The birds went completely silent, one heartbeat they were there and the next there was nothing but the faint creak of branches swaying in the breeze. Even the insects seemed to vanish, their constant drone snuffed out as the forest itself had seemed to hold its breath.

  Meanwhile the woods suddenly grew dark as Shadows stretched between the trunks. Seeming to pool at the tree's roots like putrid water. The air turned sharp and cold against the skin, carrying a scent of damp earth and old leaves and what had been an ordinary stretch of woodland moments before now felt watchful, crowded with unseen eyes.

  A single leaf drifted down, spinning lazily, far louder than it had any right to be.

  Somewhere deeper in the trees, a branch cracked, too heavy and too deliberate to be the wind. The silence that followed pressed in from all sides, thick and expectant, as though the forest were waiting for something to happen… or for someone to realize it already had.

  Lucien felt it first as his shoulders stiffened, and he reached for his spellbook at his hips. a low growl rolled through the trees. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once, echoing through the undergrowth declaring the party prey.

  .

  As six wolves emerged from between the trunks, slipping from the undergrowth as though the forest itself had given them shape. They were lean and scarred, veterans of countless hunts, their fur mottled gray and brown to blend with their wooded home.

  Leaves barely rustled beneath their paws as they spread out with practiced patience, moving more like soldiers who already knew their positions.

  Their eyes glinted with a dull, predatory intelligence as they measured distance. weighing their prey's worth and searching for the weakest link.

  One of them licked its muzzle, slow and deliberate while another tested the air with a low, rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate in the chest rather than the ears.

  And behind them forcing saplings aside with its sheer bulk came the Frennir wolf.

  It dwarfed the wolves in its pack, standing as large as a Destrier. Where the pack looked dangerous, the Frennir looked like a dark omen. Thick, dark fur hung heavy over its corded muscle, streaked with pale frost along its spine.

  It weighed so great and heavy that the ground seemed to dip slightly with every step it took. Its breath steaming in the midday air, each slow exhale misting as if it was breathing out cold winter air.

  Scars crossed its muzzle giving it an even more terrible visage than it already had.

  While its eyes had an intelligent almost sentient gleam in them as they moved from face to face with unsettling focus. Just lingering a heartbeat too long on the party's weapons and on posture. There was no blind hunger in that gaze, only a cold and patient calculation.

  As though the Frennir already understood how this would end and was simply deciding how much effort it wished to spend on this endeavor.

  For a split second, no one in the party moved.

  Then Kavisha snapped into motion.

  “Circle!” she barked. “Isadora, Eleonora on me! Loose formation around Lucien! Defend only, do not chase or attack!”

  Isadora obeyed instantly though she had to drag Eleonora into action.

  Once the girl snapped out her shock though she began to acquit herself well despite her initial shock.

  Isadora stepped left of Lucien, shield rising with easy confidence, sword angled low.

  Eleonora mirrored her on the right, settling into a stance she’d practiced a hundred times, her own shield tight to her body and her blade held ready. Kavisha took the front, dagger already in hand, gaze locked on the Frennir.

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  Lucien found himself at the center of their makeshift formation.

  “Lucien,” Kavisha said quickly, not looking back. “No casting unless I say so.”

  “O...okay,” he managed, despite his size and intimidating appearance Lucien was always a bit battle shy around monsters. Thankfully this time he didn't freeze up like Eleonora had.

  The wolves began to circle as they tested the edges of the partys formation.

  They snapped their jaws and growled menacingly as they searched for an opening. The Frennir meanwhile remained still, watching with a regal arrogance as its foot soldiers dealt with the invaders in its forest.

  “Why aren’t they attacking?” Eleonora whispered.

  “Because they’re smart,” Isadora answered grimly. “And they know we are as well.”

  It was at that moment that the first wolf lunged.

  It shot toward Eleonora’s flank low and fast with its teeth bared ready to bite. She reacted on instinct, bringing her shield down with a solid thud that knocked it aside. Isadora stepped in at once, sword flashing out to open a red line across the creature’s muzzle.

  Causing it to yelp and retreat back into the circling herd of wolves.

  “Hold!” Kavisha shouted. “Don’t break formation!”

  Two more rushed in from opposite sides. Kavisha kicked one square in the ribs, sending it tumbling, while Eleonora slashed at the other, forcing it to veer away from Lucien’s legs by inches.

  Lucien’s heart hammered. Light flickered at his fingertips as he prepared a fireball.

  “Not yet!” Kavisha snapped.

  The Frennir chose that moment to move.

  It surged forward with terrifying speed, frost-flecked fur blurring as it crashed into the circle. Isadora met it head-on, bracing behind her shield but the impact still drove her back a full step as her boots carved trenches into the dirt. it ‘s jaws snapped inches from her face.

  Eleonora cried out at the sight of her maid fending off the huge beast and then did exactly what training demanded.

  She stepped in beside Isadora and slashed for the beast’s shoulder. The blade biting deep enough to draw a roar of fury from the beast. Cold frost crackled along the Frennir’s hide as it swung its massive head, nearly tearing the sword from her grip.

  She staggered back, shield barely catching the follow-up strike.

  “Eleonora!” Isadora shouted suddenly, concerned for her ward's safety.

  “I’m okay!” she gasped, forcing herself upright.

  However, the formation was broken, and the pack saw its opening.

  They rushed all at once towards them.

  “Kavisha!” Lucien cried not wanting to wait any longer.

  “NOW!” she yelled, seeing the perfect opportunity.

  Lucien slammed his spellbook open and finished the incantation. Sending a large fireball into the oncoming wolves. The wolves shrieked and recoiled, crashing into one another, blinded by the bright flames.

  “Push them back!” Kavisha ordered as began moving into the fray.

  Isadora advanced shield-first, smashing one wolf aside before driving her sword through another’s throat. Eleonora followed her lead, catching a third with a desperate but clean cut that sent the wolf sprawling.

  Only two ordinary wolves remained and the damn Frennir.

  The great beast shook its head, clearing the magic from its eyes, and roared loud enough to rattle teeth. Frost crawled across the ground as it charged again.

  Isadora braced.

  The impact threw her several feet, but she stayed on her feet, shield locked between her and death. The Frennir snapped at her face again.

  Eleonora moved once more without thinking.

  She slammed into its flank, shield first, knocking its head away from Isadora's face. then she drove her sword up beneath its ribs.

  The blade sinking deep in the creatures side. The Frennir howled and hurled her away with a brutal twist of its body. She hit the dirt hard, breath gone.

  “ELEONORA!” Kavisha called out

  “I’m...okay!” she wheezed, already pushing up.

  Kavisha darted in close, slashing the creature’s hind leg. It tendons parted and the Frennir staggered as it lost its balance

  “Lucien...burn it!” kavisha yelled

  He didn’t hesitate as fire roared from his outstretched hand, focused and bright, engulfing the beast’s chest. Steam and smoke filled the air as the layer of frost covering the beasts fur melted.

  Isadora seized the moment as she stepped forward and drove her sword straight down into the top of the Frennir’s skull with all her strength.

  She managed to sink her blade all the way to the guard.

  The Frennir shuddered once and then went still. While Kavisha and Eleonora dispatched the last two wolves, and silence finally fell over the clearing with thick cloying

  suddenness that was broken only by the party’s ragged breathing.

  With the forest seeming to exhale with them as the earlier tension that had befallen the once peaceful forest seemed to drain away as the drifting fallen leaves settled over the churned earth and cooling blood soaking the soil.