{"id":1540,"date":"2012-12-14T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-12-14T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1540"},"modified":"2012-12-13T20:06:03","modified_gmt":"2012-12-14T01:06:03","slug":"winter-chapter-27-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1540","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 27 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll need the guns,\u201d Marin said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWon\u2019t do the trick,\u201d Cameron said, shaking his head grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI tried that once.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It didn\u2019t end very well for me and I\u2019ve got the scar to prove it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Caliburn rasped out of its scabbard and he weighed it in his hand, as if it was feather-light and unbelievably heavy all at once.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHand to hand seemed to do the trick.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>So did Neve\u2019s arrows.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnything with a decent iron content will do the trick,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut we all need to steer clear of those claws.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo the shot that we\u2019ve used on the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> might work?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg asked as he began to distribute the weapons he\u2019d brought.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d arrived unobtrusively a few minutes before and gotten an earful of what they were dealing with.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIron broadheads are better,\u201d Thordin said, still peering out into the darkness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There were at least a dozen pairs of eyes out there.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Christus<\/span><\/em>,\u201d he swore under his breath, making Phelan startle next to him at his choice of words, \u201cWhat did you do to piss these things off, Cameron?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve got no idea,\u201d Cameron said with a grimace.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNeve and I initially thought they were after her.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf they\u2019d been after her, you\u2019re not the only one they\u2019d have hurt,\u201d Thordin said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTime out,\u201d Thom said, then pointed to the glowing eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre they going to be able to punch through the wards?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf they haven\u2019t yet, they can\u2019t do it,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThose wards are probably the only thing keeping them at this distance.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo they\u2019re not hanging out there and waiting for reinforcements?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Probably not.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s blade rasped softly as he drew it from its scabbard.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFan-fucking-tastic.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin grasped his wrist.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you sure that\u2019s a good idea?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t have a choice,\u201d he said, then leaned in to steal a kiss for luck.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She held him fast for a brief moment before she released him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll get a couple of the hunting bows and a box of shot.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Paul can snipe and I\u2019ll see what kind of damage I can do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t hit anyone,\u201d Phelan warned her as he drew his borrowed sword.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Marin gave him a withering look in the darkness.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBecause I <\/span>want<\/span><\/em> to shoot one of you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Get out there and be careful.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She turned and jogged off, ponytail bouncing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t like this,\u201d J.T. rumbled.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s nothing about it to like,\u201d Thom said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust something to fight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If we don\u2019t win, then we\u2019ll have even bigger problems.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSpoken like a true warrior,\u201d Thordin said with a wry grin as he notched another arrow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCharge them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll cover until your lady comes back to take over.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHopefully, we won\u2019t need her,\u201d Thom said, his voice low.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He lifted his blade and charged out into the darkness.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan cursed softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDamned impetuous\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReminds me of someone else I know,\u201d Thordin said, tone far more cheerful than it had any right to be given the situation.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet out there before the spawn of your spawn gets himself ripped to shreds.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan cursed again and dashed after Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. took off on his heels, Rory plunging after him, flames dancing blue at his fingertips.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGood luck,\u201d Thordin muttered under his breath as he let another arrow fly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Out in the darkness, another <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em> screamed as the arrow slammed home.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That scream was joined by more as a four-man army ripped into a dozen of the dangerous monsters in the darkness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Eerie blue flames spread by Rory illuminated the field, giving it an eldritch glow\u2014and made the hag-like furies seem even more horrifying than they actually were.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The sight of them had always been enough to turn a stomach, but somehow, in that light, they seemed worse.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And worse yet, they were angry and suddenly had more than one target of opportunity.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The largest pointed to Thom, Phelan, and Cameron before screeching a battle-cry and launching herself at the Wanderer\u2019s throat.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need the guns,\u201d Marin said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWon\u2019t do the trick,\u201d Cameron said, shaking his head grimly.\u00a0 \u201cI tried that once.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t end very well for me and I\u2019ve got the scar to prove it.\u201d\u00a0 Caliburn rasped out … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,66,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-27","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-oQ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1540"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1541,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1540\/revisions\/1541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}