The Cat pounced, her legs outstretched, dozens of rocks trailing in her wake. 

Water swirled between Maren’s arms, coalesced, then shot out. The geyser rocketed into the center of the Cat’s chest, strong enough to knock her backwards. The rocks, on the other hand, continued toward Maren.

With a strangled grunt, Jada threw her arms to the side. The rocks slowed, wobbled, then dropped harmlessly several feet away. The Cat slammed into a collapsed building, then tumbled the same time Jada did. 

“Bishop,” Maren said, catching her. The bishop cringed at Maren’s touch, groaning as blood pooled over Maren’s fingers. Her dark skin was brittle, almost as if it would slough off if Maren moved her hand too fast. Her whole body was a mass of cuts and scrapes, covered with blood mingled with sweat. “If you don’t stop, any hit could kill you.” 

“Can’t stop,” Jada breathed. “She’s hurting. Need to... connect.” 

The Cat staggered to her feet, shook herself, then leveled a piercing glare at Maren. 

“Then I’ll do it,” Maren said, gently lowering Jada so that she was lying down. “If you can move, get out of here.” 

Mouth parched, Maren sent another stream at the Cat, nailing it in the eye. She yowled, flinching away from the assailing water. Maren dashed away from Jada, sending another jet at the same eye. The Cat turned away to avoid the strike in the eye, but instead the water shot into her ear. Growling, she pounced, closing the distance between her and Maren. 

At least she wasn’t going after Jada. 

The Cat landed mere steps away from Maren and swiped a massive claw. Maren leaped back, the air swishing in front of her. She gathered more water before her, ready for an opening. 

It came when the Cat roared. Maren pressed forward, shooting a torrent of water directly down its throat. It reeled back, hacking, and Maren turned around and darted between two collapsed buildings. 

It took several seconds for her to get to the next street, where she turned right, fleeing in the opposite direction from the civilians in the forest. The street behind her depressed and a powerful force knocked Maren to the ground. The Cat had slammed into the street, looking about until it locked eyes with her. 

Scrambling, Maren got to her feet, sent another stream at the Cat, then stumbled toward another alley. Before she reached it, however, a great shadow loomed overhead. Maren ducked, nearly tumbling over as the Cat soared over where she’d been. She hit the ground, cracking the street, then faced Maren. Seemed like she still had plenty of fight left in her. 

Panting, struggling to stand due to a sudden dizziness, Maren drew water from her ever-drying skin, letting it swirl about her like transparent tentacles. It was the most she could do without completely dehydrating. 

It was too bad. She really didn’t want to die, but if she had to, she might as well go down fighting. 

It wasn’t hard to find the Cat. They just followed the trail of crumbling buildings and ear-splitting roars. 

Getting there before it ripped Maren in half, that was the real issue. 

The Bird dove, Mav’s stomach going the opposite direction. The Cat from far below swiped at Maren, who whipped it with her tendrils of water in the face. But her movements were erratic, sloppy. Who knew how much longer she could maintain her aim, hitting the Cat where it was vulnerable. 

Just a little longer! 

The Bird leveled, flapping down before striking the ground. Wind shoved both Maren and the Cat away from each other. Mav hopped off the Bird’s back, then ran to his dehydrated guildmate. 

“You alright?” Mav asked. 

“Never better,” Maren slurred. 

Maren’s eyes were sunken, her lips cracking, and her skin dry as a kindled log. Mav helped her to her feet as the Bird and Monkey Titans stood before the Cat. The Monkey was reaching for the Cat, but she snapped at the Monkey’s hand. The Cat growled, hunching low. 

“That’s not good,” Mav said. 

“She’s in too much pain to be reasoned with right now,” Maren said. 

“But her friends are here. They’re alright.” 

“That was just the last straw. Her dam’s burst. She’s releasing all her anger.” 

The Bird screeched, flapping toward the Cat as she prowled forward, eyes frenzied. The Monkey retook its spot on the Bird’s back. 

“Then it’s simple,” Mav said. “We need to calm her down.” 

Maren chewed that over, narrowing her eyes. “She’s moving much slower than before.” 

The Cat roared, then swiped at the Bird. With a shrill cry the Bird soared out of reach. 

“Exhaust her,” Maren said. “Until she can hardly move. And let me rest for a minute.” 

“Got it,” Mav said.

As he turned to go, she grabbed his vest. Her fingers were thin, her hand was trembling, yet her grip was strong.

“She’s slower, but she’s still dangerous,” Maren said.

“I can see that.”

“Don’t underestimate her. Just… don’t die.”

Mav looked her in the eye. That had been the same command she’d given him in Sekko’s basement, as she warmed him back to life.

“Yes, ma’am.” Mav let her go and charged the Cat.

The Cat Titan gripped a chunk of stone with its tail. It was mid-swing, aiming for the flying Bird Titan, as Mav reached it. 

“Flashfire Rock Explosion!” 

Mav thrusted his hands onto the moving rock, blasting it with a sudden flame. The force propelled him skyward, where he hung as the Cat finished her throwing motion, though flinging dust and scattered pebbles. Twisting in midair, Mav kept his momentum and kicked off the Cat’s flank, vaulting him down the street with another small explosion. 

As Mav found his footing, twisting to face the Cat, the Bird touched down next to him. Its side-eye portrayed its fury. 

Mav touched its wing, reconnecting and conveying Maren’s plan. All they had to do was wear the Cat down with small, non-lethal attacks for a short time. Then Maren would do... something. 

So the plan wasn’t foolproof. What did that matter? The Bird Titan seemed to understand enough, anyway, as he launched forward and struck the Cat Titan into a building. It lashed out again, sending dozens of rocks at the Bird, which stopped the small missiles with a sweep of its wings. 

Mav got in close, slapping a small explosion at the Cat’s rear leg. She roared, swiping her claw at him. Mav dove beneath the Cat and directed an explosive kick at her belly. He rolled away as she crashed down, then slapped another small explosion on her side. 

The back-and-forth dragged on far longer than the minute Maren had requested. The Cat attacked, Mav dodged and struck back, the Bird swooped in whenever Mav wasn’t fast enough to evade a strike, and repeat. Despite how weak Mav’s attacks were, his muscles were stiffening from the growing chill. Even though the Cat was exhausted, it seemed very likely that she would outlast him. 

Mav grinned. Not gonna happen.

Mav dropped into Dancer Form 14: Kindling. One of the least aggressive Fire Forms, allowing for plenty of time for the user to rest, and often employed only to exhaust the opponent. A perfect form for this very moment. 

There’s no way you have more stamina than me. 

The Cat was panting, her movements lethargic. Despite that she lunged forward, her fangs reaching for Mav’s neck. He sidestepped, though slower than he should have. The Cat’s lower jaw barely cleared Mav’s left shoulder, slamming her muscled neck into him. 

“Wrestling it is.” 

Mav grappled the Cat, reaching for the fur behind its frills. The Cat tugged, trying to get away, but both Mav’s grip and footing remained. 

It was time to move. 

“Maren!”