As the Thunderbird came within striking distance, Mishi-pizhiw lunged forward like a cobra attacking its prey and snapped at the taloned feet of the Thunderbird. Bugz scrambled to keep her grip as the sudden movement nearly threw her into the water below.

“Could you guys NOT!” she screamed.

“What the heck is going on?” Feng asked of no one in particular.

“Looks like sibling rivalry, fighting for mom’s attention,” the centurion quipped. “I think the bottom line is, we’ve got an opening to get the hell out of here.”

“Retreat!” came the call across the voice-com. “We will win…later!”

“Finally!” Feng spun the motorboat’s steering wheel and headed for land.

As the dwindling fleet of Clan:LESS vehicles sped toward the nearest shore, the horned serpent and the thunder-being turned to give chase, one from the air and the other from the lake. They took turns striking down the remaining vehicles until there were eight, seven, and finally just six left.

Alpha’s ship ran aground first. He and the others spilled out and ran for the helicopter gunships waiting to ferry them to safety. Four other boats crash-landed immediately after. The occupants flooded out but landed in the crosshairs of the Thunderbird and fell to her.

Feng’s boat was last. He and his crew jumped off in the shallows of the lake, running through the mud after Alpha and the others, who waved them on. Mishi-pizhiw leapt from the waters, transforming along the way into his panther-like land form, and attacked the centurion. With Bugz still riding on his back, Mishi-pizhiw broke the Roman warrior’s neck and tossed him far away into the lake. A gamertag rose solemnly in the background. Four additional clanmates were dispatched with similar ease.

Feng fell into the mud and scrambled forward toward the choppers. It was pointless. Mishi-pizhiw caught him without effort.

Feng felt the beast’s massive paws pinning him on his belly, almost crushing him in the process, before flipping him onto his back. He saw Bugz on the beast’s neck, holding onto her pet’s head. As the cat’s giant fangs came within inches of Feng’s face, Bugz paused. A glimmer of recognition flickered across her eyes.

Feng looked up beyond the beast about to devour him and stared into Bugz’s face. He finally realized where he’d seen her before.

“Bagonegiizhigok,” he mouthed.

“Feng from homeroom,” she whispered.

“Triggered.”

Mishi-pizhiw growled.

“Let him go,” Bugz said.

Freed from the beast’s mouth, Feng tore off through the mud and climbed the rope dangling from one of the remaining helicopters.