The Sisters Taima

Chapter 29

The Sisters Taima

The soft glow of the giant aquarium illuminated the walking path as Autumn and Atif eased into a light jog. The two sisters came to a stop at a crossroad, and Autumn started looking around, gaining her bearings. She continued sprinting up the path, the small fish in the aquarium following her every movement.

“Take cover someone is coming.”

Autumn looked over her shoulder at Atif and veered off the walking path taking cover behind a tree. Atif followed suit taking cover behind a tree of her own. The two of them watched in silence as a patrol unit moved down the walking path heading south.

“Coast is clear, let’s get moving, don’t want to keep Haiden and Ki waiting.”

They jump back on the walking path, running in the opposite direction of the soldiers. Bodies were sprawled about the walkway, collapsed under trees and inside bushes. A New Aurora soldier sat on a bench alongside a rebel both slowly breathing, Autumn didn’t break her stride and ran right past the men. Turning back, she grabbed hold of Atif’s hand, pulling her forward.

Atif had stopped to stare at the two men, once enemies now found comfort in not dying alone. It was all a little too much for Atif, this whole situation and the stakes that came with it. The cloud of danger looming had the young tamer missing the security of her rainforest. Snapping out of her funk; she entered attack mode as more soldiers appeared. The sisters rushed them, not giving them any time to raise their weapons at them. Snatching the rifle out the hands of a soldier, Autumn chopped the man in the throat and bashed the rifle across of the face of another.

Atif planted her elbow into the midsection of another, throwing his arm over her shoulder and hip tossed him to the ground. She turned around to dodge a haymaker that put her on the backfoot, dipping and weaving through the soldier’s flurry of punches. Atif swiftly evaded the assault, taking the first opportunity the soldier gave her to counter. She smirked a bit as the moment presented itself, she prepared to counter when the soldier got sucker punched by Autumn. The soldier crumbled to the ground and Atif lowered her defenses. While she managed to take out one of the soldiers, Autumn alone had taken down the other three soldiers during that time.

“Stop playing around Atif, we got places to be.”

Autumn snapped. She was visibly frustrated and taking it out on the soldiers wasn’t making her feel any better.

“Right, my bad Auttie.”

***

Duval crouched on the table of an elegant restaurant, stuffing his face with what remained of the food on table. He watched with pride as his pack tore apart the mechs and rebels. He suddenly threw his chicken breast on the table, biting into his clenched fist in anger. The vital signs of Gabe and Daphane had finally been transmitted, and a flood of data collected from their tech and optics were downloaded to his PCD. While his pack ran wild, he watched the recordings from their final moments. Duval was gifted with the tracking locations of the Deathwatch members, and a new decision to make.

Follow his commander’s orders and recon with the commander’s little brother and play babysitter. Or return the favor and get back at the very group that snuffed out two of his own. It was an easy one to make, His tribal nature, his upbringing, every fiber of his being was telling him eye for an eye. He stood up straight and whistled for his pack, observing with keen eyes. The closet target was the one stationary at Coral Park just south of his current location. He had no way of communicating with Onyx or Obsidian. He didn’t dwell on it long and raced off with his pack. Toward Coral Park and whichever member of Deathwatch awaited him, it didn’t matter.

***

“So, we are in agreement we are going home after this, right?”

Autumn stared at Atif, the two of them walking down the park’s walking path. All the chaos and carnage around them was hard to believe. A few hundred humans, a handful of mechs was all you needed to stir up an entire revolution. The sisters stopped suddenly, as the howling of wolves echoed throughout the park. They looked around trying to catch sight of the beasts, curious how beasts were roaming around the city.

“There circling us Atif. I can feel them.”

Atif moved closer toward Autumn, putting her back to Autumn’s.

“It’s a pretty big pack too, I’m counting six in total.”

She kept her eyes opened as she looked around for the wolves, she was stunned when they stopped their advance.
“That’s weird, why aren’t they attacking.”

“That would be because I told them not too, yet.”

A helmeted soldier in battle armor appeared from behind a tree, stepping out on the walking path in front of Atif.

“I was going to let you lovely ladies go, but that was before I recognized the markings on your face.”

Autumn turned around and looked at Duval, then to Atif, who was caught off guard by this soldier knowing anything about her tribal markings. She looked at the soldier as his pack emerged from the foliage surrounding the walking path. Duval disengaged his helmet, revealing tribal marking of his own. Similar yet different from Atif’s, he groomed his long beard; his yellow eyes focused on Atif.

“The five dots on your forehead, you are a fifth generation Nava.”

“What is a Toro doing in the New Aurorean military.”

“What is a Nava doing in Busaya, you’re a long way from your rainforest. Knowing where you come from, I can’t let you go off that principle alone. Because as my grandfather once told me, the only good Nava, is a dead Nava.”

Atif grit her teeth, not taking her focus off Duval. Neither did Autumn, she said nothing and kept an eye on the wolves as they slowly encircled them. The whole time her essence flaring as she attempted to pick out the pack leader.

“You people are so twisted it sickening.”

“Time to put those values to the test, Nava.”

