Brir (Wanderers Between Worlds #2)

Chapter 29

Chromo, Colorado

Ten days after the military took Artemis

Brir

I flopped down in a chair next to Merrick, who was cutting huge chunks of meat from the animal he had hunted and cooking them over the fire we had started. He silently passed me a piece, which I took between my hands. The hot meat burned my fingertips. I didn’t bother blowing on the venison; I just bit into it.

The last few days of travel had been miserable. The rains had come. We were traveling as far as we could each day before the rains made us stop.

Licking the juices of the meat off my hand as I finished my last bite, I pulled the map the trader had given me out of my pocket and opened it.

Merrick got up and walked over to me, eating his own cooked game.

I found our location quickly, marking our distance on the map from New Pharia, a marked spot on the parchment, a tiny circle of ink. I followed the intricate lines that were supposed to be roads, leading us back from where we were currently camped.

“We should make it to where they have Artemis tomorrow,” Merrick pointed out, his finger tracing the path to the marked spot.

“We should,” I echoed, staring at the map. It was a thin vein of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. The parchment under my fingers felt brittle, as though it might crumble under the weight of our desperation. “We've made good time despite the rain,” I murmured, looking up at him. "You think they moved him?"

Merrick shrugged, his hands resting on the edge of the table. “I don’t know.” He looked at the water pouring down outside. Every day that passed, I felt like I was too late to save him. “The trader you radioed said everything still sounded the same. I was impressed he could give you so much information even though he talked in code. He is a brilliant man.”

I nodded, folding the map carefully and tucking it back into my pocket. “He's been doing this for years. He's got a mind built for it.” The rainfall outside grew heavier, almost deafening, on the metal roof of our makeshift shelter. “I think Gunner will be going to New Pharia. He needs to. Those kids need to be behind the barrier.”

“You think those kids are sick like Artemis?” Merrick asked as he plopped his body into the chair next to mine.

“I don't know,” I admitted, rubbing my temples. We had no way of knowing what was going on. Gunner had been very tight-lipped about it. “I don’t think he wanted to trouble me with it since I already had to get Artemis back and was still recovering from the bullet wounds.”

Merric nodded slowly, still chewing. “Thank you for respecting that. Soren would need to stop and rest. I know you want to rescue your mate as fast as possible.”

“I can’t endanger others just because I'm in a hurry. The rains would have us traveling blind, even for us. We can’t see in these conditions,” I said, my voice rough with exhaustion. “But we must also be strong to face what's coming.”

Merrick gave me a knowing look, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And sleep,” he chided softly, pushing away from the table and standing. His fingers brushed over my shoulder briefly before he turned, heading towards the makeshift beds we'd set up in the corner of the shelter.

Leonovus looked at me, a wry smile playing on his lips. “So, you do have a heart after all,” he mused, pulling a flask from his coat pocket and taking a swig.

“Oh shut up, Leonovus,” I said, swatting away his teasing as if it were an annoying fly. The man had a knack for getting under my skin. I shot him a dry look, leaning back in my chair with a soft sigh. “Don't let it get around. I don't need the reputation of a softie.”

He laughed and passed the flask to me. I took it with a grateful nod and sipped a small amount of the bitter liquid.

The sting of it comforted me, a harsh reminder of our reality. As I handed it back to him, Leonovus's eyes met mine, his usually playful demeanor replaced by something more sincere. “We'll get Artemis back,” he said quietly, placing the flask inside his coat.

“We have to, Leonovus,” I told him, looking at the flames of the dying fire. “I don’t know what I will do without him.” I could hear the raw emotion in my voice, and I clenched my fists, the rough wood of our makeshift table biting into my palms.

Leonovus didn’t say anything for a while. Instead, he looked into the fire, too. His features hardened into a mask of determination as the flames flickered over them.

Merrick moved Soren into the hotel bed and under the covers of a blanket when he started to shiver. Leonovus and I followed him with our eyes. Most of this hotel was caved in. The roof was leaking water from the rain into most of the rooms. The plaster on the walls was peeling off in some areas, revealing the skeletal frame of the old building, but it was still the best shelter we could find before the rain started.

Merrick pulled a solar lantern off Soren's backpack and lit up the front room so we could keep looking at the map. We had better vision than humans, but even we needed some light. Blue and purple lightning strobed across the sky.

