As they stepped into the clearing.
Whoosh!
An arrow whizzed past Raven's shoulder.
She gasped, instinctively ducking.
Theron yanked out his blade, back to back with his sister.
"Who's there?"
Kai didn't even flinch.
He rolled his shoulders and clicked his tongue. "Took them long enough."
From the trees, figures emerged—some dropping from branches, others stepping out with rusted swords and cudgels.
Ten. No.
Sixteen in total.
A tall, grimy man sneered, stepping forward. "Hand over the girl and your beasts, and we might let you crawl away."
Kai chuckled, low and sharp. "Bad move."
Before anyone could blink-
Whoosh!
He vanished into the shadows.
The clearing exploded into chaos.
"AAAH!"
One of the thugs screamed as Vael swooped down like a silent storm, claws raking across his face.
Vex lunged out of nowhere, fangs sinking into another's leg and dragging him screaming into the thicket.
Raven and Theron moved like sparks and flames, back-to-back.
