Vanima and her party spent the next several weeks seeking potential allies with the aid of a merchant. They encountered various levels of acceptance, even after revealing Vanima's identity. Their guide appreciated the protection, but he knew it couldn’t last.

In the early morning, Vanima returned from hunting and reconnaissance. Stopping in front of their guide, she connected with his mind.

It is no longer safe. You need to leave right now. Grab your things and don’t look back.

Everyone watched the elf tremble in fear. He scrambled to gather his pack and ran. Fearful silence was his only goodbye when they looked into his eyes.

Penelo stepped up to Vanima and asked, “What did you say to make him run away in fear?”

She brought everyone into the conversation and huffed in acceptance.

The darkness has sent his minions out to kill and spread despair. They are moving too fast to evade. We must face what comes. I can’t guarantee our survival. Penelo, you will train with the scouts. Tonight, we fight for our lives.

“Yes, Ma'am.”

…

Saida gave Penelo a bow with a quiver of arrows and pointed to the fabric dangling from a tree branch.

“Hit the target. You have five arrows. Every miss and you owe me a penalty.”

“Wait! What penalty?”

A raised eyebrow from Saida was her only reply. With archery, you didn’t argue with the elf.

Settled into her stance, Penelo raised the bow, pulled an arrow out from the quiver, and took a deep breath as she pulled the string back. Exhaling, she let go of her tension and the arrow. It soared through the air, nicking the target in the corner enough to move it.

“You got lucky. I want you to pierce it, not brush by.”

Eyes closed, Penelo centered herself and made her second attempt and missed.

“Congratulations. Three more to go.”

She completed her training with two hits and three misses, earning her cleanup duty for the next three days.

Ievis pat Penelo's back in sympathy and said, “Grab your sword. It's my turn.”

The two faced with swords drawn, Fariane on the sideline ready to join later. Sword pointed at her, and Ievis made sure Penelo grasped the importance of his lesson.

“We face an unknown quantity of mutated creatures blessed by the darkness. Do not think for a second that you can rely on us to save you when every one of us fights for our lives. Show me you have any hope of surviving this fight.”

Satisfied with the determined look in her eyes, Ievis moved on. He put her through the different drills from stances, defensive maneuvers, and attack angles. Adjustments had to be made until he felt comfortable enough to put those lessons into practice by attacking her.

Clash!

“Adjust your stance. Don’t loosen your grip when you block. The enemy won’t wait for you to pick it up off the ground.”

Clash!

"Better. Don’t just move in one direction. Awareness of your surroundings will keep you alive, so keep adjusting.”

Clash!

“An improvement. Rest up. Fariane, as her partner in this fight, you two will face me next. I will use two swords to make it interesting.”

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The last bout pushed Penelo to greater heights. Ievis used both swords with the grace only a veteran could, a blur of metal twirling deadly intent. Fighting as a duo, Fariane adjusted to fill any gaps in the defense, surging forward to push Ievis back. Vanima joined in as a distraction to assess how attentive Penelo was to her surroundings.

That is enough. Saida killed an animal and prepared it for our meal. Rest up and relax.

…

Six silent shadow-covered predators felt Silvertres's power which sent them into a frenzy. Nylian led his five warriors toward the camp before the sun had vanished, too eager to kill the dark lord's enemy. No longer resembling an elf, these five mutated beasts ran on four legs, claws digging into the dirt each time.

Leading the charge, the largest of the six crashed sideways into a tree. Vanima standing above him, paws empowered with bright light.

Penelo charged out with Fariane, swords shining brightly, and slashed into the closest shadow, exposing the beast long enough for Fariane to spin, cutting its head off. Ievis exposed another beast from the other side, allowing Saida to put several arrows into its head.

Vanima could only grant them all this buff for a short while. Two died, leaving her with the biggest threat and three more for her group to face. Squaring up against the beast, she used her smaller stature and agility to maneuver. Strike and retreat. Evade death that hid inside the rolling shadows.

Saida fired more arrows, convincing two shadow beasts to verge toward her and Ievis, leaving one for Penelo and Fariane. It’s the best they could do for their young charge.

Penelo gave ground, trying to evade the claws she glimpsed each time she or Fariane deflected a strike. They could tell Vanima's buff had already lost potency now that she was fighting for her life.

The creature was relentless in its attacks. It changed the angle and direction of its strikes between the two. Once it had assessed the weak link, it pounced.

Penelo stumbled, putting Fariane in a position to charge or watch her get mauled. Arm brace for the impact, Fariane reacted.

The claw caught flesh, and she screamed.

Agony flamed to life. The pain trailed down her cheek in a spray of blood she couldn't see. Vision ripped away, plunging her into darkness.

“No!”

Penelo screamed moments from her demise, thoughts only of her friend clutching her face.

Blood spilled from a gash along Vanima's side, the price for her intervention. She pounced on top of the shadows looming over Penelo. Teeth and claws tore into its flesh, distracting it long enough for Fariane to thrust her sword into its chest, hand still pressed to her mutilated face.

Stand your ground, Penelo. Fariane needs you.

Dashing to the side, Vanima returned to her game of predator and prey probing for an opening.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle, Ievis and Saida fought for their lives. Twirling both blades, Ievis held a defensive line so Saida could strike out. Now that Penelo and Fariane weren’t fighting, Vanima let their buff dissipate so she could strengthen the other two.

Taking a risk, Ievis slid under a leaping shadow, slicing into its belly, leaving one caught between two veteran scouts. It died howling defiantly.

…

Nylian felt the last of his fellow shadow beasts fall to the enemy. Filled with the aroma of death mixed with the suffering felt by the injured, he condensed it all.

A blast of dark energy knocked everyone left alive to the ground. Furious, he ignored the wolf and charged toward the weakest left to protect their injured. His mutated visage was on full display as he sailed in the air, moments away from ending another puny life. Maw opening wide, Nylian let go of the last shreds of his former self and succumbed to the beast.

…

Neither Saida nor Ievis could do anything but watch the horror. Not even Vanima could reach the elf in time.

The sight of Penelo raising her sword gave her hope. Pouring her energy into that sword, she watched the beast obscure her view. The light of the sword tip bursting from the top of the creature's skull was the only clue as to the outcome.

Penelo scrambled back, screaming, sword forgotten. Her hand pressed to the stumps where two of her fingers had used to be, Penelo cried.

Vanima observed her party now that the fight had concluded. Everyone sported a myriad of scrapes and bruises. Ievis bandaged Fariane's face. Her right eye had been torn but she retained her other eye. That left Saida, who wrapped Penelo’s hand.

When the elf thrust the blade into the open maw, its teeth sliced off two fingers. Considering the alternative, the loss was worth it. As for her wounds, the slash to her side had broken a few ribs. The last of her gifted power reserves went to heal herself, leaving her drained.

…

When Vanima had recovered her pool of energy surrounded by friends who cared deeply for each other, she strained her capability and sent Silvertree a message to pass on to Elwin.

Shadow beasts encountered west of the mountains. Return home.

She had no way to confirm if her mate would get the message. Only faith in Silvertree.

“What do we do now? There is no way we can face those again and survive.”

Hand placed on Penelo’s shoulder, Fariane squeezed it and said, “Stop blaming yourself over my injury. I can see it in your eyes.” She winked with her one visible eye. The other scouts giggled at the joke despite their best efforts to hide it.

Jokes aside, Penelo is right. We can no longer traverse these lands safely now that the enemy is aware of our presence. It’s time to return home and organize our new army.

They all knew this fight had been only a taste of what darkness could bring to the field. Victory was anything but assured.

Please be safe, my mate. I’m coming home.