\n 'Might as well take as many of them as I can with me.' He thought so he picked a direction and fired. The anthro's running out of the trees fell as John put shots into them but there were too many of them to take out. Finally John's M4 clicked as the last shot in the magazine was fired. The last round went right through a wolf's eyes and blew out the other side of the wolf's head. John let go of the M4 which fell to his right side as the sling held it on his body. John looked at the closest anthro charging at him. It was a lion, and it was too close. John pulled out his pistol as the lion took a slice at him. John tried to launch himself backwards but in the heat of the moment he forgot about his leg wound put his weight on his right leg. Pain shot threw John as his wound burned his leg. John cried out as he fell down. John looked at the lion taking a slice at him. The blade just passed over John as he fell but it wasn't a complete miss. The blade continued on its journey across the space where John had just been standing, making contact with the pistol in his hand, easily wrenching it from his grip. Time seemed to slow as the lion recovered from the missed swing and got ready for the finishing blow. John just laid there unable to defend himself. He watched as the lion slowly walked over him placing both feet on either side of John and slowly pointed the blade downward. The look of triumph was worn on the lions face as he brought the sword up aiming to plunge it straight into John's heart. 'So this is it then?' John thought as he watched the lion above him. Strangely John felt calm about dying, like he had fulfilled a purpose in rescuing Cearra and this seemed like the only step left to take. So John was calm as the sword started it's slow decent toward his heart.

\n Just as John was about to close his eyes to accept his fate the world was engulfed in flames and John lost sight of the anthro above him. The smell of burning flesh and fur quickly flooded the air. The fires danced around John not even touching him but if the smell in the air was any hint then the lion hadn't been so lucky. John found the display to be perversely beautiful, and the thought of the lion burning inside the fires red dance of death also made John smile a bit. Finally the fires burnt out and John could see the battlefield once again. The lion just didn't exist anymore. The only thing that hinted to anyone standing over John was a puddle of molten slag which John assumed was the lion's sword and various pieces of his armor that where made of metal. The next thing he saw was white armor clad anthros rushing past him to meet the pursuers. The soldiers from Saraph had no problem routing the enemy as the pursuers were lightly armored so they could move fast, not go slug it out with heavy armored anthros.

\n John got off the ground gently trying not to put any weight on his injured leg and found his pistol lying a few yards away; as he limped over to the pistol he reloaded his M4. He retrieved the pistol and looked it over. 'Damage is minimal, some paint was scratched off the gun but it looks like it will work just fine' John thought as he holstered the weapon and turned around, nearly jumping out of his skin at what was behind him. He was face to face with a red snout that had some smoke emanating from the nostrils. The eyes were blood red and filled with rage making him seem even more imposing. The red scales didn't help either as John stared down the face of Pyrros. John then heard the shuffling of armor behind him and saw a fox there spear in hand and pointed at him. 'Looks like they don't intend to let me leave here.' John thought as he looked back at the battle, or what had been a battle only moments ago. The white armor soldiers had already run the lightly armored enemy out of the area and they were starting to pile up the bodies.

\n "You should not be so focused on what is not right in front of you creature." Pyrros said as a little more smoke blew from his snout into John's face.

\n John waved the smoke away with his hand and muffled a cough. "That was uncalled for" John said as he finally go the smoke cleared away.

\n "So you can talk." John heard the fox behind his say with a hint of amazement.

\n "Yes I can talk fox boy." John snapped, he heard the fox growl at the comment.

\n "Good" Pyrros said as he whipped his tail around and hit John on the wounded leg.

\n John cried out as the pain returned and he fell to the ground. Pyrros crouched over him and let his toothy snout get a few inches from John's face. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't burn you to death right now."

\n "Ok. First off that was a cheap shot. Second while you were so focused on me you forgot one thing." John said as he pointed the M4 at Pyrros. The angle was awkward to say the least but there was no way a shot would miss from that distance. Pyrros realized what he meant and snarled at the human. "I could kill you right now. Hell in the interest of self-preservation I SHOULD kill you right now but-" John let the muzzle of the gun point away from the red dragon above him. "I'm not going to. I'm not about to kill Cearra's father."

\n John saw the rage in Pyrros' eyes fade at the mention of his daughter. 'She must be daddy's little girl' John thought. Pyrros grabbed John by the shirt and lifted him up to his feet.

\n "The only reason you are alive, creature, and not a puddle on the ground is because you saved my daughter."

\n "So what know? I really doubt you're just gonna let me walk out of here." John asked not liking where the conversation was heading.

\n "It would be foolish to think otherwise." Pyrros stated. He then waived his hand and walked away. John was confused for a moment before he heard the fox moving behind him.