Discovery at Nerwolix (15 page)

“Well let’s not go climbing any mountains,”
Werzo laughs.

“They’re relatively peaceful,” Able
explains. “Like Walker said, they don’t prey on meat like us… but
they’ll attack if desperate.”

“So here you’ve got the Hylas Mountain
range,” Walker sweeps his arm across the massive green boulders,
“and they pretty much follow the outline of Zinnollo. Once you hop
over, you’ll be in Nerwo territory.”

Reid nods, scanning the massive green wall.
“And this will all be covered?”

“Like I said,” Walker crosses his arms.
“Hozfin will put as many men out here as he feels necessary. I
don’t have the exact number, but if you want it, you can ask
him.”

“I’m asking you.”

“Sorry to disappoint, Rox.”

He shrugs. “It’s not a surprise.”

“You think Sampson would know?” Tucker turns
to Reid. “What kind of eyes we’ll have?”

“I don’t think anyone really knows, but at
least we know what we’re dealing with now. We’ve got more room to
fight,” he nods. “This is good. And if they move in for the choke,
there’s a tunnel through the mountain there that will lead to the
other side. We’ll use that as an emergency escape.”

“What tunnel?” Walker frowns, following
Reid’s stare.

“Perry told me about it. Last night.”

“You talked to Perry?” Jace’s brows
rise.

“Last night?” Able echoes, the same surprise
in his voice.

Reid nods, moving closer for the mountains.
“Back there—she said there’s an escape route that very few
Zingfinolds know about. That’ll be our exit point if we’re forced
to retreat.”

“We won’t be,” Walker says.

“And that mind frame will guarantee it.”

“Believing we’ll succeed?”

“Not planning for the worst.”

Walker sighs, running his hands up his face.
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with here, Rox. The Zingfinolds
are trained killers. That’s what they do. Kill anyone who
trespasses… well,” his mouth turns into a smug grin, “
almost
everyone.”

“And the Vermix are desperate. They’re in
the middle of a civil war. They won’t care about who they’re
invading, just that they get what they want.” Reid takes a step and
hooks his hands on his hips, scanning the green wall. “Perry said
the tunnel should be on the north side of that divide. There,” he
points to the far side of the brown middle. A narrow darkness opens
in the rock, so slight it could be a shadow. “See it? That’s
probably it. We should check it out and make sure we can navigate
it if we need to.”

“And Perry just told you about this last
night?” Able raises a brow, quickly glancing at me. “Out of the
goodness of her heart?”

“I don’t think there’s any goodness in
Perry’s heart. But she didn’t think we knew about it so…” he
shrugs, already moving for the tunnel, “…let’s check it out.”

“I’m telling you, Rox. We’re not going to
need it. The Zingfinolds—
look out
!”

Pratt screams, followed quickly by Mae and I
don’t have time to think. I’m knocked out of the way as two tangled
Ludins crash into the treetop above, clawing at each other with
long, gray talons. Their enormous golden wings flap low, whipping
through the trees and causing debris to fall, showering splintered
branches and broken Yulus around us like a fiery hail storm.

“We have to get out of here!” Walker calls
as the wrestling Ludins tumble even lower in the canopy.
“
Now!”

“
Go!
” Reid orders, gesturing for the
tunnel in the mountain. He pulls me from the ground and threads his
fingers in mine with a hard squeeze.

“B-but—” Mae stammers as a solid branch
crashes in front of her. Pratt jumps over it, followed quickly by
Tucker and Werzo. Frozen, she stands in complete shock, staring at
the log as debris falls around her.

“Come on!” Able yanks her over.

Walker, Jace and Booker fly over next, Reid
and I racing behind them. We don’t get far. A loud crack and part
of the trunk crashes after Able and Mae, separating us from the
rest of them. A huge cloud of dark dust billows from the impact,
momentarily blinding me. I can barely make out Walker going for the
fallen tree when the Ludins hit the ground with a thunderous smack,
rolling and clawing at each other.

They’re
huge
.

With at least fifty feet of an open
wingspan, the Ludins flap vigorously, attempting to right
themselves and sending the settled debris flying again. I cover my
eyes with my free hand, shielding fragments of bark, broken Yulus
and dirt swirling through the air.

