Jack had tried to swing at his head when he wasn’t paying attention. On the side, Jules ran towards Mallory, hitting him in the chest and knocking him to the floor.

Jon worked to evade Jack’s blade as it continued to come after him. Even if Jack had let all of his kids do his fighting for him before, Jon still felt scared of his attacks. He swung loosely and confidently, almost like a taller Hector. The difference was that always seemed to be swinging his weight around.

Jack swung without abandon while also never losing his balance, keeping Jon on his toes. Jon thought that he could maybe even see a smile on Jack’s face, but he was too focused on not getting cut to try to figure it out.

Jon felt an urge to call out for Tallow, but he knew she was handling Gina, so Jon had to handle Jack on his end. But Mallory was also being assaulted by Jules, so Jon had to worry about that as well.

There were so many people and situations to keep track of at once, along with his own movements.

Is this what Hector feels like all the time?

Jon moved around steadily while keeping one hand on the barrel and one on the trigger, moving back while deflecting the sword coming for his face.

Finally, Jon saw his moment. He tossed himself onto his back, evading a wide swing before shooting at Jack.

The blast caught Jack’s hand and knocked his sword out of it.

Jack, surprised, gave Jon a dirty look before he turned around and ran after it.

Jon fired at Jack’s back, but Jack swiftly moved to the side and dodged the incoming blow, still making his way to the sword.

When Jack got close to it, Jon shot it again and the sword slid further away.

“You dodgy bastard!” That was the last curse Jack yelled out before Jon shot him in the back.

Unable to doge this time, Jack tumbled forward over his head and landed near Stewart and Helia.

Jon was about to shoot again when Stewart. Who was somehow free now, picked up Jack’s sword.

“Come on, you daft man!” Stewart said. “I got you now!”

Jack’s punch moved too fast for Jon to see. What he did see was Stewart received to the blow to the face. His body went stiff and he fell to the floor.

“Why didn’t you untie me, you idiot!” Helia yelled.

Jack picked back up his sword and ran to Helia. He lifted her over his shoulder and ran away.

Jon debated shooting still. Even if he hit Helia, maybe it would be better than letting Jack carry her away.

Should I do it?

Jon suddenly received a wallop to the back of the head, throwing him face-first into the ground

He immediately got a kick straight to the stomach after, sending him slightly off the floor and back several feet until he collided with a tree.

Oh…

He shot the ground and forced himself up, but all that meant was that he got another hit to the face as soon as he could.

Jules danced around him, elbowing him in the stomach before bringing the back of his fist into Jon’s head.

Jules finished with an elbow to the temple, knocking Jon to the ground once more.

Jon didn't know why, but all of this had hurt more than anything he had received before.

“Sorry!” The apology was accompanied by another kick to the stomach, but Jon was ready this time, blocking the kick with his gun. Even if he stopped it from hitting his stomach, he was still sent away several feet like before, landing hard and rolling on the ground involuntarily.

Strong.

Jon didn’t know how many times he could defend against the incoming Julian while he was still on the ground. He would have to come up with something new.

Think- think- think-

Jon pulled the trigger and let go of the gun.

It fired into the ground and launched itself into Jules's face. The butt slammed into Jules’s head, and he covered his face in pain.

Jon caught the airborne gun with one hand as he stumbled onto his feet.

He fired, but Jules spun to the side, making his way around.

Panicking, Jon dived forward, tumbling over his head before Jules could kick him.

Jon rolled onto his feet and blocked the incoming knee to the face with his blunderbuss.

He lowered his gun and fired in retaliation, but Jules flipped high into the air over Jon’s projectile.

Jon tried not to get lost in the awe of it and blocked Jules's attack as he came down, but the force was enough to still send him to the floor.

I need Mallory. I need magic...

Jon then remembered that he did have magic, even if it wasn't as good as other people's magic. By the way, Jules was approaching, Jon figured that he was going for a high kick.

