What can I say about War Husks.

  Take your usual everyday Husk, make it denser and with more Energy so that the Awakened is even more superhuman. Then add an exoskeleton to enhance the Awakened's abilities even further, especially things they already excel at.

  Usually they get used when Diving, but are also a key element of Awakened vs Awakened combat.

  ~ * ~

  Lisa glanced at her phone as they headed down the stairs. taxi shows 8 minutes to pickup.

  Seb put his own phone back in his pocket. He'd tried to tell the Shallows contact for the Holding what happened but based on his side of the conversation it hadn't gone well.

  Hopefully that's going to be soon enough, Seb replied. I'm pretty sure they're going to file the report under 'Misuse of Official contact'. They actually laughed when I mentioned I was with you.

  He paused for a moment, his eyes on the stairs in front of him. If for some reason it isn't and you have to face him again, you're going to need to use your War Husk.

  Lisa nearly stumbled, her foot almost missing the next step as she answered. I can't. It isn't safe.

  You have to, if he shows back up you're defenseless. He nearly killed you in your Husk, what will happen to you now?

  She shook her head, radiating anxiety. You don't understand. I can't. I get lost in the fight, I attack anyone and everyone around me. It isn't safe.

  I trust you.

  Three words. He didn't argue, didn't try to justify why she would need to take the risk. He just said three words that she couldn't remember anyone ever saying to her.

  I can't fight him. I can't do anything to stop him. We beat him once, we can do it again. I can figure out where you need to hit him and then we'll get away.

  With a deep breath she nodded, stepping back out into the street and hoping their ride would get there first.

  Standing on the sidewalk Lisa couldn't shake the dread in her stomach. Dread of having to face the guard again, dread of having to use her War Husk, even the dread that she might hurt Seb. Glancing at her phone she gave him an update. 5 minu-

  Suddenly she felt something yank on her hoodie, pulling her off the feet and flinging her back down the alleyway they'd left the guard in. Somehow she missed hitting anything other than the pavement, the sweatsuit absorbing the worst of the skidding. Getting to her feet she immediately spotted the Guardsman closing on her, the dark sheen of exoskeleton revealing that he was already in his War Husk.

  Ly- Princess? She heard Seb call out, his silhouette barely visible at the entrance to the alleyway. Sending the thought of acknowledgment down the band she forced herself into her own War Husk. Immediately she felt the change, losing her slender physique as she felt her shoulders and chest fill out. Her hair shifting into tight braids even as they turned the color of golden wheat. At the same time her own exoskeleton, more of a carapace than anything else, wrapped around her, coating her limbs and torso while forming claws along her fingers. Bracing herself for what was to come she called out. "Why can't you just leave me be?"

  She didn't expect an answer but she got one all the same. The guard stopped just outside of range, anger distorting what she could see of his face behind the War Husk helm. "No one defeats Rios. Especially not a mongrel princess. You're going to pay."

  As he lunged forward to grab her she found herself moving on instinct. Hopping backwards she avoided his arms and struck out in return, her claws drawing sparks where they struck his arms. Disappointing, but not very surprising considering she hadn't managed to hurt him in their first fight.

  The next few moments felt almost surreal. He was bigger than her, and definitely stronger, but where previously they had been matched for speed she now felt as though he moved in slow motion. I can't keep this up all day. I need to know where to hit him

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  I'm trying. War Husks aren't as easy to see patterns in, she heard Seb reply. At least dodging around was easy. The guard, Rios she supposed, wasn't very creati-

  Shaking her head as she stood back up she felt something crack in her side. Her carapace might have protected her from the worst of the blow but it had a dented crack in it. Her eyes narrowed, her thoughts crystallized. That thing had hit her, how dare it. Did it not recognize her superiority?

  Darting in she struck again. If a moment ago she had dancing around Rios to avoid his attacks now she flowed through them without hesitation or wasted movement. Every time he moved sparks flew from his arms, legs and torso while he hit the air. Snarling in frustration she redoubled her efforts. All she needed was one good strike and she would be victorious. Then she saw flashes of red, flickering across her opponent, taunting her.

