The Hare was technically the first to reach the barrier; as the fastest of their number that was never in doubt. If there was one thing the Hare did well, it was running. He wasn't so good over longer distances as he tended to tire himself out - something a cunning opponent could take advantage of and something that had bugged him going back to his race against The Tortoise.
However when it came to short sprints, nobody without actual superhuman ... or superanimal speed, could beat him. With the meeping runner knocked out and the whirling furry thing in retreat after the cats had clawed it, Hare was free to do what he did best. But this was a new Hare, emerging from the crucible of adversity and for once thinking of others before himself. He had scooped up the cats and carried them with him, allowing them to leap from his arms to safety.
Now he turned to see to the others. George stumbled past him and he could see the Goose waddling as quickly as the Goose could waddle.
Jessica was a bit beyond, using the mirror to catch the sun and send out beams of blinding light to keep the loonies back.
Further away were Goldie and the Gingerbread Man, who were standing tall, guns blazing and looks of feral delight on their faces, although bullets were dinging around their feet as a loonie with a cowboy hat and a huge red mustache and another with a green helmet and some kind of ... Martian ray gun?? ... returned fire.
The Hare dashed towards Jessica, pausing by his friend a moment. 'Run Goosey. Cover up ahead.'
'Waugggh, I'm ... puff ... trying,' puffed the Goose, inwardly wishing he had cut back on his cigar smoking habit and had exercised more in recent years.
The Hare reached Jessica and grabbed her arm. 'Jess, we have to go. For some reason the loonies won't go beyond that barrier wall.'
Jessica nodded and shouted out 'Goldie, fall back to the barrier!'
She wasn't sure that her friend had heard her, but then a few seconds later the gun slinging duo began to walk backwards, still shooting.
This allowed Hare and Jessica to get to safety, mere moments behind the Goose.
George nodded at The Hare and handed him a pistol. 'Miss Lochs thought it prudent to spread a few of her arms around. I suggest we give our friends covering fire.'
The Hare nodded and spun the chamber on the pearl handled revolver. 'A Remmington Model 1875. Not bad. Goldie likes her guns eh Mr Wells.'
'Indeed Mr Hare. You're familiar with the make?'
The Hare grinned. 'Oh yes! The New Westworlds are quite a distance from here but I've been a bit of a traveller in my time.'
The author returned his grin. 'These lands of Myth do have an adventure inducing quality to them, don't they? I believe Miss Lochs obtained that from a gentleman by the name of Hex. Something to do with a mercenary endeavour of hers and the OK Corall.'
'Never mind that, start shooting. The Gingerbread Man's taking a few hits.'
Wells raised his Smith & Wesson Schofield. 'No, I was mistaken,' he said as he fired. 'My pistol is the one she was given by the Confederate gentleman. Yours was taken from the body of a Billy the Kid doppler that crossed Miss Loch's path. Apparently he was foolish enough to ... 'give her sass'.'
A minute later, Goldie herself dived through the opening, followed moments later by her shortbreaded lover, who was spilling crumbs from several places.
Jessica and Goldie began to patch him up as best as they could while Griffin stared outwards.
'They've just stopped! They're walking away! But why? We're sitting ducks here!'
SC nudged past The Hare. 'I am afraid my young friend that our situation remains precarious.'
That was when the automated voice and signs activated.
'ATTENTION. YOU HAVE NOW ENTERED THE BUFFER ZONE. PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE DECONTAMINATION AREA. ALL REFUGEES MUST BE SCANNED FOR RADIATION. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN EJECTION. FAILURE TO DISPLAY SAFE LEVELS WILL RESULT IN EJECTION. FAILURE TO LEAVE IN A TIMELY MANNER WILL RESULT IN PUNITIVE MEASURES BEING ENFORCED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CITIZENS.'