Cornered 3

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The explosion blinded them. Luckily, the attacking beasts had it worse. The three had been a distance away from the blast, but it threw them away like ragged dolls.

As the party regained their sights, the wolves were struggling to get up. There was a large bowl in the ground marking the epicentre. Debris and rock was strewn about.

Dagger was the first to move, quickly darting forward, throwing a knife as she did. The knife plunged into the wolf, as she withdrew another longer knife and stabbed it in its neck. Instantly, she bolted, already running back to the safety of the group. Behind her, the three wolves, separated by the explosion, finally shrugged off the effects and gave chase.

It all happened so fast that she was next to Tommy by the time he asked,

"What?"

"They were blinded. Good job."

"Next time a warning please." Fatty groaned.

He smacked his club on his shield, trying to grab the wolves attention. Lester too, darted forward, from his spot behind Fatty, stepping sideways, his sword lunging for the frontrunner, piercing through its open jaw and back out. The counter had been precise, even allowing Lester to jump back, borrowing the momentum from the wolf's charge.

The third wolf finally made it to Fatty, and took a club to its head for its efforts.

All three beasts were injured. The one flung forward by the blast had been skewered by Dagger's quick attacks and was yet to get up again. It was sprawled out, struggling, and bleeding out.

The second one was lucky that the sword hadn't entered its brain. It managed to avoid a critical blow. Nevertheless, it's jaw was hanging open and blood gushed freely down it. It howled.

The last one was dazed, and scared. Despite having avoid the blast entirely, it seemed scared. More knives flew out, embedded in its flank.

"Pack animals are stronger together. Let's finish them."

"Yep."

They systematically dismantled the three beasts, now that they were much weaker. Bleeding continued. The three worked so well in sync that Tommy couldn't participate at all. His spell took time, and it was over too soon.

They three beasts lay dead. The three humans were also panting, particularly Fatty. Dagger went around the bodies, collecting her knifes like she was collecting dirty cutlery off a table. Before she approached a body, she would first throw a couple blades at it. Then, she would take each knife out, wipe it on a clean section of the fur or skin of the dead wolf, instead the blade for and nicks, then re-holstering it. All the while, she whistled a happy tune.

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Fatty too, had put down his pack. He was taking out something from it.

Meanwhile, Lester went to the one killed first, a single stab wound in it's neck and one glassy eye staring at them. He cut it open, one precise cut to its belly, then folding the flaps out, slicing off connective tissues. He examined the rest as he worked.

"Tier 2 Quicksilver wolves. I thought they had gone extinct in these parts."

"Guys, is it safe to do this?" Tommy asked. He had fallen where he had stood, too drained after the adrenaline surge left him.

"What do you mean?"

"There can be more wolves."

"Oh, for sure. These guys live in packs of 20 or so."

"Shii.. Shouldn't we run back?"

"Dummy. We'll be dead."

"Tommy, we can't go back, not for a while. I heard no less than half a dozen howls. Here, we can see them coming, but we won't survive the woods. This guys are terrific hunters, from what I know. That's why they were eradicated."

"But we can't stay here."

"Why not?"

"In the open?"

"We'll figure it out. This is a nice spot - great view of anything heading our way. You like the view, right?"

"Hey, stop messing with him." Fatty said, "Actually, once we are done here, we'll retreat into the ravine. There is a cave complex warded against beasts. We might find other adventurers there."

"That's the protocol."

"You didn't call me Dummy this time?"

"That's the protocol, Dummy."

"Anyway, no point in wasting perfectly good pelts. These claws are also worth a lot."

Dagger took two and hit them together, producing sparks. Then, she paused, before taking out the two feathers. When she scratched an orange feather, there was a shrill piercing sound along with a row of spark, and yet the feather was fine. Not a single strand had been broken off it. However, the claw was battered.

Her eyes lit up. Next, sliced at the claw with the feather, and a deep cut was left in its silver surface.

"Ho ho. Leader, I want this."