The Garamon Swarm

                "Trian!  The Garamon are coming in too strong!  Get everyone back!"

                Trian nodded, cutting down one of the horrible monsters standing in front of him.  "Everybody, get back to the Second Wall!  Fall back!  Fall back!"  Trian threw out a fireball out of his hand, hitting two of the creatures.  Everyone slowly started pulling out towards the stronger defenses, but it was slow goings.  The Garamon were too numerous; every time you would cut one away from you, two more of them would spring out in your face.

                 The Magi hurled spell after spell to try and cover the retreat of the soldiers, but the enemy continually flooded the small courtyard.  Finally the last Knight had passed him, and he, too, ran towards temporary safety. 

                But even with Trian's efforts to give the knights a head start, the Garamon were quickly catching up.  As he looked towards the wall, he could see a flock of Karnen, the Garamon's Gargoyle like creatures, swoop down on the unsuspecting Archers up ahead.

                "Well there goes our support..." he whispered.  Trian stopped, turned around, and stared straight at the oncoming wave of Garamon.  He mustered his energy, slowly raised his hands level with his head, and let the Magic consume him.  Whenever he made a powerful spell like this, he could feel the energy coursing through his blood.

                Thick clouds came in, just above the grey stone buildings.  Blades of ice rained down on the Garamon, cutting down wave after wave.  Then he turned towards the abandoned homes next to him, summoned all his strength, and slowly brought them down, cutting off the one way in...and out.  "That should hold them for a little while..." Trian mumbled, and began running up to the wall.  

                By the time he reached it, the Karnen had already flown off.  Trian collapsed next to the wall, immediately reaching for his canteen.  He poured the water in his mouth, welcoming the cool liquid to quench his parched throat.  

                "Sir Mage," a young soldier came up to Trian and bowed.  He quickly got up and returned the bow.         

                "How are things looking?" he asked her.  Her frown deepened.

                "Not good, Magi.  Garamon have just breached the North and South gates, and you of course just witnessed the East one fall."

                "And the West?"

                "Not looking good.  We're sending reinforcements, but we suspect it will be gone by nightfall."

                "Our one way out is about to be cut off.  Is there any chance we can escape that way?"  Trian already knew the answer.

                "No, sir.  I'm sorry, but it would take an army at least five times our size, and energy, to fight through the enemy forces."

                "What are the conditions of the Sky Ships?  Did they manage to repair them?"

                "We can probably fix them by tonight, but we can't be sure.  Plus, we would have to fight through clouds of Karnen.  And even if we could do all that, there is no way we could get everyone on board."

                "Not at the rate things are going..." Trian grumbled.  He saw the dismayed look on the young warrior's face.  "I apologize, I should not talk like that.  It's just...things have looked worse than ever, lately.  What, with the fall of Great Anem and all of Danangar wiped out like that...We're some of the last ones that can fight back, and we can't even defend one of our greatest strongholds..."  Trian looked up, realizing that his ramblings were not helping.  "Alright, well go see if you can assist in repairing the ships.  I'll check up on the defenses."

                The soldier nodded.  She waved to another mage, and they both teleported away.