25

It was an open slaughter happening as everyone watched with horror from the lookouts, Andy down below comforting Rhys as they tried to amuse the children with loud music and singing, food being made and stories about a big storm outside.

More than once Andy had caught Rhys in the kitchen watching Gwen as she tried to climb over the railing, giving up on the steps she couldn't negotiate. Finally Andy had hit the secondary measures that brought huge metal sheets down over the windows and doors. These would take a crank to lift, more than two men working it and they were now effectively trapped but Andy reasoned they were now anyhow. After all, four separate packs were out there, over a hundred fuzzy man-eaters circling and some half turns trying to muddy the water as well. Andy felt terrible for secretly hoping one of them took out Gwen but there ya go, he wanted it over.

The boom of the shotgun had both men looking up, Tosh opening fire on the pack to the south boundary and they both looked in that direction like they might see though walls then snort softly as they noted the other one doing it as well.

"Thanks" Rhys said as he cut some fruit on a platter, "I know you want to be up there defending."

"I am defending" Andy said softly, "Lots down here to fight for"

Rhys nodded, looking down as he worked.

"You want to go up? Owen and I can handle this" Andy offered and Rhys shook his head.

"No, let him be with his wife up there. A time to be with those who matter" Rhys looked up and met Andy's eye, "At least we can have that."

Andy grinned as he reached out to place his hand over Rhys' "You know … we do have a Ianto."

Rhys snorted as he returned the squeeze then went back to cutting "You're a good man Andy Pandy."

"I hope I can show you that in time" Andy nodded, picking up the full platter to leave and give Rhys time to consider things.

Owen listened from the landing and nodded then headed upstairs, Ianto brushing past to head down to check his chicks. Owen found his wife reloading and took the weapon from her to help as she removed a pistol from her pocket and chose a target.

"Are we shooting anything in particular dear?" he asked sagely as he watched her in warrior pose.

"If it moves, it's dead" she replied with a snarl, firing again.

"Gods, you are beautiful" he sighed happily, handing the rifle back and accepting the pistol.

Then John barked a warning as a small group launched themselves at the side of the stables and Jack cursed as he ran to the tunnel, running across to the stables where he joined Mace. Then a large scrunching sound had them looking down to see some of the creatures launching themselves headfirst at the side of the stable, not the doors.

They all looked for a few moments and then Jack took a sharp breath, "The grain bins. Shit, the grain bins are there, it's not reinforced."

"Great, so they have problem solving abilities" John called over, "Just what we need, a man-eating pyramid is starting over this side."

Jack looked up, to see three stories of writhing furry mass was not quite reaching half way up the building but he was right, if they worked together they might climb high enough for one to clamber through the railings.

"IANTO" Jack yelled, now running back for the tunnel top where he could fire more effectively at those attacking the silo, even as he knew it might cost the tunnel. Those animals inside were as dependant on him as those in the house.

Then he looked up to find Ianto standing on the top of the house, the attic window open as he screamed at the babies to come back, two black crows the size of bloody dogs were flying towards the stables their shrieks shrill as the horses screamed with fear inside.

Shit.

Vampyre Chyldren.

The scent of the blood and the sound of battle had woken them, then hearing the sound of the horses they visited nightly like any child would a lovely creature and hearing their pets in danger woke them. Ianto ran to the end of the roof, yelling again, then screaming as the little girl's wing was seized by a large black beast.

"Lissy, no!" he roared, "Not my girl!"

Ianto launched himself from the top peak and everyone watched with slack jaws as he threw his arms out, his scream turning to a shrill screech as he transformed, finally giving in to the blood pumping through his veins and as the first Other managed to get it's claws into the bottom ledge of the tunnel walkway Jack turned to watch it lurching up towards him.

Ianto had a choice and he screamed with rage, the huge black raptor he had become continued heading for his babies as he knew Jack could handle the incursion and Jack calmly lifted the gun to fire, the creature trying to pull the girl down was blown back and he swung as he pumped and fired again, this time hitting the thing that had been Lisa on the hide and she released the childe with a squeak of pain.

Then Ianto slammed into her and they tumbled across the grass, both Childe rising to launch themselves at the next Other trying to climber up and Jack saw that they had little claws as they slashed at the face of the thing and it yelped, falling back down from the railing.

"This way" Jack yelled, "Look. Aim for their faces. Their eyes"

Everyone shook themselves from their shock and started to fire at the incoming horde once more as Jack clutched the railing and watched Ianto battle for his life... and theirs.

Gods he was magnificent.