Page 175 of Smoke and Lure

“Aguya!”Ladon’s call to her wasn’t far behind.

Yet Kai didn’t wait for them to reach her, but continued down the path.She didn’t get far before a searing pain struck her shoulder.She lost her footing and fell sideways, landing hard, her back slamming into the base of a large tree.

“Damn it!”she cried, as searing pain exploded across her back and through her stomach.She clutched her middle with one hand, praying to the Great Spirit for her baby.

Kai blinked back the stars and darkness threatening to overtake her.She glanced up into the maniacal gaze as the savage entity, no longer human, towered over her prone body.

Her hand clutched the sword handle tightly, ready to protect herself and her unborn child in any way she could.She was thankful she hadn’t lost her weapon in the fall.

When she attempted to scramble back, the sadistic creature spied her movement and lunged for her.His clawlike hands swooped down, snatched her up from the ground as if she weighed no more than a field mouse.

Instead of giving in to the fear that was flooding her throat with bile, she recalled her hours of training with Khuzaimah, Kai anticipated the thing pulling her closer to him, and she allowed it, using the opportunity to strike.

Fast and using all her might, she drove her thin, long sword into its side, not stopping until she had run the thing through, her hilt pressing into its thick flesh.

“Rrrrrrrrrrr!”It bellowed as it shoved her away and to the ground again.

Kai’s sword pulled from its body with a wet, sickening sound, but she kept it in her grip, ready to defend herself again until help arrived.Her shoulder took the brunt of her fall this time.

So much noise filled the forest, but it all felt like it was coming through a tunnel from the ringing in her ears that dulled her senses.Struggling to sit up, she only focused on the big malformation before her.

Blood poured from the wound in its side, but it didn’t stop.Once again, the wild thing, enraged, came at her again.It raised one clawed hand ready to swipe down at her and slice her into ribbons.

As it swung its meaty arm, claws extended, Kai prepared herself for the blow.

It never came.

There was a thud as the arm that had been ready to rip at her fell to the forest floor at her feet.

The constructed beast howled.It stumbled and teetered a step or two as it turned toward its offender.Coming face to face with Ladon, whose broad sword was painted with the thing’s blood.

“Come on, mother fucker!”Ladon swung his sword left and right before him as he stepped surefooted backwards, drawing it away from her.

Angry, the horror on furred feet started to charge at Ladon.

However, it never took more than one step.

“No!”someone shouted.

All Kai saw was a flash of movement from the other side of the unnatural thing—it was her friend.

Avalore drew both Liekki’s broadswords and swung them high in a crisscross motion.Their length gave her the reach she needed, with perfect precision.Like shears slicing effortlessly through meat, the new Drahk female decapitated the head of the beast, as Ladon, working in tandem with her, drove his blade into the beast's heart.

Stunned, Kai inhaled sharply.

Thump.Thump.Thump.The head dropped, bounced, and landed before Ladon’s feet.

For a moment, the headless body remained standing.

Ladon shoved it in the opposite direction of where Kai was still lying on the ground.The guard pulled out his radio and reported the incident.

“Avalore...”Kai shook her head, shocked at her friend's deft skills.Yes, Avalore had been doing well with her training with Khuzaimah, but Kai didn’t realize how deadly she’d become.

“Are you alright, Aguya Kai?”Avalore lifted her arms and slid the swords into the harness at her back.

“Yes.Just a little bruised.”Kai started to get up and groaned.Her stomach was tight, making it difficult to rise.

“Easy.Let me help you.”Avalore kicked the severed arm out of the way and moved closer to her.She reached out and held Kai’s hand and shoulder to support her, and she pried Kai’s long sword out of her hand before slipping it back into the holster.

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