I watched as Merrick traced a path on the worn map, his fingers moving over the surface like a spider weaving its web. “We're here,” he said, his finger stopping at a marked spot. “And Artemis is here,” he moved his digit to another place, miles away from our current location. “If we push the Lepots hard, we should make it there tomorrow.”

“We must find a good spot to observe them before we attack. We can’t run in there blind,” Leonovus said.

“I know,” replied Merrick. “And we can't afford to lose anyone. I also won't put Soren into danger. He wants to help. I wouldn't have brought him if he would have stayed at New Pharia, but there was no way. He wouldn't have let me leave him behind. But I can’t lose my Keala. Not again. I won't.” His gaze lingered on the spot where Artemis was supposedly held captive. A storm of emotions swirled in his eyes—fear, anger, desperation—but above all else was the burning determination that matched my own.

“I won't let you put him in danger, Merrick,” I told him, looking over at the sleeping man. Soren had healed something broken inside of the Gatero. The same way Artemis had healed something inside of me. I knew I couldn’t let him go. I wouldn’t.

“I have to say I'm jealous,” Leonovus said, swallowing another mouthful of his drink. “I can’t believe both of you found bond mates. You both were so lucky.”

“It's not luck, it's fate,” Merrick said. “Bonded pairs were rare before the fall. The numbers had already been dwindling. Maybe it's the reason the rupture happened. Maybe fate needed us to be here.”

“I don't know about fate, Merrick,” Leonovus replied, leaning back against the leathery hide of the Lepot. His gaze pierced the night sky, where the stars seemed more vibrant. “But I do know one thing. Bond mates or not, we're all in this together.”

“I agree, Leonovus,” Merrick replied, releasing a sigh. He glanced at Soren, who was now stirring in his sleep. His peaceful face was a stark contrast to the turmoil raging inside us all.

We continued to talk for most of the night until Merrick went to lie down next to Soren. The wind had grown colder, howling around the abandoned buildings like a mournful ghost.

I laid down in the front room after we had pushed all the furniture to the sides for the Lepots when they returned from hunting.

Dune nuzzled my shoulder and made a mournful whine before laying his head on his front paws.

“I know,” I said to the giant beast. “I miss him too.” I leaned against his side and closed my eyes to get some rest for a short time before we left.

???

The rain hadn’t entirely stopped at dawn. The heavy clouds darkened the whole sky, but we chose to leave and chance getting wet. The clouds opened up right after we left, drenching all of us. Soren had a hood pulled up tightly around him, trying to keep the rain off his face.

Merrick looked almost at peace in the downpour, his eyes focused on the path ahead. Leonovus, on the other hand, grumbled about the water seeping into his boots. He had braided his sunset-colored hair to keep the wet strands out of his face.

He looked like a wet cat. Water beaded off his fur, and his ears were pinned back to his head to keep the water out. He looked miserable.

I chuckled despite myself, earning a glare from the feline humanoid. “If you were any more likable, I might feel sorry for you, Leonovus,” I teased.

Leonovus simply rolled his eyes with a low grumble, adjusting the pack on his back.

I was lucky to have the thick coat Arya had made me take. The leather kept the sun off my skin and protected me from the terrible weather. My goggles were pushed up on the top of my head so I could see. Dune was running full out on the abandoned highway.

He led the other Lepots and pushed the others harder than they were probably used to. It was like he could sense where to go. I barely had to direct him.

The journey continued through the downpour, each step heavier and more treacherous. The rain seemed to mock us, drenching us in its relentless torrent. As the world around us blurred into shades of gray and green, a sense of unease settled in my stomach. It felt like we were trapped, with the ominous weather as our only guide. Yet we trudged on, unsure of what awaited us at our destination.

Thunder boomed overhead as I pulled Dune to slow, and the lightning lit up the dark sky. Merrick and Leonovus did the same.

“I believe that’s the town ahead,” I told the others, pointing to the sign through the darkness. Pagosa Springs.

Merrick squinted, using the brief moments of light provided by the lightning to make out the sign's shape. Soren nodded, pulling his hood even tighter around his face. Determination was etched into his features as Merrick held him tight to his chest on their Lepot.

“Are you sure?” Leonovus asked, squinting through the rain.

