Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The next week arrived with an air of anticipation. In the heart of the sanctuary, a large clearing had been prepared, where the shock troops gathered before their departure. Hundreds of sanctuary inhabitants—beastkin, elves, dwarves, and even a few Blossom Shells—came to see them off, offering cheers of support.

The troops, clad in their pristine white uniforms lined with silver, stood tall and proud, ready to embark on their mission.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Overhead, Canna soared on the winds, watching the preparations from above. Vorgrim, the ever-dedicated trainer, paced in front of the troops, ensuring every detail was in order. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, reaching its zenith, the moment of departure approached. It was time.

With a graceful descent, Canna landed before the gathered troops. His white sanctuary uniform fluttered in the breeze, the gold trim shimmering in the sunlight. All eyes turned to him, their leader, their protector, the one who had built this sanctuary into what it was today. He stood tall and proud, surveying the troops and the crowd of onlookers, his voice steady as he spoke.

"Shock Troops!" Canna's voice rang out, firm but encouraging. "You are the spearhead of our sanctuary, our eyes in the world beyond. You have trained for this moment. You know the strength you possess and the purpose of this mission. Out there, you will encounter challenges, dangers, and the unknown. But I know you will stand tall.

You are the sanctuary's pride, and we are counting on you."

The troops straightened, pride filling their hearts as Canna's words washed over them.

"You have three missions," Canna continued. "Safeguard the diplomats. They represent our sanctuary, our values, and our intentions. Their safety is paramount. Second, report back anything of value, anything that can strengthen us or bring new allies to our side. And most importantly, return home. Your next journey awaits at empire

The sanctuary will be waiting for you, always."

The troops roared in unison, their voices ringing with excitement and determination. Each soldier turned to their comrades, offering words of encouragement, exchanging smiles and nods of solidarity. They were ready.

With a flick of his wrist, Canna summoned a glowing red portal that shimmered before the crowd. Slowly, the first of the shock troops and their accompanying diplomats stepped through the portal, each squad heading to a different part of the world. Their pristine uniforms fluttered in the wind as they disappeared into the unknown, leaving only the echoes of their departure behind.

With the shock troops on their way, Canna turned his attention to his next priority—Solara's pack. They had been located, and now it was time to bring them into the sanctuary.

Stepping out of the sanctuary's domain, Canna was joined by Solara, her grey fur bristling with anticipation, and Mira and Dot, who had been lounging by a nearby stream when they saw Canna and eagerly asked to join the journey. Alongside them was Nyx, Mira's silent and ever-watchful shadow bear. Though they were young, both Mira and Dot were far from helpless.

The two of them had been honing their skills, and their teamwork was nothing short of impressive.

As they made their way toward Solara's pack, Canna kept a watchful eye on the girls, allowing them to practice their combat skills. In the distance, a massive low-calamity mantis, easily 15 feet tall, skulked in the shadows of the forest. Its blade-like forearms gleamed in the light, ready to strike at any moment. Without hesitation, Mira and Dot sprang into action, eager to prove themselves.

Dot, the smaller of the two, had an unorthodox fighting style. She wielded customized knuckles built for brawlers, but also carried her trusty bow and arrow. Rather than taking a traditional archer's stance, she charged headlong into combat. With a swift dash, she closed the distance between her and the mantis, her knuckles gleaming as she slammed into its forearm, knocking it back.

Before the creature could retaliate, Dot leaped backward, nocking an arrow and firing it in one fluid motion. The arrow struck true, piercing the mantis's tough exoskeleton.

But the real brilliance of their fighting style came from Mira. Moving through the shadows like a ghost, Mira struck from the darkness, landing quick, devastating blows with her daggers before vanishing back into the shadows. Her shadow magic allowed her to meld into any dark space, making her a near-impossible target for the mantis to hit.

As Dot kept the creature occupied with quick, relentless attacks, Mira would dart in and out of its shadow, weakening it further with precise strikes to its vulnerable joints. The mantis slashed wildly at the air, trying to catch its elusive prey, but each of its attempts ended in failure as the girls' coordination outmatched its brute strength.

Nyx, the massive shadow bear, watched from the sidelines, his glowing eyes following the fight closely. He waited for the perfect moment to strike. And when that moment came, he charged in with a roar, crashing into the mantis with a force that shook the ground.

The mantis staggered, unable to defend itself from the combined onslaught of Nyx's brute strength, Mira's stealthy strikes, and Dot's unrelenting attacks.

Dot grinned as she landed a powerful blow with her knuckles, sending the mantis reeling backward. She immediately followed up with a rapid shot from her bow, the arrow burying itself deep into the mantis's chest. Mira appeared behind the creature, her daggers flashing as she delivered a final blow to its exposed underbelly. With a final, pained screech, the mantis collapsed, defeated.

Canna watched the fight from a distance, impressed by the girls' teamwork and ingenuity. For children no older than nine, they fought with a skill and confidence beyond their years. Dot's aggressive, knockback-based fighting style paired perfectly with Mira's shadow-stealth tactics, and Nyx's strength was the final piece that made their trio nearly unstoppable.

As the mantis lay still, the girls stood victorious, grinning at each other with the infectious excitement that came from a successful hunt.

"That was amazing!" Dot cheered, pumping her fists in the air. "We did it!"

Mira nodded with a quiet smile, her dark eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Nyx gave a deep, rumbling growl of approval as he padded over to the girls, his massive form towering over them protectively.

Canna approached the group, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well done, both of you. Your coordination was impressive."

Dot beamed up at him. "Thanks! We've been practicing a lot."

Mira nodded in agreement, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Nyx helps us a lot. We're getting better at knowing when to strike."

Canna ruffled Dot's hair affectionately. "Keep at it. You're both growing stronger every day."

With the fight behind them, the group continued their journey, Solara leading the way as they approached the location of her pack. But as they moved forward, Canna couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. These children, these young warriors, were the future of the sanctuary. And if today's display was anything to go by, that future was bright indeed.