monstrous form.
Blood spurted across his tongue, bitter and hot. It tasted like poison but Beck locked his jaws and tore deeper into the jugular vein.
Prince released another of the alien roars and fire raked through Beck’s limbs. The trees and ground spun as Prince thrashed.
Beck felt the world pitch sideways. His body wouldn’t withstand another crushing fall so he whipped his head back and shoved off Prince’s shoulders.
Flesh tore, caught in Beck’s jaws. He hit the ground and rolled to his feet before he spat the bloody meat onto the mud.
The space between rows of trailers wasn’t large. Prince staggered and careened into the fragile structure opposite the infirmary. The trailer’s cinder blocks held but the siding tore under Prince’s bloodied claws.
As Prince reeled back, Beck saw January and Cleo on his other side. January clutched a swaddled bundle to her chest while Cleo crouched in front of her, a protective barrier between January, the baby, and violence.
Gunshots split the night, a volley that echoed off the mountains well after the last shot was fired.
Beck was out of time.
Bounding over Prince’s hunched and writhing form, he growled at Cleo and shouldered into January’s legs, urging the women to move.
“What does he want?” January’s voice sounded raw and wretched.
“Us to move. Come on. The route to the fall is still clear.” Cleo stood.
Beck tossed his head and trotted ahead of them, scenting the wind as they fled through the trees.
Behind them, Prince still breathed his guttural cries. The infant cried, too, but Prince was making more noise.
As they neared the river, Beck reclaimed his human form. He helped January as close to the water as he dared, since she carried her fragile burden.
“Where is Mira?” He steadied her with a hand on her back.
“I don’t know. The baby was alone when I got to her trailer. I didn’t get to any of the others before…”
Beck nodded. He could feel her shock. It mingled with confusion and grief.
Harsh emotions, and he’d thrust them upon her. She didn’t look at him as they hurried along the river, physically side by side but emotionally slipping away.
Several more shots echoed before they reached the waterfall that hid the Moon gate. Beck didn’t see any of the Guardians along the way. He didn’t see any signs of human hunters, either, and that was the real important thing.
The Moon gate was undisturbed, January was safe, and the infant she carried still lived.
He didn’t know if he’d managed to kill Prince, but he would tear the other man’s throat out time and again to protect her.
January protected the tiny baby as best she could, but the waterfall was deafening and remaining dry was impossible. By the time she emerged into the cold cavern behind the fall, the baby was wailing and shaking. She and the newborn were both soaked to the skin.
Cleo took January’s arm and guided her deeper into the cave, her footing as sure as January’s was clumsy. January couldn’t see a thing for several minutes. The roaring fall and hysterical baby’s stiff, shaking body dominated her senses.
Just as the darkness brought her to the brink of joining the baby in tears, it gave way to a faint silver light. The noise lessened as well, but not enough for conversation.
Signing her intent, Cleo pointed to a pile of thick blankets and animal pelts folded against one of the walls, which were dry this deep into the mountain. She plucked at January’s shirt and the sodden blanket wrapped around the baby.
Taking her meaning, January quickly stripped herself and the child and settled on a softly-furred hide. Cleo arranged two blankets around her shoulders, effectively swaddling her and the infant together to share body heat.
Soon, the baby stopped shaking and slept, her tiny mouth working rhythmically against January’s skin.
Cleo crossed to another wall and started dragging long panels of wood from a natural ledge. She used some of
Blood spurted across his tongue, bitter and hot. It tasted like poison but Beck locked his jaws and tore deeper into the jugular vein.
Prince released another of the alien roars and fire raked through Beck’s limbs. The trees and ground spun as Prince thrashed.
Beck felt the world pitch sideways. His body wouldn’t withstand another crushing fall so he whipped his head back and shoved off Prince’s shoulders.
Flesh tore, caught in Beck’s jaws. He hit the ground and rolled to his feet before he spat the bloody meat onto the mud.
The space between rows of trailers wasn’t large. Prince staggered and careened into the fragile structure opposite the infirmary. The trailer’s cinder blocks held but the siding tore under Prince’s bloodied claws.
As Prince reeled back, Beck saw January and Cleo on his other side. January clutched a swaddled bundle to her chest while Cleo crouched in front of her, a protective barrier between January, the baby, and violence.
Gunshots split the night, a volley that echoed off the mountains well after the last shot was fired.
Beck was out of time.
Bounding over Prince’s hunched and writhing form, he growled at Cleo and shouldered into January’s legs, urging the women to move.
“What does he want?” January’s voice sounded raw and wretched.
“Us to move. Come on. The route to the fall is still clear.” Cleo stood.
Beck tossed his head and trotted ahead of them, scenting the wind as they fled through the trees.
Behind them, Prince still breathed his guttural cries. The infant cried, too, but Prince was making more noise.
As they neared the river, Beck reclaimed his human form. He helped January as close to the water as he dared, since she carried her fragile burden.
“Where is Mira?” He steadied her with a hand on her back.
“I don’t know. The baby was alone when I got to her trailer. I didn’t get to any of the others before…”
Beck nodded. He could feel her shock. It mingled with confusion and grief.
Harsh emotions, and he’d thrust them upon her. She didn’t look at him as they hurried along the river, physically side by side but emotionally slipping away.
Several more shots echoed before they reached the waterfall that hid the Moon gate. Beck didn’t see any of the Guardians along the way. He didn’t see any signs of human hunters, either, and that was the real important thing.
The Moon gate was undisturbed, January was safe, and the infant she carried still lived.
He didn’t know if he’d managed to kill Prince, but he would tear the other man’s throat out time and again to protect her.
January protected the tiny baby as best she could, but the waterfall was deafening and remaining dry was impossible. By the time she emerged into the cold cavern behind the fall, the baby was wailing and shaking. She and the newborn were both soaked to the skin.
Cleo took January’s arm and guided her deeper into the cave, her footing as sure as January’s was clumsy. January couldn’t see a thing for several minutes. The roaring fall and hysterical baby’s stiff, shaking body dominated her senses.
Just as the darkness brought her to the brink of joining the baby in tears, it gave way to a faint silver light. The noise lessened as well, but not enough for conversation.
Signing her intent, Cleo pointed to a pile of thick blankets and animal pelts folded against one of the walls, which were dry this deep into the mountain. She plucked at January’s shirt and the sodden blanket wrapped around the baby.
Taking her meaning, January quickly stripped herself and the child and settled on a softly-furred hide. Cleo arranged two blankets around her shoulders, effectively swaddling her and the infant together to share body heat.
Soon, the baby stopped shaking and slept, her tiny mouth working rhythmically against January’s skin.
Cleo crossed to another wall and started dragging long panels of wood from a natural ledge. She used some of
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