Fritz ran like a madman through the twisting winding tunnels of the underground, despite the crossbow bolt sticking out of his ass. Shouts and cries echoed through the tunnels behind him. His face smacked against the white mushrooms lining the walls. His shoulders and arms scraped against the sharp rock walls.

Still, Fritz persisted. One foot after another, he moved forward. Until, up ahead, he could see another set of lights. Straining his ears, he could hear nothing over the sound of his own ragged breath. His muscles cried out in pain. His brain urged caution, yet fear of pursuit drove him forward. Screams of frustration and anger echoed in the tunnels behind him.

"I'm shooting whatever appears next from behind that corner." Neva growled.

Ada, Neva, Marcelle, and another strange figure were standing above a group of defeated beastkin. Fritz's footsteps echoed throughout the nearby tunnels as he approached Neva's position. Leveling her hand towards the tunnel, Neva waited for the intruder to show themselves. Coiling fire, wrapped around her fingers. Pointing towards the entrance, she waited.

Fritz's eyes caught hold of a familiar sight. His friends were standing at attention waiting for him. Relief flooded him, as a rush of energy compelled him forward. A magical bolt of fire shot through the air towards his face. Time seemed to slow, as his foot caught on a rock sending him face to the stone floor.

"Shit!" Neva cursed.

"Neva! You idiot! I don't need Zola trying to kill me!" Marcelle seethed. A large groan of pain escaped Fritz's lips. Neva clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"I missed didn't I? And he ain't dead neither."

"Barely." Marcelle replied.

"Ada? Neva? Marcelle? Is that you?" Fritz called out. "Did I hit my head on something on the way over? Am I actually alive?"

"Fwitz!" Ada's face was bloody. The beginnings of nasty red bruises grew all over her face. Her lips were busted and swollen.

Scrambling up slowly, Fritz limped over as he tried to ignore the crossbow bolt. Seeing Ada's face, Fritz let out a curse.

"What the hell happened?" He said. Grabbing her shoulder he held her still as he inspected the damage to her face.

"Fwight." Ada responded. She swayed unsteadily.

"Shit, Ada. You look like you got your ass beat."

"You fwould ee the other. The other gwirl." Ada said. Her destroyed face warped into an ugly smile as she looked at him through her rapidly swelling eyes.

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"It's good to see you're in one piece!" Neva said, running over. She slapped his back. Her eyes went down to the bolt.

"What happened to her?" Fritz asked. Fritz looked away from Neva for a moment. "Did she get hit with a bat?" Searing pain enveloped him, as Neva ripped the bolt out of him! Fritz doubled over in pain for a moment. "Tell me before you do that!"

"We don't have the time." Neva said with a casual shrug. Marcelle maneuvered closer. The distinct sound of boots clicking against the stone tunnels reached their ears.

"We've got company!" Fritz said, suddenly remembering his pursuers. Looking back to the tunnels, his mind finally registered the familiar looking woman. Freezing in place, he pointed like a fool towards the undead wight. His eyes ran between Neva and the undead. His mouth gaped open as words failed upon his tongue.

"Stop! In the name of Blackfang's Killers!" A large fox eared man said as he exited the tunnel. Five more beastkin exited the tunnel. They spanned out in a defensive arc. Their weapons were held at the ready.

"It never ends does it!" Hannah said with a sigh. The leader of the kidnappers appeared. A large scowl worked over his face, as he looked at the scene before him.

"Kill the intruders!" Blackfang screamed. "Enough of this farce!"

"I couldn't agree more." The wight whispered. Her voice was like a freezing knife, stabbing through everyone's heart. Shivers of dread, creeped up Fritz's spine.

Hannah waved her hand, a large crescent of dark energy erupted from her hand. The beastkin kidnappers slammed against the stone walls with violent force. The battle was over in a second.

The wight let her hand drop. The enemy was defeated with a single blow. With measured steps, Hannah moved towards Fritz. Fritz gripped tightly onto Ada, but was unable to move. More footsteps and shouting were coming from the same tunnel Fritz escaped from. Marcelle threw a potion down it. Gray clouds of choking gas filled the tunnel.

The wight came within arm's reach of Fritz. Neva readied herself waiting to intervene. Gripping her recovered sword, she waited for the wight to make any strange movements. Bowing forward, the undead proffered a singular letter.

"Take it. So I may return to my mistress" She said. Dumbfounded, Fritz took the letter from her.

"What is this?" He mumbled. He turned the handwritten letter over, inspecting the rich crimson seal on the front.

"A letter from my Mistress Lady Von Erwenhest II. Read it."

"The vampire...." Fritz said dumbly.

"You've delivered your message, wight." Neva said. Hannah stood upright. Her veil shifted to look directly at Neva.

"I have. I will take my leave. I cannot stand much more of this." She said simply. Clamor and chaos was continuing from down the tunnel. Marcelle chucked another potion down the tunnels. Annoyed cries seeped into the cavern, as more sleeping gas formed in the tunnel. The wight walked confidently away down an unknown tunnel, never looking back towards the party.

"We need to leave!" Marcelle warned. "I'm running out of potions, to keep them back!"

"Let's go!" Fritz shouted.

"Marcelle to the front! Fritz and Ada next! I'll hold the rear! Let's move!" Neva commanded.

"F'witz stay cwose!" Ada urged.

Holding onto Ada, Fritz started to follow Marcelle towards the exit. As they left the cavern, Neva shot bolts of fire from her free hand. Tables and wood ignited, spreading flame and chaos within the underground tunnels.

The next few minutes went by in a blur. Fritz held onto the delirious wolfkin. After stepping out of the tunnel and into the warehouse, Fritz breathed in the cool night air. He stepped over the sleeping guards at the entrance, into the city of Trira triumphant and mostly whole.