Doing as I was instructed, I had returned to the rest of the Section and told them about what had happened and the option that was laid out before me. Just like me, they were extremely hesitant to take up the offer. It was only after I told them that the intel had been burned and that the Unicorn knew where our target had gone that they started to come around, especially when I told them the little piece of information she already leaked to me.

Instructing the Section to maintain their position in the compound until my return, I requisitioned Georg's shotgun as an additional weapon and returned upstairs to find the Unicorn already a length of the way down the tunnel which we previously discovered.

Jogging to keep up with her, I keep a hold of the shotgun as I throw Georg's bandolier over my body in order to give me additional shells. Catching up to the Unicorn, we move in silence through a series of tunnels. Despite all of the twist and turns, she seems to know her way as she guides us down various passages without as much as a moment to consider her options.

Walking for a good thirty minutes, we finally come across our first bit of natural sunlight as the passage gradually declines to reveal an opening at the surface of the plains of the Badlands. As we step out into the grand landscape of the rolling plains, the glow from the moon overhead illuminates our surroundings. We begin to trek towards the south-east, moving quickly across the open expanse to make rapid progress.

"You really think we can trust her?" Davies asks as my eyes remain focused of the Unicorn, "Even if we are really just going after this target, I bet she'll just fuck off without holding up her end of the bargain."

"It's the only way we can track this Diamond Dog down and potentially get this intel," I respond. "It isn't ideal, but we have no other way of knowing how else to track her down."

"Yet you clearly don't trust this pony."

"And how do you know that?"

"Firstly, I'm in your head," Davies responds smugly. "Also, you've got your finger constantly on the trigger."

Looking down at my hand, I quickly pull my finger away from the trigger once I realise. "Just shut up for a while, would you?"

"... You're just pissy 'cause you got your ass handed to you by a pony... a girl, no less."

"Seriously, shut the fuck up!" With that, Davies seems to finally shut up as I continue to follow the Unicorn.

After another hour, we finally reach a small lake surrounded by a series of tall trees. Entering the vegetation, I'm forced to hold my hand out in order to move the bushes and branches from my path while the Unicorn seems to walk through with ease. Coming to an opening, I come to a stop to find a small makeshift camp tucked alongside a natural rock formation, the bedroll and supplies tucked underneath the natural overhanging cover.

"We're stopping here for the night," The Unicorn states as she steps underneath the cover. Turning back to me, she gestures to the small piece of woodland we came through. "Why don't you make yourself useful and get some firewood."

I cock a brow as I look at her with an unamused expression, "And gather it with what, exactly? Do you see an axe on me?" I gesture to my utility belt as I look down to my side.

I immediately regret my words as I jump out of my skin as an axe lands between my feet, impaling the floor. "Problem solved," She remarks before turning back to a small saddle bag. "Oh, and before you try and think you're being smart, the paperwork you're after isn't here. It's stashed away somewhere safe."

Grumbling under my breath, I grab the handle of the axe and pluck the weapon from the ground. Slinging the shotgun over my shoulder, I don't trek far into the tree line and instead decide to cut off a series of large branches just off the path we came from. Quickly gathering the resources, I carry as much as I physically can under one arm as I return to the camp.

Upon my return, I find that she has already created a small fire. Kneeling alongside the small flames, I place the majority of the branches around the fire as I cut down the remaining ones to fuel the initial flames to help it grow. Once they're filed down I add them to the fire and sit back before throwing the axe down alongside me.

After remaining silent for a few minutes, I finally give in by being the first to speak. "So... what's your name?" Turning my gaze to her, I notice her eyeing me curiously as she sits on her bedding. "Come on. Do you expect me to call you 'Unicorn' whenever I wanna speak to you?"

Releasing a sigh, she turns her head to the side, "Tempest Shadow." She remains silent a moment before giving in, "I suppose it’s common courtesy for me to ask your name in return."

"John. John Davies," I respond. "You make it seem like you don't really talk to anyone."

"I don't," She responds matter-of-factly. "I have no reason to."

"Then who are you working for? You said the Diamond Dog was your bounty."

"I work for anyone who will give me something I need, or pays high enough."

"Ah, a mercenary." Reaching up to my head, I begin to untie the bandage wrapped around it.

"Of a sort."

"I must say, I've never come across any pony mercenaries."

"Most are often too soft to do what's needed," She states as she begins to rummage through a small bag alongside her sleeping bag.

"Maybe because that line of work is kind of irrelevant here? I haven't exactly noticed any reasons that a mercenary is needed here."