“Quite sure,” I replied, peering ahead where a vague outline of buildings loomed like specters. “Unless there's another lost town in the middle of nowhere.” The letters on the sign were faded with time and ravaged by wind and rain, but they spelled out the name identical to the one I had traced on our map countless times. Even if I couldn't read all the words in human writing, I knew its patterns.

Leonovus muttered something under his breath, too low for me to catch, but his tail twitched with distinct displeasure.

Merrick squinted against the rain, his reptilian eyes narrowing as he studied the faintly glowing lights in the distance. We made better time than expected. Soren, are you holding up well?"

“I’m good,” he yelled back over the howling winds. I could see him shivering under Merricks's arms, but he didn't complain.

The rain continued to fall in torrents, and the relentless downpour showed no signs of stopping. The sooner we reached town, the sooner we could find shelter. And see where they were holding Artemis.

Leonovus, however, was the worst of us in the rain. He flipped his head several times, trying to shake the never-ending water off himself. Due to the rain, his fur had taken on a slick, darker hue, and his claws gripped the reins.

As we drew closer, the outline of the town grew more defined. Tall, angular shapes of buildings jutted out against the stormy sky, their stark silhouettes wavering in the downpour. The Lepot’s heavy footfalls echoed ominously.

Overhead, flashes of lightning illuminated the abandoned street and the old buildings.

I wanted to point out that we should look for shelter when a beam of light broke through the darkness in the distance. We watched as several soldiers emerged from an alleyway almost a mile up the road and started walking up the street. Away from us.

“Can they see us?” Soren asked, squinting in the darkness.

“I doubt it. Humans don’t have great eyesight. Yours seems to be better now,” Leonovus growled, pulling his heavy cloak tighter around him. "The rain is a good cover."

I watched the soldiers until they disappeared into the depths of the town.

“Let's stay back and follow them,” Leonovus said. His voice was barely audible over the pattering rain onto the overgrown roads.

With that, he led us down a narrower alleyway parallel to the main street, his dark purple frame effortlessly blending into the shadows.

We moved in silence, Leonovus leading and Merrick bringing up the rear, with Soren securely tucked under his arm. The rain was our blessing and curse; it obstructed the soldiers' view but also made the roads treacherous underfoot. Thankfully, the Lepots' clawed feet gripped the ground as they moved us through the streets.

Dune’s big body vibrated under me as he watched the men. His jaw kept opening, almost like the great beast could picture sinking his sharp teeth into the soldiers. I patted his neck reassuringly and leaned down to speak to him.

“You will get your chance, my friend.”

In response, a low, rumbling growl vibrated from his chest, affirming my words. His muscles were taut beneath me, ready to spring at a moment's notice.

Continuing down the alleyway, we kept tracking the soldiers through the pouring rain, our eyes barely making out their silhouettes in the darkness.

We started moving towards the soldiers, though we kept a reasonable distance between us.

A thundering sound echoed in the distance, the ground trembling slightly beneath our feet. A few soldiers turned to look and began babbling to one another.

They turned down another alleyway, disappearing from our sight. Leonovus motioned for us to stop, his feline eyes scanning the street for any signs of danger.

“Wait,” he murmured, “I can see lights up ahead.” Leonovus pointed to the very faint light on the horizon. “I think they are heading that way. We should head to another street and see if we can find a building to observe them.”

We nodded in agreement, shifting direction as Leonovus guided us. The rain was relentless, pelting down on us and creating small rivers that flowed down the cracked, cemented streets. We moved swiftly yet silently, our eyes trained on the distant glimmer of light.

As we navigated the labyrinthine alleyways, Dune hadn’t wanted to turn away from the men, but I agreed with Leonovus. We needed to see the building where Artemis was kept. I was sure they still had him here from all the soldiers present.

The town was more extensive than I'd anticipated. The houses were tightly clustered, and narrow alleyways were winding between them like a spider's web.

We came upon a tall hotel near a shopping center.

“That's perfect,” Leonovus said. We wound our way toward it, careful not to alert other soldiers who might be patrolling the night. The rain seeped into our clothes, making them stick to our skin uncomfortably.

The hotel's glass doors had been shattered. I slid off Dune's back and grabbed his reins. The others followed suit and led their Lepots through the doors. The glass crunched under my boots.

