Discovery at Nerwolix
Page 24
“Alright,” he nods, scanning the Dofinike nest. “Where’re you going to hit?”
“Uh…” I search, trying to find the best position. I decide on a little ways over, not quite to the middle of the pit, but between Jace and the middle. I point. “Right there. I’m going to get as many as I can for as long as I can and then I’m going to book it.”
“And go where?”
“Back to the city.”
“Can you get there by yourself?”
I roll my eyes. “Just focus on getting to Jace. You two worry about yourselves. I’ll be alright.”
“Fallon,” he tugs on my elbow. “I can’t leave you by yourself. Let’s pick a meet-up point.”
“What if I’m being chased? I may not be able to make it.”
Booker looks around, spotting something in the distance. “See that tree? The one with the curved trunk and that slanted branch? If you can, get there. I’ll wait with Jace at the bottom and we’ll all head back to the city together.”
“Booker…”
“I can’t tell Boss the last thing I saw was you racing off with a trail of Vermix behind you.”
“Okay,” I agree. “I’ll do my best. But if it takes too long or they’re coming after you, don’t wait for me. Just go.”
Booker nods and I offer a small smile.
“What does Jace say? You guys are Rogues, right?” I wink, reaching for a Yulu. “It’ll be pie.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth but I’m already swinging myself to another branch, making for my new destination. I fly from branch to branch and position myself where I need to be—right by the chaos I’m about to cause. I glance over and find Booker still sitting in the same tree, watching me.
We can do this.
I survey the area behind me, finding my escape route—the branches that I’ll need to use when I have to flee. Once I have my plan, I locate the meet-up tree. Okay. I’ll try my hardest. My very hardest. But if I can’t get back, at least Booker and Jace won’t wait too long for me. Finding the blonde Rogue once more, I pull out my Traxpire.
I aim on the tight mix of Vermix surrounding him. Inhaling deeply, I focus on the first Dofinike. This is it. My heart thumps hard as I count down.
Three…two…one.
I pull the trigger.
I turn to the next Vermix, pull the trigger. The next Vermix, pull the trigger. They’ve started scrambling but I keep going, keep selecting a target and dropping it. The movement is felt on both sides as the Vermix come rushing off the shore and into the forest again. But I hold my ground. Everything inside me is screaming that I flee, that I take off and head straight for the city, or far enough to lead them away so Booker can go and get Jace. I keep going. Another shot. Another shot. Another shot. I may have only hit about six or seven but I can’t stop now. Even with them all rushing forward, I have to keep going. I have to give Booker a long enough opportunity. It’s now or never and I won’t let Jace be taken from us that easily.
I pull the trigger again and again and again, aware the Vermix have flooded back into the forest, surrounding my tree. They’ve started climbing it, but I keep shooting. I have to hold out as long as possible. Hitting the horde racing up my trunk, I’m firing on automatic now, locating that small patch on the crown of their head or right between the eyes and I shoot. Again and again and again. No stopping. My heart is thundering but my hands are steady. Have I given Booker enough time? Does he have enough of a distraction to get in there and use the Brulily? My tree and each one surrounding are being swarmed.
They’re cutting off my exit points.
Shit.
It’s time to go.
With a final few shots at the rapidly ascending Vermix, I switch my Traxpire to my left hand and reach for one of the Yulus, swinging myself to the tree behind it. This one, like all the ones nearby, are covered in Vermix. I can’t even see their trunks. The Dofinikes are racing up to cut off my exit and I won’t have any place to go—I won’t have anywhere to lead them.
Double shit.
I just have to keep going. Keep swinging from tree to tree to tree, moving faster than they can climb, which seems impossible because by the time I’ve reached a new branch, they’re moving higher up the trunk. Just keep going. Keep swinging. Don’t even look back. Just keep—
I’m cut off. They’re all around me, already at the next branch, already leaping toward my tree. I switch my Traxpire back to my right hand and fire, blowing one back. I turn and shoot again, hitting the next assailant and then the next. I’m suffocated, surrounded by the Vermix around me and the ones racing up my trunk. Shit. What do I do now? They’ll overwhelm me any second. Another Vermix comes flying toward me, quickly followed by two more and I focus on them. Three shots and they’re down. But then another five take off in a thunderous leap and I’m frozen.
