Tigris left the building to meet with Dawon and Irene, who were bringing several wagons to transport supplies.

“Building’s being cleared out.” She reported as Dawon and Irene climbed out of the wagon.

“Find anything good?” Asked Irene.

“Don’t know. Onyx and some other guys are checking it out.” Answered Tigris.

“Alright I want everything loaded into the wagons. First priority is medicine. If it doesn’t fit in the wagon the carry it. If you can’t carry it then destroy it. I want the two of you to go back to the village with some of our people. With those raging fires someone’s bound to come see what’s going on.” Ordered Dawon as he and a few others made their way inside the building.

“Yeah.” Replied Tigris dryly.

Lyo watched as the fires raged on. “This takes me back.” She sighed.

“Kaulkans?” Asked Tykal.

“Yeah. What about you? I know Tigris fought there.”

“Some. Not a lot. I probably did a little more fighting than Onyx there, but a bit less than you two.”

“Think the Zulamarians will send reinforcements?”

“If they haven’t already. We probably don’t have a lot of time. Let’s round up everyone and group up with the others.”

As both girls walked in the direction of the armory they noticed a woman being gangraped by two animalists.

“The more things changed the more they stay the same.” Sighed Lyo.

Tykal let out a chuckle. “Hey Lyo wanna see something funny?”

“Hmm?” Hummed Lyo in question.

“Watch.” Tykal aimed her rifle at the woman’s head, and fired.

Both animalists were taken by surprise as their source of entertainment was dead.

“Hey what the shit!? You could’ve blown my dick off!” Screamed one of them.

Tykal just laughed it off as she walked away. Lyo watched as the animalist quickly walked towards Tykal. Tykal pulled out her pistol as she prepared herself for what was to come. The animalist grabbed Tykal’s shoulder, and turned her around.

“I want you to apologize.” Ordered the animalist.

“Nah.” Said Tykal as she slowly aimed her pistol at his groin.

The animalist growled as Tykal pressed the pistol barrel against his groin.

“Now unless you don’t want me to really shoot it off I suggest you back off.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” The animalist challenged Tykal.

Tykal then pulled the trigger. The animalist growled in pain as he fell clutching his groin. Tykal walked away smiling as she holstered her pistol. Lyo joined her as both of them saw Irene and Tigris enter the village.

“Any trouble?” Asked Tigris.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle.” Answered Tykal.

Tigris peeked past Tykal’s shoulder to see the animalist growling in pain. “And your friend there?”

“He dared me.” Tykal answered plainly.

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” Irene asked bewildered.

“He dared her.” Tigris responded.

“And that’s enough for you?”

“Yeah. Is isn’t for you?”

“You’re all unbelievable. It’s a wonder you’re all still alive.” Irene left the trio of legionnaires to gather the rest of their people.

“Where’s Onyx?” Asked Lyo.

“Probably taking inventory with Dawon. Seeing as how you’re all good we should head back. We’ve got a long walk ahead of us.”

“GYAH!”

The girls turned around and saw a giant lizard biting the animalist’s throat. Tykal immediately pulled up her rifle and fired at the beast. The beast howled in pain and soon more lizards emerged from around the village.

“Shit! These must be those lizard people the Zulamarians were talking about.” Said Tykal as she reloaded her rifle.

“What lizard people!?” Asked Tigris.

“Later for now we run! Everyone fall back to the armory. Move it!” Shouted Irene as she sprinted ahead of the group to warn the others.

“And you all just found him like this?” Asked Dawon as he saw Onyx in his comatose state.

“Yeah. We found him near a dead child with a knife. Maybe poison?”

“Fuck me!” Cursed Dawon. “Well hopefully this one’s her least favorite legionnaire.”

“Dawon! DAWON!” Irene yelled from the top of her lungs as she entered the armory.

“Fuck what is it now?”

“Lizard people… Coming this way… Everyone man the walls…” Irene panted.

“It’s just one thing after another. Man the walls and use rifles and automatic crossbows. Let none of them get inside.”

Tigris, Lyo, and Tykal made it inside the armory along with a few other survivors.

“Can’t believe we made it.” Said Tigris as she caught her breath.

“We still have to survive the night.” Added Tykal.

“Baby steps Tykal.” Tigris then noticed Onyx lying comatose. “Ah fuck me that’s gonna be a problem.”

Tigris walked up to Onyx then moved his head with her foot. She got on her knees and violently shook him. She opened his eyelid and noticed that they had changed from the usual black to the crimson red Dragon Eyes. Even so he still didn’t wake up. Tigris then put her mouth mere inches from his ear and screamed. “ONYX!”

“That’s not gonna work.” Said Lyo.

“Well it was with a shot. I could try hitting him. You know? Mix things up a little.”

“How many hostiles?” Asked Dawon as Tigris stood up.

“Not sure. Maybe a few dozen at least. They took us by surprise.”

Dawon growled. “Fuck me help’s too far away. We’ll have to fight our way out.”

“Wouldn’t recommend it.” Tykal began. “We don’t have the numbers for a fighting retreat. In addition, we’ll be slowed down with all of the cargo.”

Dawon looked at the loaded wagons. They desperately needed those supplies. They could dump the weapons and take the medicine, but that was still too much to carry. The legionnaire was right they would have to stay and fight. Dawon made his way to the top of the walls to see the enemy’s numbers. He didn’t see anything. The road was clear as far as one could see. The fires still burned in the village.

“So that’s how it’s gonna be. Get me some tar and fire bombs.”

“What’s the plan?” Asked Irene.

“We burn them out. They’re hiding out there in the trees. We stand a better chance in open terrain anyways. We might get lucky and burn a few. When you’re ready launch the black tar first then the firebombs. We’ll burn the forest around us.”