Inside, the lobby was dark and eerily quiet. The grand chandelier that once adorned the ceiling was now a twisted mess of metal and shattered glass on the marble floor. The faded, ornate wallpaper told a story of past grandeur, a sad contrast to its current derelict state.

The hotel was tall and hauntingly decrepit, with shattered windows and peeling paint that told tales of its long-forgotten elegance.

“Upstairs,” Leonovus whispered, motioning to the wide staircase at the end of the lobby. We agreed with silent nods and moved carefully, avoiding the glass strewn across the floor.

We ascended the creaking staircase, each sound echoing ominously. Dune whined lightly at the creaking.

Reaching the top of the staircase, we were greeted by rows of abandoned hotel rooms. Doors stood ajar, revealing empty interiors covered with dust and decay. We walked silently down the corridor, searching for a room with an adequate view of the streets below.

Eventually, we found what we were looking for. Room 517 was a large penthouse suite. Its large, panoramic window overlooked the corner of the east side of the town and offered a clear vantage point over the clustered houses and winding streets.

“You can see everything from up here,” Soren said as he looked out the windows beside us. He was already stripping off his wet clothes, tossing them onto a side table beside a chair. But I wasn’t looking at him.

My eyes were drawn to the building that was lit up like a fucking beacon in the night.

“Well, they aren't trying to hide,” Merrick said

“They don’t have to,” Leonovus responded. All of us were watching the soldiers move around like ants down on the ground. “There have to be twenty or thirty men.”

“I would guess forty,” I told them. Leonovus looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed. “You think that many?”

“Only one way to find out,” I replied, moving to retrieve a pair of binoculars from my pack. The building outside was lit up like a Christmas tree. “See, look.” I passed the binoculars to Leonovus.

He took them and looked down at the building. I watched as he searched the grounds around the building.

“When I rescued Artemis before, there were four trucks, always three people in each,” I explained.

“Are you sure about that?” Merrick asked as he leaned against the wall, looking at the soldiers as well.

“Oh yeah. I followed them for days. Look at all the vehicles out front. There are twelve. So naturally, assuming three soldiers are in each, that’s thirty-six.”

Merrick nodded.

“A dozen trucks could mean only one thing,” Soren mused, drawing his coat tighter around his slim torso. “They're planning to move out or expecting trouble.”

“Or both,” I suggested, the cold dread of realization gnawing at my gut. We had hoped to stage a quiet rescue under the cover of darkness, but our plan now seemed dangerously naive.

“We need a Plan B,” Leonovus stated, ever the pragmatist. He crossed the room to a small table and laid out his wet gear. “I don’t like these odds. There’s no reason they have this many men out here guarding one guy.”

“I like those odds,” Soren said as he stripped his pants down his wet legs.

“Are you joking?” I snapped, turning to face him. The glint in his eyes told me he wasn't. “Each of those men on the ground is a trained killer,” I pointed out, my voice taking on an edge of urgency. “And we're just... us.”

“I mean, that's only ten for each of us. And if we cause a distraction, it's even less.” Soren huffed, a wry smile playing on his lips as he pulled a fresh pair of pants from his pack.

“Distraction?” Leonovus echoed, his gaze dropping from the illuminated compound to Soren. “If this is what you have in mind, I’m one hundred percent on board.” Leonovus's eyes raked over Soren’s now naked body as he started laying out his wet gear.

I turned to the window, my gaze narrowing on the bustling activity below. Seeing those men armed to their teeth didn't inspire any confidence in me, but I could feel the stir of excitement despite the fear. The adrenaline in my veins was pumping, preparing me for the fight ahead.

Merrick growled low in his throat. Hands balled at his sides as he glared daggers at Leonovus.

At this, Soren paused from spreading his clothes out and flashed a wicked grin.

“Keep your eyes to yourself, Leonovus,” Merrick snarled his sharp command, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter. Leonovus shrugged, a hint of a smirk on his face as he continued laying out his gear. He retreated from his flirtatious stance and refocused on the task at hand.

“It would have to be a convincing distraction,” I muttered, scrutinizing every inch of the well-lit compound. I turned to look back at Soren.

He gave me a winning smile. Standing tall, he was the very picture of confidence despite his current state of undress.

“Trust me, when it comes to distractions, I'm the best there is,” he assured me, reaching for a shirt. His hands went still as he looked at me, green eyes flashing with determination. “How do you think I got a 6-foot-tall tiger out of so many situations?”

