Dear Rabbit: I Know I'm A Wolf (Part 80)
(Submitted by @pharoahsthrone)
So I was hoping to submit this part earlier but my recovery from surgery has been a lot different than I expected and I didn’t even have my laptop with me so that was a painintheass hindrance, also. It was sad too cause I REALLY WANTED TO WRITE but anyway here we are and here’s the next part!
(p.s if there’s any spelling/grammar mistakes you can bet I’ll blame it on the meds later :D
-
They only had a few moments before their new enemies were on them, but it was just enough time for Gum to explain her plan to Gray and Tarragon. Upon hearing it, they instantly lit up with eager grins, keen to set it in motion. So long as the group stayed together, they should be able to get them all in one hit.
Tarragon snuck a glance out from behind the container, and when she saw the group approaching, used her pheromones to trick them into going straight past. She held up a few fingers to signal to the other two.
3…2…1…Now!
Gray was grinning as he charged out from behind the container, and the minute he set his eyes on the group, he knew they would be victorious. He planted his foot solid on the ground, swung his fist down to the concrete and let loose a yell that would make birds scatter from trees, as his shockwave erupted up through the air.
Not a second later, Gum had been behind him, her spider web soundwaves blasting out along with it. The two combined forces swept right up to the group, catching them by surprise, and they barely had time to react before they were overwhelmed and completely wiped out.
“Excellent work, you two,” Tarragon praised as she joined them, looking around to make sure they were out of enemies for the time being.
It appeared that the area was silent save for the shooting in the distance from the ruckus that River and Nea were causing, so they took a moment’s pause to think through what to do next.
“That group came from the eastern side of the building, either they were holed around there waiting for us or there’s another entrance,” Gum said as Tarragon joined her and Gray.
Gray nodded, as they turned to start heading around the side of the main building, “There has to be plenty more ways to get in.”
Tarragon nodded in agreement, and as they set off, a thought that had been plaguing all of their minds since they entered the complex was brought to light.
“So who the hell are all these people and why are they helping Nihil?”
-
River skidded around the corner and in through the back door of the brick building, firing off more rounds of explosive dust at the group that were trying to flee in front of him. Neamhni had been following on foot behind him, and caught up moments later, shooting out the light fittings above them to slow the group down as glass showered down over them. A few shots were fired in their direction, and River easily slid out of the way while Neamhni ducked.
Thinking quickly, Nea noticed one of the beams in the rafters had come loose, and so he shot at it, as the dust exploded above them and the beam crashed down on top of some of the shooters. River had then fired several rounds of ice dust out at the group, until they’d all come to a complete halt.
The pair grinned at each other as they walked over, and a few curses were thrown in their direction.
“You son of a bitch!”
River shook his head, “My mother is a lovely woman, thank you.”
Neamhni stopped in front of one of them, who was currently lying underneath the beam, “Now would you care to enlighten us as to what the hell is going on here?”
Before the man could bother to spit a retort, there was a loud crack from above them. River and Neamhni looked up.
Apparently, the beam that Nea had shot down was the support beam for many others, and they were all about to crash down on top of them.
“Ah shit,” River said, just as two beams crashed down by the door. “There goes our way out.”
Thinking quickly, Neamhni turned and shot at the window that was several metres above them, “River!”
The man responded instantly, turning for the window, “Got it!”
They both began to run as more beams crashed down, and River’s weapon changed modes. He and Neamhni then grabbed hold of each other’s wrists, and River shot his harpoon up through the window.
As the second level of the building completely gave way, the two huntsmen were swinging out through the window, the harpoon having sunk into the neighboring building. They hung in the air for a moment, as Neamhni grumbled about not getting any answers, before River let them down, and they landed safely on the ground.
“Next time,” he said to the faunus, “Warn me before you bring the roof down on top of us, yeah?”
Neamhni chuckled and nodded, “Sounds fair. Let’s head for the main building.”
Having similar thoughts to their comrades, they didn’t want to head for the main entrance, so they tried heading around the western side of the building.
“Neamhni, River, you guys good? It sounded like half a building just collapsed,” Nigel’s voice came through the comms.
“Yeah, we’re all good,” River replied, “We’re heading for the main warehouse now, on the west side.”
Neamhni glanced over to the outskirts of the compound, “Jen, can you see any movement?”
“Looks pretty quiet to me,” she said, “Too quiet, actually.”
“Think there’s an ambush waiting for us?” River asked, lifting Stail Abhainn to prepare.
Neamhni shared a look with him as Umbra changed modes, opening out to its final form. “Most likely.”
They both knew they were remembering the day back at warehouse seventeen. It wasn’t the most pleasant of memories, but this was different, and Neamhni could feel it in the adrenaline pumping through his veins. They was ready for whatever Nihil had waiting for them.
“We have the whole team, this time,” Nea said, stopping for a moment. He could remember how guilty he’d felt last time, but it no longer bothered him. He’d had enough time to get over it and move forward. “And Gray, too.”
River nodded, and Neamhni knew that any previous doubts about the man were gone. Gray had proven many times now that he was worthy of their trust, and that wasn’t going to waiver now. “Yeah,” he agreed, lifting his hand. “Let’s do this.”
Neamhni smiled, and lifted his hand also, slapping palms with River and hanging on for a moment. “After you, buddy.”
River turned to keep walking. “Stay on my right?” he asked, more out of habit than anything else.
“I always do.”