, and, noticing that the beasts were no longer pursuing them, had stopped to catch their breaths. Braddock breathed heavily as she counted the soldiers to make sure no toad was left behind.
”Bog.......Mire......Chara......Mire.....Damien......Sasha....Wait.....Sasha?”
Braddock looked around frantically, the tiny human was nowhere to be seen!
“...Oh frog,OH MY FUCKING FROG SASHA!!”
The other toads began to look around, then panic as they came to the terrible realization that their human soldier was gone.
”Oh frog, oh FROG!! EVERYONE GO BACK!! WE NEED TO LOOK FOR SASHA!!! “ Braddock yelled, freaking out as the other toads scrambled, panicked and terrified
“Oh dear frog please let that child be alive....If anything’s happened Grime’ll-“
“I’LL WHAT!!?”
Everyone jumped,Captain Grime standing in front of them, glaring angrily.
”Care to explain just what the frog hell is going on here?” He asked at Braddock, his voice full of menace and the promise of potential harm.
Braddock’s breathing had gotten faster, the female toad sweating profusely out of fear.
”W-well, W-we got ambushed by three red Mantises and....uh...”
“SASHA GOT LEFT BEHIND WITH THE MANTISES!!” Mire screamed,obviously panicking.
Grime’s eyes widened.
Sasha.....left behind.....with three red mantises......
”YOU FUCKING IMBECILES!!” Grime roared, ripping his sword from his belt as Braddock cowered.
”EVERYONE GO BACK!! YOU BETTER HOPE SHES ALIVE, AND IF SHE'S NOT I’LL MAKE SURE YOU ALL WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!”
The toads began sprinting back in the direction from which they came, Grime running in front of them all, trying not to show just how terrified he was.
Oh dear Frog! Frog knows what’s happened to that child!!
Oh dear frog if she’s dead.....NO!
Sasha may have been small, she may have seemed like easy prey for a red mantis, but she was also one of the most skilled fighters he’d ever trained.
She’d put up a fight without a doubt, and she’d be able to fend them off ........but Grime still couldn’t help but feel cold dread and worry, the mental image of the child circled by three red mantises made him break out into a cold sweat.
They soon got close to the area where they’d first encountered the monsters, and first thing Grime saw were the three bloodied corpses of the red mantises.....all of which had been decapitated.
He then saw Sasha, who had stacked the three heads atop each other so that they resembled a totem pole. She turned, seeing Grime and the other warriors, and smiled wide,looking Grime in the eye, her eyes shining with joy and hope that she’d receive his approval and praise.
Grime’s mouth was agape, his eyes wide, staring at the scene before him.
Hed known that Sasha was strong and fearsome, but this......this exceeded his expectations.
This girl, this eight year old child, who was just barely as tall as Grime, had just single handedly slaughtered three full grown red praying mantises.....and seemed to have obtained no injuries.
He was absolutely stunned.
Absolutely amazed.
And he was prouder than he’d ever felt in his life.
He beamed, chuckling as he turned to his soldiers, who were all gawking at the scene that lay before them, mouths open and eyes wide.
”YOU LOT! GO GET SOME CARTS TO CARRY THE MANTISES BACK TO THE TOWER AND TELL THE COOK THAT THERE'S TO BE A FEAST TONIGHT! WE GOT THREE WHOLE MANTISES THAT'LL FEED US ALL FOR AT LEAST A MONTH!!” He yelled, his voice full of pride.
The soldiers slowly retreated, running back to Toad Tower. Grime then turned to Sasha, who watched as the other toads ran off.She slowly sank down, the adrenaline draining from her body, feeling suddenly very exhausted.
However, the adrenaline came rushing back for a brief moment as she felt two strong arms wrap around her and throw her up into the air, then catch her and squeeze her tight.
”WHAT THE FROG HELL?!?” She yelled as Grime laughed, practically crushing the girl in his arms.
”DO YOU HAVE ANY HOW ASTOUNDING IT IS THAT YOU DID ALL THAT?!” He asked, smiling a wide,toothy smile at the girl as he set her down.
“Yeah! I mean, of course it was! you didn’t say I was one of your best soldiers cuz of nothing, did you?” She asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly enjoying bragging about her achievement.
He chuckled, ruffling her already unbelievably messy hair.”You Are Correct about that, Little Fire Eyed Creature .......You are an exceptional soldier....”
It was unusual of him to be giving one of his soldiers such respect and praise, highly unusual, actually.But what could be say? He was a proud father.
Wait-Father??
NO!! He meant Captain! A proud captain and teacher.
The girl was but another soldier to him, and nothing more!
It wasn’t like he’d grown attached to her and developed a paternal affection or anything like that......
He cleared his throat, trying to control himself and act more dignified as he saw some soldiers arrive with tarantula drawn carts.
”Oh yeah! Grime we got a bunch of loot from Ditchburg, but we ended up leaving it all behind.....” Sasha said, looking behind her.
“No bother, we’ll just grab it all along with the mantises.” He said, watching as the other toads worked together to heave the heavy mantis corpses onto the wagons.
”THAT WAS INCREDIBLE KID!!”
Braddock ran over, staring at Sasha was amazement.The other toads began to crowd around her, bombarding her with both questions and praise.
``How’d you kill them?”
“Which one did you take on first?”
“You’re incredible Sasha!!”
“SASHA THE MANTIS SLAYER!!” Alric yelled.
”SASHA THE MANTIS SLAYER! SA-SHA THE MANTIS SLAYER! SA-SHA THE MANTIS SLAYER!!” They all chanted, Sasha smiling with pure unadulterated joy as she accepted her new title.
She ran over to the stack of mantis head’s she’d made, grabbing one of the heads and holding it up over her own.
”THAT'S RIGHT!! I'M SASHA THE MANTIS SLAYER! ONE OF THE BEST WARRIORS THE TOAD ARMY WILL EVER HAVE!”
She began running back to the tower, carrying the mantis head triumphantly above her head as the others followed, carrying back the mantis bodies.
A few others stayed behind, going to go collect the loot they’d left behind.
Grime just stood there, watching Sasha run, seeing the smile on her face.
He’d succeeded in raising her to be a great warrior......and he had no doubts that she would grow to be greater. Maybe even better than he was.... only time would tell.
“...I’m proud of you.......My little fire eyed creature....”