A bark of laughter erupted from Leonovus, breaking the tense atmosphere. “Now that's a tale I'd love to hear at another time.”

Soren cast him a glance, pulling his shirt over his head. “It's not as interesting as you might think.”

“What do you have in mind, my Keala?” Merrick asked him.

Soren paused, turning from the window to face Merrick. His grin widened, a glint of mischief dancing in his brown eyes.

“Maybe we should give them a little light show.”

???

Soren and Merrick collapsed onto an old mattress in the corner of the room, wrapped in each other's arms while Leonovus took his first watch. Soren’s plan was good. He was pretty damn smart. The San Juan River cut between the building where they were holding Artemis and the one we had bunkered down in to watch the military across the way. Soren would stay in the hotel away from the soldiers and shoot his arrows. He had become highly proficient with the new skill in a very short time. Soren had been practicing daily and seemed to take wielding the gift like he had been born with the new ability. Merrick, Leonovus, and I would hit them from behind. Sneaking around the building to catch them by surprise.

With the first light of dawn, Merrick was already on his feet, peering through the cracks in the blinds. His eyes narrowed as they focused on the military compound looming in the distance, one hand rested on his quiver of arrows, fingers twitching with anticipation.

The rain was still coming down.

The droplets hit the tin roofs of the surrounding buildings with a steady rhythm that echoed in the silent room. Leonovus, propped against the crumbling wall, was staring blankly at the rain-streaked window, lost in his thoughts. A grim smile tugged at the edges of his lips, and I knew what he was thinking. Rain would make for an excellent cover. Soren was stirring, his hair tousled and sleep still clinging to his eyes.

Merrick returned to his side, bringing him a cup of hot tea that he had heated on the fire they had built. I wondered if I looked that love-struck when I was with Artemis.

“Time to get up, sleepyhead.” Merrick's voice was a soft murmur as he handed the steaming cup to Soren. Soren grumbled something unintelligible, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand before sitting up and taking the offered cup with a grateful nod.

I could see the envy in Leonovus's eyes as he watched them from the edges of his vision before those pink eyes turned to me. I watched his jaw clench at being caught but said nothing.

I felt the same way. Artemis was my light in the darkness that had become my life. I missed the feeling of his slender fingers on my skin, how he lit up my threads to cure his fear of the dark, the way he laughed, and the questions he asked. I missed him so much.

The room's silence was suddenly oppressive, and I rose abruptly, moving to stand in front of the dimly lit window. Beyond the rivulets of rain careening down the glass, the compound seemed to pulsate with a silent threat.

Despite its outward impressiveness, I knew that Artemis was held captive within its cold, sterile walls. I could feel it. The connection between us made my skin itch with the need to have him by my side again. Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I clenched my fists at my sides.

I had to get him back.

I watched as three men piled into a truck and drove away from the building.

“That's the third patrol in the last hour,” Leonovus murmured, joining me at the window. His gaze was stern, calculating. “What made them so nervous?”

“Let them be nervous,” I muttered back, my voice barely audible over the steady patter of rain on the window.

I had to be patient; the time would come for us to move. I could feel Leonovus shifting behind me. His eyes were on me, and his sharp gaze made a shiver creep up my spine.

“Brir, Soren’s plan is a good one,” Leonovus told me. We should wait until dark. It will keep us covered.”

I did not reply, but I nodded my head in agreement.

“We can’t see shit through this rain,” Merrick said as he made his way over to the windows. “I’m going to take a walk around. Put some eyes on the ground and see if I can find anything.”

“I will go with you,” Soren’s rough, sleepy voice said behind us through a yawn.

“No, you stay here,” Merrick said.

Soren grumbled, rubbing his eyes roughly before surrendering himself into the worn-out armchair. Merrick leaned down over as he tilted Soren’s head and kissed the other man passionately. “I won't be able to focus if you're out there. Stay here.” I heard Merrick whisper to his lover.

Soren huffed, a flirtatious smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he extended one arm and caught Merrick by the collar. He pulled him in for another quick, searing kiss before releasing him. "Alright then," he acquiesced, sinking further into the cushions. Soren sighed, resting his head on the armchair and closing his eyes. “Be careful, Merrick,” he said, soft but firm. An order more than a plea.

