by C A Ardron
Wolf let loose a few warning shots, distracting Locust from her targets. ‘It was, actually,’ he replied.
Locust turned, her face a mask of fury.
Dingo gritted his teeth when she began to turn back towards the Unicians. He let the azure orb of aura energy grow in his palm and hurled it towards her.
Wolf fired some more shots, not as a warning this time. The Unicians were retreating from Locust but the Dakkonin’s proximity to them was still dangerous, they had to halt her or at least slow her enough to close the distance.
He might only get one chance at this, trusting Wolf not to shoot him by accident Dingo raced forwards, leaping into a Canine Pounce.
Locust flinched from the aura shot blasting against the wall besides her and began to glance back.
She scooted downwards at the last instant into a very low Weave manoeuvre and twisted into a short and sharp Ground-Streak, toppling Dingo.
Dingo grunted, why were silvers always so Light-burned fast? The distraction had given the two Unicians those few precious seconds to get out of the corridor though, so Dingo hurled another aura sphere towards the Dakkonin warrior.
Locust yelped and reeled back, the energy ball hitting her in the chest. As Dingo climbed to his feet she lashed out with a powerful Bug-Punch.
He grunted and gave ground, barely avoiding the lightning-quick Beetle-Kick. Stumbling over, Dingo sighed with relief as Wolf appeared above him, forcing the Insecta back with an Alpha Punch.
As Locust was forced to retreat, Dingo pressed forwards with a low Dog-Sweep followed by some Pack Punches.
Wolf rushed in, his arm lashing out. He caught Locust with a Pack Head-Thrust. Still poised for his next attack, Dingo watched as she collapsed, her medallion armour not strong enough to combat the strong Canine strike to the head.
Dingo lowered his arms, his shoulders rising and falling as he recovered his breath.
‘Wolf,’ he panted, poking the unconscious woman with a boot. ‘The Head-Thrust is a dangerous move, we’re not supposed to use it.’
‘She was a dangerous opponent. She’s been trying to kill Unicians, she might’ve tried to kill us too.’
Dingo struggled with it. ‘It doesn’t matter. We don’t do head-strikes and especially not the Kill-Slash – not even against Sarpiens.’
Wolf turned to face him. Dingo wondered what might be going through his friend’s head, the grey warrior’s impassive helm hid all expression.
‘Do not lower your guard or weapons to the allies of darkness, nor rely on their charity – for surely they will offer no mercy.’
Dingo sighed, the Lumarium again. ‘I know what the holy scrolls say, Wolf, and I know we’re affiliated to the way of Sorin by just being medallion warriors – but this is different. We have rules, rules that keep us and the people around us safe.’
Wolf gave a slow nod. ‘You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful, guess I’ve just had too many close calls lately. I don’t want to lose any friends.’
Dingo placed a hand on Wolf’s broad, armoured shoulder. ‘It means a lot knowing you’ve got my back but try to be more careful. Things would’ve gone badly for you if you’d accidentally killed her. Come on, let’s get the medallion off her and tie her up. She won’t be terrorising the city anymore.’
Wolf nodded. ‘Then we should head back out, who knows what’s been happening out there.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lion lowered his radio after hearing both Falcon and Bison’s transmissions.
‘Well, at least we’re in the right place,’ Tiger said.
Lion glanced down at Jenna before turning to Coyote. ‘What do you think? Could Falcon be right about Jackal’s intentions?’
‘I’ve no idea, Captain.’
The Canine warrior paused, and Lion braced himself for the inevitable question. He was surprised Coyote hadn’t broached the subject before now.
‘I would not dream of prying into the Silver Falcon’s personal affairs,’ Coyote continued. ‘Her history is no business of mine, but I am even now continuously surprised by her in-depth knowledge of Sarpiens and how they operate. I believe that if she is making such a bold statement, then there must be a valid reason.’
Lion held in his relief. Thank the Light old-school Dakkonin were too polite to ask out-right. If Coyote ever learnt Falcon’s secret, he wanted it to be from Falcon herself, not given as second-hand information.
