The first rock caught Shadow-walker across the jaw, drawing blood that steamed in the cooling air. The sabertooth didn't flinch, just shifted his massive bulk to better shield Kova from the mob's rage. Through the gates, faces twisted with the particular madness that came from watching gods walk while your mortgage was due Monday.
"Burn them all!" A woman in yoga pants and last season's activism brandished a sign reading 'Humans First.' "They brought this on us!"
The crowd surged against the barriers like water against a dam. National Guard soldiers struggled to hold the line, but panic had its own momentum. Someone hurled a bottle that shattered against the concrete, spreading gasoline in slick rainbows. The scent of accelerant mixed with sweat and terror until the air itself tasted com