Reid yanks me behind him as the Ludins start
snapping at one another with sharp black beaks. Still regaining
their ground, they rip into each other, clawing with gray talons
from thick, featherless legs.

“This way,” Walker backs up, jetting to the
left.

Jace, Booker, Reid and I take off after him,
rounding the Ludins’ fight as we climb over broken tree fragments
and through the dust cloud. The others have already made some good
distance, racing for the tunnel in the mountain. It’s the perfect
shelter from this. We just have to get there.

Passing the wrestling birds, we take off in
a fierce run, Reid squeezing my hand so hard it hurts. Heart
pounding, I’m racing alongside Jace, Booker and Walker, jetting
through the fallen debris as we soar over broken branches and
Yulus. We’ve only made a yard of distance when a harsh rumbling
grows behind us. Refusing to slow down, Reid yanks me even harder.
I’m fast, but he’s
sonic
. Pushing my legs as fast as they’ll
go, it’s not enough and I end up tripping.

Reid spins, diving for me, but there’s not
enough time. The sparring birds roll toward us and flapping their
giant, golden wings, they send Reid flying back. I watch him soar
through the air, past the Eckles as he disappears in the dust
cloud.

“
Reid!”

“
FALLON!
” he calls from the other
side.

Stumbling to my feet, I’m knocked down
again, the tip of a frenzied wing slicing me hard across the
stomach. Wrapping an arm around the pain, I use my other hand to
pull myself away. More debris rains through the air and crawling
through it, I move further into a trail of splintered bark.

“
FALLON!
” Reid yells from the other
side of the fueling Ludins. Back on their gray talons again,
they’re jabbing at each other with black, pointed beaks, flapping
massive wings as they clear the forest.

“Are you okay?” I cough on the dust,
crawling further from their fight. My stomach still soars with
pain, but I ignore it. “Reid?”

Just get away from here. Just get away.

But my knees are screaming too. Pressed
against broken bark, their jagged needles slice my skin. Oh, I’m
going to be a bloody mess when I get up. But I need to. Stumbling
to my feet, I glance down and find that my knees and part of my
shins are splotched red. I can worry about that later. I just need
to get away from here. Still gripping my stomach with one hand, I
swipe at the clouded air with the other, trying to find my way.

“Fallon—where are you?” Reid’s voice
echoes.

“I’ll meet you on the other side,” I try to
call, but my words gets lost in the cacophonous crashing and
gnarling. Swiping the rattling Yulus from my face, I push forward,
making my way around the battling duo, where a nearly undisturbed
portion of dark trees sit. I’ll make my way through them and,
hoping the Ludins don’t follow, emerge on the opposite side with
the others. Reid is calling for me again, but his voice is faint in
the distance. Part of me wants to call back but it’s no use. I’ll
be with him momentarily if I can just—

White wings flutter past. They’re joined
instantly by another set and then a third. The three dance past
each other, slowly drawing further into the darkened Eckles
ahead.

It’s them.

“Fallon!” Reid soars through the murky air
and over the fallen trunks. The Ludins are still fighting behind
him, but he’s at my side in seconds, scooping me up.

“I’m fine,” I protest, but he keeps me
clutched close to his chest.

“You’re bleeding,” he starts for the same
direction I was headed, already in a run. “Let’s get the others and
get out of here.”

The Ludins tumble behind us, snapping and
snarling, but Reid doesn’t stop. With me clutched in his arms, he
races through the trees, over the broken bark and settling debris.
Walker, Jace and Booker have already made it to the mountainside,
along with the others.

It’s just us.

I start to protest that I can run, but Reid
won’t have it. His arms are steel bars around me, clutching my body
to his. He’s moving fast—too fast for me to keep up—so I submit,
allowing him to carry me all the way to the valley. After a bit,
the Ludins’ rumbling quiets and the crashing Eckles cease to
scream.

We reach the tunnel which is a tight opening
in the brown wall, but Reid doesn’t slow. He slips right through it
and we find ourselves in the narrow passage where the others are
waiting, pacing in the small space. Pratt and Mae sit on the
ground, their backs against the wall and their arms around their
knees. Everyone looks up as we arrive.

“Boss,” Tucker runs up, eyeing me quickly
before returning focus to Reid.

“Everybody alright?”

