Nine
Brice squeezed the trigger and the crosshairs glowed brilliant red. The air shimmered as the burst of energy flew. For a moment he could no longer see the beast, or its open jaws. He felt his arm twitch as his lattice compensated for kick-back.
The blast hit the warth mid-jump.
The beast landed awkwardly, thrown off course but still upright. And this time the roar was loud enough to fill the forest.
Cathal slapped at Brice’s outstretched arm, hard enough that he almost dropped his lash.
Ryann sounded calm, but when Brice turned to her, she was already on the cliff face, and behind her a warth raced through the undergrowth.
Tris and Keelin were already climbing, as was Cathal. Brice holstered his lash, turned, and grabbed the rock. Branches cracked behind him, and he didn’t know
