The forest snapped alive with sound of violence.
The first beast lunged, a hulking, four legged with jagged fangs and skin like scaled bark.
Its roar cut through the trees like a warning bell. The guards didn't wait.
Swords scraped from sheaths, boots scraped the forest floor, and a wall of steel met the first wave.
The guards met them with steel and desperation.
"Stay behind me," Sari said sharply, stepping in front of Alaric before he could argue.
One of the beasts surged toward them, claws up, teeth bared.
Sari's blade flashed.
A clean slice and its head rolled and thudded to the dirt, twitching. But even as it fell, another took its place, there were simply too many of them.
Alaric stepped back and raised his hand, flame flickered to life in his palm.
[Fireball!]
[Fireball!]
Two swirling spheres toward another beast charging from the flank. The burst struck its shoulder and side. Flames licked its fur, but it only shrieked and turned toward him, now even more enraged.