“Be careful,” I warned him, my gaze never leaving the compound. “The patrol frequency has increased since last night.”

Merrick nodded, pulling his collar up against the persistent drizzle. With one last glance at Soren, he left without another word, the door closing quietly behind him.

The rest of the day passed in nervous tension. Leonovus stayed by the window, his gaze never leaving the compound. On the other hand, Soren paced around the room, occasionally disappearing to the open living room of the penthouse to check on the Lepots, only to return a little later.

The lights stayed on around the building, casting an eerie glow. The rain made it fuzzy and hazy as we watched.

We still hadn’t any sign of Artemis. He had to be inside the building somewhere.

A sound outside the front door made us all freeze. Leonovus's axe was in his hand before Merrick walked through the door. He was wet and covered in mud. Soren looked relieved as he shed his drenched overcoat and wiped his boots.

“You're back,” Soren said, his voice revealing relief but betraying a hint of reproach.

Merrick grinned tiredly, wrapping an arm around Soren's waist.

“Did you see Artemis?” I asked

“No sign of Artemis yet, but something attacked them. There’s a pile of bodies outside the back door that they tried to burn,” Merrick said, voice soft as he clapped me on the shoulder. He turned to Leonovus, a sheen of worry in his eyes. "The patrol frequency has increased, so I think they still have him.” He removed his arm from around Soren’s waist and moved towards the table that held a map of the town we had found in the lobby. “But I discovered something interesting.”

I looked at him expectantly, my heart hammering against my chest. “What?”

Merrick spread the map across the table. The town's roads, alleys, and buildings stretched across weathered parchment plus a few markings. “Found a map of the area. I have marked the positioning of the military that I’ve been watching.” He had everything highlighted, including critical positions and patrol routes.

“I found an access point,” he said, pointing to a small, almost invisible mark on the map. “Here.” A nondescript building was nearly hidden between two larger structures behind the building where they were staying. “A fence here covers all the sides and the back of the building. But right here, there is a hole.”

The rest of us leaned in closer, squinting at the spot he pointed to. Soren's scowl deepened as he studied it. “That's an old factory district,” he muttered, tracing the fence line with a dirty finger. His voice grew more animated as he continued.

“This alleyway is heavily shadowed and out of sight from the main patrol routes. I watched them pass for hours. They never went down this side street.” Merrick pointed to the street between the two buildings.

“It's an alley,” Soren said as he leaned forward and studied the map. “If you guys go in there when it's dark, you’ll be completely hidden.”

“That's our plan then,” Leonovus said decisively, his sharp eyes fixed on the map. His hand traveled over the hidden path Merrick pointed out. He had the air of a general planning a major offensive as he studied the map almost palpably. “Soren, you're sure you can provide a distraction from here?”

“I already looked,” Soren said. “Two rooms down. One of the windows is broken. It's where we built the fire. I shoot from there. I took a few test shots off the roof of the building across from it.”

“That was a bit risky,” Merrick interjected, his gaze flicking between the map and Soren, concern etched on his usually placid features.

“I had to make sure I could do it,” Soren said. “I nailed it every time. I’m stronger now. Arya had someone tighten the tension of the bow. Those arrows fucking fly. I got this.”

“Good,” Leonovus nodded, his eyes still fixed on the map. "We'll need that kind of precision.” He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Alright, once Soren creates the distraction, Merrick and I will take out the soldiers guarding the front of the building. Brir, you need to get inside there and find Artemis. You're the only one he is likely to trust. Get him out.”

“That I can do.” I looked at each of them. I was more thankful than ever to have these people here with me. “Let's burn this fucking thing down.”

Leonovus sat in the corner as night fell, sharpening his claws. His sunset hair, which started as dark purple and lightened to pink, was braided down his back. The shaved sides made his feline face more angled. His industrial file was the same one I had seen people use on metal. I had never seen anyone with sharp bone claws.

Merrick and Soren had gone into the room where Soren would shoot from. Both of them needed some time alone together before we left.

Left alone with Leonovus, I found myself studying the feline-like creature. His fierce, predatory eyes were focused on his task, his long, sinewy body curled in a seemingly effortless display of acrobatic poise. The soft scraping sound of the file against his claws was almost hypnotic.