  Lashing out she struck the first and second but they kept coming. Faster she went, the sound of her strikes turning into a solid tone that only faded when nothing new appeared after the fifteenth. As Rios froze, his exoskeleton slowly falling to the ground around him, she saw her chance, it had bared its throat and was unmoving. Launching herself upward her carapace sharpened from pinky-tip to elbow, a scythe-like edge glistening for the briefest moment before she struck and flew past the one who had dared touch her.

  ~ * ~

  Seb gasped in shock, his focus on the energy patterns completely disrupted. A few moments ago Something had shifted on Lisa's side of the band, he had promised not to call her that but then what should he call her? She had gone cold, predatory, focused. She didn't seem to notice his attempts to get her attention, but he could tell she'd noticed when he gave her the targets.

  She was so fast, he didn't see her move when she struck, only felt the pattern shiver then break. It wasn't supposed to break, just freeze. He saw Rios' Husk falling to pieces right before she lunged, jumping past him in a spray of blood and the headless corpse dropped to its knees. Then she was turning towards him.

  ~ * ~

  Landing lightly she turned towards the prey. It had been hiding in the corner but now there was nothing to stop her from claiming it. Stalking towards it she hissed, an incessant buzzing filling her mind. It wouldn't stop her, she would claim what she wished no matter the cost. The buzzing grew louder still as she lunged and something finally broke through. Forgive me Princess, this is utter bullshit!

  She stumbled, her War Husk vanishing as she found herself laughing. Her momentum carried her the rest of the way, crashing into Seb and driving the breath from his lungs as he braced against the wall. She stopped laughing almost immediately, wincing at the pain it was causing her. "Please, don't make me laugh. My ribs aren't cracked but they're close."

  The band had dropped as she dropped her Husk, words would have to do until they could gather their thoughts again. "What happened? I felt him hit me and then I was crashing into you."

  Feeling him tense she stepped back, turning to look back down the alley only to feel him grab her shoulder and point her towards the street. "We won, and the taxi should be here any second."

  Letting him lead her back to the street she found herself lost in thought. What did he not want her to see? What happened in those moments she forgot? She could feel cold thoughts creeping through her head, something shifting and pushing back to the surface. Regaining focus as their ride pulled up she slipped in first and confirmed her address before settling in for the ride.

  "Seb? What did I do?" she whispered, leaning towards him so the driver couldn't hear.

  "We broke his Husk and then you-" he paused, swallowing and visibly steeling himself. "You took his head off when his exo failed. I have to call it in, but I'll buy us time."

  "I what!?" She barely managed to keep her voice down, shock running through her at his words. She wasn't a killer. The cold thoughts she had tried to ignore almost seemed to pulse, drawing her attention to them. And some part of her mind whispered back. "He would have killed you given the chance."

  "I told you there was a problem and you ignored me. Rios-" Seb was busy on the phone. She wanted to ask more but she knew Shallows protocol. "Yes, the guard who came after her said his name was Rios. I don't know, are there that many Elites called Rios?" Covering the microphone with his hand he turned to her. "His Husk broke, it didn't just freeze. I don't know why."

  "Then yes, that is the Rios I'm reporting is dead. He's in the same alleyway I listed earlier. The Princess is safe and alive. No, I wasn't lying when I said the Princess was involved. No, we're not coming to the holding right now, an Elite guard tried to kill us and you called me a liar. Now you have a dead Awakened to deal with and we will see Her Majesty tomorrow. I know court isn't tomorrow, are you telling me she doesn't hold more private court daily?"

  At his glance Lisa nodded, only barely paying attention as she tried to process what she had apparently done. "Tomorrow, private court. It should give you enough time to figure out what you did wrong and how to explain to her that her daughter was almost killed by one of her own." Putting his phone down he very deliberately hung up, she was sure he would have slammed it down if it had been an option.

  He half turned on the seat, focusing on her and waiting for her to focus back before speaking. "We get you home, you get cleaned up and comfortable and try to figure out how badly you and your Husks are hurt. Then I'll tell you everything I can about what happened. Tomorrow we can figure out what we're doing and then get to court to deal with it."