She stumbled ahead, ushering the captives with frantic waves of her arms. "This way! Run!"
With help from the Zebran warriors, the newly freed women broke into a desperate sprint across the compound's open yard toward the gate. Midori risked a glance over her shoulder to see Cael and the Zebran tribesmen engaged in fierce combat with the guards. Midori whipped her head back around, her heart hammering against her ribs. They were only thirty feet from the gate now, so close to escape. A few of the captives faltered, their weakened bodies struggling to maintain the punishing pace.
"You can make it! Just a little farther!" she shouted encouragement over the din of the battle raging behind them.
But just then, another group of guards flanked their left side and began firing.
"To the right! Behind the wall!" Midori yelled, and the group quickly followed her lead.
The wall gave them just enough cover to keep them safe, but it wouldn't last for long. Cael and the Zebran warriors joined the women, guarding them the best they could. Cael continued to fire, his blasters set to stun, trying to keep the guards back, but it wouldn't be long before he ran out of power.
The women huddled together, but their eyes didn't hold only fear. They were full of anger.
Jessa's mate, Ananika, addressed Zephryn. "Give me a spear. I'd rather die fighting these animals than be taken as a slave ever again. No one owns me. No one owns any of us."
She turned to the women, and they nodded, murmuring in agreement.
"None of us will die here," Zephryn said. "Not one."
"But how?—"
An enormous roar shook the ground, and in an instant the outer wall exploded inward in a cloud of dust and rubble. A massive gronklin rolled through the breach, leading the rest of the hulking beasts into the compound.
The gronklins rolled their immense bodies forward with alarming speed despite their immense size, flattening everything in their path. The guards retreated, terrified of being crushed by the beasts.
"To the gronklins! Everyone make for the gronklins!" Zephryn roared, motioning with his spear.
Midori sprang into action, grabbing the pregnant female's arm and pulling her up. "Come on! This way! Hurry!"
She shepherded the women toward the beasts, who began unfurling themselves into their full massive height as they neared. The Zebran warriors ran alongside, covering their retreat with a hail of spears, forcing the few remaining guards to scatter.
A gronklin rolled up directly in front of them. The warriors boosted the females up onto the creature's broad back one by one. Midori shoved the pregnant alien up, pushing with all her might until another of the freed females yanked her up to safety.
"Cael!" she screamed, whipping her head around to search for him.
He was still exchanging blaster fire with the guards near the wall, his features taut with concentration. A few of the warriors, including Jessa, fought alongside him in a furious clash of spears and energy blasts.
"Midori, get on!" Zephryn bellowed from atop his own gronklin. "We cannot wait!"
She shook her head vehemently. "Not without Cael!"
An explosion rocked the ground as a blaster bolt struck the dirt near Cael's feet. He staggered but kept firing, his lipspressed into a grim line. More guards were pouring from the buildings, swarming toward them with weapons blazing.
"Zephryn, get the women out of here!" Jessa yelled over the din of battle. "We'll hold them off as long as we can!"
The Zebran leader's face twisted, his indecision clear. But finally, with his jaw clenched, he bellowed, "Fall back! We're leaving!"
"No!" Midori surged forward only to have powerful hands grasp her arms and yank her backward. "Cael! Cael, we can't leave you!"
But the warriors were already retreating, forcing their way onto the gronklins' backs through the whirlwind of blaster fire and smoke. Cael and Jessa continued to fight, driving the guards back, attempting to clear a path.
Midori struggled against the grip of the Zebran warrior hauling her onto the gronklin. "Let me go!"
She pushed herself out of his arms and ran back to the wall. The gronklins lurched into motion, their massive forms heading toward the breach. Midori watched in horror as one by one they disappeared through the opening, taking the freed captives to safety but leaving her, Cael, and Jessa behind.
Cael was still engaged in combat near the wall, his blaster blazing as he fended off the guards who were coming back in even greater numbers than before.
One of the gronklins unfurled near them, the last one remaining. This was their chance.
