“It’s nothing—just a scratch,” the other replies.
“Look, the Human’s dead. Don’t move till this guy’s gone!”
Sothat’sthe spicy smell—his blood.
Human blood has a sharper, more metallic tang. Like the kind drifting from the left.
I’m stuck behind a chunk of broken furniture.
Cornered.
Blocked from the exit.
I shift just enough to peek—andcrack, another shot nearly takes my ear off. I fire back, whipping one of my shurikens toward the source of the gunfire.
An angry hiss tells me I hit flesh. Not fatal, unfortunately.
Options? Limited. One weapon left, plus my claws. And the exit’s still too far.
The bastard’s got the advantage—the overhead light illuminates his side of the room.
Fine. I fling my last shuriken—this time at the light itself.Thunk.Darkness.
Now we’re on more equal footing.
Not completely—I still reek of adrenaline and blood—but at least he can’tseeme clearly anymore.
I’ve spent years around Bully. I know Penubians don’t have great eyesight. Or hearing. What theydohave are thermal pits and a tongue that picks up scent and air vibrations.
In other words, he can still smell me. But with two blood scents in the room—human and Neroot—it should throw him off.
“All right, Sadjim, I don’t wanna be here all night!” my attacker calls out, his voice thick with that Penubian hiss. “So why don’t you crawl outta your hole and save everyone a little pain? I don’t know how many of those sharp toys you’ve got, but it’s probably not a lot. So come out, slow and easy, hands behind your head, and we’ll keep this clean!”
Ah.
He doesn’t know I’m out of shurikens.
And since he’s willing to talk… let’s see what this is really about.
“You sure you’re afterme?” I ask casually. “’Cause you’ve already killed a Human and wounded a Neroot.”
“It’s you, all right,” he growls, annoyed. “If I wanted you dead, I’d have blown this dump to pieces already!”
Panicked squeals echo from nearby.
“And what exactly do you want with me?” I ask. “We’ve never met—trust me, I’d remember! And if I insulted your mother or sister, I sincerely apologize,” I add with a smirk.
His answer comes fast and furious—another shot, this one way too close.
Yeah, my voice gave away my location.
“Come on, get out here!” he barks.
“So you can mess up my fur? No thanks.”
“If you surrender, I promise not to hurt you,” he offers, hissing sweetly.
Right. Like I don’t know your kind. Loyalty and honor? Not exactly Penubian values.