"Tell that to Kludgetown," Tempest responds. "Somebody there has always got a grievance with someone or wants something that doesn't belong to them."

There it is again... the first pony who isn't using the term 'somepony' or 'somebody'. "Why are you not saying 'somepony' like every other pony I've met?"

"Does it matter?" Tempest asks in order to dodge the question.

"No. It just seems weird, considering the nations dialect."

"I'm not an Equestrian," She says with distaste evident in her voice as she finally pulls free a packet of food from her bag.

"Then where are you from?" Tempest refuses to answer me, sitting in silence as she goes about preparing her own food, her eyes occasionally looking at me as lack of trust in me clearly shows.

Deciding not to push on the matter, I finish peeling the bandage from my head and examine the fabric. The inside has been caked in dried blood, thankfully showing that the bleeding had stopped earlier in our journey as there are no signs of fresh blood. Reaching up to my head, I hiss in discomfort as my fingers lightly trace over the gash on my forehead. Grabbing my canteen, I pour small volumes of water into my hand and carefully clean around the wound on my head, removing the dried blood and cleaning the wound.

As I return the canteen to the pouch on my utility belt. Without warning, I feel something soft impacting with the side of my arm. Looking at the source, I find a packaged bandage lying on the floor alongside me. Looking up at Tempest, she only keeps her eyes on me for a brief moment before turning back to her food. Removing the bandage from the packaging. I begin to fit the fabric around my head and secure it.

"Usually it's me who headbutts everyone, not the other way around." I remark with a slight chuckle.

"Should have kept your helmet on then," Tempest states nonchalantly.

"You need to have a cork or something on the end of that," This seems to really agitate her as she gives me the best death stare I've ever seen from a pony.

"Wow... you've really pissed in her cornflakes," Davies laughs in my head. "I think that was on the same level of mocking an amputee."

Shaking my head, I clear my throat as I remove my webbing. With that on the floor alongside me, I take off my armour and combat shirt and wrap it around the L14A1 shotgun to use it as a makeshift pillow, not very effective but it keeps the weapon close and give you something to rest your head against while you sleep. With that sorted, I put my webbing back on over my t-shirt and lay down on the ground to try and get some sleep before we move out with my armour resting alongside me.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Davies asks. "Sleeping next to someone who just tried to kill you."

"In the past, you told me that you can alert me to approaching threats while I was asleep," I respond internally. "You're getting a trial by fire here, Davies. Just don't fuck it up. I don't feel like getting killed in my sleep."

As soon as my eyes drifted closed, I soon heard noises I haven't heard in a long time, car engines. Opening my eyes, I find myself standing on a very familiar street as various cars travel along the road and people go about their own business. This is just a few streets away from Birmingham city centre. Why am I here? Turning around, I come to a stop when I examine the building sign as it hangs overhead. 'The Lord Clifdon' pub, one of my favourite pubs to go to on a night out on the town.

Curious as to why I'm stood on this street, I step in through the heavy door and make my way towards the main bar. Stepping towards the main bar, I find the layout of the room to be exactly as I remember it. The left wall is filled with small circular tables and seated booths for patrons to enjoy their drinks. Numerous pictures and paintings hang along the walls between the windows, adding some atmosphere to the pub. The main bar is filled with a wide range of drinks on tap, an almost endless selection of strong spirits positioned on shelves below a large wall-mounted television.

Still trying to figure out why I'm even here, I notice myself sat in the booth at the back corner of the room, my head turned towards the window. Is this a memory? As I curiously move towards myself, I take in a closer look and recognise my favourite leather jacket and pale blue buttoned shirt. Well this doesn't help to narrow it down. I used to wear that on most nights out.

Joining myself in the booth, I sit opposite him and look over him closely, catching a glimpse of his clear white eyes as he continues to look outside. "...Davies?"

Turning his head to me, a wide grin spreads across his lips as he leans back. "John."

I cock a brow as I look at him with a confused expression evident on my face, "What are we doing here?"

"I just figured we could do with a chat."

"A chat," I chuckle as I shake my head. "So you brought me to my favourite pub for a chat? Aren't you supposed to be making sure that Tempest ain't gonna slit my throat or something?"

Lifting his hand, he gestures to the window alongside us. Turning my head, my eyes widen in astonishment as I realise that the exterior is showing my point of view as if I was still awake. I can clearly see the side of the makeshift pillow underneath my head with my body facing to the side in the direction of Tempest. What makes me feel more unsettled is the fact that she is sharpening a knife as she occasionally glances at me.