I stood up from the table, the map etched in my mind's eye. I cast one last glance at the plan before I walked over to Leonovus in the corner. His undivided attention was on his claws, and the drag and scrape of the file against bone were chilling reminders of the violence to come. I knew what Leonovus could do.

“Leonovus,” I started, my voice steady despite the uncertainty that lurked beneath. The scraping noise stopped, and he turned to look at me. His eyes, usually warm with camaraderie, were now cold with determination.

“Yes?” His response was clipped. He was mentally preparing for the battle ahead.

“I…” my voice trailed off, and I clenched my fists, trying to gather the courage to say what I wanted. “I just wanted to thank you for all this. You didn't have to join us, but you did.”

Leonovus studied me for a moment, his pink eyes, with their pink-red purples, shone in the flickering light from the dim lamp casting shadows across his face. His claws ceased their rhythmic scratching against the metal file as he considered my words. Then, in his low, gravelly voice, he spoke.

“Brir, we've been through hell and back. The rupture took everything from all of us. You and I are very similar. Why wouldn’t I help you get a soul bond back?” Leonovus asked. “We have all lost people. It's time we stop.”

He paused and huffed, and a slight grin dawned on his lips. Then he went back to sharpening his claws.

His words hung in the air, a solemn promise. I nodded, unable to find words that could match his. There was a moment of silence as neither of us knew what else to say.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Soren and Merrick had emerged from the room. Soren's face was flushed, and his hair was tousled. I raised an eyebrow at Merrick but said nothing as he smirked.

“It's time,” Leonovus said, getting up from the floor.

I followed him, picking up the sword Arya had given me and strapping it to my back.

I saw Merrick's jaws tighten, his eyes growing narrower. He didn't like the idea of Soren alone.

Merrick wrapped Soren up in his arms and kissed Soren’s forehead before he leaned his own against the other man. “You sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I will be fine,” Soren reassured him. You need to go. Save our new friend, okay?”

“I’ll come back to you. I promise. And if anything happens…” Merrick pulled Soren into a tight hug.

“ I know. Take a Lepot,” Soren repeated, rolling his eyes, “and get the fuck out. I can do this, Merrick.”

“I know you can. I believe in you,” Merrick said softly. “But you need to promise us, Soren... promise us that if the situation worsens, you will leave. We can figure something else out later.”

Soren's gaze dropped to the map again, and he nodded solemnly. “I promise, Merrick. If it goes south, I'll run.” Soren pointed to a spot on the map. “We talked about this. It's a great plan. Everyone knows what to do.”

I watched the interaction with a strange feeling in my gut. We were about to risk our lives for Artemis, yet the connection between Soren and Merrick had me wondering if more lives were at stake here than we realized.

Leonovus was rolling his shoulders, a gesture I had understood as his way of keeping calm. There was an energy about him that was hard to define. It was a mixture of determination and a slight hint of fear. I knew what he feared. What he was about to do. What he was about to become. And we couldn't stop it. Once Leonovus sunk those claws into someone, the rage would follow.

Leonovus’s hand rubbed the edges of the mask that hung off his shoulder. He made his way towards the door. “Alright then, let's go over it once more.”

???

The three of us left Soren in the room he would shoot from. He had my binoculars to watch as we made our way toward the hole in the fence.

The rain continued to pour relentlessly down like it had for days, an unending symphony of chaos and beauty, as we each took our positions. My hand gripped the hilt of Arya’s sword tightly, the cold steel a comfort against my sweaty palm.

I glanced at Merrick beside me, his figure hunched in preparation, face taut. His jaw jutted out defiantly against the rain, and he regarded the military compound in the distance with a steely resolve. I noted the way his fingers twitched sporadically near his kitous.

I walked around a pile of rubble, rainwater dripping off my hood and obscuring my vision. The darkness was thick, and the downpour muffled all sound, making it difficult to discern anything beyond a reasonable distance. The soldiers patrolling could use the trucks' headlights, but in the alley, we were covered.

Merrick led us to the broken fence. Our feet crunched on the wet, dirty ground as we made our way through the streets. I kept my goggles off but on top of my head to see through the darkness.

Leonovus was moving above us, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, ensuring no one saw us. His eyes glowed in the darkness. I never wanted to get on the wrong side of Leonovus. Even through the rain, he was a demon on the roof. Moving swiftly, the claws on his feet scraped as he ran.

