“[color=92278f]Ghaust, this isn’t working.[/color]”

“[color=crimson]Be quiet.[/color]”

Across from them the Modir stood still and calm, sword held out to its side, cloak fluttering heavily. It seemed perfectly content to stay here until the sun came up. 

“[color=92278f]We need a new plan. If we don’t kill this thing soon there’s not gonna be much of a town left to protect.[/color]”

Ghaust grumbled, and outwardly, [i]Grautritter[/i] let out a low growl. He shifted his stance, turned sideface and brought his blade up to his chest. The Modir cocked its head, and then, bizarrely, it mimicked him. 

“[color=92278f]Wait for the opening,[/color]” Lucis said. [i]Magnifique[/i] started to circle, slowly, and [i]Grauritter[/i] did the same the other way. The Modir didn’t move from the center. “[color=92278f]Ready…[i]Now![/i][/color]”

[i]Magnifique[/i] reeled back and hurled one of his chakrams out. It spun, a whirl of white light, on a perfect path for the Modir’s neck. [i]Grauritter[/i] bolted forward. The Modir swung its blade up in a wide arc, slapping the ring aside just as [i]Grauritter[/i] lunged.

His blade pierced the Modir’s cloak, but before he could cut it free, it brought the back of its fist to his cheek. The Savior stumbled aside, but years of experience wouldn’t see him grounded from a single strike. He found his footing, twirled his blade around and took the lower haft with one hand, bringing it up just in time to block the strike meant to cleave him in two. 

The Modir pressed, the teeth of its flayed mouth grated together. [i]Grauritter[/i] let go with one hand, letting the blades sink into his shoulder, and grabbed the beast by its collar. Suddenly it lurched as a chakram buried itself into its side. [i]Maginfique[/i] came dashing, other ring flying back to his hand. He struck for the neck again. 

With a ferocious growl, the Modir swung its arm around, the one hand on its sword more than enough to keep [i]Grauritter[/i] pinned, and [i]slapped[/i] [i]Magnifique[/i]’s hand aside, then wrapped its arm around his. It let go of [i]Grauritter[/i] entirely, letting him hang off the cloak.

In a windmill arc, it brought its blade down and severed [i]Magnifique[/i]’s arm at the shoulder. 

There was a choked, gasping noise in the comms. 

Then Lucis [i]screamed[/i] bloody agony. [i]Magnifique[/i]’s maw opened wide and let out a broken, quaking wail. 

[hr][hr]
Quinn’s scream filled the store, and across the aisles there came the response of other hungry, skittering sounds. With competition coming, the creature before her shuddered, twitched. It leapt at her, razor-limbs poised to skewer her through, mandibles slavering. 

Daz roared, and though he was still pinned, he managed to shove the display up enough to throw the thing off. It flailed past her, managing a shallow slice across her shoulder, but little else. Its momentum saw it skid out of the aisle, into the moonlight of the entrance, where it scrambled back up to its many feet. 

The air cracked, a muzzle-flashed, and it popped like an ink balloon. 

A soldier stood at the doorway, rifled aimed downrange at the other aisles. The skittering noises changed course in an instant, towards him. 

“[color=darkorange]Quinnlash,[/color] Daz rumbled. He’d shifted onto his hands and knees, and was slowly lifting the display up on his back. “[color=darkorange]The exit…go! Outside, go! I’m right behind you![/color]”

The soldier opened fire, strafing further in. He must not have seen the two of them—or maybe he just didn’t care—because bullets began to ping off the walls nearby. Dust and drywall sprayed her face, metal clattered at her feet. 

“[color=darkorange]Now! Run![/color]”