"She certainly looks like she wants to slit your throat."

"Probably cause I slapped her around a bit."

"She was mopping the floor with you," Davies laughs as he shakes his head. "How's the balls? Did she give you a poor man’s vasectomy or is the baby factory still gonna be working?"

I return his comment with a sarcastic laugh. "Smart arse." Rubbing my chin, I turn my focus back to Davies. "Since when did you start to develop a personality? You used to do nothing except want to have a scrap."

Davies shrugs. "As daft as it sounds, I am based from you. I have all your memories and have kinda gone through them all when you've kept me locked away. I have kinda developed a personality... I think."

"You think?"

"Yeah... I think," Davies repeats with uncertainty. "You haven't exactly given me many chances to interact with anyone."

Scoffing, I lean back in the seat. "There is a reason for that. Most of them know that it was yourself that tried to kill Sunny and Chaser."

"That wasn't me," Davies responds defensively. "You may think that, but it was before I got some control. That was literally a puppet."

"And you're not one anymore?"

"I do as you tell me, and only you... but that doesn't mean I'm just some tool."

"So you've actually developed a personality."

"It seems so," Davies nods. "Hence why I brought you here. From your memories, whenever you were here it would always bring the... most satisfying feeling... I guess?"

"Most satisfying feeling?" I repeat as I recall the memories of the times I used to come here with friends. "Do you mean it made you feel happy?"

"I think so," Davies says with doubt. "I guess that's what it is. You'll have to remember that I never actually experienced these myself."

"So you've watched my memories but can't attribute particular emotions or feelings to them?"

"I don't know what I feel from watching them. Some are amusing and make me feel... happy? I have already figured out what a few are. Anger, being the main one."

I roll my eyes, "Of course you already understand anger."

Davies shrugs, "It's all I felt in the past. I was made to feel nothing but rage and hatred towards everyone. I guess it was that knobs intention. Make me hate everyone so I'm more likely to follow his orders to kill them."

"That makes sense."

"Despite what you think... that’s not all that I am now." I open my mouth to reply, only to be cut off by Davies. "And don't bother denying it. I know everything that runs through your head and I know it is what you generally think of me. Only bringing me out for a fight which you can't handle as easily as you'd like."

"It's... what you were created for," I respond weakly. "You're a stronger version of me, a better fighter. So, yeah, I bring you out for a fight... but I don't just see you as a fighter now. You used to just sit back quietly in my head. That has changed, you seem to have found your voice and actually talk to me on occasion."

"It gets very boring in your head," Davies chuckles. "You'll get everyone questioning how fucked your head is if they catch you talking to yourself."

"My head probably is already fucked, even if you weren't there."

"...It is," Davies answers bluntly as he leans back. "I stop anything influencing your mind, even being able to stop Luna from getting in your head to enter your dreams unless you allow it. I'm keeping your mind under control... and it is warped, in a way. If I wasn't here, then you'd still be plagued with nightmares and hallucinations."

"Really?"

Davies nods, "You've been through a lot and have never really sought an expert in mental health. While I'm here, seeking help would be pointless as I keep it all under wraps, so you wouldn't even be able to tell them what is wrong. But, if I was to go, then you're mental health with deteriorate rapidly."

Rubbing my face, I rest my elbows on the table. "So my head really is fucked."

"Pretty much. Luna helped a bit when she initially cleared Tirek's influence from your mind, but it was only a short-term fix to the problem." Davies gestures to himself as he returns a confident smile. "She was supposed to fully get rid of me, yet here I am."

"Yeah, spying on every moment of my life."

"Think of me as a constant second opinion. Quietly observing from the sidelines."

I roll my eyes as I release a little chuckle, "I don't want to imagine you on the sidelines when I spend a night with Luna."

"I know when to keep quiet and to not butt in... but there are times you clearly need help." Lifting his hands, he makes a circle with his finger and thumb before bouncing the index finger from the other hand off of it. "You did nearly stick it in her ass by accident."

"It's a different body," I respond defensively with a small hint of embarrassment in my voice.

"Look on the bright side. You actually seemed to give her an idea so that you actually got to try sticking it in there intentionally."

"True." I pause as I shake my head in disbelief. "And here I am, talking to myself about shagging my fiance."

"If you talked to anyone else about it, she'd probably kill you herself."

"Yeah..."

The two of us continue to talk as it feels like hours pass by. Although it seemed weird to talk to myself in length, it surprisingly wasn't that bad. He was actually able to strike up a conversation and maintain it, having a personality of his own which still seemed very similar to my own with slight alterations so that he wasn't just an identical copy of me.

