Michael stood perfectly still as he listened to the serene silence of the forest, his eyes looking around at the folliage surrounding him, trying to see if he can spot anything. With one hand he gently operated the wire which made the Hay-yen corpse nod, on the other side of the tree, while he held close the second one connected to the loop trap with his other hand. He could hear the breeze dance inbetween the trees' branches, bird sounds dully chirping in the distance and his own ragged breathing whistling lightly in his ear drums.

The world felt like it was frozen. 'This would almost be enjoyable.' He thought as he felt the cold metal dagger still in his back, resting underneath his left lung. He could feel his adrenaline slowly start to wear off as his body got heavier. Still, this feeling of needing rest didn't last long as light crackling of leaves, grass and twigs began popping all around. The sounds were quiet and calculated, one would be barely able to hear them unless they specifically looked out for them. He could hear about 3 or maybe 5 of them, but it was hard to tell, still he didn't hear any of them yet where he wanted them.

The sounds began to slowly spread, encircling the area he and Azhul were hidden in. That is when he saw the first one. It was flanking him, expectable. It began to speak in growls and cackles as it made eye contact with Michael, pulling out machete lenght daggers. Its eyes clearly saw the short blade sticking of the young man's back at an angle, which seemed to embolden its steps, despite the human slowly starting to stand up.

Michael could hear the sounds of movement around him more clearly and one of them got very close to him on the other side of the tree, letting out several snaps of movement on the dirt, right inbetween the trees with the loop. The human smirked as he then yanked with both hands the wood handle he held onto, which resulted in a pained chocking laugh to be heard loudly from the other side.

At that point the Hay-yen that was staring at him, seemed stunned for a moment before it roared out and snarled. Michael held his position and and keept pulling as hard as he could on the wire, which kept producing more pained choking sounds coming from where the trap was laid.

Hard and quick thumps of dashing on four limbs began to be heard from behind him, at which point the young man only had time to turn to see another one charging at him, but he didn't need to do much, as the hidden predator pounced, jaws open, right into one of the wires he set up around him and Azhul. The Hay-yen quickly came to a yelping full stop as the wire cut into its mouth, possibly up to the jaw's bone.

At this point Azhul, from her hiding spot, got up while picking her halberd and using her charging speed, she got quickly to the downed Hay-yen. Using the spike on her halberd, and the metal heavy center of it, she speared its left leg and hammered it down to the base. This was most likely done, trying to break the bone, which got a loud series of desperate yelps and laughs out of the creature.

The Tuskir woman then stood nearly back to back with Michael, weapon ready, as she looked about the forest and snorted at the air. "There's 2 others around here." She said snorting and huffing.

"I am looking one dead in the eye. I think it might be a bit stunned. How is the wire doing?" He muttered while still keeping focus on the Hay-yen in front of him, who began to look around at the trees confused after seeing one of its comrades, being halted from a leap for not apparent reason.

"Aye, it worked. You can leave it be, the filthy mutt in it is unconcious." Azhul replied as she kept her Halberd pointed towards the downed Hay-yen that was writhing in pain on the dirt. "What's the plan now?"

"Hope they don't spot the wires too soon and pray we survive? I am working on fumes here." Michael replied ragged as he let out a nervous chuckle, sweat going down his muddy face.

"I don't understand the saying, but I am guessing it is not good." Azhul oinked back as her eyes darted about and her snout just kept huffing at the air, hoping to get a leading smell, but with the blood spilled in the air and them surrounding her and Michael, it was hard to tell, which scent was which and where they went specifically.

'Well... it could have been worse.' The young man lamented mentally. The hay-yen he locked eyes with held still, except for hand that went to unsheath a second dagger. It then began moving towards him slowly, a blade held forward and the other in an arm coiled back in a ready stabbing motion.

'Shit...' Is all that went through Michael's head as the dagger held forward by the Hay-yen pressed eventually into the wire tied in front of it that it then easily cut it with a slash. The furred enemy then began barking and cackling with its snout slightly upwards as if speaking to something.

Michael confused for a moment, then realized what was going on as leaves rustled above himself and Azhul. Knowning he didn't have much time he turned and shoulder checked Azhul in the back as hard as he could which made the large sow stagger forward.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOI-" Is all Azhul managed to squeal out as she got shoved. After catching herself from falling she quickly turned to face Michael, mid sentence, but before she could finish she just heard the human man scream.

As the Hay-yen ambusher dropped Michael managed to block a direct stab with his right forearm, the blade sliding between his radius and ulna and through his forearm, down to the hilt. The tip of the blade was short from hitting his throat by a few fingers. The young man screamed in pain with tears flowing down his face. The sounds of incoherent wailing were intense and sharp, but they began turning into a hiccuping laugh like that of a mad man. His eyes were still looking at the hyena like attacker that snarled in his face.

