“But why do anything you don’t care about? Why not go after what you love, not what you don’t? Life is so short for mortal creatures. I do not see the point in not fulfilling your main objective.”
“Because our MO is not love, it is survival.”
“What is survival that love is not?”
MONA’s words bother me as I hike through the wreckage trail to Elix’s position. I find him in the distance, tying something to his pack.
Seeing him out here, alive, gives me more strength. I hike faster toward him, hoping I can carry parts and share his burden after all he has done for me.
“Zariah.” MONA’s warning tone fills my helmet, along with translucent schematics of large four-legged blobs.
I stop. “What am I looking at?”
“Omenotau. They are twice Elix’s size. It will take three shots to kill them, or you’ll have to stab them through the core. You should turn back.”
“I’m going to help Elix.”
“There are thirty-five.”
I slow and look around at the snow. The shapes illuminate in my helmet even though I can barely see any movement on my own. “Either you’re lying, or they have amazing camouflage.”
“I am MONA. I cannot lie.”
Shit.I draw the gun and point it toward the closest creature as I make my way to Elix’s position.
“The moment you fire, they will run toward you,” MONA says.
“Can you call Elix?” I can see five headed straight for his position.
“He is not responding.”
Fear he’s injured has me running toward him. The Omenotau follow.
On approach, my helmet flashes red.
“Behind you, to the right.” I turn and see the snow move. I fire three times at the targeted area. A creature slumps, deep green blood coating its fur. It snarls at me and doesn’t die, but it backs away.
Then another approaches. And another, until I’ve nearly emptied my magazine. My arms tremble as I fire and stumble toward Elix. He’s still fifty paces away.
He hauls the pack onto his shoulders and fires his Haxgun, clearing his path. One charges at him as he runs.
“Zariah.” MONA points me to the target.
“You have a lot of faith in my aim,” I mutter as I direct my gun in the recommended direction, steady it with my free hand, and fire.
Elix jolts and looks back as he runs toward me. In my distraction, an omenotau has gone airborne, heading for me.
“Iceblade, Zariah!” Elix calls out.
I scramble to grab the handle, but the creature’s paws plant on my shoulders and throw me back into the snow. The weight is immense, its breath hot. Its teeth drip with saliva.
“Poison venom! Open the—”
My gloved hands are clumsy, but I point the handle up and open the blade. The omenotau arches backward and rolls to the side. Its green eyes darken. Blood drips down the iceblade and freezes in seconds.
I scramble up and look down at the beautiful beast, its white fur drifting in the wind, its body motionless, and feel a terrible sadness fill me.
The others from the pack leave, including the injured.
