The numbers were dwindling down for the wolves. Some others were running from the battle, choosing to live for another day. The storm of bullets had calmed to a drizzle as more wolves fell to them. The caves were fully emptied, and the battle was finished. Avryn gave the order to finish off any stragglers.

  Avryn phoned in for a transport vehicle. He turned to the others.

  “Pick two of the best corpses for transport.”

  The transport wagon arrived and was loaded with the corpses. The escort had begun. Halfway through, Tvira noticed something.

  “What is it?” Avryn asked.

  “We’re being stalked,” she replied.

  Avryn took a closer look around him. Some of the wolves had been following them for quite a good while. He whistled for the shooters to prepare their weapons. The wolves took their chance and attacked the convoy. Three of them were attacking Avryn. He switched to using Lerosa and fought them off. A fourth wolf came up and knocked him off of his dualcycle.

  “Crap!” he rolled through.

  “Go, we’ll handle this,” Leifren took charge.

  Rinna turned her dualcycle back and came to his rescue. She ran over one of the wolves as she jumped off. She and Avryn dispatched the rest quite easily. Avryn inspected his dual cycle and determined it to be broken. He hitched a ride with Rinna’s.

  “You drive, I’ll shoot,” he saw another incoming wave of wolves.

  Rinna nodded and revved up the dualcycle. The engined roared with intensity as the wheels turned. They returned to the convoy, shots firing. This battle was far from over. These wolves kept coming. Their hunger was ravenous. They were still half an hour away before reaching the outpost.

  Something unexpected happened. They came across a jeep which was out on patrol. It was Jovie’s squad. He put pedal on the metal once he saw what was happening. The rest of his members helped out dealing with the Corpse wolves.

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

  “Jovie! Your timing couldn’t been any better,” Leifren exclaimed.

  “We can talk once we come back to the outpost,” he replied.

  The wolves were cut down to the very last one. The humming of the dualcycles was the only noise left. Rain had started to pour as thunder roared in the distance. Leifren and Avryn explained their mission to Jovie and what happened afterwards.

  “I see,” he nodded. “Well I’m glad we came across each other, then.”

  The man smiled and gave his thumbs up. His squad helped escort them back to Outpost D. The researchers were already there awaiting for the samples. Avryn and Leifren’s squads helped unload the cargo.

  “These are perfect specimens, thanks,” one of the researchers said.

  Avryn congratulated the squads on a job well done. He took a glance up at the tower. The major was there, perhaps giving a nod of approval for their success. They rested for the night.

  The sound of at least half a thousand feathery beasts jolted Avryn awake. He picked up Lerosa and went outside his tent. The outpost was under attack by a mass of birds. There was so much black feathers scattered, it felt almost like an art piece.

  Guns sounded off, and the sound of them being ripped apart soon after. Avryn met with his squad mates and joined the defense. They tried to cut down as many Corpse birds as they could, but it seemed like their numbers were limitless. It started to look like a tornado of swirling black feathers.

  “They just keep coming!” Avryn said.

  Major Shalshukein joined the fray.

  “Take down as many as you can and don’t let them destroy more equipment,” he commanded.

  Avryn switched to his dual pistols and danced across the outpost. His style was perfect against the flying beasts. He linked up with Rinna. Their styles made for a perfect combination of constant barrages. They were credited for nearly half of the birds slain by themselves.

  A few agonizing minutes later, the birds retreated to whence they came. The fighting had come to a stop.

  “Right,” the major observed. “Inspect for damages on the fort and equipment. I’m calling in support from Outpost B.”

  A few minutes after, the damages were assessed. The major sent Leifren’s and other squads to hunt down the birds. Avryn’s squad was sent to escort the support squad coming from Outpost B.

  It was a good half hour drive to the place by jeep. They linked up with the support squad. A feeling of familiarity hit Avryn. He saw Jenki was in the squad and hollered at him. They introduced their squads to each other and caught up on some things.

  Jenki was in the plans of making a new weapon for Avryn. It was a tiny pistol. Easily concealable, but can pack quite the punch within a close to medium range. Avryn liked that idea.

  They arrived back at Outpost D. Repairs had started. Jenki’s squad was sent to inspect and repair the mounted guns and medical equipment first.

  A commotion was happening in the middle of the outpost. A soldier was doomsaying and holding his face, as if it was damaged. He was on the ground in a fetal position. He kept mumbling about how much pain he was in. Medics were sent to try to calm him down. The moment one of them suggested sedatives, the soldier panicked and ran away from them.

  The sight was a pitiful one to Avryn and his crew. The man covered his head once again.

  “I could feel them pecking at my skull,” distress cracked in his voice.

  Major Shalshukein had to step in.

  “Bring him to the med bay and have him ready for discharge,” he commanded.

  “Yes, sir.”

  A platoon of soldiers had just arrived back at the outpost. Leifren’s squad reunited with Avryn’s. They discussed about their missions by the campfire.

  “So yeah, we made sure we got every single one,” Harver recounted.

  Leifren caressed his rifle.

  “It was a good hunt.”

  Hammer pounding filled the day as all of the squads were on deck repairing the damages in the outpost. They all earned dinner and rest that day.