Peering behind the boulder, Fritz looked for the swordswoman. A pained groan hurried his pace. The woman shoved the massive body of a dead wolf off of her. The beast had been impaled by a dagger through its throat. Two more dead wolves sat perfectly still next to her.

"Are you alright? Still alive?" Fritz asked as he hurriedly approached the woman. The woman was tall. Her hair was a flowing wavy blonde. Her pale gray eyes locked onto Fritz. Stopping in his tracks, Fritz noticed something was different about her. Atop her head were a pair of blonde wolf ears. Dismissing the oddity, as most likely a headband, Fritz moved forward to check on the prone woman.

"Are you hurt?" Fritz asked, as he kneeled down.

"Yeah, bit my leg." She said with a groan. "I'll be fine, it's not fatal. Just lost some flesh is all."

"Let me see." Fritz said quickly. His eyes scanned down from her stained dark green tunic and cloak down towards her slacks looking for any blood. He spotted a nasty bite just above her knee, already pooling with blood and grime. "Gimme a second." Fritz said. He let his eyes flicker closed momentarily as he summoned a bottle of peroxide and a length of gauze for her.

"That's some nice sleight of hand." The woman said.

"I'm not a magician. I did try when I was younger." Fritz replied as he began cleaning the wound and dressing it with his minimal knowledge of first aid.

"Why is someone like you out here?" The woman began. "Anyone else with you?"

"No. All alone I'm afraid. Lost too."

"Ah, ah, ah, that stings!" The blonde woman winced as Fritz applied peroxide to the wound.

"Sorry, we need to clean the wound first. Don't want to risk an infection."

"The name's Ada." The woman said. Her pale gray eyes were staring at Fritz as he worked. Soft freckles adorned her nose. Small smudges of blood, dirt and grime covered her tanned face and golden hair.

"Fritz. Why the hell was a pack of wolves attacking you?"

"I, I- uh don't know. They're never really this riled up. Something must have upset them. They usually leave me alone."

"Do you think they'll come back? Track us down?"

"No, not for a while. I think we scared them off." Ada replied. He finished wrapping her wound. Fritz looked over the bandages inspecting his work.

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"Not my best work, but it should hold for a bit." He replied.

"Thank you." Ada said.

"Your welcome." Fritz replied. "Now, Ada, how are you feeling? Any other injuries?" He looked up towards her head. His eyes looked at her soft fluffy wolfish ears.

"No, thank the goddess." She replied. Fritz frowned in response, as he watched her ears wiggle slightly.

"Are those real? They just moved." Fritz pointed towards her ears.

"What kind of question is that?" Ada asked. Her blonde ears twitched in annoyance.

"A -uh genuine one?" Fritz responded. "Sorry, if I caused any offense." Behind Ada's back, in the shade of the night, he could see a bit of fur moving. "Oh, a tail too. Interesting. It matches your hair."

"Of course it does! Why wouldn't it?!" Ada blurted out.

"Can I touch them? I want to check...." Fritz asked. He reached a tentative hand out towards the beastkin. A slight blush appeared around her pale cheeks as she seemed to freeze up. Like lightning, she swatted his hand away.

"Sorry, sorry. That was probably rude. Please forgive me, I meant nothing by it. I just wanted to check if I was losing it. I've never seen someone with animal ears." Fritz said standing up. Ada watched him curiously.

"Well we exist." Ada said, frowning. He reached a hand down to help her up.

"Can you stand?"

The woman grabbed it. Fritz could feel the strength of her grip latch onto his hand like an iron manacle. Pulling down on her arm, she shifted her weight up. Fritz felt her immense power threatening to send him down into the dirt.

"Woah. Pretty strong there." Fritz said awkwardly as he stood next to the woman. Her height matched his own.

"Of course. I wouldn't be out here if I wasn't. Neva would never let me scout the woods if I wasn't capable." Ada replied. She eyed him hesitantly, as if he was some kind of strange beast.

"Can you walk?" Fritz asked. "I don't want to stick around, in case the wolves come back." Ada merely grunted.

Fritz bent down to pick up his torch. The shadows shifted, as he held the torch up. Ada reshouldered her pack and grabbed her sword. She shifted her weight towards her uninjured leg.

"I don't suppose you know the way to town?" Fritz asked awkwardly.

"Yeah. Something's bothering me." Fritz tilted his head slightly as he waited for her question. "What are you doing out here?"

"Ah, that's a good question." Fritz pulled a hand up to his chin as he scratched it looking for an answer.

"Are you a criminal? Murderer? Thief? Bandit? Or...." Ada trailed off.

"No. Heavens no. I'm not sure how I can explain things." She gave him a withering glare.

"Did you escape from the elves?"

"Huh? They're here too?" Fritz answered.

"Are you working for the undead?"

"What? How would I take orders from a zombie?" Fritz asked. "Look, I'm totally lost here. Think you can take me to town? I'd be forever in your debt. I've already been attacked twice in one day, and that's plenty for me." Fritz said with a smile to the glaring beastkin.

"It wouldn't be honorable to leave you all on your lonesome. Strange things are happening tonight." Ada replied.

Their conversation was interrupted by a long protracted moan. A chorus of strangled voices joined together in unison. Ada immediately went on the alert as she scanned the approaching tree line. She gripped her blade tight. Fritz scanned the darkness between the trees.

"Damn. Zombies. Maybe skeletons too. We need to leave." Ada replied.

"Zombies? You can't be serious. I was joking earlier."

"Deadly. Come on. We need to move." Ada said.

"Zombies? Like shambling undead? They're real?" Ada nodded in the affirmative at his stupid question. "Take my shoulder. I'll be your crutch."

Ada pulled an arm over Fritz's shoulder. Her face was close to his. Her soft blonde hair tickled against his neck, as he held his torch out in front of him.

"This way." Ada said. "We need to keep moving. The zombies are pretty slow. If we keep moving through the night, we can put some distance between them and us. We'll be fine, if we keep moving."

Fritz nodded. The two stumbled slightly as they began their trek. Ada and Fritz soon fell into sync. The moans of the shambling dead soon disappeared completely. Fritz's torchlight lit their way forward. Yet Ada's sense of direction was impeccable; the two marched through the night into the next morning.