“Mishi-pizhiw, help!” Bugz shouted to the nearby lake. The beast emerged instantly from the water and she jumped onto its back. Bugz wanted to fight, but her Thunderbird couldn’t withstand much more damage. “C’mon, Binesi! Feng! Let’s go!” she shouted. The Thunderbird, suddenly charged with virtual adrenaline, jumped into the air and caught a flight path that mirrored the underwater panther’s trajectory on the water’s surface. Feng jumped from the shore and climbed aboard Mishi-pizhiw’s back. Bugz fired over Feng’s head, with guns in both hands, at the growing horde gathering on the shore they’d just left behind.

Bugz screamed at Mishi-pizhiw to speed up and they disappeared around an island, leaving the clan out of sight. She cried for the supernatural creature to go faster. After catching her breath, and after darting around a few more islands, Bugz assumed they’d covered enough distance to find some reprieve.

She noticed motion from the corner of her eye on their starboard side. She turned and saw a fleet of Clan:LESS helicopters closing in on them. How did they find us? she wondered. Bugz jumped into the air and fired off several rounds at two of the choppers, aiming for the pilots. The aircraft spun toward the lake and crashed to the surface.

Mishi-pizhiw turned and struck at another of the choppers like an attack dog hitting the end of his leash. He captured the helicopter in his jaws and crushed everyone on board, doing away with them instantly.

“Let’s dive, in three…”

Bugz looked nervously at the Thunderbird hurtling toward her under enemy fire.

“Two…”

The bird took fire again. Bugz jumped to helicopter height and dispatched another ship with sniper-like accuracy. The chopper spun toward the lake as Bugz and the Thunderbird both fell toward Mishi-pizhiw.

“One…”

As Bugz finished her countdown, Feng fired several rounds at the remaining helicopters with an angry look on his face. Bugz wondered if he really regretted turning on his clan. She landed with a thud beside Feng and gripped Mishi-pizhiw’s back. The Thunderbird landed on top of Bugz and Feng, covering them both with her wings, and dug her talons into Mishi-pizhiw. The creature roared.

Bugz yelled, “Dive!”

The beast plowed his head into the water below. They disappeared within a fraction of a second. The helicopters circled their last visible location on the lake’s surface, puncturing the waves with random gunfire and searchlights.

CHAPTER 46

Beneath the waves, Mishi-pizhiw dove deeper and deeper into the depths of this lake. His undulating form was like that seen in photos of the Loch Ness monster. He whipped his tail up and down to propel them deeper still. The lake seemed bottomless.