Nadia moved before anyone gave the order.
Aether exploded beneath her feet, and her body crossed the distance between the hill and the child in a blur of white light.
One of the black wolves leapt.
Nadia drew a crescent blade.
Shiiing!
A pale-green arc separated the beast's head from its body before its jaws reached the child. Nadia caught the boy with one arm, turned, and cut through a second wolf approaching from the side.
"Open the rescue passage!" she shouted.
Stefan's expression darkened.
"You reckless woman."
Despite his words, he raised his spear.
Blue light gathered inside his right eye, then travelled along the weapon. Stefan thrust once, and five narrow spears of Aether crossed the battlefield.
Three wolves fell.
A six-legged reptile was nailed to the ground.
The final spear passed above Nadia's shoulder and pierced a winged insect behind her.
Petru sighed and lowered the Aether cannon from his shoulder.
"I suppose we have made our decision."
BOOM!
