Twenty-two

twenty-two

Zhen

I already had my gun in hand, but I had it up and aimed in record time, firing off three rounds in seconds. They didn’t seem to either hit or penetrate as the Raven didn’t let out a sound or even flinch. It did this sharp, off-kilter turn, almost nose-diving into the dirt. This one clearly had an injured wing—it was favoring one side—so this was likely the female based purely on the assumption that I had, in fact, hit the balls on the other Raven last time. For a split second, its shape shifted, something hybrid where it could almost have been human. Much shorter, wings furling in, beak shrinking back into the face.

Come on, talismans, you can do it! Knock that thing into human form.

It let out a screeching wail, floundering all over the dirt-packed floor, so erratic in its movements that I couldn’t get a clean shot. It looked strangely inky black, like it was wrapped in a dark fog, little wisps of black peeling off and dissipating.

Then it lifted its head and screeched to the heavens.

The talismans on the door abruptly burst into flames, and I winced. Oooh, that was going to leave a mark. Sadness. RIP talismans.

The Raven burst back into full feathery form. Dammit. If only I’d given those talismans a bit more of a power boost, it may have done the trick.

Well, it wasn’t hopping around like a frog in a hot skillet, so maybe I could get a decent shot in now. I fired twice, and I hit it—but didn’t. The bullets seemed to either be zinging off or going right through.

Which they should not have been doing because these were silver bullets. I was beginning to think all my weapons were on the struggle bus for this fight, and wasn’t that just a cheery thought to be having? Y’know, when my life and the lives of people I happened to really like were on the line.

I didn’t shoot again, but called to Ama. “Ama! Question!”

“What?”

“The hell?!”

Ama didn’t even spare me a glance. She was doing some kind of magic on the fly with her hands. At this angle, I couldn’t see what. “It’s prepared for us this time. Your weapons won’t damage it until you get that necklace off!”

What necklace—Oh, wait, I did see some kind of bony necklace hanging about its neck. Were those human finger bones? Sure looked like them. Now that wasn’t nice.

Also, how the hell did she expect me to get a necklace off a Raven that was the size of a damn minivan while I had a bad leg and no weapon on me that could actually penetrate it?

No, seriously, how? I was totally game to try it. I just didn’t see how to do it in this instance.

Wait, wait, why was I alone in here with the girls? We had Joe, Enoli, Jake, Sheriff Parker, and two deputies who were outside, so why weren’t they coming in—

A second piercing cry went up outside. My heart sank at the sound because it had clearly not come from this Raven. Second Raven incooooooming.

Right. So. Looked like I was going to have to figure out how to get this necklace off by myself. Wonderful.

I started casting about for a different weapon. I moved out of the barrier, too, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do jack shit. Sword was a no. I couldn’t move fast enough with this bad leg. How about a dirk— WHOA .

From out of nowhere, something large and furry came up right between my legs. Now, I didn’t usually mind things between my legs, but there was such a thing as consent, y’know?

Oh, wait, it was Jun Hie. He’d apparently doubled back and come straight to me. Aww, he was such a good buddy.

“Need a leg, Zhen?” Jun Hie asked with that doggy laugh of his.

“You fucking smart aleck, I love you, and yes, absolutely. Go! We gotta get that necklace off, otherwise bullets do jack shit.”

“Understood. Hang tight.”

Jun Hie bolted forward, and I snatched the sword hanging at my side out of its sheath, my other hand knotting into the fur at the base of Jun Hie’s neck.

Now, I wasn’t saying I had Highlander fantasies. I may have watched the show as a kid—like, a dozen times, not that much really—but it wasn’t like I dreamed of being the Highlander. I just got a cheap thrill out of riding something into battle while flailing a sword around, was all.

Adrenaline was my good buddy and along for the ride as we shot forward, Jun Hie practically covering the distance in three long bounds. I ducked the attack of the Raven, who tried to bite my head off, and swung upward. More to deflect than anything, although I’d hoped to at least snag that necklace.

The beak of the Raven was tougher than iron. I knew this because it deflected my sword, snapping at it. Jun Hie barely got us out of there before those powerful wings could knock me off altogether.

Fuck. I hated EFTs.

I heard Raven II screech again and a lot of yelling outside, which wasn’t promising. Sounded like they were struggling as much as I was.

Then, all of a sudden, the Raven seized in place. Its wings flew back like they were pinned against the wall. Eh?

“NOW, ZHEN!” Ama snapped.

Oh, her medicine magic thingy must have done this. Could I keep Ama? She was awesome.

Jun Hie took me back into striking range in a split second, and I wielded my sword like the demon slayer I was. I swung hard and cut the necklace in one good swipe of my blade. It hit the packed dirt with a dull thud.

Ha! Now with that gone, my attacks could actually hit. Muwahahahahaha.

I reversed grip and swung again, and this time I got a good chunk of feathers and scored a direct slash against the Raven’s chest.

The Raven screamed in pain and rage, and the hold on it suddenly broke. Its wings beat down, hitting me on the side, and even with my guard up, it managed to knock me off Jun Hie completely. I fell with a hard thud and bit back a scream because, of course, I landed right on my bad leg.

Jun Hie whirled, standing over me and snapping, driving the Raven off. I scrambled back up to my feet, but putting my full weight on my bad ankle was an absolute no. It shot fiery pain up my calf just trying it.

Shit, I couldn’t remount Jun Hie with the Raven this close. It would knock me off again if I even tried. What to do?

