When Verne heard the wolf howls, he left the shadow of the tavern wall and, forsaking any respect for the curfew, strode into the main square which was flooded in knee height mist. He stood in front of Aalis and the man from Maul, an arrow in his fingers, his eyes on the road from the quarry.

“Aalis, stay down.” He ordered, the sound of running paws coming towards them.

The first wolf tumbled, an arrow through its throat. The second yelped, skidding to a halt, Verne’s arrow in its eye. Verne held his ground, sighting along another arrow. There were at least a dozen now, leaping over their fallen comrades, snarling with a green light in their eyes. Verne released another arrow and another, trying to stop the incoming pack but it was no use. He was losing ground. There were too many of them and some were darting around the buildings, using alleys to get past Verne’s sharp aim.

“Verne, run!” Aalis cried.

Verne wouldn’t though he knew he should. Another arrow and another…until his quiver was empty. Verne swore then grabbed his bow and belted the nearest wolf with it before being knocked down by a wolf who lifted its jaws, teeth braced to sink in…when it was ripped from Verne’s body and thrown aside.

Giordi grasped Verne’s hand and pulled him out of the mist.

“That’s not how you use a bow!” He rebuked, a plank of wood in his hands, pilfered from the quarry.

“I’m out of arrows!” Verne cracked another wolf over the head. “Where’s Judd?”

“He’s…coming.” Giordi stumbled and Verne yanked him to his feet. Giordi waved his silver seal opener around. “This thing is useless!” He tossed it aside and clutched the wood. “We’re losing ground!”

“You think?” They retreated to the well, the wolves increasing in number.

“In the name of LeMewn!”

“Really?” Verne snapped at the three guards who ran into the square. “You’re going to arrest us now?”

“That’s up to His Lordship to decide tomorrow,” the first guard clutched at his sword, his shield strapped to his arm, “for now, we’re under Her Ladyship’s orders to drive back the wolf threat from Quarre!”

Giordi looked at Verne who shrugged. “That works for me!”

They held the line, killing wolves, maiming others but there seemed to be no end, as though they had been called from every corner of the ‘Hump’ to invade Quarre. Verne and Giordi relinquished their useless weapons, given shields by the guards and doing their best. It was impossible not to hit a wolf as they swarmed the square but one by one, the humans were falling. Already two guards were down, wounded and unable to fight. They cowered against the well, behind Verne, Giordi and the remaining guard.

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“Where’s LeMewn?” Giordi cried.

“Do I look like I know or care?” Verne faltered and grasped Giordi’s arm. “What in Maul is that?!”

Giordi looked up at the darkened figure striding into the square up the quarry road. It was slimy and dripping, eyes glowing darkly from its smeared and blackened face. “Oh thank Terra,” he looked at Verne, “it’s Judd.”

“What?”

Judd was barely able to stand. His arms were like lead weights after dragging him up the dam wall. His sword was an anchor, pulling him down, his legs barely able to hold himself up. His exhaustion was overwhelming…so he did what he did whenever something was in his way…

He roared at it and charged.

His bellow echoed in the square, catching the attention of the wolves and they turned to see him coming up from behind, his sharp blade swinging left and right, cutting them down recklessly as he charged through their pack. The wolves became frenzied, snapping, snarling, out of control, terrified of this black figure that didn’t smell like anything they recognised.

The wolves turned and bolted towards the well, their teeth sinking into whatever and whoever they could, even each other in their madness. Judd looked up to see them overwhelm the only line of defence, Verne and Giordi disappearing beneath grey bodies and the man from Maul stood, grabbed Aalis in his huge hands and threw her into the well.

“No!” Judd screamed, hacking this way and that, beating back the bodies between himself and Aalis. The last guard standing leapt out of the way of an attack, his body slamming into the metal bar that the shackles were looped around, the rod snapping and falling down the well. He heard Aalis shriek and then a damning splash.

Judd’s terror was blinding. He cut down everything with fur, everything that snarled he sliced at until a final pitiful howl announced defeat and the wolves scampered away, running for the quarry, some falling in their haste, until they were gone. Judd put his boot on the final kill of the night and yanked his sword out, striding towards the well. The man from Maul was wounded but alive, however, Aalis was gone.

“Get away from there!” Judd grabbed the man and tried to pull him back.

“Let go!” He grunted in return.

“You’re drowning her!” Judd was thrown aside by the strength of the man’s arm. He scrambled to his feet, brandishing his sword, sprinting forward as the man stood on the edge of the well and heaved up, his muscles straining, his biceps flexing, the chain retracting…until a pale arm flopped over the edge limply.

“Help her!” He ordered.

Judd grasped Aalis’ arm and pulled her out of the well, collapsing on the ground. She was soaked through, as cold as ice and insensible.

“Aalis…Aalis!” Judd looked up. “She will not wake!”

“Judd, the baths!” Giordi pointed, coming out from beneath the shield he’d cowered under.

“Wait,” the dark skinned man said, picking up Judd’s discarded sword and lifting it high, “hold still…”

He brought it down, shattering two of the links in the chain that bound them together. Judd picked Aalis up and carried her into the baths. He leapt into the first one he could see, both fully dressed and submerged Aalis as deeply as he could.

“Aalis,” he called, patting her face gently, “Aalis…come...come on…you have to wake…wake up Aalis…please…Aalis, please…” Her eyelids, as blue as Verne’s eyes gave a light flutter. Judd whimpered. “Aalis?”

“Judd…” She croaked, her fingers clutching at him weakly.

He held her against his body, closing his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“So…cold…”

“I know. It’ll get better soon.”

Aalis trembled, her eyes closed. “I thought I was doing to die…”

“I won’t ever let anything happen to you. I swear.” Judd rubbed her hands, keeping her body submerged as much as possible. “You’re safe, Aalis. You’re safe.”