“You’re bleeding,” Walker approaches, eyeing
my red knees and shins. He takes a deep breath, hands on his hips.
“We need to get some Tregmint on it.”

“We will as soon as we get back to the
city,” Reid squeezes me closer. “I’d give it a few minutes—no point
racing back into the fire.”

“She’s bleeding, Rox.”

“Think I don’t know that?”

“I’m fine—just a few cuts.” I protest Reid’s
arms now, looking to find ground beneath my feet. With a glare at
Walker, he acquiesces and places me in front of him.

“So what
was
that?” Able steps up,
holding his shoulder as his wide, frenzied eyes flicker from Reid
to Walker. “I thought we were enjoying a day at the beach?”

“And we didn’t even go in,” Jace shakes his
head. “I was hoping for some water fun and we get
this
?”

“Does it happen often?” Mae’s soft voice
asks.

“Sometimes,” Walker nods, turning to her,
“when we’re all the way out here. Never by the city though.”

“And you didn’t think to tell us?” Reid
glares.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence. Do I tell
you about all the things that
could
happen?” Walker snaps.
“No.”

“Maybe you should. That way, we’ll be better
prepared next time.”

“We all got out alive, didn’t we?”

“Barely,” Reid crosses his arms.

“Look,” Walker storms over, “lots of things
could
happen. Yeah, a Horrop could come racing through the
trees but is it likely? Not really. So fucking relax, Rox.”

“Get out of my face.”

“Or what?”

“Or so help me God, I will end you right
now.”

“Always such violence,” Walker shakes his
head, looking to me. “And this does it for you?”

Reid advances but I jump between them,
shoving each back. “
Stop
. We’re all just wound up. Look,” I
gesture for the tunnel’s quiet exit. “It sounds like they’re gone.
Let’s just get back to the city, okay?”

Finally breaking his glare, Reid faces the
exit and the group lets out a collective sigh.

A quiet moment passes until Pratt shakes her
head, tightening the hold around her knees. “Those Ludins were
really
crazy. We’re lucky to have gotten out alive.”

“Wonder why they were fighting…” Mae
muses.

Reid bends down to examine my legs. With a
wince, he frowns and stands straight again, leaning in. “Let me
know if you need me to carry you.”

“She’s a big girl, Rox,” Walker crosses his
arms. “She doesn’t need your constant babying.”

“Hey,” I turn to Walker.

“What?” he shrugs innocently. “I think it’s
great. He ever does something you don’t like, just come to me,” he
winks. “I’ll do it better.”

Reid jets forward and all the Rogues
instantly create a barrier between the two. Even Pratt and Mae are
on their feet because right now, the look in Reid’s eyes promises
death. Walker backs up, a lump rolling down his throat.

“What’s wrong with you?” Able yells.

“I didn’t think he’d go all Rox.”

Reid nearly flies past Able but Booker holds
him back, using his wide form to keep him from advancing. Jace,
Tucker and Werzo try rationalizing, sending calming words to their
leader but it seems to have no effect. Reid is paralyzed in
fury.

“Stop it!” Pratt’s screaming, but no one’s
listening. “Guys—cut it out!”

This is going to get bad—quick. Reid is
about to tear through the mass of Rogues, his lethal eyes like I’ve
never seen them. Before, when he killed Mantis and that Vermix on
Larupip, there was a look of determination but now… it’s one of
utter abhorrence. He wants to end Walker because he
wants
to, not because he has to.

“STOP!” I scream, but like Pratt, it has no
effect. Reid is really about to kill Walker. I’m not sure what can
stop him, so I do the only thing I can think of. “We’re
leaving!”

Gesturing for Pratt and Mae to follow, I
start for the tunnel’s exit. The girls are on my heel as we leave
the safety of the tunnel and head into the open again. Refusing to
look back, I trudge forward, ignoring the pain in my knees and
stomach as we head for the Eckles. Not even a minute outside of the
passage and the boys are right behind us.

I’m swept up in Reid’s arms.

With his mouth set in a hard line and his
glare focused on nothing in particular, Reid carries me in silence.
I think about protesting again, demanding he put me back on my
feet, but he’s struggling with some internal battle, like whether
or not he should place me down, kill Walker, and pick me back up.
Because of this, I bite my tongue, glad his arms are around me and
not Walker’s neck.