At that moment Azhul saw Michael reach with his left hand to his back and wrapping his digits around the blade in his back, he pulled it out in a quick movement and just as quickly he shoved the dagger in the Hay-yen's right armpit, which was exposed due to the previous attack, the human barely managed to block.

The human's opponent yelped and cackled in pain as it let go of the dagger in his forearm, at which point Azhul speared it against the tree with the sharp tip of her halberd inbetween its right side ribs. "Michael we need to fall back! We don't know where the rest are!"

"Ahaha ha! Ha hah! Agh-... NO POINT! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! Aghaha ha... I- I- I-... I CAN'T RUN. Hahaha! AGH-... hmmngh- I- I AM OUT OF IDEAS. I- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO... I- " Michael yelled out stuttering at full volume as he let out a loud awkward laugh. This is always what he did when he knew he was going to feel pain. When he needed to have blood taken. When going to the dentist for a cavity. When he got surgery with shitty local anesthesia. In his first few fist fights. He disliked pain so much he always cried, but eventually it happened more out of habit more than anything. At one point he stopped crying entirely and slowly, each time he found himself in such a painful situation, although his eyes flowed with tears, he always prefered to smile and laugh.

He began slowly walking towards the Hay-yen he originally had a face down with, who began to step back in a bit of stagger. "I- hah haha... just buy us time. Y-yes. Buy... time..." Is all he could say, inbetween his hiccups and laughing, as he once more felt pain course through him. This time different, it was sharp and pulsing, his right arm was burning up like a hot poker was pressing through it. He could feel his back become wet once more, although the pressure from before now dissapeared. His eyes were wide opened as he was afraid to close them, feeling like if he did, he might not be able to open them again. Things felt like they were fading in and out around him.

Azhul could only stare at him, he was bleeding from his back again and his arm was just a red mess, yet he laughed and was walking towards one of the Hay-yens. She could feel a weird sense of determination building into her, a strong huffed snort leaving her snout. 'If he can look them straight in the eye in his state and laugh, what is my excuse to wish to back up?' She thought as she began posting herself close to him and facing backwards, covering Michael from behind knowing there were still some of them around that could try to jump on them from behind, but there were too many angles to cover.

So there they stood, with a shambling defense, propped up on just stubborn defiance for their attackers.

++++

Lidaya stared at this creature in front of her as she took a few steps back in disbelief. 'What is this thing?! It can't be an apillian that shaved. It's a bloody monster fit to be the Devourer's pet...' Is what ran through her mind as she looked at this pink furless thing, who was cackling like a Hay-yen in her eyes, while pulling out the dagger that Mawrna, who now laid against the tree she dropped from, put in his arm.

'We were supposed to deal with wounded tribute. Not this thing.' The Stalk leader thought frustrated as she gritted her teeth.

First Kloh gets chocked by something an invisible wire and pulled with her head against a tree's trunk. Then Uuna trips and gets her leg crushed and now Mawrna got stabbed and speared. What did this filthy furless beast do to her squad of Stalkers?

Before she could further panick about this, Lidaya's eyes met with the monster's, as it now looked directly at her, dagger in the hand with the non-wounded arm, just laughing and snickering with bared teeth widely at her. It began moving, but it was slow and staggering.

'This is it. Come a bit closer, filth.' Lidaya thought as she did a signal with her hand, just small enough for it to be noticed by who would know to look for it. At this point, the last still able bodied stalker still standing, Ahren, dashed and lunged at Michael from his left flank, uncovered by Azhul. The sow reacted and began turning but her size made her that bit too slow.

'Hah. Good bye and good riddance, beast.' Is what went through Lidaya's mind while seeing Ahren in the middle of her pounce motion, fangs and daggers bared and very soon impacting in the pink beast that dared to do this to them.

Yet, in that moment a quick chilling wind picked up in the air.

++++

Runhar, Gharna, Rok and Oinna have been running it through the woods as quick as the wind, mainly due to the enchantment put out by Urla on them to help them out.

The guard captain and Gharna were in the lead of this pack run, the two sniffing and snorting loudly at the air and listening to the eerily silent forest, only slightly disturbed by the constant cold wind that surrounded them.

"I smell blood. Of many types. It is not good." Gharna said as she kept her snout to the air, while glancing slightly towards Runhar, who seemed to have his ears perked up and soon after, twitching.

"Hay-yen laughter and yelling. We are getting closer. I am going to take charge. Follow up." He oinked determined. Runhar, with his right hand and arm, he held his shield forward. He then reached down with his other hand and he took a quick handful of mud which he held tightly into his fist. A runed bracelet around his right wrist then began glowing brown, orange and green. "Down the mountain slope I tumble, Crush all in my path with a rocky rumble! Boulder Charge!" Runhar chanted as the dirt in his hand began swirling in the air around him.

