Alec's hulking form interposed itself between me and the Thrall, one hand held out behind him to block my path. "Lilly, stay back," he commanded, his voice a guttural rumble that sent shivers down my spine. The velvet blue of his skin gleamed in the dappled forest light, muscles rippling beneath like coiled serpents ready to strike.

The Thrall hefted its bulk from the ground, a sneer contorting its malformed features. "Ah... So the little bastard shows his face at last," it growled, iridescent spittle flecking from its maw. "I had been worried that your cowardly reputation was all too true. Fleeing from place to place, hiding among the cattle. How pathetic."

Alec's snarl reverberated through the trees, a primal sound that made the very earth tremble. "You know nothing of me or my choices, Thrall. But you will learn the cost of threatening those I hold dear." His clawed feet flexed, gouging furrows in the loam.

The false Stalker scoffed, its eyes flashing with derision. "Bold words from a weakling who hides among lesser beings. Let us see if you can back them up." It lunged, a blur of mottled flesh and glinting claws, but Alec ducked beneath the blow with fluid grace. His barbed tail lashed out, the tip raking across the Thrall's flank and drawing a spray of blood that glittered almost beautifully in the sunlight.

Ragger prowled forward to join the fray, his massive form dwarfing even Alec's. Fangs bared in a rictus grin, he rumbled, "You face us both, Thrall. Your arrogance will be your undoing."

The Thrall whirled, its eyes blazing with incandescent fury. "I will rend you both to pieces and present your carcasses to the Empress! And then..." It glanced at Kendall and I. "I will eat your family and mate." It charged, a juggernaut of corded muscle and primal rage, the ground shuddering beneath its tread.

Alec and Ragger split apart, flanking the beast from either side. They struck in tandem, a whirlwind of slashing claws and snapping jaws. The Thrall roared, its blows pulverizing the earth, but the nimble pair danced around its attacks with preternatural agility.

Alec vaulted over a sweeping strike, his claws finding purchase in the Thrall's broad back. He raked deep furrows through its armored hide, his forked tongue flicking out to taste the blood that sprayed across his face. "You taste like shit," he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

The Thrall swiped at him again, its claws whistling through the air. "I don't care if you taste like a bloated blotarn carcass, I will enjoy the feeling of your flesh between my teeth."

Its lunge brought it within feet of me, crashing to the ground on its side and rolling and I jumped back, drawing my weapon as my feet left the ground, firing multiple rounds into the side of the creature. It howled in pain as it lost its focus, stumbling sideways and crashing through a thicket of trees, trunks snapping and screaming in protest as they toppled over.

Sensing opportunity, Ragger hamstrung the beast with a vicious bite, his dagger-like teeth severing tendon and muscle. The Thrall stumbled, off-balance, and Alec seized the opening. He leapt, driving the creature to the ground, his claws sinking deep into its throat.

The Thrall thrashed, its lifeblood pouring out in iridescent rivers, but Alec held fast. His jaws clamped around its neck, fangs puncturing through the thick hide. With a brutal twist, he wrenched the Thrall's head to the side, vertebrae snapping with a sickening crunch.

The Thrall twitched once, twice, then lay still, its eyes dimming like guttering candles.

I stared, my heart hammering a staccato rhythm against my ribs, as Alec's form shimmered and contracted, the alien features melting away to reveal the man I knew and loved. He stood there, chest heaving, his skin painted with the Thrall's luminous blood.

Kendall rushed forward, pulling Alec into a fierce embrace. He clung to him, burying his face in his brother's neck, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Ragger padded over to me, his form shrinking back to that of the unassuming dog. He nuzzled my hand, his fur matted with gore and viscera.

I sank to my knees, wrapping my arms around him, heedless of the blood and viscera. He leaned into me, his warmth a steadying anchor amidst the carnage. Alec reached over and grabbed us both, pulling us into an embrace.

WHOMP

"ANGELS!" Shanta shrieked from behind us.

We threw ourselves to the ground as a group, landing hard as dirt and rocks and shreds of tree trunk rained down around us. Alec flipped over and shielded us with his back.

WHOMP

WHOMP

Alec gasped in sudden agony, his eyes locking with mine, swirling with purple and cobalt light. His features twisted in a rictus of pain. "Lilly..." He whispered, blood bubbling from his lips.

I felt warmth gush across my chest, and a sharp pain graze my sternum. I glanced down to see one, single, massive claw sticking out of his chest, barely grazing my skin as it protruded through his ribcage.

In horror, I watched as Alec rose into the air, kicking and screaming, his skin darkening, as the Thrall raised him up to look him in the face.

"Young and inexperienced..." It glanced at Ragger with contempt. "Old and insolent."

Alec screamed at it, defiant even in his agony, his features contorting rapidly as he tried to change his form. The Thrall snorted and smashed its meaty fist into his face with sickening force. Alec slumped instantly, going limp in the monster's clutch.

It turned and fled towards the ruined community as an Angel swooped down, blue-metal gleaming, and touched down in the center of the clearing it had just created. The Thrall leapt high into the air and grabbed onto a portal that had opened in the side. It turned, and with the hand still holding Alec, gave a mocking wave, shaking my beloved's body around like a ragdoll.

I tried to sit up, scrabbling in the dirt. "ALEC!" I screamed, my voice raw and desperate. I struggled to my feet, running before I was even fully upright, drawing my weapon and firing wild shots at the creature. The bullets ricocheted off the advanced material of the ship, like BB's off a tank's hide.

The Thrall's laughter echoed in my ears as the Angel rose into the air, the portal closing behind it as it clambered inside the alien fighter jet with its prize.

As I watched it go, I slumped to my knees, despair crashing over me in a suffocating wave. "Alec..." I whispered, the name tearing itself from my throat like jagged glass. The world blurred, hot tears spilling down my cheeks to mingle with the blood and grime. I bowed my head, shoulders shaking with the force of my sobs.

"Alec..."