Discovery at Nerwolix

by C. G. Coppola

  “Tucker ride with Walker, yes?” Warze raises a furry brow. “Walker know Zingfinold signal. Will direct to us.”

  “But can he hear it?” Reid asks. “Through all this? Will Walker be able to hear it?”

  Warze nods. “Zingfinold train to hear call of brother anywhere.”

  “Okay…” he nods. “Then that’s our play. Let’s find a spot a few branches up and wait this thing out. We’ll let them know where we are once the Ludin have cleared a path,” Reid selects a Yulu, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  “Hopefully theirs is currently feeding,” Jace makes a face at Booker. “I don’t want to meet it if it’s still hungry.”

  “If it is, we’ve got some grub for them,” he gestures to the bound Vermix. “Come one.”

  We all sail high into the trees, selecting a branch about half way up. Warze unloads the three bound Dofinike, sitting them up against the trunk and then approaches Reid who has the shield of leaves parted. Both look out into the lit night filled with fleeing and fighting Vermix and low-soaring Ludins. The panicked scene hasn’t changed one bit. Except now we’re up here watching, instead of down there, in the midst of the chaos.

  “Where are all of the Zingfinolds?” I ask.

  “Waiting for Ludin attack to finish.”

  “They’re in the trees with us?”

  Warze nods.

  “Well…” I exhale, crossing my arms, “at least we get a moment of rest. Everyone doing okay?”

  The boys nod as Reid approaches me, softly cradling my elbows. “Has Sampson said anything?”

  “No.”

  “Have you heard from Clarence?”

  I shake my head.

  “I wonder what he’s been doing—if the queen and chancellor are able to help.”

  “I thought he would’ve contacted me by now… or Sampson,” I shrug. “But he hasn’t said anything.”

  Reid rubs his chin.

  “Warze,” I look at the giant Zingfinold, “how long does it take them to get full? Will a handful of Vermix do it?”

  “Ludin have big appetite. Take time to fill large stomach.”

  “So we’re looking at a while, Boss Lady,” Jace says, slumping down next to the Vermix. “Might as well make yourself comfortable.”

  The bound Dofinikes attempt snapping and moving toward Jace but he merely punches the closest one in the snout. It recoils but tries again. And just as Jace goes to slug it once more, Warze pinches each of the Dofinike’s necks until one by one they fall motionless.

  “Did you kill them?” I ask.

  Warze shakes his head. “Sleep.”

  “So it’s just a waiting game?” Booker asks.

  Reid nods, crossing his arms as he begins to pace. I do the same, periodically peering out the shield of leaves while Jace sits next to the sleeping Vermix, waiting for the time to pass. After a long while, Warze moves to the branch’s edge.

  He lets out an alternating high-low note that sails into the chaotic night, past the Traxpire explosions and the sharp, violent chomping of the feasting Ludins. He waits a moment and does it again and after another minute, releases a third cycle before withdrawing from the edge and turning back to us.

  “I call Walker.”

  “Already?” I ask.

  “Where are they going to land?” Jace gets to his feet. “Up here?”

  “On ground. We meet there,” Warze reaches for the sleeping Vermix and with very little effort, hoists them over his shoulder. “Come. We leave now.”

  “And they’re going to come right now?” I ask, glancing between Reid and the Rogues.

  “Walker knows we here. He looks for us. It is time,” Warze leaps off the tree and into the darkness.

  Reid nods. “Let’s go find Rogue Leader.”

  “With you, Boss,” Jace reaches for a Yulu and swings himself down. Booker is right behind him and Reid turns to me.

  “Ready?”

  “It’s a little late to ask that.”

  With a smirk, he wraps an arm around me. “You’re probably right. Hold tight,” he says and we’re soaring back to the ground.

  The night is still lit with bright orange blasts and the screams and snarls of the escaping Vermix. Only a few Ludins fly over this part of the mountain and most are still picking the fleeing Dofinikes right off the ground. I’m not sure how long it’s been since Hozfin launched his aerial attack but it doesn’t seem to be lessening up.

  On the ground, I clutch Reid next to me and he responds by squeezing my hand. We stare straight ahead at the chaotic scene with Jace and Booker, Warze already marching out toward the forest edge with all three Vermix still slung over his shoulder.

