A werewolf is not a creature to be treated lightly under any circumstance. On average, they weigh close to half a ton, are eight feet tall and without silver they are almost impossible to kill. Given that only the oldest of them are not held sway by the moon I could tell we were in for the fight of our lives.
Yet Varden had killed one in a matter of minutes, by himself. Now he stood there with a blue chain held in both hands, the first three feet spinning so fast it looked like an azure disk. How did he learn to do that? Every Shaper in the Sanctuary could shape their blades and their blades alone. Yet he seemed to be able to shape whatever he wanted. If we lived through this, I was going to have to ask him about that.
I saw in the split second before it happened Varden getting ready to strike. So we both moved together as one. With a flick of his wrist his chain lashed out and wrapped itself around the beast's enormous head. The massive creature wrapped a furry paw around it and yanked. Varden shot towards it like a missile in flight. Tucking his legs out in front of him he landed a double flying sidekick to the shoulder and head, rocking the werewolf back from the impact.
As he was flying but before he landed, I was in motion. Darting over a floor slick with blood I formed my blade and arrived at the beast the same instant Varden did. As he hit it high I raised my blade above my head, bringing it down with all my might I plunged it through the top of its massive foot and into the stone beneath, pinning it to the floor.
It had just been grabbing at Varden when its head went back and the howl changed from one of rage to one of pain. They may heal quick but it still hurts when your foot gets almost split in two. Lowering its massive muzzle those cold black eyes locked on me and to my surprise it just ripped that huge foot off my blade like it was nothing. Jumping to the side I avoided the sweep of its telephone pole size arm and came up with another blade formed. Just in time to be hit in the side of the head by something hard and blue.
"PULL!" Was the only word I could hear over the ringing in my ears. So I grabbed whatever had hit me and pulled with everything I had.
The roaring of the monster rose to a baying squeak, it's foot falls faltered, then through a sheen of sweat I watched Varden back flip off its back. The chain in his hand was only so long and as it was pulled tight the beast forgot about everything else, its paws snapped to its neck, fingers digging under the chain. But nothing could stop the biting effect of what we'd set in motion. I was pulled off my feet for an instant when Varden hit the floor, my shoulders would feel the effects of the pull tomorrow. But that was nothing compared to the effect the tightening chain had on our prey. In an enormous shower of blood the chain garroted the beast, ripping its head clean form the shoulders, and sending it hurtling through the air.
While the head was still gnashing its teeth and roaring through a non-existent windpipe Varden and I sagged in relief under a ruby red shower that fountained from the creature's neck. Each beat of that oversized heart sent geysers of red splashing against the ceiling only to rain down on us. Wiping our eyes to clear them of the coppery smelling fluid we beheld a horrible sight.
Its head gone the werewolves massive body jerked upright and ran itself into the wall. Spinning it thundered at us on unsteady legs before it slammed into the back of its uninjured comrade. Falling to the floor the two of them degenerated into a mass of thrashing claws and clamping jaws. Before the living wolf could gain its feet both high mothers jumped into the air, their blades cutting the air in a song of death that terminated in a death blow bit deep into the uninjured neck. The blades were raised covered in blood, then descended once, twice, three times until both smashed into the stone of the floor.
Silence covered the room, its impact could be felt by more than just our hearing. During the fight we had only time to react, our bodies relying on our training were on autopilot. But now we had the time to look around and take stock. All four of us were drenched in blood, covered in scratches, and dotted by too many bruises to count.
"Are you two alright?" Vardens voice rang out in the silence as he worked his way towards Damaris.
"We're fine young one, what of you two?" Zhao motioned from him to me.
"We're fine high mother, thank you." Both of the women's heads sprang up at the sound of Varden and I speaking at the same time with the same voice.
Before I had time to think real hard on what happened Vardens head shot up and grabbing my hand he dragged me out of the room so fast I almost dislocated my shoulder.
"What's the hurry, are there anymore here?" I asked yet his eyes remained on the ceiling and his mouth shut.
"We need to get to the entrance, we can't let him get away." Was all he said, his eyes never leaving the ceiling.
"Who escape, who's here?" I tugged him to a stop but only after I planted my feet and refused to walk. I know, childish but sometimes it works.
"Ambrosio, he's here. He wasn't going to miss Damaris' death, and now he's getting away while you're keeping me here."
"But the elevators have been disabled. There's no way you'll reach the ground floor fast enough using the stairs."
"I'm not using the stairs." Varden pulled free of my grip and shot towards the elevator.
It had been disabled so the doors were still open, the car at our level. Leaping in he jumped and punched the maintenance hatch open and with another leap grabbed the lip and pulled himself through. By the time I clambered on to the elevators roof Varden was disappearing from my sight. He was climbing the cable hand over hand so fast that in a few seconds he was gone from view.
In the distant blackness I heard the screech of metal being shifted then a tiny thin streak of light. He was at the top while I stood there doing nothing. Jumping down into the elevator I ran to the stairs and back to the fourth floor. Upon reaching the landing I saw the remains of the werewolf Varden had defeated. They were everywhere; it was as if someone had planted a hand grenade inside its chest. Bit's and particles of the beast speckled the walls and ceiling, all that was left was a bloody torso stump with two legs attached by shreds of flesh to the shoulders, arms and head of what had once been a monster capable of untold destruction and death.
I paused for only a moment to lock the sight in my brain then ran out of the stairwell into a scene of pure chaos.
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