The four adventurers traveled deeper into the caverns below. Carefully, they navigated the twisting tunnel alert for any incoming danger. Hannah impassively took the rear guard of the procession. The stone walls snakes back and forth, as they descended below. Eventually, the tunnel opened out into a large cavern. Several large tables were scattered about. Large bunk beds had been constructed surrounding the walls.

Neva cautiously peeked out of the tunnel into the cavern. Several heavily armed beastkin stood around in the center. Their weapons and chainmail glittered in the torchlight. The party's packs sat strewn about. Their supplies were scattered over the many tables as strange beastkin divided up the loot. Neva quickly motioned for the others to follow as she exited the tunnel into the cavern.

"Who the fuck are you?" A gruff voice called out. A short cat girl approached. A large baggy workman's shirt covered her body. Her ears were clipped. Scars covered her face and arms. Ada moved forward with her wooden sword pointing directly at the criminals.

"Your days of villainy end here! Stand down and your beatings will be lessened!"

"Ada!" Neva said with a sigh as she clutched her temples. Marcelle sputtered with laughter at the blonde wolfkin.

"Your beatings will be lessened!" Marcelle quietly mimicked behind her back.

"What?! What did I say?" Ada objected.

"You've been reading too much. You sound like a dork." Neva said wearily.

"Did you get hit in the head? Tree fall on 'ya? That's not even a real sword!" The ginger catkin asked. She turned her head around to her comrades behind her. Giggling with laughter they hefted their weapons, towards the intruders. "What? Couldn't afford a real weapon? Want to see a real one?" She sneered.

"Shut up! You'll be punished for your crimes! Kidnapping is a serious offense. One that I do not intend to take lightly. Hand him over now!" Ada pointed her sword towards the ginger ringleader. The catkin looked back towards the others.

"You don't even have real weapons! What could you possibly do?" The beastkin taunted.

"You'll see! We've already beaten your other lackies!" Ada shouted back.

"This one's mine. Gonna teach her a lesson. No one messes with Blackfang's Killers. Handle the rest." The orange haired ringleader said as she hefted a spiked mace.

"You'll fall just like all the others." Ada said gravely.

"Ada, let me handle her. Stop saying that stuff too." Neva said with a sigh.

"No. She's mine."

Ada stood a good head taller than her opponent. She shifted into a defensive fighting stance. Her eyes were riveted onto the woman. Behind her, stood the other kidnappers. Six hard looking beastkin readied their weapons. The ringleader grabbed her baggy garb with her free hand. Yanking on it she easily ripped the poor quality fabric off entirely. Her body rippled with bulging muscles and scars.

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The catkin was the first to act, she kicked a large table towards Ada. It's wooden legs skidded along stone floor of the cavern. Charging behind the table, she jumped on top of it. Ada's eyes went wide as the the beastkin reared back her weapon.

Ada barely dodged in time, as the spiked metal mace swung towards her face. Battle erupted within the cavern. Neva used whips of fire to subdue two targets nearby. The whips crashed into her opponents, sending them flying into the stone walls of the cavern. Marcelle, after chugging a different potion, exploded in a display of strength. Her long tail whipped around sending her foes flying. Her maniacal laughter echoed throughout the underground lair.

Ada had little time to watch the others. Her opponent was quick and extremely strong. Pressing back the assault, Ada countered a wide swing with her sword. The spikes, hit the wooden sword shattering the worn wood. Ada eyes went wide, as she watched half of her sword fly off into the expanding melee. Panic flooded her as she watched the shards of wood fly away. A strong right fist, caught her in the stomach. The wind was knocked completely out of her, as she hunched over. She could sense her opponent readying the killing blow. Muscles clenched, as the mace came down towards her exposed head. Time seemed to slow. Ada's muscles screamed for oxygen yet her diaphragm wouldn't comply. Fear and adrenaline compelled her to act. Ada rushed forward and tackled her opponent.

Brought off balance, the mace went wide, saving Ada. Her opponent's exposed back slammed into the ground. Blood pooled on the exposed skin. Readying to strike, Ada felt a fist connect to her head. Another soon followed hitting her jaw. Her head snapped to the side. The world dimmed in her eyes, as she slumped over. Hands reached her shoulder throwing her off. Her opponent shifted over, crawling on top of her. Dimly, Ada felt the presence of a strong hand holding her down. Her eyes flicked back into place. The ginger beastkin's arm was cocked backwards, readying to deliver a vicious punch.

Scarred knuckles came forward towards Ada. She blinked instinctively as she felt a world of pain envelope her face. Her eyes reopened to the same fist readying to strike again. Knuckles struck her again. Then again, and again, and again. Ada's peripherals were fading. Visually the world dimmed, even as pain radiated through her face. Damage kept coming, as weathered the beating. Ada's arms moved upward to protect her face. Yet she could feel her opponent forcing her protective guard down. Blood ran down her nose, mixing into her mouth.

The fist was coming again. Her opponent leaned forward. The scarred fist was aiming high. Ada, ducked her head forward as she struck upwards. Ada's fist struck true, yet the other fighter would not stop attacking. Moving forward past the fist rocketing towards her face, Ada pulled the woman into a headbutt. Soft cartilage met hard bone. A shower of blood came afterwards. Throwing her opponent off of her, Ada scrambled on top. Slamming her fist over and over again into the catkin, Ada let out a feral cry.

Later, only after her opponent had finally stopped moving, did Ada stop. Straddling her brutalized opponent, she gently touched her nose with her free hand.

"Not broken." Ada thought to herself idly.

Looking around the cavern. The fighting was already over. The other enemies were defeated and strewn about the cavern by Neva and Marcelle. The wight looked completely bored, standing off to the side, waiting for the others to finish. Marcelle and Neva, were standing beside Ada.

"Whure's muh tword?" Ada asked.

"Goddess above, Ada." Neva said.

"It broke." Marcelle said with a grimace. Ada cursed through her busted lip. "You look like shit." Marcelle commented dryly.

"We got to get you more fighting experience. You should have let me handle her." Neva said wearily.

"Fwitz. Can he wemake my tword? " Ada asked.

"Come, on. We'll have to ask him. Grab your stuff, we need to keep going." Neva said as she searched for her belongings amongst the chaos.