The scene is feral and bloody, violence sending any animals who can fleeing away. Sunjata slips out of the tackle as the tiger flips around, its snarl garbled by the metallic blood bubbling in its throat. Claws land true, more of the searing liquid splashing, causing the damp swamp to sizzle with stream. Koa watches, eyes wide and dry mouthed, hesitant to intervene lest he strike Sunjata instead of the tiger.
But then Pip darts back into the fray, and all of Koa's hesitation coalesces into a knot of protected fear. "Pip, no---!" the boy cries, too late, too late, as a massive paw slams the dragonling through the air, sending her sprawling onto the ground. Panic howls in a soldier's brain, and for a moment Koa is torn - but through the mental bond he feels Pip's life present, her indignation and agony a call to action.
And act the boy does.
"Jata, take its other side!" Koa shouts with surprising calm, the order falling naturally from well-trained lips. He waits until the demigod is out of the way, waits for a clear shot before throwing the chakram as hard as he can in a graceful, cleaving arc. And this time the circlet strikes through, the tiger howling as its face is slashed. Blood gushes, striking Koa, burning his skin, but he doesn't notice. He's too busy rushing to where Pip has fallen, leaving Sunjata to finish the monster as he reaches for the crumpled dragon, her battered body and unsteady heartbeat an echo of his own.
But then Pip darts back into the fray, and all of Koa's hesitation coalesces into a knot of protected fear. "Pip, no---!" the boy cries, too late, too late, as a massive paw slams the dragonling through the air, sending her sprawling onto the ground. Panic howls in a soldier's brain, and for a moment Koa is torn - but through the mental bond he feels Pip's life present, her indignation and agony a call to action.
And act the boy does.
"Jata, take its other side!" Koa shouts with surprising calm, the order falling naturally from well-trained lips. He waits until the demigod is out of the way, waits for a clear shot before throwing the chakram as hard as he can in a graceful, cleaving arc. And this time the circlet strikes through, the tiger howling as its face is slashed. Blood gushes, striking Koa, burning his skin, but he doesn't notice. He's too busy rushing to where Pip has fallen, leaving Sunjata to finish the monster as he reaches for the crumpled dragon, her battered body and unsteady heartbeat an echo of his own.
be love in its disrepute,
scorches the hillside and salts every root