This may be it.
Chapter Twenty: Help
The five never reach me.
They plummet straight to the forest floor, but I didn’t shoot them. Maybe they miscalculated their jump? Still gripping my Traxpire, I search for the next set of Vermix but before I’m able to focus on them long enough to aim, they fall just like the first five.
What?
There is something else is in the trees with me. The surrounding Vermix feel it too, all searching for it—the silent movement that ripples through the Yulus. And one by one, snarls of pain and surprise rip through them, Dofinikes falling from the trees as if pushed or unbalanced. They start moving, fighting back, but it’s useless. All around me, stiff Vermix fall to the ground, others racing past to take their places.
Something whizzes by, striking a Vermix in his neck. It’s a jagged edged dart and he’s right behind me, standing on my branch. He stumbles back, knocking into another Vermix and they both go tumbling off the tree. But a third Dofinike climbs up, and using my Traxpire, I shoot him between the eyes. I brace myself for the next one, consistently turning about, searching. But they’re not here. Nothing is happening. With a peek over my branch, I scan my tree, searching for the ascending Vermix, but it’s a hive of movement below. The Dofinikes leap from trunk to trunk, all silently pursued by the invisible assailants rushing through the thick lime Yulus. Darts fly everywhere and Vermix fall mid-flight, hitting the forest ground in thunderous booms.
The Zingfinolds have arrived!
Checking my escape route, I find I’m cleared to head back to the city. But with the new help, I might be able to join up with Booker and Jace at the meeting point. It’s only been a few minutes. They could still be waiting for me there—if I gave Booker enough time to get Jace. With a quick map of the branches I’d need, I take off.
I swing from tree to tree to tree until finally arriving at the one Booker had indicated as the meet-up point. I let out a breath and pause. The Vermix aren’t over here. They’re distracted with the Zingfinolds moving to the center of the forest. This is good. The boys should be here. Scanning the base, I search for the two Rogues, but through the lime green shield, it’s hard to find them. Stroking the Yulu, it slowly lowers me down and that’s when I spot them—Booker’s black hair and Jace’s bright blonde.
I keep stroking the leaf and once close enough, I let go and jump to the ground next to them. Both jump.
“Just me,” I whisper, crouching beside the Rogues. “How did it go?”
“Took out five with the Brulily and the rest were so distracted with you, I just grabbed him and ran.”
“And you,” I look to Jace. He’s bleeding from his nose and three talon marks are ripped down his left shoulder, right through his shirt. We’ll need to get some Vilbrees on that when we get back to the city. “Are you okay?”
“I am now,” he grips his Traxpire.
“What’s happening?” Booker looks up to the trees. “Are they still chasing you?”
I shake my head. “Zingfinolds.”
Fallon, Sampson’s voice beams like a light in my head. Fallon, can you hear me?
I close my e
yes, concentrating. Yes, Sampson. I can hear you. The Zingfinolds have just arrived.
Good. Do not come back to the city.
What? Why?
“She’s talking to Sampson,” I hear Booker tell Jace.
Reuzkimpart is moving his forces here and to the Hylas Mountains.
But I see his troops. They’re all still here—at the beach.
He’s brought more in—much, much more. Do not come back to the city. It is no longer safe.
“What’s Sampson saying?” Jace asks, passing Booker to sit next to me. “Are they sending more Zingfinolds?”
I shake my head, holding up a finger for quiet.
Well what do we do?
For now, stay put. Use the assistance of the Zingfinolds to shield you. I’ll keep in contact as much as possible but I have to assist Hozfin here. We are holding our own but… Reuzkimpart launched a massive attack. He wasn’t taking any chances.
Okay, I nod, even though he can’t see me.
Are you still with Booker?
And Jace. We’re hiding out.
