Page 19 of Bonds of Starfall

She hopped off her bike, removing her helmet and tucking it on the seat. As she shook out her hair, she tugged down the hem of her cropped black shirt.

"It’s so cold," she grumbled lowly.

Nova Zone 21 was located on the outskirts of Solar City, with little to see except dense woods. Once a tiny neighborhood next to a nature preserve, it was now barricaded with dilapidated tin borders, which hosted Nova Zone 21. Not much to keep the Rogues out. And not at all like the strongholds that keep the Nova Zones in the inner city and populated areas secure.

The forest was dark, and the sky was clear; the moon shone down bright and full as it illuminated her path. An old sign was hammered to the rusted tin of the barrier:

Keep out. Danger.

And under that, graffitied in bold, ominous letters:

Have fun. Don’t die!

It seemed like more Hunter trainees than just her had been out here.

She saw no way in. Guess she’d have to scale it. She rubbed her hands on her pants, grateful for the fingerless gloves that would keep her palms safe from whatever rust or germs riddled the old tin.

Gripping a piece of metal that jutted out, she hoisted herself up, throwing her foot over the top, and then hopped down, her boots silent as she landed lithely on her feet.

The other side of the wall was much the same. Trees… and more trees.

She didn’t know what she had been expecting—a Rogue to jump out as soon as she landed?

Rin sighed, realizing she would have to go deeper.

She unholstered her Echogun—a small pistol with swirls etched in the deep blue grips. It had been a gift from Kit. And the same one he had used to teach her how to shoot years ago.

It was like he was with her, in a way.

Her steps grew bolder the deeper she ventured without stumbling across a Rogue, but she was on guard. She wouldn’t grow complacent. That was how you died.

The trees opened up into a small clearing, and just before she breached it, her watch beeped in warning.

Rin paused, back pressed against the rough bark of a tree as she peered down at the dim watch face in the darkness.

A Nova alert. Levels were high in this area.

A Rogue was nearby.

Her heart hammered in her chest, and she prayed that it wouldn’t act up. Not here, not now. Not when she had so much to prove.

A skittering noise made her breath halt.

She peeked around the tree carefully, cursing her white hair—it was like a beacon in the dark.

The grass in the clearing was scorched, and blue tendrils crackled on the ground, having burned away all traces of life.

Her eyes narrowed as she peered into the darkness, searching between trees for the source of that sound.

A creature made entirely of black rock bent over something in the dark, ripping and tearing sounds that made the hair on the back of Rin’s neck stand on end.

A baying noise made her jolt, pressing her back against the tree to hide herself.

The Rogue’s howls pierced the night.

It was alerting others to come.

Rin had to kill it. Andnow.