They’re on board with self-preservation too, sure. But they’re also consciously choosing violence before they know it’s necessary. That’s their go-to strategy. They’vealreadytried to shoot at a few totally innocent higher shadowkind who they’dhave found out were on their side if they’d bothered to listen first.
I’m not totally convinced that they won’t decide to try to shootmeif they object to my tone or my expression or who knows what else. Unfortunately for me, I can’t dive into the shadows like most of my colleagues can.
“Bullets won’t do much good against these creatures anyway,” I call out to the squadron around me. “You might slow them down a bit, but you have to let us bring our powers into the mix too.”
“We’ll follow our orders,” the man closest to me retorts.
The thunderous warble of a helicopter passing overhead makes any further conversation impossible. Not that my new sort-of allies seem interested in chatting.
Peri pops out of the shadows next to me, her arms jerking up in a gesture of surrender when several soldiers flinch. “I come in peace! I’m one of the good guys!”
She sidles closer to me, an uneasy yellowish glow wavering over her teal hair, and drops her voice to a murmur. “Are we sure that more is definitely merrier?”
Despite the situation, my mouth twitches with the start of a smile at her wry tone. Her anxiety quivers into me through our connection, but also all the warmth of her trust and affection.
The mess we’re investigating has gotten bigger than any of us could have been prepared for, but I couldn’t be happier with the closest companions I have on my side.
I lower my voice to match hers. “I think I need more data before I draw definite conclusions.”
Peri lets out a soft giggle and grasps my hand in a brief squeeze. Her odd new pet offers a chirpy sort of woof where it’s bounding along by her feet.
If it’s jealous, it’ll just have to deal.
For that one moment, I have the strange feeling everything’s going to be okay. Why shouldn’t we be able to conquer whatever weirdness the world throws at us next?
Then the horde of rioting shadowkind creatures hurtles into view from beyond the row of factories up ahead.
Beasts both big and small, their clashing features making them even more alien than regular shadowkind, barrel toward the mass of soldiers. So much good my advice did—most of the uniformed figures open fire without a second’s hesitation.
As the creatures jerk and swerve, flitting into the shadows and back out again, our shadowkind allies emerge on the flanks of the squadron. I catch a glimpse of Raze charging into the creatures’ midst, smashing one into the ground and hurling another aside. Ice glints from bolts Hail flings from his hands, aimed to disable the beasts rather than outright kill them.
I suck air into my lungs and holler out a string of sorcerous syllables with all the power I can put into them.Go back to where you came from! Stay away from other living beings. Do no harm.
The energy of my magic reverberates through my chest and into my voice. I can feel the impact it should have, can practically see the way the shadowkind I’ve pitched the commands towards should whirl and dash away.
A few of the smaller ones do, skittering back and forth and then fleeing toward the city. I think I see a couple of the mid-sized creatures stumble in momentary hesitation.
But mostly they keep charging toward us, shrieking and bellowing, snapping their teeth and slashing their claws.
My stomach sinks. The one talent I have that should help against these creatures is a total flop.
Not only that, I think I see a couple of regular shadowkind who joined our efforts darting away, accidentally hit by my words. Slight miscalculation.
I don’t have time to stew over my failure. The soldiers are failing too. Despite all their bullets, several of the rampaging shadowkind are pouncing right into their midst.
I dodge sideways as a spiny leopard springs past me. A soldier yelps as it digs its fangs into her shoulder and gasps when a cracking surge of electricity knocks the creature backward. She glances behind her at the higher shadowkind who came to her aid, and for the first time, I catch a glimmer of actual respect.
“Thank you,” she rasps out… and pelts the leopard-thing with a bunch more bullets that just turn it into a smoking leopard-thing.
It’s close enough to the source of the bullets that a few more rounds send it slumping into a heap of smoldering essence on the road. The same can’t be said for its swifter companions.
Shouts ring out all around me. A bull-like creature races toward me with its horns lowered, and some kind of slippery ferret sinks its fangs into my ankle. I stagger sideways, managing to dodge the hurtling horns, and snatch at a lamppost before I fall to my doom by ferret.
A shadowkind on our side hurtles by and smashes the ferret creature beneath one forceful foot. More beings run this way and that, heaving out powers and yelling suggestions to each other.
My arm tightens around the lamppost in a tighter embrace than I’d usually offer anyone other than Peri. Sweat breaks out on my forehead. I’m abruptly aware of the booming of my heartbeat.
No. I’m going to be okay.