Good, stay there, a moment passes before his voice starts again. Can you tell me—are you on the right side of the shore or the left?
The left, I think. Opposite of where I was this morning.
Okay… Sampson pauses for another moment. Reid is coming for you. Stay where you are and I’ll try to give you updates as I can. Please do the same with me.
Okay.
When Sampson’s voice stops, I let out a deep, exhausted exhale. This can’t be happening. How did this go so sour so quickly? Or maybe we knew. With Hozfin not wanting to prepare and Reuzkimpart not wanting to fail, it was pretty inevitable it would unfold this way.
“We can’t go back to the city,” I lean my head against the trunk. “Reuzkimpart sent even more there.”
“Shit,” Jace shakes his head, Booker quickly following. “Then what do we do now? What did Sampson say?”
“That we should stay where we are.”
“For how long?”
I shrug. “But we probably shouldn’t move too much. He said Reid’s coming for us.”
Booker glances at the bleeding Commander beside him. “But they know Jace left. They’ll go looking for him.”
This is true. We’re not completely invisible. I fired at the Vermix with Traxpires and they know the Zingfinolds don’t use their weapon. They must know there’s another threat out here. What can we do?
“What do we have in terms of weapons?” I scan their hands and what’s buckled to their sides. With a quick count, I nod. “Okay, four Traxpires. Two Brulilies, one knife and one whip. This isn’t bad between the three of us. We just have to stay hidden and silent.”
“And just stay here?” Jace asks, glancing over his shoulder. “They’re a hundred feet behind us and all around,” he looks up, still watching the Vermix leap from tree to tree, some falling while darts whiz through the air. He shakes his head. “We have to get someplace safe.”
“There is no where safe. We just need to—”
A shadow falls over us and just as we all reach for our Traxpires, a large Zingfinold shakes his head, arms crossed and his face impassive.
“Humans…” he bellows deep, “you no safe here.”
“Warze?” I gasp.
“Other humans at city. Why you here?”
“We couldn’t get away,” I struggle to my feet. “They were chasing us… and they caught Jace,” I gesture to him. “Sampson—the Fychu said they’re attacking Zinnollo, that we shouldn’t go back.”
Warze nods. “City under attack. Is no safe now.”
“Then what do we do? Where do we go?”
Warze whips around, clutching the neck of a Vermix and with very little effort, snaps it. The Dofinike’s head falls limp and Warze tosses him to the ground. With a growl, he turns back to us. “Stay with me.”
Booker and I help Jace to his feet and swiftly, we follow Warze through the trees. He moves with speed, running on instinct, pummeling through Vermix who don’t even see him. The Zingfinold doesn’t stop, but runs right past them, either slicing their lower stomach or slashing their necks with a near-invisible blade he’s clutching. Some, he merely grips and snaps their heads to the side. We rush past them, over the trail of dead Vermix, following as the Zingfinold moves with ease. Finally, we reach a tree and without pausing, Warze races right up, gripping the knotted bark in his thick fingers. Booker, Jace and I watch, looking for a low-hanging Yulu we can use. There are only a few—most clinging high up, shielding the top part of the tree.
“Can you get Jace?” I look to Booker.
He nods and wrapping his hand around the Commander’s waist, the two Rogues take off after Warze. Selecting my own leaf, I do the same, soaring up the tree and stopping when I find the Zingfinold crouching on a wide, shelf-like branch. We’re up high, between the middle and top of the Eckle.
Booker places Jace against the trunk first and then takes a seat next to him. I keep close, tucking my legs to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Lowering my forehead to my knees, I pant out my exhaustion. Warze crouches by the edge.
So much has happened—so much that I can’t even remember it all. There have been too many close calls, and those are the ones that I know about. I wish I could’ve been at the city. To see what happened; to see how everybody is. We’ve been resting here on this branch for about ten minutes when I look up. I can’t take it anymore.
“What happened at Zinnollo?”
“Dofinikes arrive,” the Zingfinold’s voice is low. Deadly. “Set fire with explosion weapon.”
