Shadow Slave

Sunny did not recall falling asleep, but he was woken up by someone banging on the hatch of the Rhino. Sitting up, he looked around and realized that he must have passed out while studying the weave of the Midnight Shard. The austere tachi was still laying on the holographic table, glinting as if to mock him.

He had almost solved the problem. That elusive element of the weave was almost isolated, but to...

As someone banged on the hatch once again, making the massive APC shake a little, Sunny flinched, rubbed his face, and went to the hatch.

"Coming! Who the hell…"

He opened the hatch and froze, swallowing the rest of his irritated shout.

"Oh, ah… Master Jet. Good… morning?"

She glanced at him with amusement.

"Technically, it's evening. Go wipe the drool off your face and come out, Sunny. We've been summoned to attend a meeting."

He frowned, then threw an angry look at the gloomy shadow, which was hiding in the darkness not too far away. The bastard was supposed to warn him if anything approached, protecting Sunny from a sudden attack… or from embarrassing himself, in theory.

The shadow shrugged innocently and looked away.

Shaking his head, Sunny returned inside and quickly washed his face. A couple of minutes later, he left the APC and closed the hatch behind him. Since Soul Reaper mentioned that he had to come out, they were most likely heading for the complex that the local branch of the First Army Command used as headquarters. It was only a short distance from the barracks.

Indeed, Jet walked in that direction, with Sunny following as he looked around with sleepy eyes. A few moments later, he asked:

"...What is the meeting about?"

She shrugged.

"We'll find out. All I know is that White Feather wants to see us."

'White Feather, huh…'

The two of them made their way to the army headquarters, but then walked past it, approaching a heavily fortified compound instead. Winter and Dale were already waiting for them near the gates, looking as ragged and fatigued as Sunny.

He greeted them.

"I heard you retook Breach C yesterday? Must have been a tough fight."

Dale simply shrugged.

"Not really. We still hold both sections of the wall above the breach, so all I had to do was persuade the abominations to stay put until the garrison forces shredded them with ranged weapons."

He remained silent for moment, and then added:

would have been much worse if

Sunny nodded somberly.

led to a spacious room on one of the underground levels. There, two people

in front of a false window, studying the projected image of the night sky. His face was painted ghostly green by the ethereal tapestry of the swirling aurora. Saint Tyris was motionless, sitting in an imposing chair with her back

not seen Sky Tide in a while — at least in her

fallen down like a cascade of

back was taking a toll on the Transcendent of

and stern, however, and her amber eyes burned with the

at the sound of the

Ascended Winter, Ascended Dale, Sunless… welcome. Sorry

Roan was acting uncharacteristically subdued, his usual

waved

no one. What did you want

Roan smiled slightly.

business… well, it is for the best. There is not

the false window and stopped beside Sky Tide, then gestured at the holographic projection in front of them. On it, the map of the surrounding area disappeared, replaced by

necks, each ending in a harrowing circular maw. The abominations looked like a mix between a

but still a dire threat to the survival of the city. The creature

Winter cursed.

much, after the last

Master Roan slowly nodded.

Cloud will descend on

Irregulars glanced at each other. After

know that the

but before he could

our clan will

Sky Tide met their gazes with a calm expression, her

the hell would you

Tide inhaled deeply, then turned

opportunity grows narrower with each day, so we can't passively wait for the Devouring Cloud to return anymore. So, Roan and other Awakened warriors of my clan will lure it here.

them for a

bring the Tyrant down. The three of you will make sure that

Sunny smiled darkly.

the swarm? What if Roan fails to isolate the Tyrant? What if the three of us fail to kill it in

while, her amber eyes

"Don't fail."

she patted Sunny on the

I like that plan.

***