The Yurk stood over Boone and lifted his Tomahawk overhead; he brought the blade downward-
Jostice spun the knife in his hand and caught the handle; he swung with upward momentum; steel and stone clashed and sparks zipped in the air. The Yurk turned towards the man and took a step back., crouching.
"Mek'u'!" He heckled.
Jostice spat, "ya, and you're ugly."
The Yurk lunged forward; Jostice kneeled bracing for impact. The blades cut the air, clashing, and sparking. Jostice tilted back, lifting his right leg; he extended pushing the Yurk backwards.
"Get them the hell out of here!" Jostice told Boone
He shook his head, "I can't leave Rynan..."
"For the regimens sake, Kid. You're going to get yourself killed-"
The Yurk spun, swinging the blade at knee level. Jostice stepped back, the Yurk found air. He then stopped, kneeled and sprung upward; the blades locked.
Jostice muscles tightened fighting the young Yurks weight. He brought his face forward, noses inches apart. The Yurk smiled, exposing golden-black teeth. "Keku!" Suddenly Jostice head whipped forward; forehead cracked into nose; the Yurk stumbled backwards and groaned wiping the blood pouring from his nostrils.
"Enough of this..." Jostice reached downward withdrawing his revolver. He twirled and turned the barrel forward-
From behind him, Grotknot's voice rang like a lion; His arm swung back then forward as an axe twirled past Jostice shoulder and buried into flesh. The Yurk grabbed his chest, took a step back and plummeted of the train.
"I had him!"
Grotknot shook his head, "Damn...That was my favorite throwing axe... Didn't see that happening."
"Serves you right taking a man's kill." Jostice spat, sliding his knife back into his sheath.
Lyolis pointed, "more are coming!"
Jostice turned towards the windows; Yurks leapt from their bisons, grabbing onto the train, and vaulting themselves off the wall onto the roof.
The passenger sat silent, heads down, hands over head.
Tonsi said, "They're up there!"
"Looks like four of them," Zoar said. "Give me a weapon...I can help."
Jostice looked the boy up and down. "You can help by getting these kids out of here-"
Two Yurks fell from above as one hurdled through the back door. Jostice fired; The Yurks head whipped back; blood sprayed and he fell, tumbled, and painted the sand red.
Grotknot withdrew two axes. "I'll take care of these two."
Like hell you will," Jerocobish said from the front of the cart. "I'll take the fat...you take the ugly.
Grotknot chuckled and charged.
The four men danced; Jerocobish and Grotknot attacked with slow, perceive swings while the Yurks moved like serpents, spinning and attacking in spurts.
Another Yurk appeared in the back door, firing an arrow. Jostice pivoted as the dart buried into wall.
The Yurk yelled, "Wovo, Kallri!"
"Fuck your Kallri!" Jostice replied, unloading five rounds into the warrior's chest. He stumbled backwards, catching himself in the doorway. "What the blaze..." The Yurk smirked, pounding his fist into his chest. It rung. "This bastard's armored!"
The Yurk threw his bow aside and slipped out a stoned blade
Jostice twirled his gun, sliding it into his holster. He withdrew his knife and the men thrusted forward. They took two steps and threw their arms up; the blades met and cracked, again and again, each blow harder than the last. Swing, parry; Duck, dodge; Pivot, strike. Jostice extended his leg, boot burying into the mans chest. The Yurk stumbled backwards, arms elevated. Suddenly Jostice wrist whipped and his knife flew; blade through flesh and wood.
The Yurk lifted his chin and yelled; blood spurt as he yanked the blade from his wrist.
Ace lifted his leg once more and shot it forward with his lasting might; The orc soared out the door.
"These men have a problem dying," He said, wiping sweat from his chin. He peered downward. Boone sat holding Rynan's hand, eyes bulging; the look of a boy who'd seen blood for the first time riddle across his face. "You alright?"
"Yes sir..."
Jostice turned to the girls who were just as pale and silent. "And you?"
They nodded.
Jostice looked upwards finding the cart in dissary: Leslie had appeared, her gun going off; firing out the window. Grotknot stood on a seat parrying blows with a tall warrior Yurk while Jerocobish was in technical knife duel with a Yurk old as he was, but much quicker.
