She had seen the gun rise in the back of her mind, had felt the bullet sweep by, and had felt its impact as if it had entered her body, but it hadn't. Hawkeye lay bleeding on the ground, being held by his best friend, telling him to try his best not to move. They need to get him medical attention, they needed the equipment, but they couldn't get it with the enemy surrounding them, closing in on them. Deciding it was now that she had to act, she silently reversed from the group, backing around the tent even more. She wasn't noticed, at least not until Mulcahy had risked another glance onto the grounds and seen her in mid action. He watched, unable to any anything, his mouth dropping as she ducked and dived, avoiding the speeding projectiles that narrowly missed her small frame.
"Hey, what's going on over there?" BJ asked, making Mulcahy jump.
Turning his head back around as if seeing enough he said shakily "It's River. She's uhhh…." He made wild gestures as if this would somehow explain everything. Sydney looked at him in confusion before he himself peeked around the corner.
"Dear God!" He whispered.
It didn't matter how many men she took down, they seemed to just flow into the camp like a waterfall, their bodies littering the ground where they fell. Some where still breathing, though most weren't.
"How many are out there?" BJ asked after ten or so minutes.
"Not many." Sydney shook his head, taking another look.
"We need to move now then. Give me a hand." Taking Hawkeye's arms, Hawkeye having lost consciousness before, while Sydney took his legs.
"What do you want me to do?" Mulcahy asked.
"I want you to stay here and watch the kid." BJ said disappearing around the corner.
"Stay here." He whispered to himself, peeking around to watch River's fight once again.
BJ had come into the operation room with Hawkeye already under, propped and ready to go. Sydney had done a fine job, and he let him know.
"Where did she come from?" Sydney asked as BJ began his work.
Slicing with his scapulae his thought, "She came in with the other wounded, but you already know that."
"Yes. How she got here, but where is she from? I've never seen anyone move like that. Almost as if she knows who's going to fire before they do."
"Reminds me why we're here in the first place." BJ quipped.
"Yes, it does. She knew those soldier's where coming and not even our own intelligence did." Sydney's comment left them silent as BJ continued to work.
After two hours, he was done, letting out a breath he could have sworn he had been holding all that time. Hawkeye would be fine, and it wasn't just thanks to him. They'd all be dead now if River hadn't jumped in.
"Where are the other two?" BJ asked looked up from his friend's chest which was now rising up and down in a normal rhythm.
Sydney moved over to the window and took a look outside. "I can't see them."
"Help me move Hawkeye outta here and we'll go and check."
Sydney nodded, gave BJ a hand before they both made their way outside again.
It didn't take long for them to find River and the Priest.
Mulcahy seemed almost hypnotised, as he stepped past body after body, bending over occasionally to see if one was still breathing before moving to the next. River on the other hand thought was on her knees bending of someone who appeared to be a general. Most likely the one who had commanded these men into the camp.
"Smiled for the last time, all proud and ready." She swayed as she sat, remembering a memory that wasn't hers.
Mulcahy had turned to her as she had said this, feeling a cold shiver run the length of his spine. "What are you?" He whispered, fear evident in his voice.
"Caged the lion, but out it leapt. Claws retracted and ready to strike." She riddled, taking no notice in any of their stares. "You can't leave it alone. Can't stop what it'll do next." Her last words where barely head, her face had gone stone white.
"What do you mean by that?" Sydney asked creeping closer.
River turned, her eyes trained on him, more aware then she had been since she had come here. "Can't stay here. He's coming for me."