Tussle on the Outskirts: Wraith's Lament - Mayhem

Oblique slammed into the tyto, knocking them off-course with an enraged squeal. Three watched in wide-eyed horror. She found herself entirely frozen. Oblique wasn’t a fighter. She had never seen the chiro throw herself into combat before. But thanks to her, Three wasn’t lunch. All she could think about was the tyto’s beak closing around her arm. The human looked down. Some of the trademark goo of corruption had dripped onto her flesh before Oblique knocked the rampaging stryx out of biting range.

Oblique had saved her. Why couldn’t she make herself run? 

The tyto’s glowing red eyes locked on the chiro. For once Oblique matched the tyto in size - she was small even for her kind. Most stryx towered over her. But not this tyto. Despite this, Oblique still trembled. The thick liquid dripping from the tyto’s gaping maw, the way it shuddered unnaturally, the sickening glow in its eyes - it was a terror to behold. Oblique wasn’t a fighter. But right now she had to be.

Oblique narrowly dodged the stryx’ beak snapping down on her wing’s membrane. She twisted deftly out of the way, dragging her claws through the corrupted tyto’s feathers as she tumbled by, a clump of feathers pulling away and spreading into the air. Oblique craned her neck to see Three. 

“Go!” She cried. Three wouldn’t understand her words, but she would understand her tone. Oblique would do whatever she needed to in order to ensure her rider’s survival. Three was there for her when no one else was: she nursed her back to health when she was a tiny, sickly pup, she healed her wounds when she failed her first flight test. Three gave up so much for Oblique.

But Three didn’t move. She wasn’t done yet.

The human dropped to her knees, slinging her backpack off her shoulder and onto the ground. Her hands shook as she flipped open the lock and shoved them inside. All manner of things shifted around in her bag, but she was looking for something specific. She glanced up just in time to see the corrupted stryx careening towards her. Three barely rolled out of the way to avoid the screeching tyto. 

Oblique flapped after it. She was never a quick flyer, but she was a smart one. When the tyto spun around to dive at the human again Oblique knew just the vector for her intercept. Oblique time her surge forward just right. Her teeth connected with the tyto’s shoulder, sinking deep into its flesh. The two spun off together into the forest, the light of the docks illuminating the outskirts. 

But the tyto was in the perfect position to fight back. Oblique screamed as a beak buried into her wing, puncturing her skin flap. The two slashed and bit at each other even as they slammed into an enormous tree trunk and broke apart. 

“Oblique!” Three called out, her voice shaking. The human stood up unsteadily. She could hardly stumble over to her bag. Only vaguely was she aware of the gouge in her leg made by a sharp stone. Nothing was important right now. Nothing but saving her friend. Nothing but Oblique.

When Oblique moved to stand the tyto was already on her. It slashed down at the chiro, tufts of fur tearing away in chunks. Oblique thrashed helplessly as the corrupted stryx cut at her, teeth snapping futilely at nothing. She was pinned beneath her enemy.. She couldn’t get away and she couldn’t strike. She flapped and squirmed desperately but got nowhere. This, Oblique was certain, was the end.

Three fumbled around in her bag, barely able to see what was inside. She had to navigate through feeling alone. All manner of things brushed against her fingertips: rations, feathers, geodes, flint. But she couldn’t stop a smile from splitting her entire face as she finally laid hands upon what she needed. With a dramatic pull she stood up, the object weighing her down but fitting neatly into her hand.

Her flare gun.

She raised the barrel towards the tyto, looming triumphantly over Oblique, preparing to deliver a killing blow. Three searched her mind desperately for something cool to say to the corrupted stryx but came away with nothing. All that came from her lips was a scream of unbridled rage. As the tyto’s head whipped around to face her she pulled the trigger.

With a bang a burning ball of light raced towards the stryx’s face. With a cry of pain it flinched away. The burning red light illuminated everything around them, but the tyto could no longer see anything, blinded for the moment. Oblique seized the opportunity, lunging up and forwards with a powerful flap. She knocked her foe to the ground as they screeched in pain and fury. Oblique skittered towards Three as the human sprinted towards Oblique. She hadn’t fully taken hold of the chiro when she leapt from the floor. But it was enough.

The tyto’s enraged shouting echoed as they slashed aimlessly into the air around them, but it grew fainter with every flap of Oblique’s wings. Three was white-knuckled as she gripped her stryx, sweat pouring down her brow. Neither of them dared to look back. Only when the screams entirely left their ears did they peer over their shoulders.

“We did it, girl.” Three patted Oblique’s neck. “You did great.”

Oblique chirred weakly, doing her best to ignore the burning of her wounds.

“We did it.”