A commotion at the door drew my attention, and I didn’t look—I didn’t dare—but I heard it as the fight outside abruptly relocated inside. We barely had any fighting room inside here with this big-ass bird. The last thing we needed was a second one.

Looked like I’d get one anyway.

My Raven took two giant hops backward out of range. I chose to get onto Jun Hie immediately since I had the opening.

Ama’s voice penetrated through the noise with a high-pitched wail of denial.

Oh, shit. My head snapped around, panic already setting in.

I caught the tail end of it, but even that was bad enough. While my back had been turned, Raven II had not only flown into the barn, but it had apparently snatched up a pail from somewhere. It had thrown it, and the pail had landed right in the middle of the protected circle—and on the fire meant to detect them.

Under my horrified eyes, water went everywhere, not only taking out the fire in the middle, but going sideways and taking out part of the protective ring. It happened so fast, in seconds, that no one could react to stop it.

My heart stopped because the one thing I’d counted on to protect Kris during this firefight had just died an instant death. I had no good backup plan, either, and that was wholly my fault. Guilt crawled in the back of my throat like swamp water, even as I told Jun Hie to charge the first Raven. The only way to defend her was to take these two bastards out. NOW .

Panic and a strong protective desire threw me forward into chaos. People all around me were shooting at the Ravens, but Jake was the only one who seemed to get a good hit in on the first Raven. The huodou were harrying it, trying to keep it locked down so the rest of us could get actual attacks in. I kept my head low so I could get into the fight without it getting blown off, but Jun Hie was so nervous about me getting hit, he wouldn’t cross anyone’s line of fire.

News flash, there were multiple lines of fire. What was this? A don’t cross the streams moment? Only in Trigun could you knock a bullet out of the air, people. Cross the damn streams!

You know what, this wasn’t working. “Jun Hie! Take me back to Kris!”

He spun on his heels and leapt in that direction. It was a short distance, took maybe fifteen seconds, and then he spun about so I had her back protected.

Raven One had to have at least twenty bullets in it, but it wasn’t going down yet. Raven Two was still protected by a bone necklace. I pulled out a dirk, aimed for the necklace, and missed. Dammit, it was so hard to kill things when they kept dodging.

“Stop moving so I can hit you!” I snarled in frustration.

Sheriff Parker backed up to stand at my side, gun aimed but not firing. “Zhen, is it my imagination or do all of my bullets go right through that thing?”

“Sadly, not your imagination. That bone necklace around its neck? We’ve got to cut it off before we can do damage.”

“Right…but the other Raven has no necklace.”

“I cut off its necklace about a minute ago.”

“Oh! So, it’s now taking damage?” She glanced behind her and grimaced. “Just how tough are these things that even silver bullets are only a flesh wound?”

“Too tough,” I grumbled. “This will take all fucking night.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Can you aim for the necklace?” Even as I asked, I knew it was a tricky shot. The necklace’s wire and bones were a very small target on a hyperactive bird, after all.

“I can damn well try.” Sheriff Parker had a glint of determination in her eyes.

From what I’d seen of her, the woman was a good shot. She had as good of a chance as any.

“I’m not moving from this spot,” I told her. “I’ll protect these two.”

“Good, you focus on them.” Then she moved several steps to the side and tried firing from that angle.

I called over the sound of gunfire and craziness. “GET THE NECKLACE OFF! IT’S IMPENETRABLE WITH IT ON!”

All firing at the male’s neck commenced at these words. With that many bullets aiming at it, surely someone would get a lucky shot in.

I heard shots behind me and realized Kris was unloading her Glock into the female Raven. Look at her go. I knew action-packed fight scenes were nowhere on her bucket list, but she was still standing upright and fighting back.

Actually, she had a great idea. I was going to switch weapons too. The sword would do me no good if I couldn’t close in, and right now, I wasn’t about to risk Kris or Ama by moving. Ama’s magic would take a while to do and build. This kind of combat was not her strong suit. Even with Guo right next to Kris protecting her, I didn’t feel comfortable moving.

The male Raven let out a piercing cry and took two quick steps before launching itself straight for the roof.

Where the hell was it going? There was nowhere to maneuver at the roof—

The damn thing abruptly accelerated, going beak first, and the roof didn’t even slow it down. Wood broke and splintered, making a horrendous sound, then the tin screeched as it was peeled backward. How the hell?! I mean, that took five seconds!

No, seriously, if it could do that, why was the first Raven still “trapped” in here?!

Rain started pouring in through the roof and hitting Kris and Ama. Whatever little protection had still been around the circle was gone now, the rain destroying it all. Fuck. This fight was not going down the way I wanted.

I quickly sheathed my sword, pulling out my gun because this had become a long-range thing. Again. Although, what I really needed was my bow, but I hadn’t brought it to Virginia with me. More fool me. I should have found room for it.

Jake backed up to stand at my side, taking a shot, only to curse when the female Raven followed her mate through the hole in the roof. Everyone around us except me, Jake, and Kris sprinted out the doors after them.

Jake panted, reloading and trying to get his breath back. “Safe to say no one’s having a good night here.”

“Heh. Preach.” I took a second to reload as well, as my mag was half empty. “Kris, you okay?”

She gave me a speaking look. “I am not hurt. ‘Okay’ is pushing it.”

“Fair. Damn, I could use a bow right now.”

Kris’s expression went ah-ha! “Joe’s got one in his truck. Want me to fetch it?”

“I’ll fetch it with you.” My lips peeled back in a grin. “Time to up my game. Maybe fly in on a Pegasus while wielding a trumpet. Gotta get legendary for this shit.”