Chapter 44: Falconry

Monday, April 3rd, 4:20 PM

Dungeon Ciara

“A magic sword,” Terrance mused, tracing the fingers of his left hand across the flat of his blade. “This is some fantasy-land bullshit.” He grinned.

“It’s not a magic sword—just an enhanced, mana-infused blade, Terrance. Still, treat it with respect.” Mike pointed to the training dummy that still smoldered where it had been cut. “The effect only triggers when slashing or piercing, but this thing could start a fire in the wrong place if you aren’t careful.”

“No shit?” Terrance said, raising his eyebrows.

“Here. Let me see it.” Mike took the blade from Terrance, who frowned as the new toy left his hands.

Mike held the sword point-down above a piece of redwood scrap, and let it drop. As the razor-sharp point sank into the bark, flames erupted where it touched, and a sizzling sound followed.

“Damn. Hah. It’s hot, but it didn’t start a fire.” Terrance leaned to retrieve the blade with a smile but Mike’s outstretched arm stopped him.

“Redwood bark is fire resistant. Think about what would happen if that cut into paper or anything else that burns easily.” Mike locked eyes with Terrance.

With widening eyes and raised eyebrows, Terrance said, “Oh. Yeah.”

“Good, then you understand. We’re all excited about magic, but it’s important for us to keep our heads on straight. Be careful with this. Treat it the same way you’d treat a loaded gun.” Mike retrieved the blade and handed it over.

“All right.” Terrance frowned at the weapon as he took it, and Mike nodded.

“That goes for the rest of you as well. Each of you found materials to enhance your weapons, but they’re not toys. Remember how it felt when those rabbits and crickets bit you. Those are the weakest things in this Dungeon, and we’re going deeper eventually.”

“Are there really snakes in the forest down below?” Miriam Nagy glared up at Mike over her glasses.

“Yes, there are. And some are venomous. But we aren’t going that deep until you’re all geared up enough to handle Vijaya.”

“Armored to handle what, now?” Terrance chuckled as his sword snicked neatly into the scabbard at his hip.

Mike explained about the floor boss.

“Ugh. Centipedes are nasty,” Maria Harris grimaced.

Shaking his head gravely, Mike said, “You have no idea.” Then he smiled. “But that’s a problem for later. First, we need to get everyone armed and armored.” Mike resumed explaining and demonstrating enhanced weapon effects to all who were present.

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Initial training had gone about as well as he’d expected for the Dungeon’s recruits above, but the practice proceeded smoothly for the residents on the second floor, making Joe smile.

He scanned Joy, Rihelah, Michael, and Siobhán as they took their first break. Each acknowledged his attention, though Joy looked away and Siobhán smiled shyly when his eyes met theirs.

Those two. Joe resisted the impulse to chuckle.

Rihelah laced her fingers with Michael’s as they sat together on a green carpet of clover-like plants. Joe couldn’t help frowning, so he turned away and swallowed hard, feeling a familiar lump in his throat.

He took a deep breath, and shook his head, locking his eyes on their sculpted training area.

Instead of tires, the grounds held a honeycomb of spongy rings they could dash through in front of the climbing wall that led to a series of hanging bars. A running track surrounded the entire space.

The practice dummies Ciara made for them were tougher than Joe expected, but he and Joy had to restrain themselves to keep from splintering the wood with each strike.

Beyond the dummies lay the sandpit where Joe trained the others with wooden staves instead of pugil sticks. It made him smile to know they were all resilient enough that the usual padding wasn’t required.

Especially Joy. She’s incredibly tough, though she looks frail. I pity anyone who mistakes her for an easy target. Joe chuckled softly as he recalled Steven Miller’s bruised face after pressuring her that morning. It’s a good feeling to know my trainees can handle themselves.

Siobhán and Rihelah cleared the entire course easily, despite their height. I’ve never seen small people jump that high or show so much power. They all climb like monkeys, and can do pull-ups indefinitely. It’s incredible. Joe nodded thoughtfully.

The whole Marine Corps should be training in this place. He grinned as he made a fist in front of his face, then relaxed.

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Keeping to the shadows, Nino silently stalked through the big cave facing the beach.

Delicious.

She resisted the urge to lick her chops as she stared at her shapely quarry.

The sea birds gave it a wide berth as it perched with sharp, intimidating claws atop a rock and gazed imperiously down at them. Its piercing, confident air and athletic appearance made the bird look dangerous, but Nino knew she was more than she had been—much more.