It didn't take us long to get to the fence. It looked whole, but on closer inspection, the connectors on the right side were missing. Merrick pulled the fence up. I crouched down and moved through the hole before he slipped through. Leonovus jumped from the ground and scaled the wall, his bare, padded feet barely making a sound.

“Seriously?” Merrick whispered.

“I’m not getting on my hands and knees for you, Merrick,” Leonovus whispered back, causing me to roll my eyes.

“Okay, are we all ready?” I asked, tightening the straps on my gear to be sure.

Leonovus started stripping off his clothes, laying them on the fence.

“What are you doing?” I asked, bewildered.

“I like these clothes, and I don’t want blood on them,” Leonovus said. “And I won't be as easy to spot in my fur."

He unhooked the death mask from his shoulder. His jaw twitched as he looked at it, and his feline eyes dilated. He placed the mask over the upper portion of his face, his ears sticking up. A visible shiver went through his body. When he looked back at me, his pupils were fluctuating, trying to shrink from the large pools his pupils were currently. Leonovus had shaky control over the rage about to burst through him. When the color swallowed his sclera and his pupils turned to slits, there would be nothing we could do for Leonovus till he came back to himself.

I know that he’d soon lose his fragile hold on his humanity. It would snap at the first sight of blood, and he would become the cold-blooded killer that his people had trained him to be. The monster the Magi had tortured him to be.

I watched as his posture changed. His eyes dilated to eat away at the color as his anxiety grew. He hated this part of himself just like Arya did. They were two halves of the same coin. His claws extended. They were easily three inches in length and curved towards his palms. The points were razor-sharp. I had only heard about his people's bloodlust, but tonight, I would see it.

I pulled the sword Arya had given me out of its sheath before I returned to Merrick, giving him a stiff nod. Merrick took the flashlight from his pocket and pointed it to the hotel where Soren was positioned. He clicked it on and off several times to signal Soren to begin.

The moon was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds. The rain started to come down harder, soaking the ground beneath us and turning the earth into an obstacle course of slippery mud.

Merrick cursed under his breath at the worsening conditions but did not falter in his stance. His eyes were sharp and focused, and he gave a quick nod towards Leonovus, who hissed, his elongated fangs glinting in the darkness. His naked fur-covered body was almost invisible in the darkness. His tail lashed as he vibrated, trying to keep his control in check.

We watched as a light flickered in response from the topmost window of the hotel, a signal that Soren had seen our code and was ready. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and tightened my grip on Arya's sword, feeling the cold unfamiliarity of the hilt.

My nerves were raw. We had only moments to get Artemis back, and the air was electric with anticipation.

Leonovus tensed, his large frame vibrating with a barely contained energy. His feline eyes pierced through the darkness.

It was barely seconds later that Soren's first arrow cut through the air like a comet plummeting toward Earth, a beacon of light streaking across the darkness.

The longer the arrow traveled, the more energy it seemed to absorb. It crashed into a pile of dilapidated crates near the warehouse's front entrance, erupting in an explosion of brilliant light that momentarily chased away the all-encompassing darkness.

The crates shattered, flying in all directions. Soldiers scrambled like startled rats.

The guards lazily patrolling the entrance haphazardly threw themselves onto the drenched earth. They would be momentarily blinded.

Men shouted, their panicked voices distorted and chaotic. Sirens wailed, a harsh sound that sliced through the night air.

Screams filled the air as the debris rained down, a chorus of terror that echoed through the night.

Another arrow whizzed towards the building, light gathering around it almost as soon as Soren released it. This one hit an abandoned car. The boom of the impact shook the ground. The detonation served as our cue.

Leonovus took off, his feline agility allowing him to navigate the slick mud easily. Merrick followed closely behind, his long strides and stern concentration betraying no hint of fear.

Leonovus darted towards the warehouse, leading as we ran towards the humans who had opened fire. The soldiers shot blindly at the buildings around them.

Soren rained arrows down on the soldiers from a safe distance, each a fiery ball of destruction. The arrows detonated with earth-shaking force, sending men and debris flying everywhere.

We came from behind them, closing the gap with every swift stride through the rain-slicked gravel strewn around the warehouse. Soren provided a terrifyingly beautiful distraction.