“If you want Atif, you’re going to have to go through me first.”

The wolves around them started to snarl as Autumn stepped in front of Atif.

“Step aside woman, this has nothing to do with you.”

“Yeah Autumn, this is something I have to do.”

“I don’t care what you say Atif, you’re still my chief and I’m the one you chose to protect you. You may be running away from your duties, but I’m not. Just keep wolves busy while I handle him.”

“One of Barto’s brats even better.”

Duval stepped forward, two of the wolves tried to jump Autumn but she evaded in time. One of the wolves tore through the fabric of her shirt nearly cutting into her flesh while the other missed completely. Duval rushed through his window of opportunity, throwing a punch at Autumn before she could recover from the wolf’s attack. But Atif came to her defense swatting away the punch with ease, parrying Duval attacks while Autumn recovered.

“Auttie, you take the wolves, Your better suited for that. As a Nava he is my problem, so please leave this to me.”
Autumn begrudgingly listened to Atif and started to focus on the wolves, their connection with Duval was strong, but wasn’t essence based something she was unfamiliar with. She started to channel her essence and darted off toward the interior of the park, four of the wolves following her, the Alpha in tow.

Duval kept two of the wolves with him as he faced off with Atif. She didn’t flinch, rushing to the side, attempting to close in on Duval at an angle. He stood still watching her, not concerned with her little strategy. She pivoted her body, intercepting one of the beasts throwing it in a headlock. Absorbing the impact, Atif grabbed a handful of hide and tossed the wolf into a nearby trash receptacle. The other wolf pounced at Atif. Getting punched in the nose, sending the beast scurrying into the foliage.

Duval swiftly closed the gap between the two, throwing a side kick at Atif. Who caught the kick in her side, wrapping her arm around his calf, she held tight. Sliding her leg behind his, Atif threw him off balance slamming him toward the ground and regained her fighting stance. The wolf by the trash receptacle rose to its feet, the other found its courage and emerged from the bushes. Duval leap to his feet, pleased with the young tamer’s fighting prowess. He smiled, quickly reaching for his rifle he started firing off shots at Atif. She scrambled out of the line of fire, dashing toward the cover of the trees. Duval whistled once and his wolves were on the hunt for Atif. He slowly pulled out his hunting knife, flipping it, he grabbed it by the tip of the blade. Arching his arm back and contorting his frame, Duval launched the blade with as much force as he could. The blade soared through the foliage, piercing through Atif’s jacket and sinking deep into her shoulder. She crashed toward the ground and the wolves jumped her. Atif put her arms up to shield her face as the wolves sank their teeth into the fabric of her jacket.

She kicked one of them off, grabbing the blade out of her shoulder and viciously stabbed at the other putting it down. She wasn’t happy about it, but she had to do what she had to. Pulling the blade out of the wolf and rising to her feet, she flipped it in her hand. Grabbing the hilt and facing the blade downward, Atif tried to locate Duval and the last remaining wolf. Her eyes darted about, her ears listened to the slightest disturbance in the foliage. She exhaled slowly, then quickly dashed to the left as the sound of gunfire echoed throughout the park. The bark of the tree behind Atif erupted, sending shards of wood everywhere.

The wolf pounced, sinking its teeth through Atif’s denim jacket and into her flesh. She felt the warm stream of blood rolling up her arm toward her shoulder as she pulled the wolf closer. She wrapped her free arm around the wolf’s neck snapping it. Releasing its hold on her forearm. She felt the burn of hot lead as bullets pierced her shoulder. The force of the impact floored Atif for a moment, she scrambled to her feet and ran for cover as more bullets came flying her way. She took cover behind a tree, looking over her left arm that was not only bitten and stabbed but shot up as well.

Her heart was pounding, her breaths were labored, she applied pressure to her wounds. Using the trunk of the tree as support she rose to her feet, taking a deep breath. Gripping the knife in her hand she left the safety of her cover, advancing toward Duval attempting to close the gap between the two.

***

Gun shots echoed in the distance, she looked to her left and to her right at the pack of wolves keeping pace with her. They bobbed and weaved through the trees, coordinating with one another, waiting for their opening to attack Autumn. She slid her feet against the ground, turning around as the pack of wolves funneled in from the foliage. They closed in from the side, lunging at Autumn one after another. She was evasive in the beginning, dodging every single attack, the pack threw her way. Quickly she went on the offensive, grabbing hold of one of the wolves she tried to intertwine their essence. When that failed, she was forced to let go of the wolf and defend herself against the others. She kicked one as it closed in on her, sending it barreling into the foliage. Autumn tackled another one to the ground, sinking her teeth into the wolf’s neck and applied pressure. In that moment the other members of the pack watched on, not moving. They observed closely as Autumn asserted her dominance over the Alpha. Her rage was building and building quick, as she forced the alpha wolf down toward the ground not allowing him to move.

