"What is it?" Quinn's surprisingly serious voice asked.

"The trees, they've been tainted with blood, recently. Something is waiting for us."

"Fuck, if this is why we've not seen Gavin, it's not a fight we can win." Given the sheer size and strength of Thaddeus, hearing those words coming from him was more than enough to put Rohl on edge and clearly emphasize the danger he had now found himself in.

I can't see or sense a bloody thing, I suppose that's druids for you.

Despite having a likely powerful magic user on his side, Rohl's now tense, and adrenaline-filled body did not relax, how could it when now even he could see the spot the rustling of foliage that erupted from all around them? There could be no escape from this fight.

Shit, fuck. I need to run. No. I don't know. Fight. What do I do?

Rohl's mind was a jumble of mixed thoughts and useless suggestions. This was not like his encounter with the sacrilegious beast, this was a fight where multiple enemies would be right in front of him, intent on tearing him apart. His lack of experience in such a situation was surely known to all and even with these companions around him, Rohl could do little to quell the rising panic within him.

Stay strong. Stay strong. I got this. I'll be fine. Stay strong. I am blessed. I can do this. I can do this. They need me. It'll be okay.

Even with the reassuring words Rohl desperately clung to, his body still remained frozen, there was only one thing that could snap him out of this and thankfully for all, it didn't rely on his immediate actions.

"We must not get surrounded, Terrance, hold the rear. Mimi, Thaddeus, hold firm. Rohl. Rohl! Assist Terrance, punish any that get through." Quinn's usually jovial voice had been replaced with a stern commanding tone, one that Rohl did not hesitate to obey despite his shaky self.

And just as Rohl found himself able to stand and fight, the rest of the ranging party snapped into action with well-practised and surprising ease.

With one fluid motion, Terrance brought about his staff and thrust it deep into the dirt below them. The action brought about no fancy flash of magic or immediate visible effect, but the gentle shuffling of the ground below was clear. Seconds later, the first few shoots of vines sprung out of the dirt, they were small at first, barely capable of tripping over a small child but as Rohl waited and watched, the vines grew thicker and taller with harsh-looking spikes at every interval.

It was an impressive display and after a quick twist of Terrance's staff, the vines began to intertwine, creating a thick shield of nature in all directions except one.

"We'll filter them through the opening, make their numbers mean nothing. Rohl, the spell is draining, Terrance won't be able to move whilst it's active, if anything manages to hack its way through, kill it."

With that last order said, Quinn finally drew his bow and pointed it at the small gap in the vines, between the three rangers holding the entrance, Rohl felt safe turning his back on the only way in, even if that meant facing the shadowed darkness of the thorny wall.

No light was able to seep in through the vines and whilst that reassured Rohl of its strength, it also meant he could see nothing of the outside. All he could do was draw his small blade and listen to the chorus of sounds that had erupted from all sides.

It's a fucking stampede of them. Fuck. It's okay. Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. Quinn knows what he's doing. Just breathe and stab anything that gets through. I can do this. Breathe and stab. Breathe and stab.

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With the barrier holding strong, all Rohl could do was stare intensely and listen to the chorus of battle around him. The thunderous sound of charging monsters, of claws tearing at the thorn barrier, of swords clashing and arrows firing as Rohl's companions fought to hold the monsters at bay within the narrow entryway.

He could hear the fierce battle in all its glory and horror, hear the death cries of all manner of beasts, hear the grunts and moans of pain as his companions clashed with their foes. But no matter how badly Rohl wanted to turn around and see the carnage for himself, he knew he couldn't.

He had to protect Terrance at all costs, even if his own instincts fluctuated between fight, flight and pure fear.

It wasn't much longer until the ground beneath them began to darken with blood, the thick liquid slowly seeped through the fabric of Rohl's shoes and pooled at his feet.

How many are there, how many have they killed? What is out there?

Rohl knew without a doubt that the attacking creatures hadn't solely grouped at the entrance, he could hear the claws and fangs ripping at the thorned wall on all sides, he could hear it being torn away as more vines rushed to fill any gaps. But no matter how powerful the spell was, even it couldn't hold forever.

The first breach came from a small green hand that pierced the vines near the ground and clawed desperately at Rohl's own ankles. Only after a myriad of panicked kicks and stomps did the hand finally release him and return to its now furious owner.

It was a tiny victory and one Rohl completely ignored as more hands found their way through. A large muscular fist struck out from his left and was met with a panicked stab of Rohl's dagger. Even with the added strength afforded by his fear, Rohl's blade failed to pierce clean through the hand and would likely have remained stuck if Rohl's urgent need to stab a fur-covered hand at his right hadn't granted him the strength to free it.

But with the spell's protection not infallible and already a handful of successful breaches, it wasn't long before more appendages, horns and weapons found their way through and sought desperately to maim anything in their way.

I can do this. Breathe and stab. Breathe and stab. They're holding so can I.

As reassuring as that thought had previously been, the ever-expanding holes in his protection easily tore away any hope or comfort it gave. The darkness of their shelter had long been swallowed by the light. Something that would have brought comfort, that was if it didn't allow Rohl to get a clear vision of the horde surrounding them. Orcs, bugbears, trolls, wolves, all manner of beats and foul creatures were out there, just waiting for a chance to tear them apart.

Fuck. Fuck. There's still so many.

Just a few glimpses of the sight were enough to send Rohl into a frozen panic, enough to make him drop the blood-stained dagger in his hands and block out the sound of combat erupting behind him.

"Gods dammit Rohl. Do your job and hold."

Rohl wasn't sure who had spoken, but what was clear was the pain and exhaustion in their voice. They were losing this fight; they would die here, and their bodies torn apart by the savage swarm outside.

As much as a warrior might find comfort in dying valiantly in a brave last stand, Rohl simply couldn't.There would be no valiant fight to the death, especially not when it reached them.

A fucking minotaur.

The beast was easily double the size of Thaddeus with a thick and muscular form that would put any other being to shame. The horns that erupted from its fur-covered head would have ploughed through their defences with ease and yet the creature didn't charge. Instead, it approached slowly as if enjoying the fear its presence created. It seemed to live for the anticipation of the kill and even went as far as to raise its great axe into the air to heighten the swarm's fury and bloodlust.

"Quinn!" Even with the sounds of battle raging around them, Rohl's terrified voice was clearly audible amidst the carnage and despite giving no detail in his shout. The lead ranger still turned on his heel and pushed Rohl to the side.

The man's experience was clear at that moment, there was no hesitation or fear visible within his blood-stained form just a calm collectedness that allowed him to raise his bow and unleash an arrow at the encroaching beast. And even as that arrow barely pierced into the minotaur's body, the ranger didn't hesitate in losing another.

Neither its roars of anger nor the countless bodies throwing themselves at the dwindling thorns around him were enough to distract the ranger. Quinn simply continued to fire with expert precision, right until the last moment when the minotaur finally reached them and tore apart the barrier with a single clear swipe of its axe.

And with the spell now completely gone, there was nothing to keep the horde at bay.