Chapter 521 (1/2)

Book 5, Chapter 26 – Siege of Ten Thousand Beasts

hellflower sat in the ss and fiddling with her pistols Her eyes snapped toward Cloudhawk and the olda hu over one shoulder

Cloudhaaved his hand at her “Let's go!”

hellflower sahat it was they were carrying when they got close enough and it froze her in place Cloudhawk, however, was in a hurry “What the fuck are you gaping at? We've got enemies on our ass!”

hellflower recognized the Wendigo King – how could she not? It was one of the genetically modified mutants she'd helped create

It'd been the program she pioneered at Blackwater Base, which she reproduced for the Dark Ato her oork, and what's more this one in particular was a specimen she kneell

“Is that Hyena? Heh, it's been a while!” [1]

Indeed, this half-man half-wolf creature had been known by a different nanificantly since that tiether in Blackwater Base and helped Roste create this monster

“I thought you looked fauy”

“You are… Cloudhawk?”

Only after their pitched battle did the two finally realize who they were fighting Now that he kneas up, Wolf's Den and that whole deal made ger and stronger than he used to be Not only was his covered in muscle, but nohen in wolf form his coat was snohite

Buta relic Those scarlet claere a Godslayer weapon and a pretty worthy one at that, no question Were it not for the blessings granted to hiation Fire, Cloudhaould have found it hard to beat the shapeshi+fter How did he get so strong after only a few years? It was like he was a completely different person

Sinized Cloudhawk at first, either After all, Cloudhaas nothing like he used to be and their encounter was brief and rife with adrenaline While the Wendigo King had recognized Cloudhawk's smell, he hadn't placed it until just now

He'd been carried for what felt like ages Now he knehom

The old drunk was out of the loop and sought clarification “He's a friend of yours? Is this so people – can we knoe're getting into before we start throwing punches next ti with this shi+t”

“Forget it, we'll talk e get back to the city”

This act was done Talking about it noas a waste of breath Sure Cloudhawk knew Hyena, but they weren't friends At any rate, a lot of ti about 'the Wendigo King' and his loyalties or purpose

The beast struggle against his bonds to no avail He was badly wounded and the old drunk held him fast With just the one hand he could hold down the shapeshi+fter against a thousand pounds of force To the Wendigo King it felt like being crushed under a mountain

Obviously this wretched looking geezer was a rare sort of talent What was awith hellflower and Cloudhawk?

“Sit tight, we're on the ine and their small aircraft took to the skies Plumes of dark smoke were belched from its sides as they dashed into the distance As she piloted, hellflower sought more information “So what happened? We were after Red Scorpion's boss, right? And we come back with an old pal?”

“I'uy is definitely iher up than Red Scorpion I'et the attention of his bosses We'll figure it out at Sandspire”

“I advise you to stop this foolishness” The Wendigo King's voice was guttural and fierce “Do you think you can stop who I serve? Just you? It's suicide to even consider it”

Cloudhaasn't eager to fight with a power he knew nothing about But the decision was out of his hands It was their choice to send spies to Greenland City and to try and establish Red Scorpion as Sandspire's Governor The two sides have already reached a point where talk was useless

If that was the case, better to act first, and act decisively

By taking the Wendigo King, Cloudhawk figured he ht, but at least they'd knohat they were up against That wasover their shoulder, never knohat to expect

“Did I ask for your fuckin' opinion?” Cloudhawk glanced at the old“We knew each other a long tiet back”

hellflower flew theround and safely tucked away, Cloudhawk began his interrogation

It quickly beca froht-lipped Nothing they tried motivated him to share what he knew

A whole lot had happened to the Wendigo King over the years Strength like he had didn't appear out of thin air It seeuiding hi time for stuff to happen

Cloudha hih innate talent and half through deured the Wendigo King was benefiting fro similar

He was at an ih He'd come to his wit's end

“Bad news!” Sand Viper burst in with a report “There's a beast wave approaching!”

Raids like this were a co in the southern wilds Cloudhaas annoyed by the interruption “What the hell are you so nervous about? Sandspire can't handle a few mutant animals?”

Sand Viper glowered at the dismissive response “This isn't a typical beast wave It's best if you see for yourself”