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The second he was out of sight, she struck.

Georgia slammed both fists into the Siblet holding her.

He grunted out his surprise as he hit the wall.

She lunged for his weapon, but before she could get it, her banty flew from the shadows. He latched onto the Siblet’s throat and tore it out.

The Siblet slumped down.

“Holy stars!” Georgia stared at the bloody mess in front of her. “That was amazing.”

The banty bounced around her feet.

Georgia grabbed the weapon and swung toward the sound of running feet. She fired off two shots, taking down the other Siblet.

She yanked the bindings off her arms and turned back.

The banty bounced onto her shoulder, chittering and purring as he head-butted her cheek.

“It’s good to see you, too.” She raced back to Ash.

The banty gave an alarm chirp as she ran.

“We’re good. We’ll find Ash and then figure out our next move.”

He alarm called again, and Georgia slowed.

She tilted her head, a trickle of icy panic sliding down her spine at the low, menacing growl from behind her.

Her banty answered it with an equally menacing growl.

Georgia swung back around and held the Siblet weapon in front of her, her heart racing.

Three mutant beasts were approaching. They were nightmare versions of big cats, with huge elongated teeth and long sharp quills sticking out of their spines.

Behind them, six Siblet followed, all with weapons.

She fired off two shots, taking out one of the mutant beasts, then dodged into a small cave to her right.

Georgia cursed under her breath when she realized there was no way out. She’d trapped herself. At least no one could sneak up on her from behind, and the entrance was small, so she stood a chance of taking out any Siblet if they tried to get in.

“Send in the creatures,” a male voice said from the corridor. “Flush her out.”

Georgia’s heart pounded as the ground shook beneath her feet as the mutant beasts approached. She hated killing these animals, but if she didn’t take them out, they’d destroy her.

“It’s just you and me,” she whispered to the banty.

He growled, flashed his fangs, and slowly extended his claws. He may be small, but he looked terrifying.

The entrance into the room would only fit one mutant beast at a time, and the second she saw a nose, she fired a blast.

There was a roar from outside the cave entrance. The beasts charged as a single mass, scrambling over each other to get her first and rip her apart.

Georgia stood firm and made their deaths quick and as painless as possible, firing off blasts into their chests. They died without even reaching her.

“There are plenty more for any cowardly Siblet who want to try their luck,” she called out. “But if you leave now, I may let you live.”

There was silence followed by deep male laughter.