The animalists did as he ordered and tossed the black tar at the trees surrounding the fort then the firebombs. Soon the entire forest caught fire almost immediately. Howls could be heard from within the forest as several of the lizards left their cover and made for the fort. The animalists fired at them with crossbows and rifles in an attempt to thin their numbers. The bullets and arrows were not strong enough to pierce their tough scales and hides. The lizards made their way to the fort’s walls, and with the help of their claws they started to climb. Then they jumped over the walls as they almost reached the top. Tykal aimed for the head of one of them and fired her rifle. The beast howled in pain, but nothing beyond that.

“Shit!”

“Tykal take Onyx and get inside.” Said Tigris.

“This is bullshit!” Exclaimed Tykal as she dragged Onyx away as fast as possible.

“It’s just you and me Lyo are you ready?”

“Nope.”

“Yeah me too.”

They all charged at the lizards head on as they transformed into their animal forms. Tigris dodged one of the lizards that almost jumped on her. She pulled out her knife, and jumped on its back. She repeatedly stabbed the creature, but its hide proved a bit too difficult to pierce through. Nonetheless, Tigris drove her knife deeper as the lizard tried to shake her off. Lyo charged at the lizard with her spear, and successfully pierced its stomach. As the lizard tried to grab hold of the spear, Tigris drove her knife through its eye. The beast finally fell as Tigris removed her knife, and saw several more of them jumping over the walls.

“Stab them in the stomach! It’s a soft spot!” Yelled Tigris.

Dawon’s sword strike was blocked by the lizard’s arm. It didn’t even leave a scratch. Then he heard his sister’s voice. He smiled as he pulled out a knife, and tried to pierce the lizard’s stomach. The lizard grabbed his second hand as the knife’s edge remained a few inches away from his stomach. Irene then suddenly tackled the beast. Dawon jumped on top of it almost immediately, and repeatedly stabbed the creature multiple times. Dawon helped Irene, who was underneath the dead lizard, get to her feet.

“There’s just no end to the bastards. Everyone fall back inside! Now!”

Tykal provided covering fire for the animalists. As she reloaded she looked down at Onyx as he was still in his comatose state.

“C’mon wake up you bastard!” She kicked him to see if that would wake him, but to no avail. “Fucking bullshit!”

From behind the enemy’s ranks Tykal spotted a girl leading the lizards. She brought up her rifle and aimed at the girl’s head. Then she pulled the trigger. The girl’s head flung back from the impact, but she remained standing ever so firmly. It was then that Tykal noticed the girl’s arm began to glow, and the bullet wound healed.

“Oh fuck me! They have fucking magic! That’s bullshit!”

Just as Tykal aimed her rifle at her a second time she felt someone grab her leg. She looked down and saw Onyx slowly stand up. As he rose to his feet the look he had on his face was one of excitement perhaps. Either way he was smiling, his teeth had become razor sharp, his tongue was forked, he had fully transformed into one of them. Onyx tightly gripped his sword, and dashed at the enemy at full speed.

Three lizards stood before him, and with one fell swoop of his blade he cut them all in half. The other lizards stepped back, except for the girl whom stepped forward.

“What the fuck is going on?” Asked Tigris.

“This is just like with Sloane.” Answered Lyo.

“So… Should we… Be trying to help him?”

“Honestly with that stunt he just pulled I’m more scared of him than the enemy.” Responded Lyo as she stepped back.

The girl started speaking in a strange language. Her voice was haunting, visceral, and guttural. Onyx responded the same way.

“Why the fuck can he talk like that? What the fuck are they saying?” Asked Dawon as he slowly approached Tigris.

“I don’t know, and I don’t wanna know.” Responded Tigris as she stepped back.

The girl then drew her short swords and transformed. Onyx roared and lunged at her as he attempted to cut her in half with his sword. She blocked his swing with her short swords. Onyx put more strength into his sword as he pushed against her swords. She jumped back in an attempt to put distance between them. Onyx tore off his nails to reveal the claws underneath them. He dropped his sword and rushed at her with his claws drawn. The girl then did the same. Onyx tried to pierce her chest, but she grabbed his arm and attempted to twist it. Onyx pulled her in closer so as to take a bite out of her neck, but she immediately let go. Both of them snarled at each other, and gnashed their teeth. Onyx then lunged at her but she sidestepped him, and dug her claws deep into his flank. Onyx grabbed her hand and twisted it as her nails cut his insides. Onyx howled in pain, but he was successful in breaking her arm. Then he pushed himself on top of her as he pinned her to the ground. Onyx took a bite out of her throat as he tore her chest to shreds. Onyx stood up from the girl’s corpse when he noticed her tattoo started to glow. Then all of her wounds immediately healed. Onyx growled in anger as the girl stood up. However, rather than continue their fight she retreated along with the other lizards.

“What the fuck?” Asked Dawon.

“I guess we won.” Answered Tigris.

“Yeah right. I want those wagons loaded now! Grab our wounded too. We move within the hour before they decide to finish us off.” Ordered Dawon.

Onyx gazed at the animalists.

“We’re friendly.” Said Tigris as she slowly backed away.

Tykal aimed her rifle at Onyx’s head as he slowly approached Tigris.

“Whoa hey there fella we’re friends alright?” Tigris began. “I’m not your enemy.”

Onyx snarled at her.

“Well… Fuck it!” Said Tigris as Onyx lunged at her.

Suddenly a shot rang out and Onyx howled in pain as the bullet hit his chest. Tigris used the opportunity to tackle him to the ground, and attempt to restrain him. Several animalists did the same as Onyx fought hard to shake them off.

“Fuck he’s strong! Someone bring some heavy chains or something. What the fuck happened to you Onyx?” Said Tigris as Onyx roared like a wild animal.