Hounds of Orion

It didn’t take long for Cameron to reach full speed, even within the choking confines of the rainforest. Within seconds, he felt the familiar rumble of the boost jets kicking on, whipping him through the forest floor at a blistering speed, gliding on or around obstacles with natural fluid motions. He rapidly closed the distance between himself and Cayde, who seemed to be situated in an open glade, judging by the sunlight breaking through the tree line, and the sound of a roaring waterfall filling the dead air between the sounds of claws scraping on metal and frustrated animalistic grunts. With a flare of his boost jets he burst through the tree line, having to squint as bright light hit his eyes, leaving him squinting away stars as he took in his surroundings.

There was Cayde, a mere twenty meters away, on his back and straddled by a black furred beast. It’s jaw was opened unnaturally wide, chipped and jagged teeth trying to find purchase on the shield Cayde had shoved into it, while the beast unloaded a salvo of crazed, primal strikes to Squire’s torso.

“Cayde!” Royce called, crashing through an outcropping of trees off to Cameron’s right only a second after he arrived, likely uncomfortable with moving as fast as Cameron had to get there.

“L-Little help… here.. guys?!” Cayde shouted into the headset through gritted teeth, straining as the Silverback howled out a cry of pain and hunger, redoubling its efforts and inching its jaw closer, the hydraulics in Cayde’s shield arm squealing in protest as they compressed against their will.

Cameron didn’t hesitate, redlining the throttle and putting his jets on full blast, rocketing forward at a blistering speed. He dropped low and drew back on his sword, waiting until he was mere inches away, the body of the beast appearing more like a black furred mountain than the torso of an animal, before he struck. His sword arm shot out like a piston, burying the blade halfway into the Silverback’s side under the ribcage. The beast howled in pain and anger, but Cameron wasn’t done yet, redlining the throttle and leaning into his shoulder to drive the creature off of Cayde’s Squire, sending it sprawling.

Royce didn’t question Cameron’s technique, deciding instead to follow up on the opening his new comrade had created. He dashed forward, leaping high into the air thanks the lift provided by the boost jets on the back of the squire. He rose to nearly to nearly twenty meters before leaning back, pulling a foot up high and plummeting to the ground like the four ton stone he was, slamming into the creatures back with his foot.

The hollow crack of ribs being broken followed by the groans of an injured animal filled the air along with a spray of dirt and blood. Royce’s twang filled Cameron’s ears as the earthling stomped on the beasts back while peppering in a few shallow stabs from his sword.

“How’s… that… dirt…taste…you…overgrown…monkey?!” He said, emphasizing every word with another vicious stomp.

A thin smile dared to slowly spread across Cameron’s lips. Had they really done it? Just like that? He lowered his power output, feeling the hum of his boost jets settle into their low-power mode, and stated to walk over, and help Cayde to his feet before heading over to where Royce stood over the body of the twitching Silverback.

“Damn,” Cameron said into the headset, excitement evident in his voice. “That was easier than I thou-,”

A loud clang echoed through the air, cutting Cameron off and dropping his smile in an instant. Royce had stopped stomping on the creature, but it wasn’t of his own volition. A large part of it had to do with the giant, black furred fist that gripped his foot. With a roar and a hard yank, the beast had switched places with the earthling, toppling his Squire over and standing above him, gripping the foot of his mech tight in vice like fingers, like a child would a safety blanket.

All was quiet for a moment as the creature looked around, eyes burning with confusion, pain, and hatred. It looked at Cayde and Cameron, snarling, before focusing its attention on Royce as he struggled to free himself from the beast’s clutches. It bellowed, pounding its chest with its free fist while pulling higher up on the leg, dragging the mech through the sodden dirt like it weighed nothing.

“Oh you just had to fucking say that didn’t yo-” Royce, didn’t a chance to finish question before the Silverback had turned and in one swift motion, slammed him down hard, planting him into the ground with such strength, the impact made a crater outlining Royce’s now out of comission Squire.

The beast turned back focusing on the other two units, red eyes blazing with an anger so deep and primal that Cameron felt as if he was staring directly into the eyes. As if it could read his mind, the Silverback hunched low, leaping forward faster than Cameron could react. He could have sworn his life was going to flash before him, but before he could reach the point of self-reflection, a flash of white and red broke through his periphery. Logan’s towershield connected with the creature’s face at nearly two hundred kilometers per hour, flying into a nearby treeline, turning the once might giants of the forest into splintered stumps.

“Y’know kid…” Logan said nonchalantly, his voice oozing confidence even over the radio, “Why does it always seem like I have to be the one to save your ass?”

Cameron sputtered for a second, finally finding his bearings, “Look, it wasn’t my fault,”

“Yes it was…” Royce said in a pain induced whimper.

“He’s right,” Logan said, “You did say the one thing you’re never supposed to say.”

“Look can we talk about blame later?!” Cameron shouted, more annoyed than anything, now that he know Royce was alive. “We’re still on the job if you hadn’t fucking noticed.”

“Oh I noticed,” Logan said, pointing with his mace into the now demolished treeline where the Silverback had struggled to its feet, before leaning back and howling in anger, pounding its chest with two massive fists.

“Alright, Logan,” Cameron said, flaring his throttle wide open, “What’s the plan?”

He could hear the smile in Logan’s voice as the Crusader walked in front of his Squire, cutting line of sight between Cameron and the beast.

“The plan is you’re going to stay out of my way, and watch me go to work. It’s been a minute since I got a decent workout in.”