. James .

Toby still looked sickly. He drank some powdered electrolyte mix from an opaque bottle, and an unlabeled empty metal can sat at his feet - probably beans. He beamed in Lowell's direction. The idea the man had was just a little crazy, but at least it was an idea. Bone weapons were the most effective against crystal claws and the armor that covered the salamander's heads - but so was the crystal itself. They'd used crystal-tipped spears from the weaker beasts in the past to deliver damage and kills, so it made sense to try it again now. With high enough leveled claws, they might be able to kill the Titan themselves. The only thing that had been holding them back was the availability of the resources. The elites and guardians that had been killed were all outside of their area of control - and no one was dumb enough to drive themselves into the horde just for a chance at coming back with a weapon.

The latest body had been left unattended. When the Titan returned to its group, the guardian - and all of its resources - were there for the taking. James hadn't really approved the plan. No one had. Lowell, even after wearing himself thin in the attempt to kill the beast, brought the thought up, and others jumped in to join him. It was such a potential longshot that James hadn't even wanted to tell Marlene and the others what they were doing. But now Lowell and the volunteers had returned, and Mark was already making wooden shafts to hold the massive elite's claws. More weapons. More tiny bits in their favor that might finally tip the scales.

Marlene's voice was tight and serious when she'd checked in. As soon as they had the claws up to the wall and secured to weapons, he'd report back to her with the good news. The plan was still that they'd be smart about when to relinquish their position, but the advanced weaponry would allow them to hold on longer. The first of the beast's two hands was heaved up and over the top of the wall at last, and defenders jumped back when the claws splayed out. They dug into the wood, even just from being dropped. Lowell lifted his head and smiled back at Toby. He pointed to the claws with one hand and did an overzealous thumbs-up with the other. Toby snorted, and a bit of the water he'd been drinking came out his nose. He coughed at the ground.

James let himself smile and took it all in. There were even more defensive squads on the wall now, and others behind, just in case more salamanders were thrown over their wooden defenses. They had plenty of vehicles to ferry them away if it was needed, and the route to and out of the rear gate was clear. Ammunition was stocked. Arrows and throwables were ready. They were a force prepared. He looked out over the section of the salamander horde he could see from his position above the gate. They still stood there, motionless. But... James realized he couldn't see the Titan with them. Something prickled the back of his neck.

The guardian was unguarded, right? The group hadn't run into any trouble. And the Titan was back with the main force. Unless...

Salamanders had proven themselves fans of deceptive tactics. Let the enemy think they have a chance, and use that to set them off balance and strike. His eyes flit between buildings and trees out ahead of them - then locked with two faint, orange swirls peering out from a thicket. It was closer to the edge of the defending squads, and James shouted for everyone to ready themselves. He made it four words in when the beast charged forward.

He'd imagined how the attack group must have felt with the house-sized salamander bearing down on them. Everything rumbled as it dug into the earth and kicked off with each footfall. Archers and ranged attackers scrambled to knock arrows and throw spears. Their forces had been focused on the claws, and that meant everything happened just a bit slower than it would've otherwise. Bone tipped projectiles landed on the beast and sunk partway in. Ranged magic attacks seemed to bounce off the Titan's skin. It barreled forward - straight at the wall. Alone.

It slowed when it reached Mark's wooden traps, and violently kicked them to the sides. More arrows rained down, but did little to stop the beast. It leveled a gaze at the wall - where Lowell and his volunteers were harvesting the guardian's claws. The Titan roared, and everyone froze.

All sounds of the battle died out, save for the beasts rumbling footsteps. It hurled itself forward and tucked its chin, aimed directly at Lowell. James could only see the carnage in his peripheral vision. The crash boomed out as wood snapped and splintered under the force of the beast's charge. The claws of the guardian flew out and tore through bystanders. The Titan's glowed as it tore into the wooden wall surrounding the breach it had created. Wood and defenders tumbled to the ground, compressed and cracked as the Titan stomped around in a circle to continue its work to widen the hole. The horde still hadn't moved.

As far away as the breach was, James had gotten hit with a piece of debris. A wood splinter the size of a carving knife stuck out of his torso. As soon as he regained himself, James tore the wood away and shouted the orders for a full retreat. Their chances at using the guardian's claws to kill the Titan - and everyone who'd been brave enough to secure them - were gone. Others close to the breach fought back, or ran, or screamed and held their bodies that were broken and bleeding from the shrapnel of the impact.

So much preparation. Training. Planning. All to be undone by a single sturdy beast.

There was no killing the Titan. He'd been a fool to even consider it. They all needed to run.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The logical side of James's brain told him he'd experienced this before. It was the fear that drew you down with it. He did his best to put it aside, and checked those around him.

