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Cyrus began retreating toward the bathroom, hoping to draw the reptile with him. |
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That was one of my best moves, he grumbled to himself. You should be flat on your ass. |
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The creature followed him cautiously, slithering almost silently over the cheap carpet and constantly testing the air with its tongue. Cyrus's chest was relatively free of hair and was leaking blood from four deep gashes. He wondered if the creature was attracted by the smell. |
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The snazard hissed again and Cyrus waved a hand in front of his face. "Phew!" |
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Cyrus was so involved with the reptile in front of him that he momentarily forgot about the one under the bed and glanced around only when he heard Kyna squeal. |
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The second creature had started dragging itself up the footboard of the bed. |
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The change went into high gear. Cyrus's face felt as if it were suddenly being ripped apart. He grabbed his head and tried to hold it together with his hands as his lower jaw shifted down and out to create a platform for dozens of razor-sharp teeth. His shoulders thickened and spread, his body stretched and expanded as if his skeleton were made of rubber. |
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Then, it was the creature's turn to give ground . . . only it didn't move fast enough. Cyrus vaulted onto the snazard's back and dug his claws into the creature's eyes. The reptile let out a massive blast of foul-smelling air and started to sway like a runaway fire hose. Cyrus let go, hit the ground, rolled and sprang again all in one motionthis time landing on the thing's chest. He tried to sink his teeth into its throat, but the creature's armorlike scales were too tough for even Cyrus's needle-sharp fangs. |
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At the sound of Kyna's voice, the reptile went crazy, slashing at Cyrus's back and shoulders with its claws. But Cyrus's body was protected by a thick coat of silky fur, and out of frustration the creature tried to spit venom in his eyes. |
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"Russ?" The unmistakable sound of panic was creeping |
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