18 The Way of the Amygdala (2/2)

Nye was still pinned by the blades, that Kloud still held in place. It would appear Kloud had been day dreaming once again. Nye raised a brow, before she quickly took advantage of the opening, slamming the bottom of her boot into his abdomen. Kloud flew backwards, pulling the blades out of the tree along with him, and crashed into the ground.

Nye stood there, blood still dripping from her hand. ”I think you have the wrong idea... you're the one pursuing me...” She scoffed, summoning her wraith-edge.

Kloud was stumbling to his feet, right as Nye dove his way with her blade. She wasn't as fast as she usually was, due to not using her wings.Nye prepared a large swing, but before it could connect with Kloud, something deflected it's path. Nye was a bit taken off guard, noticing the towering wolf man looking down at her, his claws holding her blade.

”Hey sorry I'm late, Stormy. I do have to say though, this woman you're tracking for Aoba, is a babe.” Flint chuckled.

”Thanks, for stepping in... she's proving to be a handful once again.” Kloud grumbled.

”You just don't know how to treat a female.” Flint jested.

”And a Lupis would?” Nye spoke sarcastically as she was coldly looking to the wolf.

”Ooooh, she's a snarky one, Ain't she?” Flint smirked. ”I like a rose with thorns, better in the sack.”

”You can try to camouflage your vulgarity all you like, but you're pursuing misguided line of thought. Take your mangy hands off my sword, before I make you.” Nye retorted, in agitation.

”But your lips look so lonely, would they like to meet mine?” Flint tried to charm her.

”Another doltish templar.” Nye rolled her eyes, prying her sword from his grasp.

”I don't wish to fight you, sweetheart.” Flint said drawing closer, which made Nye step back. ”Oh, you're bleeding. Here, let me see.”

”Flint!” Kloud called out, but before Flint could react, he had a scythe angled at his face.

Nikolai was now between Flint and Nye, ready to protect her. ”Mi'lady, tell me these Templar haven't harmed you.” Nikolai spoke up.

”Just a wound to my hand, but I should be alright.” Nye replied, a bit unnerved.

”Such uncouth barbarians!” Nikolai exclaimed, in annoyance.

Kloud was shakily pointing in Nye's direction, the look of terror on his face.”S-She spoke with the fiend!”

Flint took a few steps back from the scythe, as he too seemed shaken. ”If she can speak with the lesser fiends then... She's....”

”(They know.)” Nye thought, her eyes growing fearful.

”N-No wonder the Grand master wants her...” Kloud was trembling slightly, griping to his duel swords.

Flint suddenly let out a bellowing howl, that formed magic before him, creating a battle axe. He gripped it in his paw, leering over to Nikolai and Nye. ”It is our duty as Templar, to see her imprisoned!” He shouted, rushing her way with his weapon.

”Mistress, stay behind me!” Nikolai instructed, flying to counterattack Flint pursuit.

The scythe and battleaxe collide in mere seconds, the metal grinding against the other weapon. Flint responded with a blunt shove of his axe. Nikolai was knocked back briefly, but attempted another blow. However, Flint was quicker, grabbing the small reaper by his head with his massive paws. Nikolai was quickly thrusted away, crashing into the ground, as he tumbled in the grass. He appeared to have claw marks from the action, but he was knocked unconscious in the process.

”Nikolai!” Nye called out, in panic.

Her eyes took notice of the two templar rushing her way now, she was forced to grip her blade, and charge back their way. It was clear she was struggling from her injury, but she had no other option. It was flight or fight, and she couldn't abandon her friend. Kloud drew close, with both blades coming her way. Nye shakily ducked from the commencing blow, and fumbled to slash Kloud first. He was knocked back enough for his feet to slide from the collision, but Nye failed to inflict any damage.

Her eyes hastefully shifted to the wolf, in near panic. Flint was closing in, which forced Nye to take hold of her sword's chain, and thrust it towards the Lupis. It caused pain to take hold in her hand, making the Queen flinch from the maneuver. With luck, it hit along his face, making him wince, as he retracted back briefly. Nye went for another slash, but to Nye's utter surprise, Flint caught it in his hand.

The wolf didn't look too thrilled, as he squinted at her through one eye. ”I really don't like hurting woman; but for you, I'll make an acceptation!” Flint snarled, beginning to swing the chain around in the air above his head, with Nye still hanging on.

Nye struggled to keep her grip on her wraith-edge, but with her hand wounded, it was proving difficult. The chain swung round and around, before Flint released his grasp. This left Nye's body flying through the air, from the rush of the acceleration. She had no way to cease the speed of her descent, with her wings in the shape they were in. Nye held her eyes pinched shut, as she braced for impact, expecting to crash into the ground shortly.

Then she felt her back slam into something, feeling herself move with it during the collision. Her eyes shakily opened, surprised that she wasn't harmed further. From her line of sight, she could see two long track marks leading away from her position, that extended from the impact location. It damaged the grass to the point you could see the dirt below the surface.

The next thing she noticed was the look on both of the Templar's faces. They seemed terrified, which prompted Nye to glance up. It came to her surprise, that she was caught during the skirmish. Arms were wrapped around, from behind, with her feet barley touching the ground. With all of this, she didn't even notice that someone saved her, and of all the people; it was the Angel of Death who came to her aid. Jack was fiercely gazing across the battlefield, his piercing eyes focused solely on the templar. His feet had never even left the ground, upon the moment he caught Nye.

”Jack?.. You rescued me?” Nye spoke softly, still hurting from the injury. ”(Did he follow the scent of my blood?)” She pondered, with furrowed brows.

”Hmph. Just because I didn't take an oath of fealty, shouldn't imply I didn't mean what I said. I fight for you now, and I'm done running.” Jack retorted, he placed his hand to Nye's shoulder to gently push her from his position.