‘I agree. Tiger,’ he turned to the shorter Feline. ‘I need you to stay with Jenna, keep her safe. We can’t return her to the Unicians at the temple until we know the route is safe. Coyote and I will join the battle.’
Tiger nodded and drew her sword. The dimly glowing runes burst into flame, igniting the blade. ‘I’ll guard her with my life.’
‘It sounded as if Falcon was ambushed,’ Coyote noted as Lion strode up the road.
Lion grimaced. ‘I know, and I hope someone was nearby to help her. All we can do is make for the temple and hope there’s something to salvage.’
Already in the centre of the Sector, Lion knew it was only a short distance to the Predgarian temple so drew the heavy sword off his back.
He glanced at Coyote as he drew his lengthy blade, noting once again it was a hand-and-a-half.
Lion shifted his focus as several people turned the corner ahead, fleeing from something. He picked up the pace, stopping in the middle of the road where the two streets crossed.
He planted his feet and raised his sword, waiting for the three Sarpiens ahead to come to him.
Coyote stood by him, blade ready and chuckled when the Sarpiens scurried back the way they’d come.
Lion strode forwards, they might not want to confront him, but he wouldn’t have them hurting people.
He grunted, hearing an unwanted but familiar heavy clunking sound. Turning, he laid eyes on the massive Grey Rhino.
‘Keep after them,’ Lion told Coyote, ‘I’ll handle Rhino.’
Lion let out a quiet breath as the gigantic Sarpien stopped to pull the long-handled steel mallet off his back.
Eyeing the length of the hammer’s shaft, he thought the sturdy pole was a bit longer than his sword. Rhino would have the advantage of both strength and distance.
Lion charged, hoping he could at least out-perform him in speed. Parrying Rhino’s hammer as it whistled down to meet his sword, Lion gritted his teeth, feeling the full strength of the grey warrior’s hulking muscles, only made greater by the titanic strength of his medallion.
Lion spun to the side, unable to compete against him any longer. He heard the hammer ding off the tarmac and glanced down at the square-shaped puncture in the road. If Rhino managed to land a hit it might go straight through his armour.
Rhino lifted his hammer and swung around with it. Lion leapt back, deflecting the end of it with his sword and rushed in once more, slicing towards Rhino’s midsection.
The Sarpien grunted, the blade not quite piercing through the thick plate. Lion swore, the length getting caught up in the side of the chest plate.
Rhino was already swinging his giant weapon at him again. Lion had no choice but to let go of his sword. He swept down into a Claw-Sweep, kicking out Rhino’s legs.
Lion took the moment to lay his hands upon the golden hilt of his blade again and yank it out of the Sarpien’s armour.
Rhino clambered to his feet, his steel plates creaked and the hammer scraped across the rough tarmac. Lion backed a little, bracing himself for the next heavy blow.
Lion inhaled, seeing the shimmer in the air which identified a stealthed warrior. With a strangled oath, Lion went down into a sideways Cat-Roll to avoid the surprise attack.
As he rolled away, he heard a loud metallic thunk and a horrible, gurgled scream. Coming to his feet, Lion turned and paused, spotting the light-armoured Sarpien now crumpled against the wall of a shop across the road, blood oozing from his ears and nose.
‘Oh,’ Rhino rumbled in his deep bass. ‘Oh…this is bad. Jackal’s no
t going to like this.’
Rhino replaced his mallet on his broad back and strode over to the dead Sarpien. He picked up his comrade, cradling the dead man in his arms. ‘Sorry, Lion, I have to go home.’
Mouth opening in a surprised gape, Lion watched the Elite Sarpien walk morosely down the street.
Lion’s radio bleeped, and he turned to follow Coyote’s path. ‘Yes?’ he asked into it.
‘Lion, I’m worried about Falcon.’
‘Hawk!’ he exclaimed. ‘Good to hear you. I knew Falcon would get you back.’
‘Heh, takes more than a green Sarpien and an enforced nap to keep me down. Look, is there anyone with you who can do an aura sweep? Falcon’s radio isn’t working, I think it might be broken.’
‘I’m just on my way to join up with Coyote, keep an eye out though.’
‘I am, believe me. She can’t be far away, but I can’t see her.’