Jostice moved and something caught his coat. His eyes fell.
"Don't leave us!" Boone said, "They'll come back!"
"I have to help the others..."
"Stay!"
Jostice yanked his coat free. "You're your father's boy...Don't show your weakness." Boone nodded. Jostice slid out a revolver, "Here. Take this...You see anything come through that door pull the trigger, understand." The boy nodded and grabbed the gun; the weight of the steel pulled his hands to the floor. "Nice hat," Jostice smiled tilting it out of the kids eyes. "You'll need to see if you're to shoot and hit something."
Jostice eyes flicked towards Grotknot who was pinned in the seat, hands around his attackers wrist; holding back the knife that worked to pierce his chest. The Yurk stood over the blade, leaning down with his weight, drooling.
"If it wouldn't be a bother," Grotknot gasped, "a little help would be in order..."
Jostice ran towards the warrior Yurk, grabbing him by the back; he pivoted at the hips, pulling at the warriors button shirt. He didn't budge. The Yurk turned towards Jostice raising his arm, connecting knuckles to chin. The ace's legs went weak and he fell back into a seated man.
"My apologies," He said, tilting his hat then finding his feet.
The blade began to penetrate Grotknots chest and he groaned. The smell of blood and sweat filled the cart.
Jostice grabbed both hands, twisted at the waist and threw weight into his swing, bashing the warriors skull. The Yurks head jerked. His eyes narrowed turning on the man.
"That wasn't a good idea..."
The warrior Yurk lifted his head and let loose a harsh yell. He stood like a mountain, ready to tear limbs and break bones, lifting his blade from Grotknot, he took a step in Jostice's direction.
Jostice waved his hand, "come on...come get me-"
The Yurk threw a slow, wide swing; killing blows for most men. Jostice ducked. One miss, two miss, three miss. The warriors limbs flung heavy and free.
"You just going to..." Jostice leaned back as a rocked-hardened fist waved past his cheek; "lay there?"
Grotknot gasped, "I'm taking a breather..."
The warriors arms dropped; Jostice pivoted, using the mans momentum; he threw his shoulder into the mans back driving him into a wall. A clank and the knife was lost. The warrior recoiled, turning and closing his arms together; hands wrapping around the Ace's throat. The warrior roared and pushed upwards as Jostice's feet left the ground.
The warriors hands were calloused and like vices; squeezing while Jostice's pink complexion faded into a plumish-purple.
He opened his mouth, working to draw breath while the darkness fell around him; shadows draping across his eyes.
He looked across the train, reaching out a hand towards the red strands and olive skin mouthing words that wouldn't escape.
Leslie turned towards him and her hair whipped across her back, glowing like embers from the light drawn through the window. She raised her revolver and it flashed; blood squirted from the warriors throat as hands softened.
Jostice boots found the ground, and he bent over, gasping. The warrior collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat.
"Varko!" An older Yurk yelled, who was trading blades with Jerocobish. "No!" His nose wrinkled then it happened in a blur; Jerocobish chopped and the Yurk dipped; the warrior grabbed the old man, spinning and pulling him into his chest; blade at his throat. "I'll kill him!"
Jostice drew a boot over the fallen Yurks throat, pulling his second pistol, and pointing the barrel at his head. "Do it and you'll be recovering nothing but his brain..."
The older Yurk looked around the cart, eyes red as fire. "There is no more harm to be done to that one...do you understand?"
*I thought you Yurks had no heart."
The older warrior bared his teeth. "It is you invaders who have no spirit...you are a plague!"
Leslie and Grotknot drew their revolvers onto the older Yurk.
"This can end two ways," Jostice said. "You go to jail or three dead...There's no other option."
The older yurked tilted his chin over his shoulder, glancing at the side cart door. He took a step back, pulling Jerocobish.
"Easy..." Jostice said, "Don't do anything wreckless."
The Yurk smirked. "Bring me mine and you'll get yours in return." The older warrior twisted around, kicking the door opening. He took a step backwards and the two were swept into the dust storm.
Boone raised his hand, "Pappy!"