Fight By My Side

The other Shifters were uneasy, but after hearing what Wyland told me, they knew that the only way to win was to pair up with the good Guardians. Everyone nervously paired up with a Guardian. Vic and I were to fight together. Alan was uneasily standing next to Wyland, who whispered to the younger brother.

The eagles overhead soared low over our heads.

As we quickly organized our grown army, I noticed the “Upgrades” that each man had gotten. Some had sprouted wings from their backs, as large as a ten foot wing span. Others had webbed hands and feet for swimming. Still yet, some men and woman had claws and long talons that sprouted from their fingers. It wasn’t as gruesome as it was captivating to see what the outcome was.

“Ready?” Wyland asked me. The entire planes fell silent. A few houses out in the distance had their light on. The plan was set and our target notified.

While Vic and I were to go and attack Aaron, Alan and Wyland would rescue our captive friends and release any others. The orders were to kill all Rogues and corrupted Guardians, and Aaron.

“GO!” I shouted and at once each of us Shifted and charged. The Guardians easily kept pace with us. As we reached the gate, lines of corrupted Guardians flanked by red eyed Rogue Shifters met us as we entered the city.

I heard the snarls and trumpets as both man and beast slashed with claw and hand at the enemies. As soon as I started to feel the blood run between my paws, I could sense the energy zap back into me.

The tiger next to me leaped up to block an attacker that was about to leap down on my back. I helped my friend tear at its lungs until the beast was dead. Bodies of both allies and enemies scattered on the ground.

I saw Alan and Wyland dodge into the Headquarters. Vic and I were supposed to stay out here and give them two minutes before we continued our way up to the main hall in the middle of the City.

Children screamed as they saw the carnage. People rushed out into the streets with baseball bats, rakes, and guns. They shot.

But they shot the Rogues. The men held back the lines as Rogues attacked the citizens. Many Guardians and Shifters worked together one by one to help defend those that were being attacked.

It was working. We were all finally protecting one another and not killing each other.

Vic nudged my shoulder and led me to the door where four figures were emerging. I leapt forward as my heart raced. That hole in my chest began to fill up as I neared him.

Austin spotted me and leapt forward, punching some Rogue in the throat on the way. He Shifted into a wolf and joined me in happy yips and barks. I pressed my muzzle into his side affectionately until the battle called us back to attention. Vic went to his brother’s side. The hawk cried out happily as he flew overhead of the tiger.

It was amazing when Aus and I fought together. You wouldn’t otherwise tell that we’d never fought side by side. It was if both of our minds were programed to know what the other was about to do, just by the simple twitch of the tail or ears.

Austin dropped to the ground and rolled on his side as I launched over him to knock the Rogue Guardian with cat ears over. I tore at his throat, sending up sprays of blood. Austin helped me take down three Rogues and get closer to the middle of the city before things were starting to go wrong.

More allies were dead than alive. Both sides had numbers thinning out, but the Guardians that were corrupted never ran out of energy. Then I saw something terrible.

Just glancing over in a break in the action, I saw Alan and Wyland fighting a corrupt Guardian with long talons. Alan was in his human form, taking a gun and trying to aim as Wyland landed a few good blows on the demented hybrid creature.

That’s when the beast grabbed Wyland by the shoulders and ripped his chest to shreds. The older Ashby dropped to the ground, barely breathing. Alan looked up, took a well-aimed shot and beat the beast down, before kneeling by his brother’s side.

I didn’t hear the whispered conversation, but as I saw Wy take his last breath, I heard Alan shriek so that all of heaven and hell could hear his agony at losing his other sibling. First, it was his sister, but now he lost a brother.

I may not have liked Wyland all that much, but I could feel the pain that Alan was going through. Austin rushed to his side, but then ducked away with a yelp. I only had three words for this sight.

ALAN. WENT. HAM.

I mean, everyone literally froze as the ginger screamed his head off, ran around in every which direction, and completely shot every foe he came in contact with to Swiss cheese. Kellin galloped up beside him and the ginger princess, I mean diva, totally swung himself on and rode around the battlefield, like a badass, taking shots and killing those who opposed him. The enemies went screaming and fleeing to the sidelines where the crowds were waiting to bludgeon them to death.

I had only three more words for this.

GET SOME, ALAN!

The princess went full out diva. He could’ve been in a pink tutu, fluffy boa, and riding a unicorn and still been the avenging angel for his brother. Kellin, who was just having a good time galloping through the crowds, didn’t have to do anything other than run.

Despite this new rage that was screaming like a banshee, we were still outnumbered. More foes seemed to sense the danger and came from side corners to trap us in.

Austin nudged my side and looked up as shadows blocked out the sun. Somewhere behind me, something exploded as people and Rogues screamed. A cheer ran through our forces at something I couldn’t see.

But then it was there.

And it was beautiful.

A force of twenty Shifters, guns a blazing, knives a flashing, and bombs exploding all charged through the gates. I saw a familiar dark bird high overhead swoop down low, drop a firecracker down a Guardian’s shirt, and explode on his chest. The raven laughed a hoarse cough.

But what impressed me more was the force leading the charge. The form went between enemies, letting out a battle cry and a lion scream as he used his fury to power himself and Shift forms between a sleek mountain lion and a human many times.

It was Jack, angry as could be, and the saving angel of us all.

Notes

So.....I've come to my decision on this battle and what to write, but I can't tell you yet because I'm writing the next chapter :) Basically, I'm wrapping up the entire story pretty quickly, so I'm sorry if this is a little rushed, but I'll definitely make it worth you while! So if you're currently biting your finger nails off wondering who else is going to die, you have to give a big thanks to I_Ship_Aliver because she talked to me all afternoon and basically begged me not to kill anyone(So I don't really know the casualty rate yet), and besides that fact, she's been super awesome (You all have!) and we had an hour long conversation about the divaness of Alan. Yeah, that was my afternoon.

In short, you're all awesome. I_Ship_Aliver gets a golden star for dealing with my randomeness today, and we will find out if anyone else dies in the next chapter :)