Jon closed his eyes and turned around, crouching low to the ground.

As he did, he clapped as hard as he could.

He felt the wind of a missed kick brush over his head. He didn’t have to look up to see the small explosion of fire mana over his head.

“Oof!” The sound of exertion was followed by a loud thud behind Jon.

Jon turned back around and saw that Jules was on his back.

He wasn’t there for long, pushing himself back onto his feet.

“That was a sweet technique,” Jules said, hopping side to side. “But don’t count me out yet. I could do this all day.”

“I can’t,” Jon muttered to himself under his breath. He barely had trouble keeping up with Jules as it was. He could already feel his forehead getting warm.

He groaned internally.

Jon figured that Jules would go for his legs this time, seeing that he hadn’t tried it on him before.

His prediction was right. Jon lifted his leg as Jules dropped down and swung his foot towards Jon.

What Jon didn't predict was that Jules would quickly stand back up and try to punch him in the face again.

Thankfully, a small blue shield appeared right in front of Jon’s face, blocking the punch.

“Roll!” Mallory called.

Jon heeded the advice. He rolled.

A row of blue shields conjured itself around Jules’s body in a semi-circle, Jon’s body following the path laid out for him until he was standing right behind Jules.

Perfect.

Jon fired, and Jules was shot in the back, blasting him airborne several feet.

Jules rolled on the floor and pushed himself into a stand. Unfortunately for him, a mass of tentacles stretched out and wrapped around his body.

This time, the tentacles had stretched out from Mallory’s outstretched arms, connecting to his body directly.

Mallory heaved and swung his tentacles with his arms.

Jules's body was lifted sideways and slammed into the nearby tree.

Mallory let go, dropping him immediately and stumbling away.

“I got him!” He called between breaths. I-”

Jules grabbed Mallory’s foot and pulled it from under him.

Mallory yelped and fell to the floor.

Jules quickly mounted over Mallory. Jon was afraid that Mallory wouldn’t be able to handle whatever assault of blows Jules’s had in store for him, even if Jon could try to shoot him off.

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Tendrils grew from the ground and wrapped both men into a single cocoon just as Jules took ahold of Mallory’s robes.

Mallory then dragged himself out of the cocoon without Jules, and the opening closed itself behind him.

“He’s in there!” Mallory said. “He’s…”

He stood up before Jon could help him, dusting himself off.

“I think I have an idea!” he said, seemingly forgetting how alarmed he was just a moment ago.

Jon nodded. Mallory usually had good ideas.

“..But go help Tallow first!”

Jon nodded. He ran back towards the clearing.

Jon hadn't realized how far into the forest the battle had moved before he got back. Tallow and Gina were still fighting, but now Tallow only had her dagger equipped.

Her razorgrip and her other curved blade were scattered across the field.

Jon grimaced, figuring that Tallow must have been forced to drop her blades while he was still in the forest. He looked back at the fight.

Tallow didn’t seem to be concerned about them. She kept close to Gina, dodging her electric charged punches while swinging back with her short blade.

“Come closer, so I can punch you!” Gina yelled.

“You ain’t touching me with those dirty hands!” Tallow yelled back, leaping before Gina could catch her.

Jon wanted to help and shoot, but they were too close together and moving too fast to get a good shot.

Eventually, Gina reached forward and grabbed Tallow’s sling before she could move any further.

“Got you, bitch!” Gina grabbed Tallow’s free hand before she could stab her with the dagger and charged her hand.

The shock to the arm was enough to make Tallow drop her dagger.

Gina then grabbed Tallow’s head with both of her hands and started exploding energy from them again.

“Yeah! Yeah! Feel it! Feel-”

The surge of purple lighting energy was broken by a headbutt to Gina’s face.

“This some weak shit!” Tallow yelled.

“Shut up!” Blood draining from her nostrils, Gina charged even more lighting. The field of energy between them became larger, Jon covered his face with his gun.

This time, Tallow screamed in pain.

