h of the crisp morning air when he

flank. A blade of compressed water, razor-sharp and movin

he dropped. Her center of gravity plummeted as she bent backwa

nch. It slammed into the rock wall behind her with a

a-blue hair burst from the bushes, a sharpened bo

ed, lunging forward to drive

e attack. Her right hand shot out like a viper, her finge

isely. The female howled in pain, her fingers spas

s. She yanked the attacker over her shoulder and slammed her face-first into

nto her back. She wrenched both of the girl's arms behind he

less than three seconds. It wa

nough to freeze water. She stared down at the ba

o the dirt. She spat out a mouthful of mud and blo

ewly acquired memories. She matched the blue hair, the

g intent in her eyes faded, replaced by a weary resignation. Sh

from inside the cave. It was the sound of

d heard

int in pain, but he didn't stop. He dragged his mutilated lower body acros

and desperate. He was trying to get to Jayla

oody smears. He didn't seem to feel it. He just kept pulling hi

in Jayla's chest. It wasn't her emotion; it was a

walked slowly toward the crawling Jord

..." she said, tryin

. He saw her hand reaching for him and panicked. He scrambl

with the mud. He didn't seem to register the pa

ou want to me, just let her go!" he sobb

inty that she was about to torture his sister in front of him-hit

in front of her brother. She bared her teeth a

for a moment before she slowly curled her fingers i

r and the broken brother. Brute force and sweet