  “This is crazy,” Jace says. “How are they going to find us?”

  “If Warze says Walker will know…” Reid starts.

  “I still don’t know, Boss,” Booker chimes in. “How could he hear it? And with all this going on?”

  “Even if they find us,” I look between the three, “what’s going to stop their Ludin from devouring us? Unless he’s full… and yes,” I turn to Reid, “I know we have the Vermix but it may not be enough. We’re going to have to stay back at first and let Tucker and Walker come to us.”

  “What is Warze doing?” Jace’s mouth drops open.

  We shift our stare to the giant Zingfinold waiting at the base of the forest, watching the herd of racing Vermix pass without even a glance. Ludins soar low, snatching the Dofinikes right off the ground and then return to the sky, dropping bits of arms and talons and snouts like a storm of mutilated pieces. But Warze stands still, unfazed by it until the bright golden wings of a Ludin flap toward the ground. It lands a mere fifty feet from the stoic Zingfinold and squinting, I can barely make out two figures on its back.

  Walker jumps off first, followed quickly by Tucker and then Warze rushes out to meet them. Unbinding the Vermix, he tosses one at the Ludin’s beak as a few Dofinikes race toward the trio. But the tribesmen spring into action, shooting Brulilies and in Tucker’s case, firing the Traxpire and creating more orange blasts that cast a gentle glow on the already golden Ludin. Warze chucks another bound Vermix toward the giant beast and it catches it easily, snapping the Dofinike in two, a piercing scream filling the air. After tossing the third captive up, Warze withdraws as the Ludin garbles down the last Vermix and in its moment of distraction, the three tribesmen race back.

  “Fallon!” Walker rushes over and throws his arms around me in a tight hug. “Thank God!” he pulls back. “I’m so sorry…I tried going after you but this Vermix kept cutting me off. He finally saw you so I distracted him and led him away. Otherwise he would’ve gone after you himself. Are you okay?” he searches me for injuries. “What happened?”

  “She survived. That’s what happened,” Reid gently squeezes my elbow, yanking me back by him. His eyes dart over Walker’s shoulder. “Tucker,” he jets toward the Rogue Leader and the two hug. “Glad to see you.”

  “You too, Rox. Can’t believe you made it all the way back here.”

  “Can’t believe you actually flew that thing.”

  “Wasn’t me.”

  “No?”

  “I have my talents, Rox,” Walker grins. “You should know that.”

  With a controlled exhale, Reid focuses on Tucker again. “How many Ludins are out here?”

  “Hozfin released the most well-trained he had—five.”

  “Most well-trained?” I ask.

  “Least likely to kill their riders,” Walker explains. “Most of the ‘pilots’ feed them and have ridden them before. I just started working with the Ludins so Hozfin said it was fine if I went. Think I did a pretty decent job landing.”

  “Outstanding,” Reid rolls his eyes, focusing on Tucker again. “Any idea how many Vermix casualties resulted with the aerial attack?”

  “Based on what I saw…” Tucker rubs the back of his neck. “Probably a few hundred.”

  “A few hundred.” Reid repeats.

  “Yeah. There are only
five and the Vermix have been shooting off their Traxpires.”

  “We’ve seen,” he nods, folding his arms. “Do you know if most are down here now? We’ve seen a lot of Vermix come this way. How many do you think are still towards the top and middle of the mountain?”

  “A lot. Still.”

  “Shit,” Reid curses, looking to Warze. “And you said they’ll finish attacking when they’re full?”

  Warze nods.

  “Then that means once they’re done, we’re on our own again. And with Reuzkimpart bringing in more forces…” he shakes his head. “I wonder if we even made a dent.”

  “I’m sure we did,” I say. “A sizeable chunk too. And it’s not over yet. It’s far from over.”

  “Yeah,” Jace nods, “but what are we going to do when it’s done? Go back to Brulilies?”

  “And Traxpires and knives…”

  “And whips,” Reid winks at me, a secret smile growing. He wipes it clean and focuses on the rest of the group. “Look, the only thing to do is keep fighting. The Zingfinolds have a population of like what,” he turns to Warze, “a few hundred? Maybe a thousand?”