The sea birds were easy to catch and kill, but they tasted awful. She was tired of fish, and Nino craved something different.

Against the opposite wall, Hanzo moved to assist. They were in range. Nino glanced at Hanzo and he met her eyes.

[Together. You scare, and I’ll go behind. Then, we kill,] said Nino.

[Together,] Hanzo replied as he looked back at the bird.

Hanzo is a good mate—no useless words. Not stupid like humans. Pretty, too.

Nino resisted the urge to purr at that thought. Her belly had yet to grow large, but Nino knew instinctively that it wouldn’t be long before she had Hanzo’s kittens.

Nino tensed up.

[Now,] Hanzo launched himself toward the bird.

While Nino raced to position herself behind it, the bird screeched and opened its powerful wings. Rather than fleeing as all the sea birds were, it raised itself into the air to bare its large claws at Hanzo.

[Keep its attention,] Nino said calmly as she arrived where she could see its back as the bird screamed threateningly at Hanzo. It didn’t smell afraid like the sea-birds.

Dangerous.

The neck.

Nino knew better than to spring forward with a single, explosive leap. Her legs and claws were too strong for that. She would slip against the smooth stone as always. So, she padded forward as quietly as possible, picking up speed as she went.

By the time she impacted the bird, she was moving so quickly that its wings were powerless against the momentum she brought. Nino latched on and bit the bird’s neck as quickly as she could, finding that it was indeed strong as it turned to snap at her with its sharp beak.

But it was no match for Nino as she felt the satisfaction of neck-bones crushing between her teeth.

The screeching stopped as she tumbled across the stone with her lifeless victim.

[Good hunt,] said Hanzo with a slow blink.

[Good hunt. Food time,] replied Nino.

Hanzo’s eyes lit up as they expertly tore feathers from the bird’s corpse.

[Ooh, you two caught a Peregrine Falcon.] said the Dog-Mom.

[Stupid, long name for the danger-bird. Falcon is plenty,] Nino replied.

She could smell Hanzo’s amusement next to her.

[That’s what they are called. But thank you both. I was hoping for one of these.]

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[Eating. Go away,] said Hanzo.

I like him. Mating time soon. Nino purred.

They’d plucked the feathers away and Nino bit into the bird’s chest.

[Delicious,] she cooed.

Hanzo agreed by purring.

Definitely mating soon.

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I chuckled at their attitudes, but Nino and Hanzo had just done me a massive favor. I opened my minion creator and crafted a 500% version of the Peregrine falcon.

Ohh, it’s as big as a Golden eagle. Perfect. I smiled. Then I saw the cost, and I frowned. 60% of my mana for each. Well, this will take a bit.

[Mike, will you inform the other humans that I’m making some birds of prey? They probably won’t want to fight these until they can handle a Golden eagle. They’re needed to help collect new species. I’m summoning them inside the Crow’s Nest tower, so you’ll see them soon.]

“Birds of prey are no joke. Those will be a solid challenge. Will do,” Mike replied, wiping his brow in the workshop. He shook his head and smiled as he poured the last ingot of spring steel from the crucible in his tongs, then headed out to warn the others.

With time on my side, I could afford to be patient in between spawns.

Fifteen minutes later, I had ten Monterey falcon minions soaring above the beach. The only downside was that they scared all the seagulls away.

It was too late in the evening to send any on long-distance retrieval runs for new prey, but I was excited about the possibilities.

To give my falcons someplace to retreat from the surface, I added a few entrances against the side of my castle that were large enough for the birds to climb into but small enough to prevent human entry. Four lighted tunnels three meters across descended below the castle, then continued to various points above my Redwood Forest, where the birds could land again and climb out to a series of stone perches to take to the air above my second floor.

A conflict brewed within me as I considered Peanut, lounging beside my second-floor lake as he gnawed on a Striped bass. He had a spunky, fun personality when he wasn’t threatening to murder my pups or my humans. But the Dungeon inside me yearned to slaughter the big cat.

I need to catch another like Peanut—without Siobhán hauling off and naming it for herself…

Movement caught my attention. A sizable group headed toward my Dungeon, along the roads I’d cleared.

Good. Maybe we can get more people who will stay here and train in the Dungeon.

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Rachel Wallace fumed as she walked along Laurel Street behind Mitch Crawford, with fifty-two others to find out where this mysterious, snow-free path led, and who had cleared it. So far, it was headed toward Seabright Beach.

