With Keon trapped in an impossible situation?holding on to their only captive, or releasing him to continue to be a threat?it was on Milo to resolve this situation. He was aware of the glances Gale kept shooting him, cautious and nervous, as if aware Milo was preparing to jump in, while probably concerned he couldn’t maintain the fight.
A logical concern, if Milo was honest. His body wasn’t known for being reliable, as Keon had once said, and he couldn’t promise it would do as he wanted. But if he knew anything, it was that he had no limit. To protect Haley and Keon, he would give everything he had, even if it left him paralysed or crippled beyond his current injuries.
He would give his all to keep them safe.
Blocking out Keon’s argument with Vega, which wouldn’t help Milo or the fight, he focused on the action taking place feet away. Gale was mounting an attack on Valora, while Janet and Jude targeted her legs to take down the strong m’weko quickly. Without hesitation, Evelo grabbed Valora’s leg in his mouth and dragged her away, unafraid of hurting her if it meant getting her out of that situation.
Milo would need to be as brutal, if this fight was to end soon.
A growl distracted him, and he swivelled to check on Keon, knowing that sound to his bones, through the bond. “No! You did this to her!”
Since he was still arguing with Vega, and it didn’t sound important to the fight, Milo shook off the emotions leaking through the bond to focus on Gale and Valora’s fight. However, it looked like Evelo had pulled her clear and was eyeing the trees. If he planned to retreat, or find a better fighting position, Milo had no choice but to act. There was no time to wait for a better opportunity.
Rushing in, Milo dove past Keon into the thick grass and crept by the warren where Haley had been held. The stain of holding steady, but ready to spring into action, had taken its toll, and his leg shook as he stepped through the tall growth, trying to keep his approach silent.
Crouching low, he got as close as possible to the two strangers, waiting for his chance. It came when Evelo released Valora’s leg and tipped his muzzle to the trees, in a signal for her to escape.
Unwilling to wait, aware how fast Valora could be, Milo launched through the air, using his small stature to gain momentum. It felt like he was flying, as he jumped, having no plan other than to stop them from leaving. His ankle gave way the moment it left the ground, making him wobble and lose some of the velocity of his attack.
When he landed, he dropped gracelessly on top of Evelo, knocking the m’weko off his feet and into Valora, who fell under his weight. Disorientated, nerves screaming bloody murder all throughout his body, Milo was barely aware of his surroundings for approximately a minute. When his vision blurred, he shook his head and found Jude dragging Valora to the ground by the tail, while Gale approached Milo. He couldn’t see Evelo, but could feel a body beneath him, struggling to break free.
Trying to clear his vision and regain enough strength to stand, Milo flexed his legs to test nothing had been seriously damaged, only to hear a startling howl of pain nearby. The shock had Milo ignoring his pain to push up until he could roll free.
Something heavy landed on his back, and he fought instinctively, headbutting whatever was trying to hold him down. Until that moment, his head was the only thing not throbbing, but it didn’t matter. The crushing weight and nauseating pain only proved his vision had been centred around this moment.
As soon as he was free, he rolled onto the larger, stronger body, while Evelo was still recovering. He managed to drag Evelo to the ground, latched his teeth onto his neck, and refused to let go until Evelo surrendered. Though he whimpered, feet scrambling, still trying to fight and get free, Milo was tired and in so much pain he was a literal dead weight on top of the m’weko.
For once, his disability worked for, instead ofagainst,him.
To stop the wriggling that made his nerves scream in agony, Milo reluctantly grabbed hold of Evelo’s leg and twisted, waiting for the final pop and roar of pain to announce he’d broken his leg.
Evelo was going nowhere.
By the haziness washing over him, neither was Milo.
*
MILO KNEW HE’Dfucked up the moment he shifted to his human body and tried to stand. He didn’t need the leg wobble, the shooting pain up his calf, or the shaking fingers to tell him what was wrong, as his entire body was screaming with a symphony of regret and warning.
If he didn’t find a way to rest, recover, and heal in the next twenty-four hours, he might find he’d done more damage than even a Dnaran doctor could undo.
As everyone picked up the pieces of the chaotic fight, Milo barely managed to drag himself to a log Vega’s team had been using as a seat. He carefully pulled himself onto it, while no one was paying attention, in time to heave a sigh of relief before he was caught.
Keon rushed over, their bond flaring with a confusing blend of panic and elation. “Are you okay? You were…soaring, for a second.” He seemed caught between amused and concerned, which made sense of the mixed emotions coming through their connection.
Milo smiled, almost tempted to laugh if he didn’t suspect it would hurt and give the game away. “Yes, I’m okay. Shaky from the adrenaline rush,” he said, not wanting him to worry. As he opened his mouth to tell Keon he was fine, he glanced up to find they were taking care of matters. All back to human form, and even dressed, Janet was securing the binds on Valora and Evelo, while Jude poured a drink he encouraged them to take with a stern glare. Nearby, Gale was examining a wound, and it appeared Vega had also been subdued.
Milo searched for Haley but didn’t find her. A hand rested over his and he found Keon smiling with warmth. “She’s over there,” he said, gesturing to the other side of the camp, where Isaac sat with Haley, offering her a cup of something that steamed in the cold night. “I wanted to give you both a second to breathe, after the chaos. And check you weren’t hurt,” he explained, though Milo didn’t see why he had to. He was right, and it was the smart choice.
“I’m okay.”
Keon nodded and stood. “I need to make arrangements for these idiots. Take your time,” he said, with a casual flick of a finger towards their prisoners.
Though Milo didn’t have the words to thank him for the kindness, for checking in, and for taking care of not only Haley but the people responsible for hurting her, he smiled and hoped it was enough. For now.
Isaac appeared quickly, carrying another cup of something hot that he offered to Milo with a nervous smile. “Do you need anything?”
If Milo had the guts to admit he was in pain, he might have asked for someone to recover his bag so he could take painkillers, but there was still a lot to be done before he could rest. “I’m fine, thank you.” He sipped the drink, finding a hot herbal tea, and thanked Isaac, because it tasted of lavender and a Vihaan herb callednermo, which was known to have restorative and healing properties. A glance at Keon, who seemed to be deliberately not looking at him, proved this was his doing.
