((OOC:  Heretic's said it's fine if I go ahead, so here goes!))<br/><br/>Maeve's eyes fixed on Dreamer as he laid out what had happened at Fort Blotar in fractured sentences.  She clutched her niece's head to her breast as Dreamer mentioned that no one else had come out.  Feldana cringed in her aunt's arms.<br/><br/>When Kitten made overtures of moving on and Sherra asked her question, Maeve blinked a moment, thinking, and looked at Sherra.  "The only place I can think of is Clent Station, but there's the whole of the flatlands between us and the river crossing.  I doubt if any place around here is safe anymore."  She shook her head and her eyes strayed to the demolished mansion again.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Vultana's sight through the scope was cut off for only an instant as the zerked-out badger sailed across her field of vision and slammed against the side of the Palace, leaving a red spatter behind as he tumbled to the ground several stories below.  The guards on the wall looked bewildered for a moment at his limp carcass, then immediately returned their attention to Jania and the buildings around them, searching for their invisible assassin.<br/><br/>Jania was alone in Shenzai Square, facing down the Palace's outer wall.  For a moment, a breeze blew across the shredded bodies she had strewn about.  The wolf in her anus squirmed.  The raccoon in her belly fell still.<br/><br/>The guards on the wall had been whittled down by the skillful eye of the sniper they couldn't see. Most lay dead or writhing, gaping holes torn in their flesh.  The few intact ones that remained stayed hidden behind the battlements, unwilling to stick a hair out into the open.  Radio calls were being made to the Palace interior, detailing the situation.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Eric Lentan sat back in his chair, the light of the video screens making his flesh look blue.  He ran a hand down his face in awe.  The camera he'd hijacked showed the bear-taur standing defiantly before the imposing shape of the Palace, death all around her.  He couldn't help but smile, though.  The Slayers were an unbelievable crew.  At first he'd feared for Jania's life when he'd seen her plow into view, laying waste to those around her, but as her enemies had dwindled he calmed down.  She had this under control.<br/><br/>But what were the Palace Guards doing?  None of them were rising from cover to gun her down.  He leaned toward the screen again, awaiting the next move, and noted absently that the Palace's roof had stopped smoking.  Whatever fire that had started up there had been extinguished.  He snatched a rabbit from the cage below his desk and held it, kicking, in one hand.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Halvorson bit his tongue as the guards fell back into cover and Baz's rage abated.  He slapped Feign on the shoulder, just then noticing the injury there.  "Let's go," he said quietly, hoping he hadn't made it sting.  Guards were poking heads and weapons around corners tentatively.  He fired to keep them back, but then the bullets stopped.  His magazine was empty.  Hastily, he ducked behind the pillar with Sara and loaded a new one.<br/><br/>The medic shook his head at Karogen.  "No smelling salts.  Look, I just took two in the chest.  I'm in a fuckload of pain right now.  L-T will get her."  He collected his bag and flashlight, shining it down the corridor into the catacombs, as if looking for something.  "Where the fuck...?"<br/><br/>Halvorson knelt briefly, looking Sara in the eyes.  Words didn't come.  He seized her hand holding the grenades and kissed it.  Then he rose, jumping out of cover and running backwards, careful not to trip on debris as he fired to keep the guards' heads down.<br/><br/>The moment he was around the corner and in the funeral corridor, he bent down and pulled O'Toole upright roughly, hoisting her over his shoulder.  His back, thighs, and knees all screamed at once, but he didn't give a damn.  He looked around quickly at the group.  They were getting out.  "Baz, Mad, on rear guard.  Feign, on point.  Doc, get a look at his arm if you can.  Karogen, you stick close to me.  Your life just got more valuable."  He started off into the darkness of the catacombs.  The medic approached Feign, wincing and holding a weak hand out to look at Feign's wound.<br/><br/>As soon as Halvorson's firing stopped, the guards surged forward, past the pillar Sara was behind, intent on pursuit.  Five of them were in the chapel when one finally glanced down and noticed her.  His eyes alighted on the grenades.  They widened.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Saiai wrote:</cite>And as he rounded the corner, 'twas the shadows that blocked his path first. He still felt heavy, he still was, but he was energetic. He had it in him like Gatorade. Had he not, he might have lost his head right then and there. Now he's staring at... </div></blockquote><br/>...two larger, burlier Palace Guards in full armor, their automatic rifles aimed squarely at his face.  Behind them, a tall, imposing lupine woman in more ornate, blood-spattered armor stared, the silver circlet atop her black hair gleaming in the fluorescent light.  Blood dripped from an unseen source behind her onto the cold floor - he could hear it between the alarms: pat... pat... pat...<br/>Arget Isidar was standing mere feet from the Fanged Lady of Kazmer.  She seemed vaguely surprised at his sudden appearance, as did her guards, but the adrenaline of her fight with Chiro had not yet worn off, and she quickly took in the sight of the gorged vagrant before her.  One thing was certain - Arget's human appearance made him not one of hers.<br/>"Fire," she murmured quietly to her guards.  Their grips tightened on the triggers of their guns.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>The figure rattled out sick laughter at Jenten's comments to Marice, ignoring Raice.  "I want to be freed from the Lady's control," he said, gurgling slightly.  The wound on his neck began to slow its bleeding.  His eyes began to glaze and his hand wavered, but he kept breathing and spoke again.  "Only way I'll do that is when I croak.  What I want you to do about it is get back at the Bitch.  Ever hear of the Midnight Guards?  If I have to hold your hand through this whole thing, you might as well just lose the war."  Blood inadvertently forced its way up his throat and out onto his hostage.  Merelli cringed.  "Put it all together, fucker.  Think, you piece of shit."  He smiled, a grim display of red teeth.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Chiro burst into the stairwell.  Up and down, the way was clear.  He could hear Mag's laughter echoing behind him.  The way down still led to the cacophony of guards on the first floor.  Alarms and shouts were all around, but the stairs were clear.  He could smell the dusky scent of anthro-wolf sweat... guards had been through here, just moments ago.  He had little time.  The way up, for the whole height of the Palace, was clear.  But the soup of strong smells told him he could not be certain how long that would last.<br/><br/>Mag could see and hear the stairway door slam at the opposite end of the corridor.  Curious furry head poked into the hall, but the moment they saw Mag they ducked away in fear.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>((Aaaaand back in the park with Iln, Emiko, Heretic, Janus, and Fenson...  nada mucho.))