Its essence was battered and broken, she knew now how Duval was able to control the pack without essence. Her essence started to flare uncontrollably as she came to the realization that these majestic beasts had broken into submission. She eased up her hold on the alpha. Standing up she looked around at the other three. The sat still, ears lowered, and tails tucked as she looked over each one of them, the alpha included. Soon her essence started to slowly tether with theirs, repairing the years of damage Duval’s form of taming inflicted.
They slowly walked closer to Autumn and sat at her feet, waiting for her next command. She had no time to stand around; she had to move fast if she was going to make it back in time. The Alpha howled, and the others raced behind their new pack leader. More gunshots echoed through the park, Autumn picked up her pace, waiting to assist Atif as soon as possible. The pack raced ahead of her, following Autumn’s subconscious commands flawlessly.

***

Duval engaged his helmet, activating its thermal function using it to assist him in finding Atif. Atif jumped out from behind a tree, and Duval raised his rifle to fire. She launched the knife at Duval with perfect timing, catching him in the forearm throwing off his aim. She didn’t waste her small window of opportunity and closed in on Duval. Kicking the rifle out his hands, she punched Duval in the face with her good hand. He gathered himself, throwing a punch at Atif, who ducked underneath the wild left hook. He threw a right uppercut, Atif leaned back, grabbing the blade out of his right forearm in the process. She twisted her body, spinning around Duval, she jammed the knife into the back of his right calf. He crumbled forward, stumbling to regain his foot. Atif stumbled backwards a few steps before regaining her posture and focusing on Duval. Her legs were weak, vision blurring in and out. The loss of blood was starting to take its toll on Atif, affecting her capacity to effectively fight.

Duval pulled the blade out of his calf, tossing it to the ground. He rose to his feet gingerly, turning to face Atif he smiled, amused by her condition. He watched as she struggled to stand on her own two feet, but he admired her warrior spirit.

“This was fun but, its time to put an end to this.”

The sound of wolves howling caught the ear of Atif as she looked around for the wolves. One by one the emerged from bushes and from behind trees surrounding Atif. She kept her cool, knowing the odds now were heavily against her. In her mind, Autumn had been bested by the pack. How she was the best tamer she ever knew, a pack of four wolves should be child’s play for her.

“No, Auttie…”

The wolves that encircled Atif, bearing their fangs turned away from her and faced Duval. Atif’s stomach dropped, and she started to hyperventilate, this feeling, she had felt it before. The hares on the wolves’ hind rose sharply, baring their fangs, they snarled viciously. Duval was caught off guard, by the abandonment of his pack. He raised them from pups, broke them down, and built them up. How could they turn on him now, after all these years. He looked around, spotting his rifle several feet away. He didn’t dwell on the pack’s betrayal; he could always get another. His survival was paramount, and he wasn’t about to be done in, not yet. He dove for his rifle, sliding across the earth he reached from the grip. He felt his sweaty palm grab hold of the gun, but he couldn’t raise the rifle off the ground. Autumn stomped on his hand and lowered her weight on it. Crushing his hand against the rifle.

“Good timing, Auttie you got him.”

Atif voice was shaking, her whole body was shaking as Autumn’s essence corruption was leaking out into the surrounding area. Affecting not only Atif and the wolves but Duval as well. She stared at him with a emotionless look, he looked back at her, a look of fear plastered on his dirty face. She applied essence to her leg and drove Duval’s hand and his rifle deeper into the ground. She heard the cracking of the carbon fiber rifle snapping under the pressure. Autumn felt the breaking of his fingers through the soles of her shoes. She showed no signs of relenting. She finally eased up and walked away from Duval. Now free he grabbed at his broken hand.

“Good job Autumn, let’s go we need to reach Haiden and Ki as soon as possible.”

Autumn’s expression didn’t change, and she said nothing as she approached Atif. She turned around and observed the defeated Duval. Atif was confused and was unsure of what to say, watching as the pack was wolves closed in on Duval and one by one started to pounce on the defeated soldier. Atif mouth dropped, watching the vicious scene unfolding in front of her. Duval screams echoed throughout the park, his once loyal pack tearing him limb from limb. Autumn showed no remorse; she didn’t move and watched as Duval screams started to choke out before slowly dying out into complete silence. Atif rushed to Autumn’s side yanking at her, snapping her out of her trace. The wolves dispersed, Autumn’s connection with them being broken. Atif collapsed to the ground by Autumn’s feet, she had over exserted herself trying to break through to her.

“Atif.”

Autumn knelt over Atif, who turned her head and looked at Autumn, half conscious. Autumns eyes started to water, thinking the worse she clutched Atif’s body close.

“I Think you got him Auttie, now can you please let me go I can’t breathe.”

Autumn pulled back and looked down at Atif as she rested in her arms. She smiled at her little sister glad she was still alive.

“Help me up, we got to keep moving if we are going to catch up to Ki and Haiden.”

She threw Atif’s arm over her shoulder and wrapped her arm around Atif’s waist. Holding her up Autumn help Atif along, the two of them passed by what remained of Duval’s bloody corpse.

“It’s ok Auttie, don’t look, we can talk about it later.”

Autumn lowered her head in shame, she had gone too far, she was out of control and had taken a life in the process. Something she had never done before.