The sky was gray and angry, with a slight drizzle coating the whole forest in a wet gleen. The air, saturated with moisture, carried a distinct scent, a blend of petrichor and earthiness. It permeated the surroundings, mingling with the natural aromas of damp foliage.

Bianca didn't like it. She had always been a good weather kind of girl. One of few good things that had come of being trapped in this dreadful new reality.

They were supposed to go monster hunting today. They were already low on food again, and needed to restock on points. Only they had quickly discovered that hunting during a rainy day, just wasn't quite the same. The first problem had been finding suitable monsters. The usual signs and traces left by monsters seemed to be washed away by the downpour. The once-clear footprints dissolved into muddy impressions, making tracking nearly impossible.

If you were to ask Bianca, even the monsters weren't willing to go out in this weather. No, if they had any sense, they would be hiding out in some old ruins or musty caves, or wherever else monsters found nice and cushy.

Even when they finally found a monster, a lonely goblin, everything went wrong. The rain had transformed the terrain into a treacherous labyrinth, full of muddy puddles and wet grass. First, Jonas slipped in the mud, faceplanting right in front of the goblin. Which promptly took advantage of his predicament, and smashed its littly club right in the back of his head.

Then there was Veronica, who for some blasted reason put it in her head to learn how to use a bow. Bianca didn't understand why anyone with a gift of magic, even remotely as powerful as Veronica's, would ever use a bow. But hey. It was her life.

Anyways, the bow broke. Right in the most crucial moment too, while the goblin continued beating on Jonas's head. It was weak, so it couldn't do a whole lot against his thick skull, but he still got a concussion from it.

After that fiasco, they'd decided to call it a day and went fishing. Which turned out to be little more successful.

"Maybe put something other than field rations as bait?" Michael said unhelpfully, "Even fish have too much class for that crap."

"They eat what I give them." Bianca grumbled. "If it was good enough for them last time, it better be good enough now".

"Well, last time they didn't know how it would taste. Now they do, and probably decided the taste isn't worth landing on the grill." Michael was holding back a grin.

"Shut up."

That didn't even make sense, she realized. All the fish who'd tasted the rations last time, became food in their bellies. Idiot.

Before she could make sure Michael understood the full implications of idiocy, a scream caught their attention.

They turned around, and saw a man running through the forest at full speed. He looked pitiful, his ragged attire hanging limply from his emaciated frame, tattered shreds of fabric fluttering in his wake. All over his body he had shallow cuts, that soaked the rags in blood.

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A chilling cry pierced the air,"Monster!"

By the time Bianca grasped what was happening, Michael was already moving. Reacting with instinctive swiftness, he sprang into action, his hands igniting with flickering flames. His gaze swept across the encroaching forest, searching for any sign of the impending threat. "What have you seen?" he demanded.

"I don't know! A wolf, but so much bigger...", the man drifted off.

There was no time for further questioning as a thunderous crash erupted from the undergrowth. In an instant, the forest disgorged a monstrous presence, as a colossal wolf burst forth. Its massive jaws dripped with drool, sharp fangs gleaming menacingly. Its eyes burned with an otherworldly luminescence..

Oh shit.

A flicker of hesitation danced in Bianca's mind, urging her to flee from the approaching onslaught. But the wolf's lightning speed shattered any hopes of escape, igniting a surge of primal fear that coursed through her veins.

With a roar, the wolf closed in, its powerful muscles propelling it forward with astonishing agility. Michael, undeterred by fear, hurled a fireball toward the beast. The wolf's enraged yowl filled the air as it prepared to launch itself at him.

Seizing the opening created by Michael's distraction, Bianca moved with calculated precision, her rapier slicing through the air like a bolt of lightning. The blade found its mark, biting into the wolf's flank, eliciting a growl of agony. The creature wheeled around, fixing its fiery gaze upon her, its primal instincts pushing it to retaliate.

For a second she thought it was over for her, until the large figure of Jonas crashed into the wolf from the side. Bianca scrambled to safety, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and adrenaline.

As Jonas unleashed his immense strength upon the wolf, diverting its attention for Veronica to get in position. A stream of raw essence burst forth from her hand and scorched the wolf's snout, forcing it to recoil. Just in time, for the others to all attack simultanously.

The wolf was powerful, much stronger than each of them. But combined? It stood no chance, as attack after attack tore into its flesh. Whenever it came close to isolating anyone individually, they would all attack it and divert its attention. Slowly they wore it down, until it went down.

They didn't stop. Both michael and Veronica continued searing the wolf with their respective magic while Bianca thrust her rapier right into wolfs eye.

Finally a message appeared in front of them.

Congratulations! You have killed a warg and earned 150 points. (Distributed between 5 people)

A collective breath of relief went through their group.

"Well that sucked." Jonas said. He certainly looked worse for wear. He was nursing his arm, and large gashes could be seen on his chest. As the most durable in their group, he had been taking the most hits.

"Pretty sure thats broken", Michael said, looking at the odd angle his arm was at. "But we'll get it fixed, don't worry. Veronica, didn't you buy an elixir last time?" he added quickly.

"Yes, I'll show him." Veronica grabbed Jonas's hand and pulled him towards the camp.

Bianca was meanwhile focused on the man. He laid in the dirt, looking completely out of it. Drool was drooping from his open mouth and his eyes were fluttering.

She kicked him in the side. "Hey, why did you lead that thing to us?"

He turned to stare at her, his eyes wide. "I swear I didn't mean to", he yowled pitifully. "I just woke up a few hours ago, and then that thing attacked me out of nowhere"

So a new arrival. Odd, didn't the event notice say there wouldn't be any more arrivals? Bianca shook her head. Maybe she was being too harsh.

"Alright, lets get you cleaned up, and then you tell us what happened." she said, helping him up.