Toby was slumped in his chair, with a line of red that ran from an inch above his hairline to his left cheek. Most everyone else near him was unharmed. He and Toby had apparently taken the brunt of the damage that had made it this far. James ushered them down the wooden slides, and one helped him grab Toby and guide him down. The vehicles' engines were already running, and some were in-transit towards the rear gate.

The Titan and its carnage receded, as it continued to slam claws into the wooden walls again and again. The breach was now four times as wide as the beast.

Mark had been just outside the initial carnage, and sported a wealth of wounds down his flank where his own wood had bit into him. Others were the same. The retreating vehicles held a number of people that desperately needed medical attention - all while their two strongest healers were indisposed keeping Sara alive.

Toby stirred, coughed, and rubbed his forehead. He propped himself up on an arm. His eyes darted around the truck bed, the other vehicles, and then back to the breach. "Where's Lowell? Why isn't he with us? What happened to him?"

James shook his head. "I'm sorry, Toby. He was at the breach."

His eyes went back to the Titan. They questioned and hoped as they scanned the ground, then hardened. Toby rolled onto his knees and tried to climb out of the truck, back towards the Titan. He roared out that he needed to do it, that he needed to make the thing pay.

It took every defender in the truck to stop him.

----------------------------------------

+ Reid +

The massive crash boomed out from the direction of the second wall, followed by screams and the sound of engines turning over. Reid ran outside the tent, and saw the Crimson Titan standing tall. Arrows poked out of it like a hedgehog's bristles, but it didn't seem to care. It picked a couch sized splinter of wood out of itself, and slammed its massive claws into the wood. It continued to wreck the wall while vehicles and defenders shot towards last stand field - and the back gate.

Reid stormed back into the tent and grabbed a slack-jawed Marlene on the way inside. He stormed forward until he was at the head of the cot where Sara laid.

"Susan! Danny! We have to move Sara, and we need to do it now. Marlene and I will hold her cot steady. You two keep doing what you're doing. We're getting her into one of the vans outside."

Marlene made her way to the foot of the green fabric and lifted with Reid in unison. Susan and Danny both scrambled to keep up with them as they made their way out of the tent.

"Grey sleeper van!" Marlene shouted. "It's got the best suspension out of all of these, should be the least bumpy ride."

A waiting driver opened the rear doors, and Sara was slid inside. Reid stroked his daughter's hair with a thumb. How many hundreds of times had he put those golden strands into messy braids?

Danny crouched inside the van and continued to pulse his skill. Susan gave Reid a pointed look. She was about to speak when another truck screeched to a halt nearby. A second and third followed.

Drivers started to go around to evacuate wounded to the tents before they saw Danny and Susan outside. Marlene stepped between them and Sara and shouted.

"The column is working on getting anyone with any healing skill to the rear. Continue on, and wait for help. There's still a few medics close to the rear gate - they can do quick patches if you need them. There is no available magic healing here."

The final sentence came out like cold iron, and Reid saw hopeful faces wilt. Some looked like they wanted to protest, but Marlene's harsh words sent them on their way.

A single truck stayed behind. The men in it shouted as they hauled a tied-up Toby out of the bed and carried him over to Susan. James split off long enough to embrace his wife and give her an apologetic smile before turning to Susan.

"Please, just make him go to sleep. He lost Lowell, and he's not well."

Reid's heart broke and mended a dozen times. Hours ago, he'd reassured Lowell that things were going to be fine. The two of them were good to each other. Good for each other. They had so much more time they should've gotten together. So many milestones they'd never experience. Now Toby was broken in a way Reid could understand. Losing his parents wasn't the same as it would be to lose Susan, but the grief and anger and pain were all there. Reid wanted to try and talk to the man - offer him some sort of comfort, or help him. But Reid also needed to keep his daughter safe, and he had a plan to buy them time that took priority.

Doing the right thing really is a luxury.

FUCK. Reid wondered how much more of this shit he could live with. The answer was none - and it was infinite. Every sacrifice and every well-intentioned mistake ate away at his mind. But he still hadn't found a line he wouldn't cross for his daughter's sake.

"Bring him here."

Susan gave Reid a frown, and Marlene cocked her head. The man was set on the ground below him, and Reid knelt down.

"I know you're angry Toby. You lost someone, and you're mad, and you want revenge. I know what that feels like, and how much it can feel like you need it. And if you're willing to listen to me, you can get it."

Voices started to overlap around Reid as everyone realized he wasn't just putting the man at ease.

"I'm going to delay the Titan while everyone else gets clear. I might even kill it. But I need someone to lead it to me, and maybe to distract the other salamanders if they try to join. I need you there for the plan to work. You can help me keep it from hurting anyone else, if you're willing to listen to what I tell you to do. Nod if you agree."

Toby's head bobbed. He untied him amidst the frantic shouts of everyone around him.

The broken, grieving man gave Reid a thankful smile.