Fraeya let Elwin tug her away from the looming danger. It"s real! The creature actually exists!

In a moment of weakness, Fraeya whispers, "We're all going to die."

Elwin bit down on her leg hard enough to bring her back into the moment. She met the wolf's piercing gaze and found her resolve.

"Morco! Lorthen! We can't fight this creature. Our only hope is to run."

Lorthen snarled and faced the evil stalking them. "That's enough out of you. I'm tired of taking orders from a cowardly elf who prefers the company of a rabid wolf to her flesh and blood. The only reason we are stuck with you is because of this stupid animal. We all know the elders are only punishing you for not controlling it in the village."

Joining his friend, Morco held up his bow and said, "That's right! We are not just pawns to be used. We are warriors."

Paralyzed with fear, Fraeya could only watch Thoren charge at the darkness, ready to impale the creature with the tip of his sword.

"Thoren!" Morco shouted in surprise when his friend vanished. Hands shaking, he fired an arrow, only to gawk when it too disappeared into the inky black haze. His friend's cry of pain pierced the air in response.

The beast roared and pounced from his protective cloud of darkness, teeth ripping into Morco's outstretched arm. Thoren roared in defiance and burst through the shadows. Ice covered his body causing him to shiver. He gritted his teeth and slashed down at the creature holding Morco's arm.

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Fraeya watched in abject horror as the monster let go of Morco, jumped back, and let Thoren strike down his friend instead.

The attack sliced into the elf's neck causing Thoren to drop his weapon. Morco screamed in pain as he fell to the ground, hand clutching his wounded neck. Thoren could do nothing to save the elf, so he yanked the arrow lodged in his shoulder, picked up his blade, and faced the darkness.

Elwin tackled Fraeya to the ground and growled. Back to her senses, she ruffled his fur and pushed him off so she could rise. Fraeya could tell the beast would take its time playing with her men before finishing them off.

I'm next if I don't escape.

Fraeya put on a burst of speed and ran with her forest guardian by her side. She could still hear the screams of the dying clinging to her like a cloak of shame wrapped around her.

We were taught never to leave an elf behind, yet here I am. They may have been complete fools who didn't know any better, but no one deserved that kind of fate.

The wolf's presence comforted her, even when silence reigned supreme over the land once more. Her companion howled loud enough that she had to cover her ears from the pain.

Forcing herself to look back, Fraeya wished she hadn't.

It came for her. Fighting past the disparity of the situation, Fraeya started to sprint.

A pack of wolves howled to her right and the wolf beside her responded in kind. Distracted by the new arrivals, Fraeya tripped over a tree root sticking out of the ground and face-planted into the dirt.

Tears poured down her face as she struggled to catch her breath.

I'm going to die if I don't start running, so stop crying Fraeya, and save your people!

Elwin licked her tears away and joined the pack as they collided with the monster. She sent them a silent prayer of thanks, pushed off the ground, and forced herself to run back home.