The beast leaped back from Copleand after the other gunshot rang out. It hissed and looked in the direction of the shot and saw a yellow wolfess with a pink scarf. Circuit fired at the creature again and again, and it scrambled back up the trees. Circuit then ran for Copleand, and saw her not even moving her eyes. Her ears lowered for a moment, and knelt down to feel Copleand's neck. There was a pulse, still. She tried to pull her out of the webs, but it the webs clung to Copleand and kept her in place. Circuit even saw it suspend her hand when it brushed against the webs. She took her gun again and aimed for the webs, but then heard the brush rustling behind her. She turned her aim and met the beast again; It was too close to aim a shot in time. Quickly, she went from aiming a shot to using the gun to bash the monster's jaw. The beast got metal right to the teeth, and it was biting her gun now. Circuit followed up her gun bash with a hard knee bash, and the beast leaped back. She fired two more shots at the beast, but it dodged them, jumping up in a tree. The beast growled at her for a moment, and reeled back for another lunge, but then... it stopped. It looked elsewhere and scrambled away into the trees.
Circuit still kept her head up and gun out, making sure it was gone. After a while, she put her gun away and ran back to Copleand. She looked to her gun again, but then just put it away and searched Copleand's pockets. Only after emptying them all, did she find her lighter on the ground. She pulled on Copleand, and started lighting the webs on fire. Copleand let out a weak cough while Circuit tugged her, but she couldn't make out any words. Eventually, Circuit pulled Copleand free, and then she lifted her onto her shoulder. Trying to stand up, Circuits grip on Copleand started to come loose. She set Copleand down and checked her arm; the hand was still twitching. With that, Circuit picked Copleand and carried her over her left shoulder, and then kept her gun out with her right hand.
Circuit looked to Copleand, and it seemed Copleand could move her eyes to look back at her. Circuit let out a sigh as her ears went back, and and she looked down at the ground. She wanted to have Copleand's back, but she lost track of her. She screwed up, and now she had to carry her paralyzed friend toward their mission.
_________________________________________________________________

Part 17

Title: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41019572/

Part 16: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44034370/

Part 18: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44358954/

Ash © Amberbreezeash

Torrent © Dsizzle99

Copleand © TheFuzzies

Claire, Circuit, art and story © me