Though he flew with the countenance of a dragon, his flight left not a sound hanging in the air. Shoal leveled her pistol at the direct descent. He was almost upon them.

“Only two left…One shot if I’m lucky…Hold yourself, Shoal!” she thought, almost out loud, if not for the impenetrable wall of silence that held her breath within her lungs.

She tightened her finger around the trigger…one hair further and he’d at least have a good hole in him, if not more…

A piercing shreik shook her granite form. Her arm jumped just so much, and the pistol spat out its deadly child.

It whirred as it flew…as it flew right past Whistbone’s head. No time to reload. She shot a disgusted look at her driver, whose scream of terror had caused her blunder.

And then all was dark.