Before the cuffs hit the ground, Reta swooped in and swept her leg beneath, knocking the surrounding men on their backs. Perdilius spun around just as she threw herself after him, only to be intercepted by MiMi. The pair rolled briefly on the ground as several soldiers pointed their weapons at them, unable to inflict injury out of caution for striking the wrong woman. The diversion was enough for Emyri to rush in on all fours and pnt her elbow into the nearest soldiers' face, knocking out his tooth. Janette tried to free herself both the two men held their grip on her arms, only for Emyri and Syri to kick them away.

  "Get down!" Syri shouted, pushing Janette in time as a sword swung for her head. With a viscous snarl, she swiped her cws toward the soldier's arm forcing him to drop his bde. He barely had time to recoil with his eyes wide with fright as Syri pnted her heel on his chest, kicking him back.

  Leone yanked away from a kick by KuliKuli, armed and instinctively gripping the handle of his sword. He hesitated, stepping side by side in a dance-like manner from each of her attacks. It was easy work until he felt his back brush against a tree just as her cws dug into the wood from either side of his head, pinning him in pce. She leaned in, eyes fring, teeth bare and her face twisted in a manner that sent chills down his spine. Her knee firmly pnted on his palm, keeping his hand from retracting his sword. He sunk back and locked eyes with her, falling under her mercy.

  "You are not my dad!" She hissed through clenched teeth, dragging her cws down and leaving jagged markings down the tree along his sides. Pulling back, she freed him from her hold and gave him a look that resembled one of pain, confusion, and betrayal. "Stay away from me, stay away from my family."

  "You know I can't." He responded back with a sad expression.

  She frowned, abandoning him as she ran off to help the others, leaving the hunter as he sunk to the bottom until he hit the ground.

  Reta rolled on top of MiMi, pinning her arm against her back to hold her in pce. VeeVee kicked her in the ribs, sending Reta tumbling back. While MiMi rubbed her arm, VeeVee set out with a frontal assault, growling as her cws became a blur, slicing repeatedly and aiming for Reta's chest and face. But she skipped back and caught her paws with her own, holding them tight as her wolf ears shot upright.

  "Reta, get down!" KuliKuli ran in from behind. Just as Reta fell to her knee, KuliKuli stepped on her shoulder and leapt forward, clutching onto VeeVee's shoulders as she spun above her head, and then as her feet nded on the grass, she used her weight to fling VeeVee from overhead. The Nekomata was swept off her feet and flipped over, crashing hard on her back as she was knocked unconscious from the impact. Patting her paws, KuliKuli shouted in pain as MiMi cut her back and stepped between her and the wolf.

  She made the mistake of focusing on KuliKuli alone, ignoring Reta in the process. The brief error in judgement allowed Reta to stomp on her tail while MiMi was about to move forward, sending a jolt of pain shuddering under her fur until it erupted in a loud mewl. Turning to face her meant keeping her back to KuliKuli, which allowed her in turn to kick MiMi from the back of her leg. She crumbled to one knee, and as Reta and KuliKuli exchanged a gnce, both girls nded one more blow to the Nekomata's head from opposite sides. She colpsed on her side with a bruised face.

  It was then that KuliKuli found herself snared by the neck and pulled, losing her bance and falling back. She wrestled with the leather strap, using her cws to cut through and free herself. She rolled around, armed as more of Perdilius' men were approaching. Perdilius whistled loudly, grabbing the attention from those that remained in their positions around Janette's home. They grabbed their horses and weapons and hurried over toward them.

  Felix saw this as well, his heart sinking as he grew aware of how little time they had to make their move. That carriage was their only means to escape, and the others knew this as well. Syri escorted Janette up the rear of the vehicle, scooting her as far as she could and inspecting her wound. Janette offered a brief nod before pulling her in to whisper in her ear. "The book."

  Syri nodded and ran back outside, head turning side to side as she scanned around the environment. So many people were fighting now, feet kicking around, bodies crashing and sliding along the grass or mud. Her hear picked up as she spotted the smashed book sticking out from the mud to their right, near where Felix was standing.

  "Felix, we need the book!" She pointed toward its direction.

  Felix spun around and nodded, making his way over. He froze as a broken spear was flung his way, accompanied by a soldier falling headfirst nearby. A crossbow aimed for his head, firing a bolt. Felix pressed his back against a nearby tree, feeling his back grow wet from the dampness of the cold soaking into his clothes as the bolt zoomed past him. He peaked around the tree, spotting the man who fired at him. He was readying in another bolt when Emyri moved on, csping her paws together and swinging both paws over his head to knock him away. She gave Felix a smile before moving in to help her daughters.