  Warze nods.

  “And Reuzkimpart brought a few thousand—maybe more. We knew the odds would be stacked against us. Nothing has changed. The goal is still the same.”

  “But Boss…” Jace says quietly, “if that was Hozfin’s last plan… what’s next?”

  “Just keep fighting, Commander. Until we hear anything from Sampson or Clarence…” he briefly glances at me, “just keep fighting. That’s all we can do.”

  “Ludin start finish,” Warze scans the night sky which is not as illuminated as before. Fewer orange blasts are sparked and less wings flap overhead, sending the Vermix racing. They’re still heading down the mountain but there aren’t as many because only one Ludin sweeps above—and that’s the one Tucker and Walker rode in on. It mostly circles in the night sky, watching the movement below and dodging Traxpire blasts. “Ludin soon leave.”

  “Then we’re back in the trees again?” Jace looks between the group. “Or what?”

  “Until we can figure the next phase,” Tucker shrugs, looking to Reid for his confirmation.

  “Back to Zingfinold warfare,” Walker nods. “Silent death from above. It’s the best we got and it’s effective.”

  “They already know we’re here,” I say.

  “But they’ll be so frazzled from the Ludin, they won’t be thinking clearly,” Walker crosses his arms. “We can still pick them apart piece by piece. I’m sure you and a group of tribesmen stayed here on the southern tip while the rest were in the north right? Chipping away? That’s what the Zingfinolds do.”

  “We took down a few,” Booker agrees. “From our end at least.”

  “See?” Walker says. “We just go back to that.”

  “For now,” Jace sighs. “But then what?”

  “There is no ‘then.’ There’s only now. Surviving this moment.”

  “Well,” I look to the boys, “we do have the Fychu on our side. That gives us the best odds, right? I agree with Reid… and Walker. Just keep fighting. There’s nothing more we can do.”

  “So trees it is?” Tucker looks around the group.

  Everyone nods.

  “Well,” Walker smiles, “at least we’ll have time to—”

  An orange blast rips through the forest, searing the bark by Booker’s head. It’s followed by a herd of Vermix rushing for us, Traxpires drawn and firing.

  “Move!” Reid squeezes my hand.

  Tucker, Jace, Booker and Walker race behind us as we jet in and out of the trunks, following Warze as he leaps up the nearest tree. We aim for the same exit but the Traxpire blasts right into the trunk, engulfing it in flames. From the left, a new group of Vermix leaps toward us, snarling and snapping while explosions ripple overhead. Gripping my hand, Reid retrieves his Traxpire and starts firing. Orange blasts soar back but the Vermix dodge, scaling the Eckles.

  “Shit!” Walker curses.

  “Guys—we got to get up!”

  “Up where?” Jace fires. “We’re surrounded!”

  “Where did Warze go?”

  “Fallon—move!” Reid drags me to his side, just out of the path of the orange heat. Firing back in succession, he collapses two Vermix that are nearly on us. “Higher ground—NOW!”

  A sharp cry fills the air. With my heart in my throat, I look over and find Booker backed against a trunk, grasping his arm in trembling fingers. A look of pure fear is etched across his face and following his focus, I find a Traxpire aimed right at his chest. Something inside me bursts as the same rage from earlier arises. It consumes me, overwhelms me and in this moment, it’s all I am. I only have a second but time has stilled, slowed for me like before, and I use every precious second of it.

  I’m already gripping my own Traxpire—it’s right here in my hand. But it’s not good enough. Jamming it back into my pocket, I snag the whip’s handle and arm raised, I release it, sending the sharp edge through the air with a loud hiss. It cracks against the Vermix’s side and he falls to the ground, dropping the Traxpire. But I don’t stop there.

  Another two Vermix are only feet from Tucker and Walker and spinning, I let the whip crack against them, slicing across their shoulders and into their backs. Both fumble but before I even watch them hit the ground, I jerk back and send the sharp edge flying into the snout of a Vermix shooting at Jace, and then into another one coming up behind us. We’re outnumbered—completely surrounded—but this slow motion is making it easy. I can see every obstacle—every approaching Vermix—and I have more than enough time to immobilize them with the whip.

