50 - 25 - Dracon Shots

Again, I followed. Into the surrounding woods. Beyond sight of the school. Barely keeping Jake, the silent, bloody beast, in sight.

Still, Tom must have sensed something. Because suddenly he looked over his shoulder. Turned.

And fired.

The Dracon beam singed Jake's shoulder! But he kept moving forward. Toward Tom.

"Back off!" Tom screamed. "I mean it, I'll kill you!"

Jake took another step forward.

Tsseeeew!

Tom fired again. The shot hit Jake in the back leg. He fell heavily.

Tom took off running. Sure that Jake would not, could not, follow.

But Jake lifted the tiger's seven-hundred-pound body on three legs and started after his brother. Into the shadows. Into the darkest place Jake had ever been. The place where he would have to kill his brother. Or be killed by him.

Suddenly, I remembered my father's face. His voice. "Is what you're doing humane?"

No matter which way it went between Jake and Tom, I would lose Jake.