Jon considered shooting the both of them now, at least to free Tallow from the pain.

“How’s it feel!” Gina yelled over the surging mana.

Tallow stopped screaming.

“What’s that?”

It…. tickles!”

As Tallow yelled her retort, her left shoulder flinched before her claw tore its way out of its sling.

Tallow pulled back her arm and opened her claw, screaming she grabbed Gina by the face.

She screamed even louder as she slammed the back of Gina’s head hard into the forest floor.

The surge of lighting energy ceded immediately.

It’s over.

Jon waited an extra moment to make sure the battle really was over, then jogged over Tallow’s side.

She was on both of her knees next to Gina’s body.

“I said… it tickled…” She looked at her claw arm. “It tickled…

Jon knelt down and caught Tallow before she fell over.

“Why can’t I freggin’ stay awake… for these things…”

Her body went limp.

Jon grimaced as he held on to her, then looked at Gina.

Gina was still unconscious on the floor. Her eyes were closed, and her helmet had partially fallen off, revealing the top of her shortened hair.

Her face paint on her cheeks was also smudged, Jon assumed it was from when Tallow had grabbed her by the face. Her nose was still bleeding, and now, it had drained over the side of her face.

One down…

He looked at his unconscious friend.

You’re amazing.

Jon couldn’t help but feel relieved that one of the siblings wouldn’t seem to be fighting anymore. Still, he wished it didn’t come at the cost of the actions of one of his friends.

I have to get back to Mallory.

Jon looked around to make sure he could leave her here safely before doing so.

He ran back into the forest in Mallory’s direction, hoping to find him safe.

“Mallory!”

“Jon!”

Mallory rushed over to Jon’s side.

“He’s out!”

Jon pushed Mallory to the side and shot at the incoming Jules.

Jules disappeared into the trees once more.

“It’s nothing personal man!” A disembodied voice called from the forest.

“I’m running a little low on mana,” Mallory quickly said. “But I think I have an idea.”

“You said that last time,” Jon said quietly, keeping his gun close to his chest. He didn’t mean for it to sound like he was admonishing Mallory.

“I know, I know. But your gun. Your gun can affect people. And… and… my other magic. It can’t affect spellcasters, and-”

A blur ran by, hitting Jon in the face and sliding underneath Mallory before running back into the dark of the forest.

Jon was dizzy from his hit but managed to stay standing.

Mallory wasn’t as lucky, pushing his face off of the ground.

“We’re gonna have to take him in one big spell, “Mallory continued as he stood. “That’s all I got left in the tank!”

“Yeah,” Jon muttered quickly. He heard a sound, so he turned and fired.

His blast sailed into a tree with no target.

“We just have to-”

“Spell, now!” Jon called.

“Right! Just let me-”

Jon saw a shadow rise over his face. He moved to the side as Jules landed from above.

Jon figured he must have leaped from the trees.

He’s coming from above now?

Tendrils reached from a nearby tree and grabbed Jules, dragging him into its trunk and trying him down to it.

“I’m just gonna get out!” Jules said. “I always do! No amount of shooting or spells can stop me!”

“Now!” Mallory said.

The larger blue and yellow circle immediately expanded under his feet, reaching past Jon again.

The front end of the large energy caiman manifested itself in front of Mallory. It held its jaw wide open.

“Step in!” Mallory called.

Step in?

Not wanting to ask for clarification, Jon jogged into the mouth then turned back towards Jules. When his foot stepped into the bottom of the mouth it simply phased through the manifestation.

Jon shuddered from the thought of being inside the mouth of the giant caiman, be he reminded himself that it was friendly, and he needed to trust in Mallory.

“Open your gun!” Mallory called.

Jon cracked open his gun at the action.

Blue mana energy surged into the gun, rushing into both the chamber and the barrel of his blunderbuss.

“Close it!” Mallory yelled.

Jon snapped it closed.

He could already see Jules breaking out of his cocoon, ripping apart the tendrils little by little with his free hand.

