for a second, allowing Candice to strike, eyes aflame with bloodlust. She draws her sword across his side. Cropped Hair howls. It’s a good blow, but not a finishing one.
Mason is faring less well. Baldy is armed with a silver spike as well now. It’s the only weapon that does any lasting damage to a shifter, and they both have one. Mason tries to keep his distance, jabbing at his opponent, but it doesn’t come naturally to him. He’s probably more used to fighting with his claws and teeth.
Baldy is more confident with his spike, holding it like a knife. Clearly he’s done this before, switching it back and forth between his clawed hands without looking. Mason doesn’t know where to look, and that’s when Baldy lunges. There’s barely enough time for him to dodge in time, but he does.
Baldy presses the advantage. Mason can’t get an attack in edgewise. It’s all he can do just to avoid being stabbed. Baldy is whittling him down, killing with a thousand tiny cuts. I get the feeling Mason needs to do what comes naturally. To get in close and really tear at his enemy. Yet even that tactic comes with pitfalls.
Baldy is stronger than Mason. He proved as much already. If they start wrestling, Mason will lose. Still, for my idea to work, Mason needs to do get in close. To do that, however, he will have to lower his guard. He needs to let Baldy attack. That way he can counterstrike with surprise.
“Mason! Forget the spike! Get in close! Use your claws!”
I can’t tell if he heard me or not. He doesn’t look back at me, too focused on the fight. Not just that, but I don’t know how aware Mason is of his surroundings right now. He always describes being a half-man, half-wolf as a blur, but that’s when the wolf is more in control. Right now he’s fighting more like a man. I can only assume that means he’s thinking like one as well.
“Trust me, Mason! Forget the spike! Fight like a wolf!”
He keeps his guard up as Baldy explodes with renewed ferocity, but gives ground as his opponent advances on him. That’s when Mason sidesteps and Baldy drives past him.
It happens quickly. I didn’t even see it coming. Mason anticipated the attack and simply got out of the way.
Baldy is off balance, leaving his flank wide open. Mason spins around, using the momentum of his dodge. He can stab him through the back, maybe even the heart if his aim is true. He can end the fight right here.
If only it were that easy.
Baldy pivots on one foot and turns his body around with enough time to bring his own spike up and deflect Mason’s attack. He’s still off balance and heading to the ground, but he’s not going to die, having blocked the killing blow.
The force of Mason’s attack does send him reeling into the drywall.
It was a perfect feint, but Mason had to set it up first, taking a beating to reach that point. Baldy won’t make the same mistake twice. Not only that, he’s freakishly fast. Now Mason really does need my help, but only if he does what I say. I can help him take Baldy out, but only if he listens.
“Throw me the spike and get in close. I’ve got your back!”
Mason looks at me, just for a second, but nods this time. Good, he heard me. To prove it, he throws me the spike.
It’s still in the air when Mason charges. He collides with Baldy at speed. The force of the impact pushes him deeper into the wall, through the metal and wood. It looks bloody and painful, but Baldy holds on to his spike.
I catch the spike Mason threw me.
Mason braces the arm of his opponent with one of his own, keeping the silver spike away from his body. The two shifters are up close and personal now. Mason has Baldy at a disadvantage, but it won’t last.
Their arms strain against each other, but Baldy manages to slowly elbow his way out. Mason makes him work for it, resisting every inch of the way. At least I can see both men clearly. I have to play my hand. It’s now or never.
“Rip the skin off the back of his
Mason is faring less well. Baldy is armed with a silver spike as well now. It’s the only weapon that does any lasting damage to a shifter, and they both have one. Mason tries to keep his distance, jabbing at his opponent, but it doesn’t come naturally to him. He’s probably more used to fighting with his claws and teeth.
Baldy is more confident with his spike, holding it like a knife. Clearly he’s done this before, switching it back and forth between his clawed hands without looking. Mason doesn’t know where to look, and that’s when Baldy lunges. There’s barely enough time for him to dodge in time, but he does.
Baldy presses the advantage. Mason can’t get an attack in edgewise. It’s all he can do just to avoid being stabbed. Baldy is whittling him down, killing with a thousand tiny cuts. I get the feeling Mason needs to do what comes naturally. To get in close and really tear at his enemy. Yet even that tactic comes with pitfalls.
Baldy is stronger than Mason. He proved as much already. If they start wrestling, Mason will lose. Still, for my idea to work, Mason needs to do get in close. To do that, however, he will have to lower his guard. He needs to let Baldy attack. That way he can counterstrike with surprise.
“Mason! Forget the spike! Get in close! Use your claws!”
I can’t tell if he heard me or not. He doesn’t look back at me, too focused on the fight. Not just that, but I don’t know how aware Mason is of his surroundings right now. He always describes being a half-man, half-wolf as a blur, but that’s when the wolf is more in control. Right now he’s fighting more like a man. I can only assume that means he’s thinking like one as well.
“Trust me, Mason! Forget the spike! Fight like a wolf!”
He keeps his guard up as Baldy explodes with renewed ferocity, but gives ground as his opponent advances on him. That’s when Mason sidesteps and Baldy drives past him.
It happens quickly. I didn’t even see it coming. Mason anticipated the attack and simply got out of the way.
Baldy is off balance, leaving his flank wide open. Mason spins around, using the momentum of his dodge. He can stab him through the back, maybe even the heart if his aim is true. He can end the fight right here.
If only it were that easy.
Baldy pivots on one foot and turns his body around with enough time to bring his own spike up and deflect Mason’s attack. He’s still off balance and heading to the ground, but he’s not going to die, having blocked the killing blow.
The force of Mason’s attack does send him reeling into the drywall.
It was a perfect feint, but Mason had to set it up first, taking a beating to reach that point. Baldy won’t make the same mistake twice. Not only that, he’s freakishly fast. Now Mason really does need my help, but only if he does what I say. I can help him take Baldy out, but only if he listens.
“Throw me the spike and get in close. I’ve got your back!”
Mason looks at me, just for a second, but nods this time. Good, he heard me. To prove it, he throws me the spike.
It’s still in the air when Mason charges. He collides with Baldy at speed. The force of the impact pushes him deeper into the wall, through the metal and wood. It looks bloody and painful, but Baldy holds on to his spike.
I catch the spike Mason threw me.
Mason braces the arm of his opponent with one of his own, keeping the silver spike away from his body. The two shifters are up close and personal now. Mason has Baldy at a disadvantage, but it won’t last.
Their arms strain against each other, but Baldy manages to slowly elbow his way out. Mason makes him work for it, resisting every inch of the way. At least I can see both men clearly. I have to play my hand. It’s now or never.
“Rip the skin off the back of his
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