Stolen - Nhys Glover Page 0,78

creatures spun off the side of the mountain and plummeted toward the bottom a hundred odd feet below us. With any luck they wouldn’t have a chance to right themselves before they hit the ground.

“Great work!” I cried, feeling his exhilaration filling me.

Now we were engaged and moving, my natural abilities had a focus, a direction. My blood seemed to sing in my veins.

The next attack came from the sides. Two for me and two for Rian. That meant pivoting back so we were parallel to the mountainside. The Vargeez dove one above the other.

My arms were longer than theirs. They had to get in close to use their claws or fangs on me. The skill was to strike as soon as they were in range of my claws, sweeping across their furry bodies and knocking them off kilter, much as the staff did.

If they got in too close I could use my fangs, but that was not optimal. That would get me tangled in their wings and risk being bitten or clawed. Wounds from Vargeez were notoriously hard to heal. All you had to do was look at Savannah’s mate’s scars to be incentivized not to let them reach you.

I’d need to move fast, ducking low and swinging out with one set of claws across the lower Vargeez before rising to slash across the next one as it came within reach. I had no idea what technique Rian would use against this strike, but we’d trained in many different maneuvers. I knew he’d know what to do.

My two came in fast, but I was faster. I judged the perfect distance and swiped out with first one clawed hand and then the other. The two creatures faltered and lurched off to the side, careening down the mountain.

I had just enough time to see Rian dispatch his two with ease. This was definitely my brother. I’d know his technique anywhere. There was no echo of Rian here, only my warrior brother.

Seven down. How many more to go? I looked skyward. I’d probably underestimated their numbers. Circling above us as they were, blocking out the stars, there seemed to be as many as a hundred. Too many. We couldn’t fight and win against so many.

Pride warred against common sense. Common sense won. Mainly because Jenna couldn’t afford to lose more of her podmates.

I sent out a call to her. Jenna’s immediate reply reminded me why Mind Speak had been created for us. Within seconds, she’d relayed our location to Nial and Meida, and they were on their way to join us.

“Reinforcements on the way!” I cried to Rian.

“Yeah, I got that! They better get here soon. I’m doing well with this staff, but my strength is limited. I don’t know how long I can watch your back for you.”

“Long enough. They’ll get here faster than we did because I was pacing myself to your slow ass.”

It was a joke, trash talk, as Mother would call it. It lifted my spirits.

The next attack was coming at us. I watched the formation, my mind immediately determining the best cause of action. They were knocked away, blood spewing across my face and body, before they knew what hit them.

This was what it was to fight for real. This was what I’d been training for since I could walk. I was Danan!

More came at us, never deviating from their essential attack. I could see their plan. Exhaust us. They had so many, they could afford to waste a few on us to wear us down.

My muscles were beginning to ache when Rian gasped out, “I’m not going to last much longer!”

I had no idea how to support my brother. Maybe if he dropped at my feet, and I kept my back to the mountain, I could hold the ground until the others arrived.

I didn’t have to think any further. At that moment, Nial and Meida exploded up onto our little plateau and immediately extended their claws.

“Rest!” I yelled at Rian. “There isn’t room to swing that staff with three of us up here.”

I could sense Rian fighting his common sense, just as I had done. But he finally nodded and gave in, crouching down behind a nearby cluster of rocks to recover while Nial took his spot and Meida took the side away from the mountain. This was a better fit. This we could do.

Our moves were like choreographed dancers, Meida went low while Nial and I went high. In the next swing of our bodies,