“Fire!”

Jon pulled the trigger.

The giant caiman head fired from the end of his gun, its large open jaws heading straight for Jules.

Jules looked up from his remaining tendrils to see the projectile coming straight for him.

“What the F-”

The high-speed projectile snatched him up before carrying his body into another tree and exploding into a gush of blue mana energy.

Jon felt as if a part of his body had gone flying with it. He could barely catch his breath as he strained his eyes, making sure that Jules had fallen with the brunt of the blast.

He stumbled forward, getting closer and closer to the tree that Jules hand been carried into.

To his dismay, Jules was on his feet in front of the tree, which had a giant imprint form when his body was tossed against it.

However, he barely seemed to be able to stay standing. He was trotting from right to left, trying to keep himself from falling.

“I gotta… we gotta fight to we drop…” Jules uttered as he swayed side to side. “My father…”

Jon understood.

“Sorry.”

He raised his gun with both hands and slammed the butt of the gun onto Jules’s head.

Jules went down immediately. He didn’t move anymore.

Jon sighed, then turned back around to his friend.

Mallory.

Jon couldn't see him from where he had left him. While he limped back, he realized that it was because Mallory was sprawled across the floor with his eyes closed.

Jon slowly began to put the facts together.

Exhaustion.

He quickly ran to Mallory’s side and knelt down, moving him onto his knees.

Now that he was close, Jon could see that Mallory was hyperventilating, making incredibly short breaths that didn’t seem to be giving him any air.

More and more, Jon began to work through what had happened. Mallory said that if he used Jon’s gun, it had a good chance of killing him

No. Mallory…

Had Jon known this was gonna happen, he would have waited for some other plan. He would have taken as many hits as he needed to. Heck, he might have even taken the loss if it meant that they could wake back up again later.

Mallory.

Jon hated that he couldn’t do anything. He hated that he didn’t have any experience with sick people, and he hated thinking that Mallory was gonna die from helping him.

Mallory’s short breaths had slowed down, to the point where didn't even seem like he was breathing anymore.

No.

“Mallory!” Jon called out. “Mallory! Mallory!”

He began to shake him.

“Mallor-”

“What’s all that screaming for?

Jon turned around to see Tallow standing above him. She had a blank expression on her face.

“It’s Mallory!” Jon begged. “He’s.. he’s…”

Tallow knelt down on the ground next to Jon. She didn’t seem to be moving with any urgency, despite Jon’s panicking.

She put the back of her hand under Mallory’s nose.

“...He’s fine,” she said. “Just hold on.”

She pinched Mallory’s nose with her hand.

She then took a large breath through her nose before coming down and putting her lips on Mallory’s.

Jon was mildly stunned. After a few moments, Tallow quickly pulled back and gasped for air.

“He’s fine,” Tallow said, her breathing becoming steadier again. “He’ll be fine. He’ll be…”

She fell forward onto Jon’s shoulder.

“If you’re lucky, I’ll have to save your life too,” she muttered.

Tallow’s head felt warm on his shoulder. He realized that Tallow had rarely ever been physical with him on the level that Mercy, Amalia, or even Macy had been with him.

It occurred to Jon that all of the names he had thought of were women, but he didn’t want to look too far into it.

Instead, he carefully leaned both Mallory’s and Tallow’s body’s next to each other.

He went to the clearing, where he saw Stewart waking back up.

He saw Gina and pointed at her body.

“Is that-”

“Gina,” Jon said. He walked up to Stewart.

“I missed a lot,” Stewart replied.

“I need to find Mercy,” Jon said. “And Hector.”

“Are you sure?” Stewart asked him. “You look worse for the wearer. You should-”

“I’m fine,” Jon said. “Watch over Tallow and Mallory.”

He pointed back towards the forest. “They’re over there.”

“Okay,” Stewart stood up. “I will.”

Jon gave him a firm nod, before going off into the forest.