The space was theirs again. And for the first time since Rouxi had let them join the fight, Lingyun was finally able to breathe.
He could feel his fire simmering under his skin, but unlike last time he had used it, now it felt like it belonged to him. Like it was a limb or an organ that he never knew he was missing until it made itself know.
His grin was on his face as he turned to look at Rouxi where she was leaning against the front door, her arms crossed in front of her chest. She looked at him with pride and he could feel his chest swelling.
The she raised an eyebrow and pointed at something over her shoulder.
Lingyun spun around and saw it—low, fast, and so wrong that he wanted to puke.
Something darted between the bodies piled near the gate, too small and quick to be another zombie dragging itself forward.
He tracked it instinctively, his hand already moving, fire building in his palm before his brain caught up to what he was seeing.
A cat.
Or what used to be a cat.