It wasn’t as cold today, so her windbreaker was warm enough—as long as she kept walking.

We shouldn’t be out so late in the evening. Why did we leave the safety of the campus in mid-afternoon? This path runs a lot longer than anyone thought.

The sun already hung low over the ocean.

It’s gonna get cold soon…

Others were concerned by the path, and that no snow had been thrown to either side as it was cleared. There were animal tracks that crossed in places, but otherwise, the roads along their route were clean and snow-free.

But Rachel wasn’t worried about that. Her mind seethed over the argument she’d had with Carl, and his pigheaded insistence that violence was the answer to any problem.

Glancing at the others around her, Rachel grimaced.

We shouldn’t be away.

If more people like the ones who came with guns arrive at the campus while we’re gone, there won’t be anyone willing to speak up for a peaceful outcome. It’ll turn to bloodshed all over again…

She’d been scowling so long that her face hurt, but Rachel couldn’t stop.

Some people think violence is the answer, but look where that got us! The city’s gone, and the whole world’s in shambles.

Her mouth twisted in disgust.

Even the students were behaving badly—they spoke of peace, but when it came down to it, they often fought instead of talking.

Now, I’ve followed Mitch on his crazy crusade to find whoever made this stupid path.

Rachel relaxed a bit.

At least, if we find other people, it won’t be idiots like Carl who initiate contact and cause another massacre.

The corners of her mouth turned upward at that thought.

Maybe diplomacy will prevail.

A breeze picked up from the bay, chilling her ears and neck. Rachel shivered.

“We should probably head back soon,” said Rachel.

“Not yet. We’ll be fine. It’s not a long walk back from here. Just an hour or so.” Mitch shook his head.

Way to shoot me down, jerk. Rachel sighed but didn’t say anything.

“I mean… it’s only an hour until sunset,” Bruce O’Neill pointed out.

Rachel’s mouth perked into a smile.

Bruce is a good guy. I should be dating him instead, but…

“Look—someone cleared these roads, and they had to have heavy equipment to do it. We’ll be fine once we find them. It could even be the government,” said Mitch, sounding confident.

Bruce raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t the government have stuck around at the campus? There’s no way they could miss that 400 people are liv—”

Mitch cut him off. “We’ll figure that out when we find them.”

Rachel wanted to argue with her boyfriend, but she knew it wouldn’t change anything.

He’ll get mad and then hit someone… as usual. Mitch is so stubborn. We’re gonna end up stuck out here in the cold because people always listen to him. But they always listen because…

She glowered up at Mitch’s back. He stood a head taller than Bruce, who was above average. Rachel silently cursed herself for dating Mitch.

I can’t believe I’m with this guy. He’s a violent prick.

She looked at his broad, fit shoulders, and thought about how the other men always followed his lead.

I mean, Mitch is hot, and he’s good in bed, but that won’t mean much if we all freeze to death. He can be such a short-sighted asshole.

She glanced at his taut backside and chewed her bottom lip.

A hot asshole.

Damn him.

If I walk beside Mitch he’s gonna touch me.

She looked at Mitch’s big hands, and sighed.

Ugh, why? I know I shouldn’t.

We’re in public.

I know better.

The ocean breeze made Rachel shiver.

Damn him, if he’s gonna keep me out in the cold, then he can share some of that body heat…

Rachel shouldered up next to Mitch, frowning as she took his waist. He rested his big arm around her shoulder and cupped her right breast to play with it. As usual, she let him.

The bastard pushes my buttons whenever he feels like it.

Rachel glared up at him, feeling herself tingle.

Mitch cast his winning smile down at her as he squeezed a little harder. Her heart jumped despite her discomfort, and she pressed herself against him. He chuckled and shifted his hand to her backside, giving it a squeeze.

Damn it. Why am I attracted to this asshole?

She kept her mouth shut and did a few Kegels.

I hate him, but I want him.

Rachel frowned as she sized him up hungrily.

The one I hate the most… is me.

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What’s that?

On the horizon above the ocean, I spotted something white. Even with my visual acuity, it was hard to tell exactly what it was.

[Mike, do you have binoculars?]

“Yes, why?” Mike was walking down into the Crow’s Nest.

[Would you have a look out over the ocean for me? There’s something there.]

Mike’s eyes narrowed as he did an about-face and jogged toward his house. “What kind of thing?”

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Floors: 2

Minions: 222/240

Residents: 12/12

Denizens: 60944

Traps: 6/10