  “Holy shit!” I hear someone in the background. But I can’t stop and find out whom.

  Traxpire blasts shoot from above and I send the whip cracking up into the trees. There are five more of them—two Vermix on one tree and three on another. I hit the trunk with the two Dofinikes and send one falling to the ground. The other leaps to another tree and the whip slices him mid jump, his yelping body falling to the ground. The last three all aim for me with Traxpires and I hear a blurred something of watch out! But I don’t need to. I see it. I see the end of their weapons up close, like its inches in front of me instead of yards. And I see the narrowed yellow eyes of the Vermix, anger and determination reflected as they start to pull the trigger. But it doesn’t matter. They’re moving so unbelievably slow that I’m able to hoist back my arm and send the whip’s end flying through Eckles. It cracks as I hit all three across the eyes, blinding them as they drop their Traxpires. They reach for their faces, blood running down their snouts and yelping out sharp cries of pain.

  Another one launches himself from behind me but I spin just in time to hit him across his stomach. He drops mid-leap with a vicious snarl as another takes his place. I do the same, sending the whip flying with a hiss and a loud crack as it cuts across his neck. I prepare myself for the next attack but everything is still—no Traxpires aimed, no giant greenish-brown bodies leaping toward us. With a quick scan, I survey our lot and find no more Vermix. All the nearby Dofinikes are on the ground dead or twitching. And then, time speeds up again and I feel the thundering racing of my heart… and the eyes of all the boys—and Warze—focused on me.

  A solid minute passes and they simply stare. Their mouths hang open but no words come out, all wide-eyed with disbelief. Finally, Walker takes an apprehensive step closer.

  “Holy mother of God,” his mouth curves into an impressed smile. “What did you just do?”

  “She kicked ass is what she did!” Jace is grinning from ear to ear. “Holy shit, Fallon! That was fucking unreal!”

  “I don’t even know…” I start, quickly trying to replay the events. It must’ve only been a few seconds but it felt like I had all the time in the world, like the Vermix were going slow enough to make it easy for me. But they weren’t. It was normal time and I was somehow able to slow it down. But how?

  “Amazing, Fallon,” Jace contin
ues. “Just fucking amazing.”

  “Female natural killer,” Warze nods with approval.

  “I’m not a killer.”

  “Just an assassin?” Jace leans toward Reid and crosses his arms. “You wet in the panties yet?”

  Without taking his eyes off me, Reid simply nods, cupping his chin as he scans me like he’s never seen me before. It sends a hot spark through my body and although I wish I could stop it, I feel the oncoming blush. But it’s not like I can hide it with them all staring at me. Seriously—can’t they just stop?

  “So are we getting to higher ground or what?” I roll my eyes.

  “She’s hot when she’s feisty,” Walker grins.

  “Guys,” I pocket my whip. “We need to get into the trees.”

  “Whatever you say, Boss Lady,” Jace smirks.

  “Boss Lady?” Walker frowns, shaking his head. “I don’t like it.”

  “It’s not up to you,” Reid snaps.

  “And you’re allowed to hand out the nicknames?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Okay,” I reach for the Yulus, already done with this. “I’m going up. You guys can stay down here.”

  “Fallon’s right,” Booker says. “We need to get up—”

  But I’m knocked to the ground before he finishes. A snarling, snapping snout growls over me, hot stinky breath staining my eyes. Shouts holler in the background but I’m digging my hands into the Vermix’s shoulders, straining to keep his teeth from biting me. He’s snapping closer to my throat and for a moment, I don’t think I have enough strength to hold him off. If I could just get to my whip…

  The Vermix is ripped off me and tossed to the side, into a trunk where he collides with a thunderous clunk. Warze makes quick work of finishing him while Reid flies toward me, leaping over another Vermix and snatching my hand in his. He pulls me to my feet but we don’t get far. Grouped with Jace, Booker, Walker and Tucker, I do a quick scan and find we’re surrounded, standing in the center of a hive of Vermix—maybe fifty this time. Shit. Warze is with us, surveying the scene, his focus darting up to the trees. But the Vermix are just standing here, watching us, eyeing our movement. Besides the one that flew at me, none of the others are attacking.