Private Argalia looked at the blood-stained dirt outside the flop house. What she witnessed wasn't new. The food in the city had run dry weeks ago. Tempers were high, and bellies where empty. Human, Felide, Vulpi, Anubian, it didn't matter. All races were equal when faced with starvation. She followed the blood into the house. Orders were to observe, but curiosity got the better of her. The people who lived here where friends. Opening the door, immediately, the sour, sweet smell of rot hit her nose. Her snout curled in disgust.

  She wasn't unused to the smell. Four Rivers had become a treatise of suffering writ large for all to see. She found the source soon enough. The crumpled feline form came into view. Her body was thin and lanky in search of food these last few weeks. What caught her attention and froze her in her tracks were the bite marks on the body. Not the typical tooth marks you would see with a vampire. These were complete bites, still oozing blood.

  “Ghouls,” she whispered to herself as she readied her weapon.

  The rifle felt warm in her hands, the metal smooth under her claws as she focused inward. Nethergy was simple to grasp once one was aware of it. Like turning a wheel, she poured a small amount of her personal reserves into the rifle, the sinew matrix stamped in at the factory doing the rest of the work. She could feel the tenuous connection as the bullet glowed green with violent intent.

  She rounded the corner, checking doors. Ghouls were a serious problem if they got out into the civilian population. She quietly stepped through what used to be the living room of this bombed-out hovel. All movement froze as the faint sound of teeth on bone met her vulpine ears. Slowly advancing, she peeked around the corner to see a feline form perched over the body of something. She assumed it was a person. The shape was right, but it had been mauled so thoroughly that who or what it used to be was beyond her.

  She brought her rifle up to her shoulder. Looking down the iron sight, she took aim at her target. "All units in sectors eighteen to twenty-four, take cover. Spotters have seen artillery fire projected to impact your zone. Take cover immediately," the magical rune inscribed on her shoulder blared in warning.

  The ghoul's head snapped in her direction. Fresh blood dripped down the brown fur on its chin. On reflex, the trigger was pulled, and the ghoul's head was separated from its body.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "Private Argalia, where under the Sister Moons are you?"

  The fur on her tail stood straight up hearing that. It was her superior.

  "In here, sir!" she yelled out from inside.

  Two breaths later, Sergeant Hostetter and the rest of the squad rushed into view. They quickly took the ruins of the hovel. It looked like that sergeant was going to say something, but he was cut off by the rolling thunder of impacts nearby. Each shockwave felt like a hammer blowing her chest as it rolled over them. Each second, dozens of shells landed around them, drowning out the world. Her existence was overwritten by alchemical fury.

  Seconds felt like decades as they waited, hoping this was a lottery they would not win. After the longest two minutes in her life, the fire moved on to another sector. Each of them looked at the other, not wanting to make a sound, as if their speech alone would bring back the fire on them. After a tense moment of staring at one another, their sergeant spoke up.

  "Anyone hurt?" he asked as he looked around, stress evident across his ebony face.

  One by one, they quietly reported their status, still worried that someone would hear them. Confirming that no one was injured, he looked to Argalia.

  "Why did you enter the house alone?" he demanded to know.

  She hung her head low, her ears flat against her skull in shame. "My mistake, sir. I know who used to live in that home. I was worried it was their blood that I saw outside."

  His features softened a bit as she studied her foot paws.

  Firmly, he said, "It's dangerous this close to the edge of the city. Always take at least one person in with you when inspecting a building." Waiting a moment, he added. "Did you find your friend?"

  She shook her head. “Negative, sir. I did find a ghoul, though. That was the shot you likely heard before entering the ruins of this building.”

  His face turned grim at that. "That is the sixth ghoul sighting this week. They are spreading."

  He seemed bothered by this. Ghouls were not undead. They were related, however. Ghouls were those stuck between the living and the undead. They consumed the flesh of living to buy time, hoping the life force would buy them a few more days. Endless hunger consumed their existence.

  “The last thing we need is an outbreak of ghouls on top of everything else. Let's continue the mission. Ears up, everyone. We need to see where the enemy has set up outside the city. They have been shelling us for weeks but haven't made a move inside the city. We need to see where their lines are so we can prepare accordingly.”

  The squad nodded before fanning out in pairs. Private Argalia was assigned with Specialist Quint, a calico Felide who had recently been added to their squad. She had been transferred to them after her last squad had been wiped out by an artillery shell, not even enough left to be recycled into skeletons for the front line. The two of them were quiet as they walked in the shadows down 57th Street, alert for any movement or noise. Specialist Quint made a motion for them to stop and gave the signal that she had heard something around the corner.

  Argalia nodded and readied her rifle. Once they were both in position, they rounded the corner.