* * *
Falcon tried to move but those sharp steel blades dug deeper inter her wing, slicing downwards with malicious intent. She screamed as the thick stream of blood trickled over her feathers.
A gauntleted hand clamped across her face from behind, muffling her cries.
‘You won’t be flying away this time, Peregrine,’ a rough voice whispered in her ear.
Falcon yelped as Harrier dragged her across the street and tossed her into a shop window. Her breath caught as she careered through it, the glass shattering around her. She closed her eyes tight, gasping as shards dug into her neck and wings.
Falcon groaned, trying to move but every muscle protested. She felt hands on her again. She couldn’t resist as Harrier dragged her up, twisting her around.
The Sarpien raised his fist, calling up a powerful gust of wind to blast away the nearest of the round café tables, then threw Falcon back-first against the wall where it had been stood.
She let out a small moan, her injured wing battered against it as she collapsed. Falcon drew a ragged breath as Harrier forced her head up with the steel blades of his claw.
Her throat convulsed at the sound of steel boots on the laminate floor. Falcon could barely keep her eyes open, the entire place was shifting, sliding.
The new arrival finally finished their slow pace across the café floor and the burnished steel of his armguard came into sight as his powerful fingers wrapped around her throat.
Falcon squirmed within Jackal’s iron grip as he pulled her up towards him. Her sharp intake of breath came out a frightened gasp she couldn’t hide. The last of her strength was ebbing, her brain shutting down. She managed a hoarse ‘no,’ but it was over. Her limbs shook as her body against her will, gave in to him.
* * *
Jackal’s hand shot out as Falcon wilted. Wrapping his other arm about her back and bloody wings, he caught her.
Removing his fingers from her throat he smirked down at her. ‘Finally,’ he said. ‘You’re mine.’
Harrier looked at the unconscious woman in a curious manner. ‘I’m a bit disappointed. She didn’t even put up a fight.’
Jackal snorted and swept Falcon up in his arms. ‘She’s had a busy day. It’s a shame we have to wrap things up here first. As she is now, Cobra would make quick work of her in the coercion chamber. Get in the sky, I want you to entertain her partner while I get her to Cobra. He’ll be able to ensure she doesn’t wake up till we want her to.’
Harrier nodded and left, flapping his large wings furiously to take off once he was clear of the café.
Jackal strode out, leaving his helmet on the floor since he didn’t have his hands free. His armour would replace it next time he activated.
Jackal made for the quickest route out of the town centre. His capture of Falcon wouldn’t be complete till he had her away from her annoying friends.
He reached the small park taking up most of Kolten Way and placed Falcon down against the wall. Jackal paused as he looked down at her and raised a finger, stroking down the side of her cheek.
‘You’ll thank me for this,’ he promised.
His head shot up, hearing an odd, crackling sound. Jackal breathed out a startled oath when he saw the fierce fireball falling to earth like a comet.
Swerving to the side as it impacted on the road, Jackal drew his sabre. He paused, taking a step back when the warrior landed upon the tarmac, wings dripping fire.
The tall Dakkonin, his hard face and fierce eyes marking out who he was just as well as his wings and medallion, raised his hands.
The air blazed, a double-bladed spear wrought entirely of fire coalescing from nothing. The man’s smile was grim but confident.
‘Your move, Bloodrunner,’ Red Dragon challenged.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Gyrfalcon swooped in between Jackal and the unconscious silver warrior. The Sarpien drew his jagged sabre.
Gyrfalcon let the claw on his left gauntlet unsheathe and noted Dragon’s ever-present escort landing on the high wall of the park above him.
The Bloodrunner’s teeth clenched, his eyes lingering on the Predgarian behind Gyrfalcon.
Gyrfalcon planted his feet, his free hand drawing out a throwing knife. Grey Eagle had been right, Jackal must really want Falcon if he hadn’t retreated yet.
A growl rising in his throat, Jackal threw a fireball towards the general and fled up the street.
Dragon swept the missile aside with one hand and took a step forward. The two silver warriors flapped in readiness of flight.
