With incredible speed, the retreating creature ducked around a tree, Felidae's shot throwing up chunks of dirt where it had been standing moments before. Its new path put it at a good angle for the others, though, and the combined fire of Macharius, Anika and Hannabel sent it crashing to the ground in a heap. This elicited a screech of rage from the other, whcih turned to look back at the skiffs just long enough for Echo to wing it with a shot from his helpistol before vanishing into the forst.

"Damn!" Winterscale cursed, making to bring the skiff down for a landing. "Got one of them, though. I think your crew did most of the work on that, Absalom, so the trophy goes to you by rights. Let's go get it, shall we?"

The runners of the skiff settled to the grass, and no sooner had it done so than Winterscale had jumped down and drawn his storm bolter, heading for the treeline. Behind them, the other skiffs fell in, their pilots settling them down nearby.