plummeted into the Nephloc Sam had injured, his touch paralyzing the enemy instantly. It dropped to the ground in a moment.
Sam followed and grabbed the Nephloc that was stiff and unresponsive. It was like a stone from Marcus’ attack. With a show of great strength that surprised even him, Sam lifted and threw the Nephloc through the door, taking portions of the outer wall of the building with it. As Sam let the creature fly, he used that split second to glance at Ian who was still inside the cabin.
Ian was on top of the Nephloc that had come in through the window—the one that was after Suteko. It was on the floor, and Ian landed blow after blow into its face and chest. He didn’t see the knife any more, but Ian’s fists were plenty. Suteko was beside him pleading, trying to get him to stop. Ian didn’t acknowledge anyone else’s presence; all that existed was him and the enemy.
But even more fascinating for Sam was the creature itself.
The Nephloc under Ian had been so large, and yet now, it was nothing more than a sniveling mess frantically trying to avoid Ian’s blows. The beating this Nephloc was taking would have killed any human. And yet, there was no blood, only a pulp of flesh and bone.
But it was experiencing great pain and fear.
The sounds of high-pitched screeching filled the small building. Ian’s eyes were burning as he jumped off that nearly unconscious Nephloc and headed toward the one Sam had just thrown in. That Nephloc was now against the wall attempting to position itself as far away from the coming avenger as possible.
The captured Nephloc were poor reflections of what they had been only a minute before. Tiny, hardly more than the size of a child cramped in a huddled fetal position.
“Enough!” The old man’s voice boomed, stilling the fists and turning the heads of not only Ian, but everyone else in the room. Marcus had returned with the third Nephloc in tow. Releasing it, the three Nephloc cowered together in a tight group making stunted, bowing motions directed at their Temporal captors. They were cornered and defeated. All possible exits were covered by Temporal who were clearly stronger than they. This was a happy surprise for Sam who had imagined the enemy would have offered a much greater attack.
Marcus shot a disapproving glance at Ian who was once again sporting clenched fists and was in midstride toward one of the creatures. The old man repeated, “Enough. They are defeated and will have quarter.”
Sam stepped in front of Ian, stopping his advance and daring him to continue. After a few ponderous breaths, Ian lifted his fist. Sam stood firm, but pulled his shoulder in slightly. With a cry louder than the explosions that had opened the window and door, Ian turned and slammed his fist into a nearby wall.
The old man nodded and said, “Hold them here while I help Catherine capture the last one.” Marcus then flew out the door with a speed faster than the eye could process.
Chapter Two
Marcus arrived to find Catherine on the ground, motionless. Hair covered her face, the strands feathering her eyes and nose. He saw a large gash on her left thigh.
After receiving his signal, she had dashed out of her hiding place, running blindly toward the building. In her haste to join the battle, she failed to notice the fleeing fourth Nephloc. It had found a large fallen branch and, upon seeing her, the creature hurled it into her direction. The projectile tripped her legs and sent her face first, skidding into the rocky dirt and dashing her leg into a sharp, protruded rock.
Marcus was horrified to see Catherine’s prone body, bleeding and motionless. A moment later, he sighed with relief as he saw Catherine moving to push herself up to a sitting position and then motion for Marcus’ hand. She had been watching the perimeter for spies or a potential second wave of attackers. She had not been expecting to join the fight.
“Don’t worry,” she said to Marcus after noticing his
Sam followed and grabbed the Nephloc that was stiff and unresponsive. It was like a stone from Marcus’ attack. With a show of great strength that surprised even him, Sam lifted and threw the Nephloc through the door, taking portions of the outer wall of the building with it. As Sam let the creature fly, he used that split second to glance at Ian who was still inside the cabin.
Ian was on top of the Nephloc that had come in through the window—the one that was after Suteko. It was on the floor, and Ian landed blow after blow into its face and chest. He didn’t see the knife any more, but Ian’s fists were plenty. Suteko was beside him pleading, trying to get him to stop. Ian didn’t acknowledge anyone else’s presence; all that existed was him and the enemy.
But even more fascinating for Sam was the creature itself.
The Nephloc under Ian had been so large, and yet now, it was nothing more than a sniveling mess frantically trying to avoid Ian’s blows. The beating this Nephloc was taking would have killed any human. And yet, there was no blood, only a pulp of flesh and bone.
But it was experiencing great pain and fear.
The sounds of high-pitched screeching filled the small building. Ian’s eyes were burning as he jumped off that nearly unconscious Nephloc and headed toward the one Sam had just thrown in. That Nephloc was now against the wall attempting to position itself as far away from the coming avenger as possible.
The captured Nephloc were poor reflections of what they had been only a minute before. Tiny, hardly more than the size of a child cramped in a huddled fetal position.
“Enough!” The old man’s voice boomed, stilling the fists and turning the heads of not only Ian, but everyone else in the room. Marcus had returned with the third Nephloc in tow. Releasing it, the three Nephloc cowered together in a tight group making stunted, bowing motions directed at their Temporal captors. They were cornered and defeated. All possible exits were covered by Temporal who were clearly stronger than they. This was a happy surprise for Sam who had imagined the enemy would have offered a much greater attack.
Marcus shot a disapproving glance at Ian who was once again sporting clenched fists and was in midstride toward one of the creatures. The old man repeated, “Enough. They are defeated and will have quarter.”
Sam stepped in front of Ian, stopping his advance and daring him to continue. After a few ponderous breaths, Ian lifted his fist. Sam stood firm, but pulled his shoulder in slightly. With a cry louder than the explosions that had opened the window and door, Ian turned and slammed his fist into a nearby wall.
The old man nodded and said, “Hold them here while I help Catherine capture the last one.” Marcus then flew out the door with a speed faster than the eye could process.
Chapter Two
Marcus arrived to find Catherine on the ground, motionless. Hair covered her face, the strands feathering her eyes and nose. He saw a large gash on her left thigh.
After receiving his signal, she had dashed out of her hiding place, running blindly toward the building. In her haste to join the battle, she failed to notice the fleeing fourth Nephloc. It had found a large fallen branch and, upon seeing her, the creature hurled it into her direction. The projectile tripped her legs and sent her face first, skidding into the rocky dirt and dashing her leg into a sharp, protruded rock.
Marcus was horrified to see Catherine’s prone body, bleeding and motionless. A moment later, he sighed with relief as he saw Catherine moving to push herself up to a sitting position and then motion for Marcus’ hand. She had been watching the perimeter for spies or a potential second wave of attackers. She had not been expecting to join the fight.
“Don’t worry,” she said to Marcus after noticing his
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