After a series of conversations where Davies asked about various emotions, he leans back in this chair and looks out the window. "You do know that there have been a few occasions where Luna has tried to enter your dreams since you been in this lovely corner of the country."

I look at him with an irritated glance, "And you kept her out?"

Davies shrugs, "You didn't say to let her in."

I run the palm of my hand down my face as I let out a groan. "If she tries, then let her in."

"Fine. I just don't wanna be stuck around for when the two of you inevitably fuck inside your head." Davies laughs as he keeps his eyes outside the window. "It will just leave a mess in your pants for the morning."

"Great-"

"-And prepare for a knock as Tempest is about to throw something at you." Davies interrupts in as much as a casual voice as he can.

"What!?" Turning my head to the window, I notice that Tempest has packed up a majority of her things and is holding a tin can in her magic as she prepares to throw it at me, likely in an attempt to wake me.

"There's the door" Davies remarks as he gestures behind me. Getting up to my feet, I climb over the booth and sprint towards the door which throws itself open as I approach it, leading into a room of complete darkness. "I'd suggest rolling backwards!" Davies shouts out to me with a chuckle as the world around me seems to spin and my eyes open.

As soon as I feel as though I have some control of my body, I roll backwards and hear the tin can clatter against the floor where my head was before it bounces over me. Rapidly sitting up, I clasp onto the shotgun and quickly pull my shirt wrap from the weapon so that I can use it effectively. "Why the fuck are you throwing a can at me?"

"To wake you up. Obviously." Tempest responds plainly as she places a saddlebag over her flanks. "But it seems that you were awake the entire time."

Rubbing my eyes, I look at to my wristwatch and realise that I've only been asleep for about three hours. "Eager to get moving?"

"You already cost me a chance at my target. The longer I wait, the more likely I am to lose her," Tempest remarks as she glares at me. "We're going in five minutes. Get ready."

Removing my webbing, I quickly put my shirt back on as I stand up. "Where we heading?"

"I know the way."

I cock a brow as I look at Tempest, "Not what I asked."

"All that matters to you is that I know where we're going." She replies sternly as she secures the rest of her own kit underneath a series of rocks and covering it over so that its hidden from anyone that snoops around.

"Still no trust," I remark as I fit my armour over my chest and secure the straps.

"Would you trust someone that you just fought against?"

"I suppose not," I sigh as I lean down and pick up my webbing.

"It'll take us a few days to reach where we're going," Tempest rubs her muzzle with her hoof before locking eyes with me. “We need to go towards the edge of the jungle. It’ll take us some time to get there so we’ll be moving almost non stop with very few breaks. So make sure you’re ready.

I freeze upon hearing that we're going back to the edge of the jungle, especially since a tribe of Ridge Cats there are now openly against me because of Discord creating Davies. "The jungle? It's not near the Ridge Cats... is it?"

Tempest seems to look at me with curiosity, a mocking grin appearing on the corner of her lips. "Scared of a few Cats?"

"Since a tribe will now attack me on sight, I'm a bit reluctant to see them again."

"What you do to piss them off? They rarely are aggressive towards anyone, except for the Diamond Dogs."

I step alongside her as I keep my shotgun tight in my grip. "I'm not gonna give you details, seeing as you ain't giving me any. All you need to know is that they have a superstitious belief about me which they ain't too fond of."

Tempest lets out a frustrated sigh, "This had better not sidetrack us."

I shake my head, "Only if we come across that tribe. If we avoid them then we'll be good."

Securing her saddlebags, Tempest begins to walk away from the camp. "Then let's get moving. Make sure you keep up as I'm not gonna be waiting for you."

I scoff as I quickly catch up to her. "I'm used to long distance tabs with more kit than this. You don't need to worry about me." Walking closely behind her, I let out a sigh as I roll my eyes. "You know, if you let a few of my team come then we could have flown there in half the time." Tempest doesn't respond as she continues to walk, leaving me with an impression that it's going to be a long and awkwardly silent trip.

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We were able to cover the distance in a shorter time that Tempest predicted. The trek took us over large and unstable ground as we traversed hills and walked along the banks of a dried-up stream. Tempest took us on an indirect route to avoid what she said was a major transport tunnel for the Dogs, if we caused trouble there then we would have been quickly overrun and swarmed.

