Liv Shoots First

Liv felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise as she took in the new Gnoll. He was slightly larger than the armored Gnolls they had fought but lacked their armor. He wore nothing but a loincloth, showing off his pale white fur that contained numerous furrows from fresh scaring. His stride was unnatural, but Liv couldn’t tell if it was from an injury or from dragging a heavy load behind him.

The Gnoll pushed through the brush, slowly slightly as whatever he was dragging caught in the undergrowth. As he turned his eyes away from her, Liv took her chance. She let out all the breath in her lungs as the butt of the rifle found its proper place into her shoulder. Her finger smoothly pulled the trigger giving her shoulder its familiar kick. The motions were almost subconscious for her at this point, her mind was focused on her target instead of her own actions.

The Gnoll noticed her movements and tried to dodge. He had impressive reflexes for something so big, but his feet caught on whatever he was dragging. He lost his footing and the power of Liv’s shot only knocked him away harder. He spun from the shot, hitting the ground mostly on his front. He didn’t move. He didn’t even make a sound.

“Liv what the hell!” Becky was looking around for enemies, one hand hovering over her belt to grab whatever she would need.

Liv also scanned the surroundings. “What? We are here to kill them.”

Emmaline sighed and shook her head. “He could talk. We were just saying we didn’t have enough information.”

Liv snarled at Emmaline. “The last one of these fuckers that could talk, took Fuu. Or did you forget?”

Emmaline didn’t seem fazed by Liv’s vicious response. She placed her hands on her hips. “Three of us against a single, unarmored Gnoll? If he wanted to attack us, he wouldn’t have said anything.”

Liv couldn’t hold her gaze, turning back to the Gnoll, still silent and unmoving. “That ‘they’re just Gnolls’ shit lost us Fuu.”

Becky stepped between the two before Emmaline could start a longer fight. “Okay. No more rash decisions. Liv, check to see if he had anything usable on him. Emmaline, help me with the gear.”

Liv took her opportunity to get away from her companions, approaching the body with her gun in her hand. They were both right. The could have taken the chance to see what it wanted. They could have definitely killed it quieter. The Gnoll may be down but her gunshot could attract anything. Even if the Shaman had let them go, there were more dangers in the forest around them.