Finding Those Not Lost

Run

Raven only made it a few step further within the cave before the first attacker arrived. They were larger than I imagined. It was bulky with red multifaceted eyes. It had two sets of large wings which would be beautiful to look upon if in a different situation. It had two antennae which were short but bowed above the eye covered in a thick white fuzz of some type. It's mouth was small and round. It had two sets of arms ending in three large digits. Though one was clearly imposed bringing to mind the appearance of a large thumb with two fingers of a sort. It stood on two large legs. They seemed undefined but strong with two large toes off of a fuzz covered foot. It seemed to be covered in some sort of velvet  as if looking at a much, much larger bee. It struck at the partially turned Raven sending her sprawling. It's strength must be far greater than an average man. The attack on Raven jogged me to action.
I swung breaker around shouldering my rifle and firing in one fluid motion. One of its eyes exploded as did the back of the creatures head as the sigh of steam accompanied my shot. Sunrise scrambled helping her dazed and prone mother to her feet. Sheldon and Professor Martz were on their feet as was the rest of the party.
That is when the attack really began. First two more joined us within the cave entrance. Again I fired quickly felling one. The second though was shot but by who I don't know. But it did not stop with its wound. It reached the first of us quickly. It leaped with the briefest moment of flight covering ten to fifteen feet in a flash. It smashed one of the loyal Indians of Sunrises party. He was dead instantly. His body torn by the strength of the blow. Preston using the suit grabbed the attacker. With a twist of the pincers used to grab mining rock a debris, the creature was torn in half. It's gore covering the man he had only moments ago destroyed. We moved further back behind the stone redoubt Preston had build earlier while we had waited idle.
More came. They did not pause but leaped with amazing speed for their size. One landed before me. The wall stopping it from killing me with a single blow. It leaned towards me reaching as I was aiming at another distracted. It was William that saved me at that moment. He plunged his large Bowie knife deep into the creatures cranium. It died in a heap before me. William didn't say a word. Just fired his revolver at another attacker. His action tore me back to the fight. I shot and killed two more. The body killed by William like a barrier from the others.
I watched as Preston wrestled with one while wearing his mining suit. The creature was clearly pressing its advantage. It leaned in with its head. While Preston held it firmly away. The full length of his suits arms extended. What happened then made me pause for a moment in surprise. The creatures round mouth began to extend forward like a feeding tube you might see a butterfly use as it gathers pollen from a flower. Yet this was terrifying. It's round mouths teeth chomping repeatedly in anticipation of Preston's face.
It was Sunrise that shot the creature dead as I stared frozen. Everything was happening so fast. The attack was intense with people screaming around me.  I could only focus on destroying our attackers with my rifle. It was obvious that we would be overwhelmed soon. So strong was the attack upon us.
It was then that Raven recovered.
Plunging a short spear into an attacker. "Run. Or you shall all die!"
She did not move but used her spear with deadly accuracy. Her daughter's warriors began to break. I admit I scurried back like when a dam is beginning to break. Like I was pulled back. William moved with me fighting as we moved back to a further wall of loose large stones. That Preston had made.
Preston was using his suit arms as deterrents swinging them hitting attackers as he kept stepping backwards. Great puffs of steam were pouring from the suits engine.
It was obvious that it would not last much longer. It was then that Preston saved us.
We fought, but we're steadily falling back. The fight was so fierce.
Preston held back one attacker with one of the suits hands as he raised the other to the ceiling of the cave. He began to drag the second mechanical arm along the roof of the cave. Debris almost immediately began to fall. Small and large stones began to tumble upon the held Achay. I fired killing another trying to grab Preston. Soon more and more debris rained down as he slowly walked backwards holding the Achay. Steam gusting out of his suit. It was alarmingly overheating. The ceiling falling did slow the attack.
"Preston that suit won't take much more!" I yelled. He deftly undid the straps that held him in with practiced ease. He was reaching down trying to undo his leg straps but the creature was to close. And was starting to knock the suit over using its wings and legs to push forward. Raven came rolling under attackers to assist him. She killed the grasped Achay. Driving her spear through the base of its head. I continued to sight and fire. Trying to buy her and Preston some time. It worked though. Preston undid one legs worth of straps while she cut through the others with a holstered knife she carried. They ran to us. But now the diversion of debris stopped and the attackers readied to spring again.
"Mary fire at the small tank beside the large water tank." Preston yelled.
I knew what he meant instantly. For the many hours together in his workshop or grounds when I had watched his work on the suit. I knew it was a small tank used to boil the steam that drove the suit. I fired as soon as I heard his shout.
The explosion was far more powerful than I had expected. Steam burst forth. It did little to slow the Achay attackers. But I knew what Preston's attention was.
The cave began to give way. We kept scrambling back as what started small began to shake everything. I was afraid that maybe it was to successful. Dirt and rock poured down as if a flood gate of stone had been set free. Achay were crushed as it fell. William was struck by a falling stone, but struggled along with help from Professor Martz. I didn't see Preston and Raven the debris was so dense. But they came together out of the cloud of dust. Preston was limping. And Raven had obviously been hit by smaller rocks cutting her as they had struggled forward. Eventually we stopped far from the cave avalanche that my shot started.
We sat silently by the shocking result of our escape. Sunrise began to walk among us looking to each of the survivors. It was far less than had waited together earlier.
"Where is Sheldon?" I had not noticed him falling. "Was he killed?"