56

Days and nights in the dark forest have improved both your aim and your speed through difficult terrain and taught you the names of plants and animals. You turn and catch the eyes of the hunters, who have already retrieved their bows. It's time for you to—

"Everyone, attack! Defend our homes!" Chief Kothis roars, his gold pectoral shining in the light of the moon.

Ah, right. You're just an enlisted guard for Dr. Sabbatine's laboratory and not actually in charge of anything here.

The first human raiders reach the edge of the village, and the River People meet them. The fighting sways back and forth.

"The chief can fight," Alexius says as Kothis downs a feathered ape with a thrown javelin, "but he doesn't know how to fight a war. He'll need your help."

The merchant doesn't stay around to chat. He runs laterally across a massed group of human raiders, drawing their javelin-throws and firing into them with his rifle.

The fighting pushes Keimia almost directly below you. There are so many feathered apes around her that you'll never get a clear shot, but you might be able to speak.