Navigating the overgrown vegetation of the jungle as the moon began to rise over the trees around us, we only stop on occasion as large groups of Ridge Cats and Diamond Dogs pass our route heading in various directions. As we continue to move in deeper, we hear small skirmishes taking place as even catch a couple of glimpses of the fighting between the two species. Knowing that they're too engaged in their own fights, we hang back and wait for an opening before pushing on.

We aren't left wandering the jungle for long before Tempest instructs me to stop. Taking a knee alongside her, the pair of us observe a small compound which has been built along the top of a steep incline. A single rope bridge provides the only easy access to the wooden wall which encircles the site. Diamond Dogs parol the walls and gate which leads into the compound. The centre of the compound has a dirt building protruding over the walls.

Tempest scans the area before whispering to me. "She'll be in that building. Now there's good news and bad news. The good news is that there's no tunnel connecting to this site, so she won't be able to escape. The bad news, this is a major weapon manufacturing facility for the Diamond Dogs so they keep this heavily guarded. We only have one way in so we'll have to go right through them."

I cock a brow as I look over the building which sits higher than the walls, "A major manufacturing facility? It's a bit small for that."

"The main level is underground. There will be large halls and rooms under the building, but they won't connect anywhere else. She has a room on the top floor. We'd have to go in quick and close the passage to the surface to slow them down."

"And you have a plan for that?" Instantly answering my question, she opens a pouch on her saddlebag and shows me a few sticks of plastic explosives. "I'll take them and blow the entrance once we get to it."

Tempest looks at me sceptically as she closes the bag, "You?"

"Yes. Me," I respond confidently. "I'm more than qualified to deal with a few sticks of explosives. Who do you think invented some of the new weapons in Equestria? This ATO, that's who. I probably have more military training in my little finger than you have in your entire body."

"And that didn't help you earlier," Tempest remarks as she reluctantly takes out half of the explosives and presents them to me in her magic, her horn sparking slightly with the use of her magic.

As soon as I take the explosives, I tuck them into my belt and make sure they're secure. "What do you plan on doing with the rest?" I ask while ignoring her previous remark.

"One thing I've learnt, don't count on anybody else. You may claim to know what you're doing, but I can't rely on you entirely. I need to prepare for when you inevitably make a mess of things."

Leaning against the tree, I take a hold of my shotgun and swing it around so it is resting against my chest. "How do you propose we get in? The front gate wouldn't be ideal. But, if you gave me those extra explosives, I can make a couple of holes at various points in the walls. Keep them guessing where we're coming in from."

Tempest considers this for a moments before grudgingly giving me the rest of the explosives. "We haven't got a detonator, so you'll have to light the fuses. Fifteen second fuse."

Rolling my eyes, I take them and cautiously begin to advance on the walls. Moving fast and low, I rush forwards when the sentry overhead appears to be distracted by something within the compound. Reaching the wall, I drop to my belt buckle and take out one of the sticks of explosive.

Examining the base of the structure, the walls are made of large stand-alone wooden stakes positioned alongside one another with sharpened points towards the top to deter anyone climbing over. Although it may look like a sturdy exterior, the reality is that a placed charge between the stakes will send a section crumbling down. Placing the first stick of explosive between the gap at the very base of the structure, I rest it so that it remains in place and ready to light.

With the first explosive in place, I slowly advance along the wall to reach another point at the far corner. With it being a stronger point of the wall, I place a single stick on each side where the walls meet, hopefully, the blast will be enough to bring the entire corner down and destabilise the walls stretching out each way.

With the last extra stick that Tempest gave me, I complete the last of my journey and move an extra twenty metres along the wall to secure the last explosive charge. With the explosives set, I reach underneath the armour plate which rests on my left shoulder and move my fingers into the small pocket resting underneath to grab a small box of travel matches I decided to keep from my last ration pack.

Striking the match along the box, the flammable wooden stick ignites with a small flame at the tip. Pressing it against the fuse of the explosive, the cord quickly ignites and begins to burn towards the explosive charge contained within the packaging. Throwing the match down, I sprint back to the corner and prepare another match.

I quickly move around the corner as the sound of the initial explosion calls out through the jungle, the sound of shattering and creaking wood echoing throughout the trees. With the second cord quickly lit, I make a dash to the last of the charges and repeat my action before running back towards Tempest as the sticks I placed at the corner explode.

Sliding through the thin bush line, I come to a stop on my backside before rolling onto my chest with my shotgun at the ready. The sounds of confused and anxious shouts break through the sounds of collapsing debris as the last charge detonates, sending the wooden wall collapsing to the floor before us.