The young boar began picking up speed, the dirt in the air surrounding him then coming to stick to his shield and as he charge forward with more speed than the others, more rocks and mud began gathering at the front of his shield, forming this natural textured blockade in front of his shield. The boar's stocky legs were nearly eating the dirt as he dashed, leaving behind angled small craters.

The sounds of laughing and yelling got louder as he went on, which only emboldened Runhar to move as quick as his legs allowed. 'GHHHAH! One of them is one of my own and the other bastard I need to make up to and give a proper duel! Come on, MOVE!' He thought as he just snorted and huffed while charging on and as he did, he could then see it. Azhul and Michael and two Hay-yen, one about to pounce on the human from his flank, unseen by them.

"NO, YOU DON'T!" Runhar squealed out as he made the dirt erupt under him and his dash kept going forward. The swine then caught the Hay-yen mid jump slaming into its side and sending it launching through the air. It yelped and growled in pain as it began skipping on the dirt and grass like a stone on water, before tumbling and coming eventually at a stop, next to a tree about thirty feet (9 meters), from where it was before.

Azhul oinked loudly a cheer. "HAHAHA! Took you long enough! I thought you were leaving the fun to us." She said with a renewed sense of ease and boldness in her voice. She would then turn and point her weapon towards the still standing Hay-yen, but the wound on her leg, which opened due to her previous moving about, was bleeding again, she she couldn't run without intense pain.

"Not a chance!" Runhar replied as he began pulling his axe out, while also looking at the still standing Hay-yen. "They're here! We got one still standing! Maybe more hidden about!" He oinked out loudly.

Lidaya, couldn't understand them and the sudden apperance of the male tuskir took her by surprise. 'Shit. Curse this. I am not going to the Devourer, yet. I can train more sods.' She thought as she snarled and began leaping up a tree and climbing to the thick branches.

Runhar was about to go after her as she began climbing, but he found himself having trouble to move quickly as he felt his knees shake under him. 'Agh, damn it. I over did it...' He huffed annoyed at himself as he looked at the Hay-yen climbing. He chucked his axe after it, but it only met the tree as the throw was slightly slower than the the hyena like opponent's movement who seemed to be able to scatter away into the canopy.

Gharna, Rok and Oinna began to catch up and arrive as well. Immediately Runhar began directing with Azhul towards the still concious Hay-yen about. Rok and Gharna gladly began to deal with them if they seemed to be attempting to grab any weapons. The one with the broken leg, attemped to swipe at them with a dagger when they approached it, but the one being chocked against a tree and the other with a dagger in her armpit that paralyzed her arm and holding onto a halberd stab wound inbetween her ribs, didn't seem too keen to cause trouble.

Oinna began looking to see who looked the worst and seeing Michael dripping with blood from his back and arm she wanted to approach him, but he stood there, teeth bared, mouth slightly agape and a bloody dagger raised up. "U-uhm Michael... you can put the weapon down now. Its fine now. I need to stop your bleeding o-or things could-... go... Michael?" Oinna began saying unsure as it seemed the human didn't react to her approach.

As Runhar finished assessing the situation, his eye wandered towards Oinna who was approaching close up to Michael who had his weapon raised and for a moment he could feel his fur raise on his back until Oinna grasped the human's cheeks and looked at his eyes.

"H-he is unconcious... on his feet." Is all she said, in genuine surprise, as she then shook herself out of slightly shocked state, She began lowering the young human man and leaning him against the tree they were found fighting around. Soon Oinna, began using some druidic magic, with runs glowing on the back of her gloves and trying her best to seal up and cleanse Michael's wounds. Having a bit of practice before when he got injured in the fight with Runhar, she did her best, but there was an uneasy expression on her face.

Runhar looked at her and then at Michael, who was laid back, eyes open and unfocused. As his legs came back to be somewhat usable, he huffed as he began looking about, bumping slightly into some of the wiring still tied inbetween trees around. The swine captain would also assist with cutting out one of the Hay-yen from the wire loop trap. He could feel this weird sense of acceptance of defeat inside him. Still, that brought something else along with it. 'Mountains will stand tall even if you think of them as hills. This is just another one to learn and climb.' He thought while glancing at the human, a gaze of genuine respect watching over Michael, a single sighed huff leaving his flat snout.

The Tuskir, once they tended to Michael's critical injuries to make him at least decently stable and after helping Azhul out with some proper ointments and bandages, they also saw whether or not they wanted to take any Hay-yens as hostages. The one with the dagger in her armpit and wound between the ribs, seemed to have bleed out while they were securing the situation. The one with the wire around her throat was barely conciuous and was originally struggling to breath and the one with the broken leg, eventually gave up once it saw the situation was pointless. The last one still about laying on the ground, the one that Runhar charged into, had an arm clearly bending the wrong way and was bleeding from the snout, but was still alive, yet unconcious.

The group rounded them up, grabbed Michael's backpack which Azhul stashed in some bushes and with their new hostages and the unconcious human, only after they made sure there was nobody else about, they began making their way home.