  Felix smiled back, relieved as he stepped carefully around the mud before reaching out to grab Janette's book. The book was left a soppy mess, the pages stained with brown grime and some of its pages torn off. He hoped that they could still talk to Vardare in this state, pressing it under his wounded arm as he ran for the carriage.

  Dimyri helped Na'Vi up from the ground. She was left with bruised around her chest and her paws and ankles were tied up. A swift cut through the rope was enough to free her, but she was stopped by a sword pressed along her neck.

  "I wouldn't." Raz stated, watching the Nekomata stand up.

  Na'Vi looked up, her eyes fred as she wriggled in pce, struggling to pry herself free from the binds in her wrists and ankles. A boot fell on her shoulder, causing her to freeze as a spearhead aimed for her navel.

  KuliKuli gasped, shoving a soldier away and sprinting to save her friend in time, watching as time slowed down and the soldier raised the spear with both hands. As he jabbed it down, a gust of light surrounded the Nekomata, blinding him briefly. He closed his eyes but stabbed anyway, looking only to find that he had missed. She shrunk down in size, regressing into the form of a bck and white cat. If she remained in her Nekomata form, she would be dead.

  The spearman watched in horror as KuliKuli swung forward and sent him flying away with both feet on his chest. He fell back several feet, coughing as the wind was knocked out of him. She slid along the ground, scooping Na'Vi in her arms and standing up to find Raz holding her sister hostage.

  "Stay where you are." Raz ordered, his eyes looking behind KuliKuli.

  She tensed up, feeling a presence approach her. She swung to her rear as a hand caught her wrist in time, pushing her back. She stumbled as an armored soldier chuckled in amusement, keeping his short sword in hand. More of his men had arrived, some came on horseback with nets and ropes. One carriage rolled in as a soldier climbed out with a metal cage in hand.

  Syri's eyes widened as some horses came and she took off running. A sso was sent for her, barely missing her tails. She ran forward when a horse swooped in, blocking her as the soldier on top caught her with a net. She grunted and tried cutting through the material, only to have another net thrown over.

  "Mom!" She screamed out, falling over as several armored men surrounded her with ropes and a cage.

  Emyri turned around, sprinting over to save her daughter. She ducked from one man's sword, then rolled over another man's spear. She stumbled in, shoving the soldier away from Syri when another man pointed his crossbolt and took a shot.

  Emyri gasped, falling to her knee. The bolt had struck the back of her thigh, stunning her briefly. A second soldier readied his crossbow and fired as well; this time she spped the bolt away with a backhand. But by then, more and more men crowded in around the pair.

  Felix had climbed up in the front seat and grabbed hold of the reins, tugging them back. The horses kicked their hooves and snorted loudly through their noses, pulling the carriage forward. Slowly, they turned around the group with hopes of rescuing the others, when a soldier took notice and ran in to climb up the front with him. Felix turned and kicked him in the face, throwing him off. He winced, grabbing his arm as another soldier jabbed his sword forward, nicking his leg. He pulled back, leaning to the left side just as a hand threw him into the ground.

  It was Perdilius who pulled him off, looking down on him as Felix struggled to pull himself up.

  He looked to one side, watching as Syri was pulled out from the net, pulling against the men's hold on her arms. A gust of light covered her form, shrinking down into a cat when they soon shoved her into the cage and sealed the lock with a cheer. Emyri was pinned down with men tying her arms back and a sword poking her temple, warning her to stay put.

  Looking to the opposite side, he saw KuliKuli and Reta still fighting, but Dimyri was pulled away by Raz and several more men. She watched with a sad look as Raz looked her in the eyes. "Go on, you know the cage is for you."

  She complied, reluctantly changing into her cat form before walking into the cage willingly.

  "D-Damn." Felix closed his eyes, digging his fingers into the dirt.

  Perdilius whistled loudly as everyone froze and looked at him. "We have two of you now, and the mother has been subdued. That leaves Nityri left. I suggest you turn yourself over unless you'd rather risk your mother's life here."

  "You monster!" KuliKuli screamed, "Threatening my mother like that because you can't fight, you coward!"