“Traxpires?” I hold up mine.
He scowls at it, but nods. “Several arrive… we kill all but… more arrive. And more. Explosions everywhere,” he shakes his head. “They strike female and young. They strike everything.”
“Is Hozfin still there?” Jace asks.
Warze nods. “He still fights. Zingfinolds still fight.”
“How many did he send out here?” I ask. “Including yourself?”
A moment passes. “Twenty.”
“Only twenty?” I gasp, looking between the two Rogues. “Against thousands.”
“Well they fall easily enough,” Jace laughs. “You saw how many Warze took down just getting here. If all of them can move like that…”
“Warze…” I crawl closer to him, “what does Hozfin plan to do? How does he plan on… ending this?”
Warze shakes his head. “He fights until death. All Zingfinolds fight until death.”
I look back at the Rogues, hoping they have something to add, some hope or ideas to share but like me, they’re silent, bewildered and wondering what comes next. I turn to the Zingfinold again. “Did you see Sampson—the Fychu? Any of the other humans?”
He nods. “Humans safe. With Fychu.”
I let out a breath. Thank God. Even if Vermix are attacking Zinnollo, Pratt and Mae and the others are with Sampson. There’s no safer place. All the humans are together… except Reid. Which reminds me…
I glance over the branch, searching for movement. Anything that could help me locate him. I wish I had the same ability to use with him like I do with Sampson. I could just tell him where we are and he’d come to us. But I can’t. He’s out there somewhere, looking for us. How is going to find us? And would he think to check this high?
“I wonder what’s happening at the city,” Booker mutters. “Fallon, can you ask Sampson?”
“You communicate with Fychu?” Warze turns to me, surprised.
I nod and, closing my eyes, concentrate on Sampson.
We’re up in a tree with Warze. Are you okay? Are the others safe?
A long moment passes. Fallon… I won’t lie to you. It is not good. We are getting quickly overrun. The humans are safe—they’re all with me but things…things are worsening by the minute.
Have you heard from Jothkore?
Yes. King Thias knows of Reuzkimpart’s invasion but he’s staying put for now. I think once the
Vermix start for the Hylas, he may send some troops that way.
Could you bring the fight there? Lead them away from the city? You’ll have the Nerwos’ assistance.
I could try, but Hozfin doesn’t want to leave. Reuzkimpart is specifically keeping the fight here, hoping for the distraction while he searches.
Should we go the Mountains?
Has Reid reached you yet?
No. We’re high up. I don’t know if he’ll find us.
Stay put until he does. But yes, if you can, make your way over there. I need to be up to date on what Reuzkimpart is doing.
Okay. Sampson, stay safe.
You as well.
“So?” Jace asks as I open my eyes. “What did he say? Is everyone safe?”
“For now. But he said they’re quickly getting overrun. He wants to lead the Vermix away from the city but Hozfin wants to stay.”
“Why?”
“Defend home,” Warze says. “Defend kingdom.”
“He says once Reid finds us, to start making our way for the Hylas—that’s where Reuzkimpart’s really concerned with sending the Vermix.”
“Reid?” Warze frowns.
“Another human…” I peer over the edge again, hoping to find him swinging through the leaves. But it’s silent. “How’s he going to find us?”
“And the Vermix are still down there?” Jace asks. “Still moving toward the city?”
I shake my head at the motionlessness. Through the hanging lime green shield, I don’t see much, but everything I do see is quiet. I sit back. “No… I think Reuzkimpart’s holding off on sending anymore toward Zinnollo right now.” I glance toward the far right side of the beach where the hike to the mountains begin. “I think he’s going to start sending the Vermix toward the Hylas.”
“When?”
“They’re probably on their way now. That’s why it’s so quiet,” I look up to the Rogues with a gulp. “How do we find Reid?”
“If Zingfinold see, I will know.”
“How?” I frown.
Warze lets off a faint three-note whistle. It’s so soft and light that it could almost belong to a bird. Not a second goes by before it’s answered again, from the far right and behind us. He looks back to us. “No sign yet.”