As the fragments of wood surrounding the newly formed entrance burns, the smoke begins to gradually settle as silhouettes of Dogs on the other side begins to form inside the compound. Tempest and I seem to get the idea as we instantly charge towards the opening.

Reaching the hole, I instantly shoulder the shotgun and fire at the first shadow through the clearing smoke. The blast from the shell sends him flying from his feet as he's thrown backwards from the close proximity of the weapon being fired. Pulling back on the fore end, the spent cartridge is ejected from the weapon before a fresh shell is chambered.

As we step through the wall, I'm surprised by the overall lack of guards who have come out due to the explosions. Either we've struck lucky and the majority of the Dogs are out of the compound and fighting Ridge Cats in the jungle, or we're yet to encounter the main force and they're lying in wait inside the corridors of the main structure.

Tempest doesn't seem to hesitate as she moves inside the compound. Not wanting to be left behind, I'm quick on my feet behind her. As we enter the main courtyard, an advancing group of several Dogs come running out of the main doors of the multistorey building as those who were patrolling the exterior walls begin to climb down and turn towards us.

As Tempest rushes straight towards the larger group, I kick up the dirt around me as I slide to a stop and take a knee. Aiming towards the first Dog on the wall armed with a crossbow, I quickly line up the shot and aim for his centre of mass. The shotgun kicks like a mule as I fire, the pellets from the cartridge being forced out of the barrel. Despite some distance, the target is hit and falls to the side. The range wasn't enough to kill him but it seems enough to take him out of the action.

Hearing something heavy dig into the floor behinds me, I pivot on the spot and hardly have enough time to turn the weapon towards the target that had jumped down from the wall where we entered. As soon as I pull on the fore end and eject the spent shell I pull on the trigger instantaneously without aiming.

The close proximity and the force of the shell is enough to tear away a section of his jawline, the bone and the muscle of the left side of his face is torn away with ease and ripped from his body, blood spraying out profusely from the critical injury. He's thrown back from the force, slamming into the floor with a heavy thud as I rise to my full height and turn towards Tempest.

I watch as Tempest engages with a group of five dogs by herself. Performing a series of rapid movements, she is able to effectively manoeuvre around them with ease as they attempt to strike her. Ducking low, she slides between the legs of the largest of the group, her magic taking hold of the sword in his hand. Tearing the weapon from his grip, she plunges it directly into his sternum before pulling the blade free and throwing it towards the furthest target, impaling his gut and sending him down to the floor.

With three targets left, she takes a few steps back as they close the distance. Waiting until they're close, she jumps to the side as the trio strike simultaneously. Once they're off balance, she pivots and kicks out with her hind leg to catch one of them by the knee, knocking him off balance so that he falls to the floor.

With the one on the floor and the last pair rapidly approaching her, I begin to close the distance myself in order to help her. As I get close and take aim, I'm unable to get a clean shot as the group all rapidly move around one another. I watch Tempest's agility in amazement as she is able to dodge almost every strike, using their own movement against them to frequently counter them.

As a set of claws are swung towards her, she wraps her forehoof around the joint and is able to swing her body around the limb so her hind legs kick out with force as she switches sides. The kicks collide directly with the Dogs muzzle, allowing a loud crack to resonate as he falls limply to the floor.

As the previously downed dog tries to get the edge on Tempest as her back is turned, I quickly shoulder the shotgun and fire. The cartridges hit his lower back, sending jets of blood propelling from the large wound as a pained scream escapes his lips. Ejecting the shell, I casually walk towards Tempest and the last dog as they fight one another.

Approaching the Dog from behind as Tempest keeps his attention, I rotate the weapon in my grip so that I'm holding the butt outright so I can use it as a club. Tempest catches me out of the corner of her eye and seems to catch on to what I'm doing. Kicking out with enough force to turn the Dog around, his eyes widen as he sees me stood directly in front of him. Swinging the shotgun with all my might, the butt collides with the side of his head with all of my might, causing his body to instantly collapse to the floor.

As I begin to reload the shotgun with a series of fresh shells, Tempest and I both rapidly turn our heads to the main gate as the sound of numerous shouts grabs our attention. Facing the source we find a group of Diamond Dogs which are likely returning from their smaller skirmishes as they heard the explosives in the distance. As the group of ten plus charge through the gate towards us, I swing the shotgun over my back and grab my SA80 as Tempest positions herself ready to strike.

This fight is gonna get messy.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the delay with this chapter, been caught up with a lot of work and being stuck in Crown Court for a week

Hope you enjoy the chapter