At that moment, Tarvitz's squad resembled a herd of driven beasts. Under his unquestionable orders, they sprinted at the very limits of Astartes speed, surging toward the rocky gorge that lay like a scar across the earth.
The entrance was narrow, admitting only a few men abreast. Steep, dark red rock walls riddled with wind-eroded holes rose on either side, casting reassuring shadows.
The first warriors to reach the entrance barely paused. The instant they entered relative safety, they twisted around, dropped to one knee, and raised their Bolters with lightning speed, aiming toward their pursuers.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
They fired precise single shots. Trailing fire, the Bolts struck the black carapaces of the leading Giant Spider Xenos, bursting into dazzling flashes between their eyes, at their joints, and at other vital points.
The Bolts struck, throwing up showers of sparks and shell fragments. Their impact seemed to be entirely absorbed by the layer of chitin. The spiders merely shook their hideous heads slightly; the cold light in their compound eyes did not even flicker. Their charge never slowed. Instead, the attacks provoked even more frenzied shrieks.
"Into the gorge! Move!" Tarvitz's roar echoed at the entrance. He remained behind personally, urging the last few warriors to scramble through the narrow opening.
Only when he slipped sideways into the shelter of the rock wall, feeling the approaching foul wind behind him, laden with sour rot and murderous intent, did his taut nerves ease a little.
Safe for now.
The gorge's narrow terrain severely restricted the spiders' numerical advantage. Here, their enormous bodies would become a burden instead.
With his back against the cold, rough rock wall, Tarvitz took a few rapid breaths.
He quickly surveyed their surroundings. The gorge was not particularly deep, but the towering walls on either