Jessica's heart was racing, breathing uneven, hair a mess and on the verge of tears.

Alex was visibly holding himself back from overtaking her.

Last she checked Sarah had been behind them, Eian's armored figure was far out in front.

Several carcasses littered their path, Jessica didn't have time to see them.

"Guys! Hurry! They're close!" Eian stopped and beckoned them to hurry, as if they didn't already know that.

"Let's keep going. Sarah hurry up!" Alex looked over his shoulders.

Jessica's legs were burning, she felt she would drop and faint at any moment.

'Wait! What's going on?' Jessica was suddenly aware of herself, her head felt funny.

She heard a scream.

"Sarah!" Eian's voice echoed across the forest.

Turning to look Jessica saw a monstrous horde, they were numberless, beyond counting.

Wolf people, wevewolves, a clump of them were gathered surrounding something, the rest breezed by and chased them.

Strangely only a few were on fire.

Alex was tugging at her.

"Damn it! Go on Jess. Run! I'll help Sarah." Alex nudged her forward, turning he drew out his sword and held his shield.

"No!" Jess was shaking.

"FUCK! We have to hurry, they're eating her!" Eian had rushed back, he held his spear-axe and shield at the ready.

"Jess. Go!" Alex's voice pitched.

"NO!" She was shaking uncontrollably and she audibly gulped.

'What's happening?' Jessica wasn't in control of her body the monsters were about to overtake them.

It was too late, the horde had surrounded them.

She heard Alex and Eian charge roaring.

She didn't remember drawing her long-spear for the fight, but there it was.

The sound of metal on flesh was prevalent.

'What's going on!? What happened?!' If she could shake any more, she would.

Looking at a wolf men in front, Jessica focused her mind.

It's movements opened up to her, she saw it's lunge even before it even knew it would.

Stepping right and placing the spear adequately, allowed it to kill itself.

She saw the outline of two sets of claws gliding towards her, it was simply a before-image, not real.

She danced away from both and with eerie grace stabbed one through the eye, it performed it's suicidal attack.

Something tackled her from behind and she felt teeth tear into her.

******

They were resting in a comfy cave, it had an opening to the outside, light was leaking through.

Alex was lounging near her atop a multitude fur pillows, on closer inspection they were dead wolves.

Eian was there, bare chest revealed near-perfect pecks and abs.

Sarah had her eyes closed and was in a meditative trance.

"I need to use the latrine. Watch my back man." Alex, Eian nodded his consent.

They exited and Jessica heard a scream of alarm, moments later.

Sarah bolted upwards, Jessica drew her sword and they both ran outside.

A giant snake had coiled itself around Alex.

Eian was furiously hacking at it with his damaged great-sword.

Alex was feebly struggling in it's grasp.

Jessica screamed and charged.

She saw it's before-image attempt to swallow Alex.

'NO!!!' Jessica bared her teeth and recklessly charged.

She felt her sword dig slightly into the snake's side, something hit her from out of sight.

On the floor she realized she had gotten hit by it's tail.

Lightning forked and hit the snakes face, it dropped stunned.

Eian was carving it to shreds, he managed to drag Alex out.

He was a bleeding broken mess, his legs were bent inwards and his armor disfigured.

She heard howls in the distance, they had smelled blood.

******

They encountered a huge type of bird that sent wind at them.

It tore at her and injured everyone, Eian wasn't there.

Sarah couldn't burn it, it's wind beat the fire away, and the lightening bolts were inaccurate at the distance.

They hid behind trees, she heard it's swooping wings and they bolted for another tree.

Something impacted her back and she saw blood splatter.

She fell and everything went black.

******

A griffin swooped down and carried Sarah off.

They were hopelessly lost.

******

Alex sank into a bog and disappeared.

They couldn't find him.

*****

Image after image plagued Jessica and she was helpless to resist.

She was going insane, her head begun to throb.

The images felt real, like when living a dream you believed it was real.

She heard a desperate voice reach out to her.

"...JESSS! JESS!" Alex was kneeling beside her, he had locked eyes with her and she blinked.

She embraced him, squeezed her eyes shut and her tears escaped her.

"Shh....I'm here for you Jess. How can I help you? Are you hurt?" Alex's voice was gentle as he consoled her and patted her shoulder.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Sarah's eye were wide and she leaned forward as she demanded answers.

"Give her some time." Alex frowned.

"We don't have time!" Sarah lifted her arms out.

"Please back off Sarah, you're not helping. She's clearly not ready to talk. Shhhh....take your time." Alex shook his head at Sarah and rubbed her shoulder.

Alex kept insisting for Sarah to sit down and wait.

Jessica tuned them out as she sorted out her thoughts.

'Is this real? This isn't another vision is it? We're not going to die are we?' Jessica's eyes darted about.

"Better? Do you need something?" Alex's eyes were full of concern, he snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Ah! I um..." Jessica blushed, she let go of him.

".....Jess, are you hurt?" Alex kept his hand on her shoulder.

"No! I... " She backed away and Alex maintained eye contact and lifted his palms.

"Do you need some space?" Alex.

"Tell us whats wrong already." Sarah tilted her head at her.

"Sarah. Please you're not helping." Alex sighed.

"It...It's okay. I think I'm okay." Jessica held herself and breathed in.

"So......?" Sarah tapped her foot.

Jessica explained to them what had happened all.

Sarah would stop her and ask for some clarification on certain things.

Alex stood by patiently waiting and watching her with concern.

"Amazing! So you can see the future! Do you know what this means?" Sarah grinned.

"Sarah. She just went through something traumatic. Let's give her some time." Alex suggested.

"No! She can find Eian!" Sarah.

"What?" Alex tilted his head and Jessica mirrored his confusion.

"The guide-lady-whatever. She said you could only see the future through your eyes. You said you saw him in your visions. That wouldn't be possible if he wasn't alive." Sarah.

"OH?! You're right! Jess that's amazing!" Alex grinned at her.

His excitment quickly melted as he watched her though.

"She still needs some time Sarah. Eian's a tough guy. A few minutes won't kill him. Also, Jess, do you even know how to use your powers?" Alex met her eyes again with concern.

"No." She replied meekly and looked away, her guide hadn't taught her anything.

"Ugh!" Sarah begun pacing.

A brief moment passed, Sarah quickly mastered herself.

"Well either way. It's a good power to have, even if we can't use it now. I was about to contact the djinn anyways, so finding Eian shouldn't be too hard. At least we know he's alive." Sarah concluded.

"That's the spirit Sarah, thanks. Jess you too. This is amazing news." Alex smiled at her and she felt her face heat.

"Thanks...." She looked away.

"Well. I'll get to it then. No time like the present." Sarah rubbed her hands togethere and quickly sat down on her previously contructed circle.

"Good luck." Alex smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up.

She saw as Sarah closed her eyes.

The circle began to glow.