The general shook his head at them. ‘We’ll leave him be for now. I’m not going to chase a Sarpien general through town, not when there’s an attack happening.’
The two guards nodded and flew down to the ground. Gyrfalcon put his weapons away and went to Falcon, moving her round so he could rest her head in his lap.
‘Her breathing is steady,’ he reported. ‘Her wing’s been raked pretty bad though.’
‘Sparrowhawk,’ Dragon ordered, pointing down at the Predgarian.
The young Avian nodded and knelt by her, placing a hand near her wing. The spot glowed with white light for several seconds. ‘Jackal was playing dirty,’ Sparrowhawk noted in his light-toned voice as he stood. ‘She’s had energy drain recently – it feels wrong for the usual drain through the course of a day.’
Silver Condor grunted deep in his throat. ‘An energy snake, then. That’s probably why she’s asleep.’
‘So this Predgarian has the attention of the Bloodrunner, does she?’ Dragon asked Gyrfalcon.
He nodded. ‘Grey Eagle thinks we should try to recruit her – for her own safety. He says he’s surprised she hasn’t been transferred out of Steiron yet.’
Gyrfalcon looked down as Falcon began to wake, her face screwing up in pain. Through her Avian mask, he could see her eyes were squinting up at him.
‘Gyrfalcon?’ she murmured before grimacing. ‘Sorry, Commander Gyrfalcon – I will get it right one of these days.’
He laughed at her wry humour. ‘I’m not such a stickler for formality I demand the title every time we meet. Let me help you up.’
He pulled her with him as he stood his full height. He held onto her a second longer as she wavered but seemed to grow stronger.
Falcon looked about. ‘This…isn’t where I was before.’
‘The Bloodrunner was taking you somewhere unsavoury,’ Silver Condor told her.
Gyrfalcon grinned at Falcon’s sudden stiffness as she noticed the general’s glowing wings.
‘Huh,’ she replied to Silver Condor, ‘that’s a bit of an understatement, isn’t it?’
Red Dragon’s eyebrows arched at her lack of reaction to him.
‘I seem to have misplaced my radio as well,’ Falcon noted. ‘Thank you for stepping in, you’ve no doubt saved me from having to tour Jackal’s torture racks.’
Gyrfalcon stared at her. He’d never heard a Predgarian sound so blasé about coercion before.
‘I need to get back in the air,’ Falcon continued. ‘This battle isn’t over yet.’
Dragon nodded at her. Hesitantly, Silver Falcon returned the gesture and spread her wings. After a few moments she sped upwards with the full speed of the fastest raptor on Courin.
Silver Condor chuckled. ‘I think she’s heard that you like to steal silvers, General.’
Dragon smiled up at her, ‘perhaps. She’s an interesting one, her voice belies experience. Didn’t you say she’s only been a warrior for six months, Gyrfalcon?’
‘Yes, that’s the strange thing about her. Six months, no prior medallion experience – yet she can hold her own against Silver Tigermoth and Red Jackal and bears the title of silver.’
Gyrfalcon finished and waited on Red Dragon as he continued to watch the distant form of the Predgarian.
‘Interesting indeed,’ the general murmured.
* * *
Lynx swerved to the side and almost lost his balance, the huge reptilian monster a bare breath away.
He’d discovered the half-beast’s bulk didn’t allow for easy movement and was keeping ahead only by shifting direction at break-neck speed.
Trying to catch his breath, he watched as Red Fox released a thick stream of fire, the flames licking around Komodo Dragon in a curving arc, forcing it to halt its direction.
How do you do that? Lynx asked using telepathy. I didn’t know fire could be used like that.
Stick to what you know, kid. Don’t be using techniques you’ve not practiced, that gets people killed.
Lynx nodded, that was very close to what Falcon said a lot.
The creature bucked and lurched towards Fox. Lynx held his breath, but Fox leapt nimbly aside, his sword bursting forth with not fire but furiously burning aura energy.
Lynx had never seen anything like it, he’d seen Fire Tiger light up her sword with flame before, but never raw energy.
Fox lunged with his blade, the dangerous weapon catching Komodo Dragon’s raised claws. It roared with pain and tried to flee.