A distant beastly roar shook the forest and Eian's hopes dwindled further.

That wasn't the sound of a werewolf, it sounded more akin to the plant-beast he completely expended rock armor on.

The wind also visibly picked up within the forest and Eian's stomach dropped, they couldn't face more of those wind-element birds.

They were dead, so fucking dead and as if to add insult to injury he heard several wolf howls far off in the distance.

Eian's heart hammered within his chest, things weren't looking good.

Eian watched as a few werewolves attempted to cut them off, strangely a pack of wolves were attacking another set of werewolves up ahead.

He cleaved a werewolf skull as it charged him, it felt down limp and dead, but he had not a moment to spare it a second glance.

Normally he would be wholly confident in this fight, but the others were not quiet so durable and Sarah was lagging far behind.

He and Alex didn't have much to worry about clad entirely in metal, but Jessica and Sarah were still vulnerable in many areas.

Jessica had been shouting several incoherent sentences, but he ignored her, he had more important things to worry about.

He chopped at another wolf's neck only to partially sever the head, still it would die all the same.

This had been his job so far, kill anything which got ahead of him, Sarah was the slowest and holding them all back.

Turning he noted he had almost lost sight of the rest of the group.

'Fuck!' Eian frowned, they were getting surrounded.

He caught sight of a bear charging at werewolves from a distance, Eian's eyes widened that was the strangest thing ever.

"Guys! Hurry! They're close!" Eian stopped and beckoned them to hurry.

Eian caught sight of Alex say something before turning to look at Sarah.

He caught sight of several wolves jumping Sarah, he shouted a warning, he even saw as she was tackled upon by multiple bodies.

Several werewolves instantly combusted into flames, howling about and dying, but more kept madly dashing themselves at her.

Still Sarah sent them back in a flaming inferno, still Eian knew she couldn't keep it up forever and she most likely already hurt.

Eian ran back, they had to help her, Alex was just up ahead.

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

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

"NO!" Jessica was shaking uncontrollably.

Not waiting any longer Eian charged forward and severed limbs from the monsters.

Alex charged beside him, the monsters had already loosely surrounded them.

A wolf jumped at Eian, and split it's skull, twisting he dodged another's rushed tackle.

He blocked the impact of another enemy soon after, kicking it's back he proceeded to chop at its spinal cord, it fell either dead or paralyzed.

Eian had no time to verify kills, he chopped, pushed and tore his way forward.

"Jess!" Alex disappeared from Eian's sight.

Turning to look he saw Jessica had also been tackled to the floor, she was beng viciously bitten.

'Damn there are so many.' Eian grit his teeth attempting to stem his growing panic.

Sparks flew about as all the wolves a top Sarah visibly howled in pain, they fell limply to the floor, lightning forking through their bodies.

Sarah emerged bleeding profusely, Eian rushed over and helped her stand, she visibly poured healing unto herself.

The horde was all around them, Eian felt a distinct sense of dread for their chances.

Alex was helping a bleeding Jessica stand, she held her spear shaking eyeing around hysterically.

The girls got in-between Alex and Eian facing the horde of beasts on opposite ends.

The monsters stood there eyeing them for an instant, then they messily charged forward, Eian could hear conflict all over the forest.

Everything blurred as Eian did his best to stop anything from getting to the girls, they were vulnerable to claws and teeth.

Sarah couldn't afford to lose any more blood, and the glimpse he caught of Jessica proved she was also badly hurt.

Eian heard fighting behind him, but couldn't spare a glance.

Still Eian blocked, swung and shield bashed enemies, he saw several wolves around aflame and spreading fire about their allies.

Eian begun to feel several were-wolves latching on to him, he struggled to stay standing swinging wildly to dislodge them.

He heard shouts behind him and took a peek, several wolves were fighting Alex and Jessica was holding a few at bay, the bodies were piled on the floor around them.

Sarah was shooting bolts of lightning randomly, sometimes catching even more than one opponent.

Then the strangest thing happened, barely standing he saw a pack of regular wolves charge and attack the werewolves, the wind picked up and Eian saw several werewolves fall bleeding to the floor.

The forest erupted in anarchy as wolves, giant birds and even one of those plant-monsters joined the fray and attacked their enemies.

Eian wasted no time and activated rock-armor, if ever there was a time it was now.

Turning he saw Sarah panting on the floor struggling to zap enemies.

"Grab on!" Eian's almost couldn't recognize his voice through the armor.

Eian bundled Sarah under one arm like a child.

"Take her too!" Alex sounded desperate.

Sparing a quick glance Eian obliged him and bundled Jessica under the other arm, even as Alex held a bay any straggling enemies.

Feeling only slightly weird Eian charged at a random direction, wholly focusing on escape.

He hoped Alex was following behind him, but he couldn't stop moving to look.

*****

The group stopped fleeing a good while later, Sarah couldn't go on further.

Eian's rock armor had fallen apart long ago, and the girls were forced to move on foot.

Both girls needed help walking, luckily the monsters had been so focused on their frantic battle they had not been followed.

Eian breathed a sigh of relief, their apparent imminent death had been avoided for now, somehow.

Alex finished tending to Jessica himself, while he healed Sarah through what he called a life link.

He had been using the life-link on Jessica as they ran and hadn't had time to switch to Sarah.

Sarah's breathing was erratic and she was whimpering in pain, Eian kept an eye on her, even as she desperately attempted to heal herself despite Alex's life-link.

She sported several lacerations on her arms and legs, her back sported bright healed-over claw marks, her clothes were tatters.

She appeared to have had nothing vital hit and Eian couldn't believe how much dumb luck she had.

Her medium helmet had prevented facial injuries, though she had lost her staff sometime during her fight.

A combination of healing had been doing wonders, closing the wounds visibly.

An openly crying Jessica had equally been in bad shape, a good chunk of her leg muscle had been chewed off, hindering her movement.

Several scars sported her torso and Eian politely evaded looking at her overly torn clothes and the injures beneath.

The bleeding had apparently been healed during their escape.

She had lost all but one long-spear and was clinging to it like a life-line.

"Alex, help Sarah." Eian took a quick glimpse of Jessica and judged her stable enough for now.

"I am man. Life link." Alex continued examining at Jessica.

"I mean focus only on her. Jessica's not going to kneel over and die. Sarah might." Eian frowned this was serious.

Alerted Alex turned to look at Sarah, he looked indecisive, but walked over and begun tending to her.

"Enough, we can't stay here." Sarah's low voice betrayed her weakness especially when coupled with overall paleness.

She tried to get up, and almost toppled onto the ground.

Eian quickly scanned the surroundings, they were once more hopelessly lost.

He sighed, he would have to build another shelter now.

'I hate this fucking forest. It can go blow a dick.' Eian rubbed his face.

"We have to move." Sarah repeated herself, steely resolve reflected on her previously teary face.

"Yeah and go where?" Eian frowned, he was tired.

"Anywhere!" Sarah glared at him.

Eian shrugged, he quickly looked at Alex, waiting for his opinion.

Jessica was sniffling and drying her eyes, clearly in no condition to speak, let alone offer something useful.

"Yeah man. My well's empty. I need to recover more before I start healing more." Alex looked at Jessica sadly.

"Alright. Let's find somewhere I can start building." Eian started walking forward.

'My well's almost empty too.' Eian looked up at the bright sky.

This was going to be another long day, Eian just knew it.