#12

George crouched down, allowing his vision a better look at the marauder. The DNA, the very essence of life, unfolded before him, the sounds of battle and death fading as his focus intensified. His fingers moved with a grace unknown to anyone.

Zobi swallowed hard, awestruck by the godlike motions of George.

"Zobi!"

The yell snapped him back to reality; they were at war and losing, or so his mind insisted.

Hen're'it stood there, her body trembling with a sensation she had never experienced before. Her senses were alive as her eyes scanned around, searching for the source of the insatiable hunger overwhelming her.

And then she saw him. He was bigger than Delmak, even larger than her life mate. The consuming hunger drove her to lift her hands slowly in front of her. The ground beneath them shook violently, and the fighting ceased as both the Dharzir and Zobi tribes, the Stelkin, stopped in awe.

As Hen're'it's hands moved, the ground seemed to flow like a river, pulling the behemoth of a male towards her. He stared down at her, and a sudden fear and realization rippled through the onlookers.

But he merely stared at the tiny female, more than capable of bearing...

His thoughts halted as the world around him spun. Why was it spinning? When had he fallen?

His head struck the ground and rolled. He blinked, staring up at his body while the female licked her hand, savoring the taste.

"You would have been something great to watch my life mate kill, but you couldn't escape this hunger."

The thought echoed among other tribes – what had happened? When had it happened?

George, finally done with his work, looked up. He had missed it all, yet he hadn't.

"Zobi, recall what happened."

Before Zobi could speak, a laugh rang out, echoing through the aftermath of the battlefield.