  Perdilius scoffed, his men chuckling under their breaths around them. "Resorting to petty name-calling, how mature. I may be old, but I'm not stupid. I'm not here for sport, nor am I one to underestimate your kind. You've proven to be quite a nuisance alone, let alone you and your lot."

  Looking down, he stepped forward and pnted his foot on Felix, pinning him down. He groaned loudly, struggling to breathe with Perdilius' weight pressing his chest into the cold hard dirt. He coughed loudly, his lungs unable to expand, leaving him gasping for air.

  "Stop it!" KuliKuli's anger turned to fear as she sunk to her knees just as several more soldiers surrounded her. "Stop it please, you're hurting him!"

  Perdilius' face twisted with anger, leaning in and shoving Felix deeper into the ground.

  "I said stop it! STOOOOP!"

  Clenching his eyes shut, Felix pulled the knife from his arm and swung it back, burying it into Perdilius' foot.

  "AAGGHH!!" The priest yelled in pain, stumbling back.

  Felix gasped loudly, coughing hard as he leaned on his elbows and felt his chest burn as he filled his lungs with air. He looked up to be met with KuliKuli's smile, only for her to gasp.

  Felix rolled off to the side as Perdilius stomped down on what would have been his head. He stammered to his feet, clutching his arm.

  Perdilius tossed his book to Raz, throwing his hand out when his men were closing in. "Leave him! This one wants to py hero."

  Left alone between the two, Felix licked his lips and caught his breath. Perdilius waited patiently, holding his hands out in anticipation. Not one to lose the opportunity, Felix dashed forward with a yell, flexing his fingers, his voice drowning out the fear in his heart as he flung his arm toward the old man. Perdilius spped his hand away, tossing him to the side with ease. Falling on his chin, Felix didn't waste time to get back up and circle around the priest, running in for his back.

  "Haaa!" Perdilius met him with a backhand to his face, sending Felix to crash into the side of the carriage. The impact rattled Janette who hid inside.

  Falling on all fours, Felix spotted the knife he used before lying between his knees. Snatching it off the grass, he waited until Perdilius' shadow engulfed him as the priest stepped in and reached for his head. Mustering all his strength, Felix swiped his arm up with a fierce cry, feeling the knife cut through Perdilius' robes and drag along his chest. He felt a bit of relief inside, sensing that he nded that surprise attack after all.

  Everyone gasped loudly, some of his men stepping in, hesitating after what they saw. Only Raz held his hand out to keep them at bay, watching with a look of confidence as if his father hadn't been struck vertically from the chest to his neck with a sharp weapon. KuliKuli wondered why he seemed so calm, only for her to stare with her mouth wide open. Perdilius stumbled back with shock, falling to one knee. He panted loudly, eyes widened by the impact as his robe was left tattered and draped across both shoulders. He felt for his chest and neck, testing for injury, and smiled when he felt no pain.

  Felix watched as Perdilius stood back on his feet, part of his robe falling off and revealing a strange metal device wrapped around his chest. It resembled that of a chest pte, but it was made of an earthy substance, looking like rock rather than metal. Several markings surrounding the piece, written in a strange nguage that they were unfamiliar with, and the attack didn't seem to cause any mark or dent. Whatever this thing was, it shielded him from what could have been a life-threatening blow.

  Perdilius chuckled lightly at first, then erupted in thunderous ughter, pulling his head back and nearly screaming toward the heavens. "Do you see!? This is a sign from above, the Gods bless us this day!"

  His men joined him with dozens of cheers, raising their arms in a united cry, appuding him. Felix gnced down at the knife, then looked back up to see Perdilius' sneer. Infuriated, he jumped up and swung for his head only for his wrist to be grabbed and his body thrown down. Felix felt Perdilius squeeze his wrist with unnatural strength, crying loudly as he lost grip of the knife. Perdilius kicked it away, pulling Felix toward him and thrusting his knee into his gut.

  Felix crumbled down, holding his stomach and wheezing. But Perdilius didn't stop, pnting his foot on his head and pressing down.

  "Aaaaaa-ahnnn, Aaah-haaahh!" Felix yelled out, meeting Perdilius' feral look in his eyes as he seemed to enjoy the sounds he made. "AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!"

  "STOP IT!" KuliKuli screamed with all her might, hanging her head.

  Perdilius pulled back, grinning. "Yes?"

  "You win." She admitted with a whimper, her hair draped across her, hiding her face from him. "You can have me."