”I-It's him! The Angel of Death...” Kloud was trembling.

”Then the rumors must be true, someone has been helping him, and I think I know who.” Flint scoffed, leering to Nye, as he tried to camouflage his fear. ”If we wrangle up these two, there's no way Aoba will take away your knighthood. He may even promote us.”

Jack let Nye carefully stumble to her knees, before he withdrew two of his daggers. ”You think you have it all figured out, don't you?” Jack glared boredly over to them.

Flint placed his axe to his shoulder, with a cocky expression. ”I sense the tides turning. What more do I need to say?” Flint chuckled, rushing at Jack, with great speed.

Kloud looked uneasy, but was soon right behind him after sucking it up. Flint had both hands to his battle axe, and Kloud soaring with both swords at ready. Without hesitation, Jack lunged after them, weaving from Kloud's slashes, and leaping above Flint. His feet forcefully drop stomped, right as he landed on the wolf's back; bashing him to the ground. Unbeknownst to either templar, he had cut them both, the blood only breaking from the minor exit wounds, in that instant Flint crashed to the ground.

”Urgh...” Flint grunted, trying to push off the ground, as Jack stood there, peering over at Kloud with his vengeful eyes.

Kloud touched the side of his face, looking to the blood on his hands. He was trembling, but scornful eyes beamed back at Jack. Kloud flew at the Angel of death, X-slashing with his duel swords, but Jack countered the blows. He coldly sneered to the Templar, but was bucked off from the wolf below his heels.

Jack tumbled to the ground, rolling briefly in the dirt. The wolf man had already rose to his feet, dusting himself off. He then glanced to Kloud. ”Grab the woman. I'll deal with this guy.” He instructed.

”Sounds like a plan to me.” Kloud nodded, making way for Nye in a steadfast manner.

Nye could only see Jack laying on the ground. She formed her sword, using it to help prop her up to her feet. Squinting faintly, her gaze however turned to Kloud as he neared her. ”....” She seemed uneasy with how weak she was in this moment.

Flint was already at Jack's heels, raising his axe skyward. ”Time to pay for your crimes, Amygdala! You're sentenced to death!” Flint shouted, hammering this weapon down.

Jack quickly rolled out of the line of fire, thrusting one of his blades through the air at Flint. It lodged into the wolf's shoulder, making him lash out in pain with a canine-like yelp; before he crashed to his hands and knees. Kloud hesitated, looking back, just as Flint was raising his head, to peer through the bangs in his face.

Jack stood there, his hands to his sides, and a shadowed over face with nothing but a eerie grin to show. He slowly raised his hands with open palms, and in that same instant, the surrounding splatters of blood took skeletal form. It was like an infantry of blood skeletons rising from the after life, and surrounding them. Some held bow and arrows, while other carried melee weapons like swords.

Jack took one step, and his body bursted into an aura of darkness, rushing at lightning speed in Kloud's direction, and with that, Jack reemerged right in the auburn haired boy's face. He could only see Jack's creepy grin, as a puddle of blood shot into the air way behind him, taking the forming of a massive bloody octopus tentacle. It flailed around wildly, before it grabbed around Flint's neck, forcing the wolf to gag.

”Flint!...” Kloud dropped to his knees. ”I beg you, don't hurt my friend.” He pleaded.

Jack got closer, using his knife to lift Kloud's chin to making the Rhyme look at him. ”So you want me to kill you instead?”

”Please, have mercy. We're only doing as the grand master commands us.” Kloud tried to explain, with a shaking tone to his voice.

”Do you really think I give a damn?” Jack scoffed.

”Kloud, don't make deals with a devil!” Flint urged his friend. ”If we retreat, then we could lose more than this battle!”

”I know that!” Kloud lashed back. He then timidly looked to Jack. ”It's in both parties best interest if we leave this at a draw. Live and let live. I beg you.”

”...” Jack kept his cold gaze poised on the boy.

”If either of them try anything, you do have them surrounded.” Nye spoke up, releasing the wraith-edge, after stabilizing her footing.

”Indeed, the woman is right.” Kloud sweated uneasily.

Jack huffed, before begrudgingly withdrawing his blade. The tentacle also released Flint shortly after. ”Get out of here, before I change my mind.” He stated.

Kloud looked a bit frantic, as he rushed over to Flint. Flint looked pissed, but Kloud managed to get him to leave quietly. Nye watched as the two rushed from the area. Jack waited until they disappeared into the distance, before releasing his magic hold on the blood.

”I hope you know what you're doing. That was careless.” Jack said, turning to Nye.

”Actions speak louder than words. Showing mercy can sometimes prove more impactful than senseless killing.” Nye stated.

Jack gripped her wrist, lifting it to examine the injury on her palm with a disapproving stare. He took out a cloth and tied it around the wound, before letting her wrist go. ”How did they manage that?” He grunted.

”I pried a sword from my neck. I didn't have any other option in that moment.” Nye replied, before walking over to Nikolai who still laid on the ground. Nye crouched down, picking up the reaper into her arms like an stuffed animal. ”Even Nikolai took a heavy blow. I don't know what we would have done if you haven't shown up.”

”Why were you out here anyway? You had just gotten back to Wynorex.” Jack crossed his arms.

”A certain Lugooz did something daft, so I needed to get some air.” Nye explained.

Jack rolled his eyes in aggravation, before looking off in the direction of the setting sun. ”... ” He sighed a bit, before walking off briefly. ”Well come on, I'm sure you need to head back, even if the cat was being doltish. That fiend looks worse than your hand does.”

Nye smiled to him, following after the Angel of Death without hesitation.