“You’ve learned a lot of tricks in the short while you’ve been Bonded,” he said, voice heavy with loathing and a hint of weariness. “But I’ve been Bonded longer, and I know more.”
We’d see.
He roared and charged. For a moment, it was all I could do to block his furious attacks, barely able to see his blades in the dark of night. I even closed my eyes, focusing just on what I could feel and centering myself as I defended.
Then I dug in, my gift rising, and I stopped giving ground, holding firm. He roared with frustration as I began to counterattack, seeing the patterns in his swift-bladed style of fighting.
I sensed it, something from him, some intent, before it happened and even as he veered to his avatar, I did the same, doing my leap-evasion from earlier, managing to land on his back as he dove through where I had been. I bit his back, letting all my venom sink into him, but it seemed to do little and he spun his head around raking a tooth over where I was. I jumped away before he hit me. Shifting back to human I slashed at his flank, but he was too quick. He ran a short distance, then turned and roared again, though as a Lynx it came out as a shrieking squeal, not the most intimidating thing, but certainly jarring.
He charged back in, and I braced; this time I wouldn’t evade. My gift surged, my legs strengthened, arms swelling with power. Again, my senses picked up his intent before it happened, as he shifted back to human even as he leaped at me, both knives out before him. I saw the opening instantly. Time slowed as I brought my swords together, tight, then as his blades passed to either side of mine, I drove my arms out, causing his blades to go wide of me. But he was still headed straight for me, and seeing his predicament he was veering back into a cat, fangs ready.
But I was inside his guard and just had to time myself right…
…bringing my swords together with all my strength, crossing before me, and severing his head.
The body still hit me with all the force of a leaping, large cat, and knocked me to the ground.
I rolled it off me, blinking blood out of my eyes, as the body twitched and spasmed in the throes of death.
I was covered in blood. That was a consequence I hadn’t entirely been prepared for, but should have expected, cutting a man’s head off at close range.
Sparrow appeared next to me.
“You look like The Pits.”
“I’m aware.” I was still trying to get blood out of my eyes. I concentrated on my other sense while I did, but still asked. “How are the others doing?”
“Ant’s got Lion under control. Jack’s still battling that crazy woman, and Amber and the Boss—”
I heard the cry of pain and felt through my senses the large shape falling to the ground.
Maverick. Though I couldn’t tell what had taken him down.
“No!” Sparrow cried out.
I turned, squinting through the blood and tried to peer into the night, but I couldn’t see. All I knew was that Amber was now fighting Tiger alone, and he was a big bruiser with speed to boot.
“See if you can do anything for Fennec,” I said to Sparrow, remembering how he’d been taken down by Lynx. “I’ll help Amber.” And I launched myself in her direction.
My vault was more horizontal than vertical, rushing over the ground. I was on track to plunge my swords into Tiger’s side… when everything went to The Pits.
I sensed the form only as I drew near. A tiny form, a flying bug of some sort. It moved fast, flying into my way, then shifting into a large man, whose fist came up into my gut. Lord War’s punch hit me so hard it threw me backwards and my swords were tossed from limp hands.
I landed heavily on my back, skidding in the dirt a few feet, the breath knocked out of me, trying desperately to get a breath as the massive form of Lord War stalked to stand over me.
It was only then I recalled his avatar was a warrior wasp.
I was still too stunned, immobile and frantic for air. I couldn’t move as he threw himself down, fist out and slammed it into my face.
I felt the bottom of my face get crushed: nose broken, teeth knocked in, my jaw twisted to the side, dislocated. I blacked out—
—and was instantly brought back as pain, unlike anything I’d ever felt before, surged through me and I would have screamed if my broken mouth had been capable. My body convulsed and writhed, out of my control, as my face exploded with pain far beyond the damage already done. Some distant part of me — perhaps Auwei — knew this to be the warrior wasp’s sting, one of the most painful things imaginable. But as a man, his stinger was his fist.
I was distantly aware of Lord War laughing as he slipped a hand under the collar of my armor to lift me, his other fist rearing back for another strike. I knew I’d not survive a second hit.
Then the massive form of a bull hit Lord War, knocking him aside, throwing him. The bull snorted then became a man.
“Spirits,” Maverick breathed kneeling over me. “Ant, we need you now!” He looked pretty rough himself, bleeding from several wounds, one of his arms held close as if he didn’t want to move it much.
