Jessica groaned as she lifted rubble off of her head. Fighting position they had built was gone, shredded to pieces as the missile barrage had begun. She had just barely had enough time to spread her mana, shielding the soldiers underneath her. As the barrage stopped, she collapsed against Liam, coughing up blood.
"I can't move babe."
Liam sighed as he held her. "You saved us, my love."
In other parts of the forest, echoes of orders being shouted reaching them. 6-8 and 4-1 were retreating back one phase line. Suddenly, a black blur was seen scrambling across the forest. Jessica groaned.
"Of course they would come check on me." She said weakly, her legs giving out.
Mia reached them and saw Jessica slumped against Liam. She watched the rise and fall of her chest, confirming the girl was alive, before her eyes narrowed. The barricades and other structures they had hastily built lie in ruins, but not a single soldier was lost.
"What happened, Liam?"
