Fenris scaled the injured beast, making quick work up its neck. It held onto a horn to get up to the top of its skull and braced for the swinging as it tried to shake it off.
With its arm morphing into a giant blade once more, Fenris stabbed into the top of the serpent’s skull. Over and over again until it could pierce through.
“Look out!” Yaaranam called. “Fenris, move!”
The valkyrie must not have heard her, or was too determined to kill the serpent it was on.
The other serpent came closer, sending out a ball of lightning from its maw. It hit its partner in the side of the head, but struck Fenris as well. With its body locked up from the electricity, Fenris collapsed, first onto the head of the beast. Then it was shaken off and fell to the ground. Its impact with the dirt made a shallow crater that flooded with both its blood and khexide.
The other beast, hit by the lightning, dropped its head low. Low enough for Mjolnir to reach with his hammer. One good swing to the temple sent the serpent’s head crashing into the ground. Mjolnir bashed it repeatedly in its scarred eye. Seeing an opening, he spun his hammer around and stabbed the pommel right through the socket.
The beast cried out in pain, pulling its head back. It didn’t make it very far before it no longer had the strength to lift its head. Its body writhed and curled in on itself, coiling to protect it from further injury.
Vactubstein helped Fenris back up to its feet.
“Keep moving, wolf.” He said.
The serpent swung its tail down towards the pair. Fenris shoved Vactubstein out of the way and took the tail at full force with both of its wingarms. It took hold of the tail and pulled to swing the beast around. Its weight was too great for Fenris’ current strength to actually throw as intended, but the serpent writhed in the valkyrie’s grasp and coiled around to take a bite out of it.
It grabbed hold of the fangs and pulled it down. Jaw against the ground and its upper jaw pulled down, the serpent could only throw itself around. Its tail whipped about as the rest of its body scrunched up.
Mjolnir hurried over with his hammer and swung it down against the serpent’s head. It cried out. He swung again. He kept swinging for as long as Fenris could hold it in place. Blood soon splattered with each hit and swing of the mighty hammer. Before too long, the serpent squealed with its body giving one final flail.
Then it fell limp.
Fenris leaned against its nose, panting softly. Its wingarms hung down at its sides.
The other serpent released itself from its guarded state and slithered back into the ocean for safety. It no longer wanted to fight. Seeing its partner go down, it knew it would be next.
“There’s no more, right?” Yaaranam asked.
“Let’s hope not.” Mjolnir leaned against his hammer. “We need to tell the Captain.”
She frowned. “I know.”
Reaper was still on his knees attempting to resuscitate Jackal. Even during all of that chaos, he stood strong and determined.
“Humans never give up, do they?” She asked softly.
“No. Even when they have no chance at all, they still fight.” Mjolnir almost smiled.
“Stupid.”
Fenris slumped its way over to Reaper and Jackal and sat down across from the Captain. Its wingarms dragged across the dirt, keeping itself body upright. Even as a wolf, they could see the pain in its face.
The medic had sat himself back, rubbing his face with both of his hands.
“Captain,” Yaaranam said, stepping over to them.
He didn’t say a word. He kept repeatedly pushing down on Jackal’s chest.
“Captain.” She said it more sternly.
Vactubstein grabbed her shoulder.
The lights on Fenris’ armor dimmed until finally blacking out. Its body stiffened, locked in place like a statue.
Reaper cursed under his breath. Prayed. Begged. His entire world was crumbling around him. Like glass, it all shattered and fell to the floor. All of his walls, nothing more than dust on the wind. His scars tore open as hope faded. The memories, suppressed somewhere deep in the confines of his mind, returned to the forefront where he was forced to relive each agonizing second. Each pump of Jackal’s chest reminded him of another soldier dying in his arms. Another one gunned down. Another one with the parts of his body strewn across the potted field. The gunfire roaring overhead, and the cracks of rounds smacking into the surfaces next to him. His only solace wasn’t the fact that he survived, but one of them did. Liam pushed through the ash and corpses with him. Gave him the strength to get up again.
He was the wall that kept the memories out. Kept him strong and pushing forward. The reason he kept going. What was he without anyone else? What could Reaper do with no one standing by him?
“Liam, goddamn it! Come back!” Reaper shouted. “You can’t...You…” He bit down on his lip, giving one good push and holding it there. He held his breath. Pushed the pain back down the best he could.
Something brushed over his chest. Nicked his jaw.
He opened his eyes. A hand was barely holding itself up, pushed against his shoulder. Jackal coughed and sputtered with salt water pouring out of his mouth.
Reaper stuttered and stammered random syllables, pulling his hands from Jackal.
When he had gotten all of the water out of his lungs, Jackal took a wheezing breath. Squeezed Reaper’s shoulder. His face twisted up into a grin.
“Thank God. Thank God.” Reaper wrapped his arms around Jackal’s shoulders and squeezed him tight.
Jackal coughed, wrapping one arm around him.
“It was…” Jackal took a sharp breath. “Beautiful. It was so beautiful.”
“What was?” Reaper slowly let go of him so he could balance himself upright.
“The other side. Bright, peaceful. Family. Everybody. It was beautiful.”
Reaper stared at him, blue eyes shimmering. He wrapped his arms around his friend once more.
“Don’t you fucking do that again.”
Jackal laughed.
“It’s good to have you back, Lieutenant Jackal.” Vactubstein smiled.
Jackal coughed into his hand and leaned forward. “Where’s Fenris?” He gave a look around to find the wolf sitting right next to him. Its lights were off, so it had the appearance of a blackened metal statue. Black blood was still dripping from its open wounds.
“Fen?” Jackal touched his arm.
The valkyrie sparked to life. Each light lit brightly, before flashing down into a normal flow. It leaned its head down into Jackal’s hand.
The Thin Hex Line
The Black Wolves
Alpha hunters are the Order of the Hunter's most elite soldiers. Nameless and treated as tools, they handle suicidal missions routinely. Some of these alpha hunters have decided enough is enough, and they have banded together to fight for not just their freedom, but their humanity. These AWOL soldiers have been deemed the Black Wolves, and their threat to the Order has warranted the need for an anti-alpha weapon. Can the Black Wolves succeed against the most powerful leaders of the human species, or will they fall?
The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) Page 46