Renegade

“So either the beast was interrupted, or this --is a ruse--Summer Rain!” he almost shouted. “What else lies against the outer wall in your camp – storeroom or entry halls--anything with a window?”

“Great Spirit!” Summer Rain blanched. “...Our smoke room, and Kyva – someone’s working in there today!”

“Show me! Let’s go!” Renegade cried, and they were running.

Summer Rain had the presence of mind to call to their onlookers, “Someone seal up that hole! Call everyone to arms!” as they left.

Then he sprinted like a madman, Renegade close behind.

Sky and water! I’m glad they didn’t put the nursery along here! Renegade thought as they flew along. They had built this place while they were benumbed by shock, and the creature was reaping their errors

The trapper raced up a ramp back to the second level. They were pounding along a wooden walkway when a scream shrilled out.

“That door!” Summer Rain gasped. “-- Two ahead.”

“Break it!” Renegade shouted, and surged up beside him.

The heavy wooden door shattered as they hit it together.

Smoke boiled out. Smoke and low fires funneled by a wide chimney at the far end filled the room. A wide chimney, a huge hearthside. Renegade snarled and pulled down his mask, cued it to “motion.”

A woman staggered into their sight suddenly – leaning backward, her hands gripping the air above the back of her neck, as if she was wrestling something.

“Down, huntress!” Renegade roared. “Your front to the floor!” and he leaped past Summer Rain, his fist clenched.

She was sinking backward as he reached her. Rough with haste, he snatched her elbow, thrust her forward, and plunged the knives into the air above her back.