Chapter 2
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The impact knocked Aegis clean into the side of the uplift. The two Hounds were immediately on Creo, their hooked claws scoring his clean scales. Mango rocketed down from the clouds, bowling a Hound down a slope. " Aegis! Hurry! They have them occupied for a while!" Shrimp cried as Aegis shook her head, clearing the daze. A cut oozed crimson from her shoulder, due to her lack of armor. Creo kicked at the bigger, male Hound, and it landed across a boulder with a sharp yelp. The two wyverns sized up against it, folding their wings in victory. Aegis staggered to her feet, noticing the smaller female perched atop a hill. Her jaw was practically unhinged, and grey and gold glowed deep in her throat. " Get down!" Aegis screeched, flaring her wings and bringing Shrimp close enough to shield him. With a split second to spare, Mango sprang open his spotted, fire-proof wings, covering Creo. The Hound exhaled a jet of sulfur and fire, flames licking at Mango's scales. Running out of juice, the Hound stepped back. Mango unraveled his wings, roaring a challenge. The female's tail was suddenly in between her legs, and she whirled around and out of sight. Perching her wings on her back, Aegis glanced at where the male Hound had landed. It was draped over a sharp boulder, its limbs dangling lifelessly. Slowly trotting towards it, she noticed an irregular object lodged in its neck. A sharp, spear looking spike was stabbed through the thick flesh, going through what seemed like the vital nerve. " That was not inflicted from Creo or Mango..." Shrimp whispered, padding up behind Aegis. Creo snarled softly as she leaped up beside the Hound, shifting on his talons. Running her paw along the smooth, light grey ivory, she yanked it out swiftly, making the body jerk upwards. Shrimp grasped his paw around his snout, as if about to be sick. The spike was as long as an Anaki's arm length, with a triple-speared tip. A burst of wind shoved its way through her ears, and Aegis looked across the horizon. " Whatever did this... we need to worry about."