She yanked her hand back, letting him choke on his own pain, and snapped her head toward Cutie.
The wolf's claws were already halfway down.
If those hit Cutie's skull, that was it. No surviving that.
Cutie raised his arms on instinct, trying to protect his head, but Kaya could see his strength failing, his eyes unfocused.
She didn't think. She didn't plan. Her body moved before her mind caught up.
Her hand went to her leg, fingers sliding under the strap at her calf. She ripped the gun free, brought it up, and aimed at the wolf in one smooth, desperate motion.
Her finger squeezed the trigger.
Bang.
The shot ripped through the cramped room, loud enough to drown out every other sound.
The wolf beastman's shoulder snapped back as the bullet tore through flesh, the force spinning him sideways. His raised claws missed Cutie's head by a breath and slammed into the wall instead, leaving deep grooves in the plaster before his whole body crashed to the floor.
