The forest merged slowly into mountains and boulders, while slowly inclining, and the air seemed slightly warmer than before, possibly from the lack of shade and the heat rising from the rocks. I stumbled even more on this path, because of the small pebbles that stuck out of the ground; and the inclines exhausted me. I had already done more walking than I was used to doing…traveling was much more strenuous than I thought it was. I did not want to say any of this to the others because I did not want them to worry about me or become annoyed. I wanted to prove that I was not weak, like Elex believed.

“Are you okay?” Leeann asked as I stumbled again, breathing heavily.

“I am fine…” I said, recovering.

Elex grunted. “You shouldn’t have come. The paths we take are rough and dangerous. You are only going to hurt yourself.”

“But I am well. The Queen herself said I was capable of handling the trip now.”

“Gee, wonder what they’re talking about.” Kara said, referring to my and Elex’s conversation currently taking place in Maladrin.

“I am fine. Really…I was just caught off-guard.” I replied.

Elex scoffed, clearly in disbelief. Leen sighed heavily. “Perhaps we should slow down—”

“No, it is okay, I am alright!” I insisted in Human Tongue.

“You sure man,” Justin asked, concerned, “I mean you look a little—”

“I AM FINE!” I screamed, my words echoing dangerously through the mountains and scarring my throat. Everyone glanced around the mountain walls and at the sky, trying to follow them. I did not mean to yell, but I was upset and angry. They wanted to treat me like a baby but I am no longer sick, I can handle myself.

Everyone looked at me. No one said anything. Leen continued moving, her hand close to her sword.

“Hopefully we won’t pay for that…” Elex mumbled to herself.

“Sheesh, Na, feelin’ a little upset?” Kara asked.

I now felt very guilty about shouting as I did along with a hoarse throat. With the exception of Elex and Kara, no one made me feel guilty about it or said anything, but they did not need to.

We had arrived on somewhat level ground and turned to our left. Further in the mountain-valley the boulders grew large and jagged; too jagged to climb. Behind them grew tall mountains too high to see the top of, even from this distance; it was as if we were now caged on either side.

We were halfway to the tall mountains when we heard a heart-stopping howl, as if the creature were replying to my scream. Leeann whimpered and Justin inhaled sharply. Leen sighed and drew her sword. The others followed her lead and drew their weapons. My heart was racing. This would be my first real fight. I was frightened and worried that I would make a mistake, or be killed. I pulled out my bow and an arrow, fighting to steady my shaking hands while listening out for the next form of movement.

Another howl was heard. Even though it echoed through the mountains, I could tell it was uttered from our left, across from the first. “W-What’s making those howls?” Leeann whispered, scared like I was.

Kalin’s eyes narrowed. “Wolverimes.”

We heard the growling, and saw large shapes appear on both sides above us, and then they howled and jumped from the highest boulders. They were like large brown wolves which could not only fight on all fours, but could also stand on their hind legs to fight with their fore-claws and their large, razor-sharp teeth. Their eyes were deep black, yellowish-white foam gathered among their muzzles and spilled from them. The smell which carried from their mouths and bodies was appalling; it was likened to the smell of something rotting. I had only heard of wolverimes before, this was my first time ever seeing one, and they were much more terrifying than I imagined.

The wolverimes encircled us, blocking out path to Havatica. There were, at the least, thirteen of them.

“We can’t fight all of them!” Kara whispered.

“We have no choice,” Leen replied, “stay alert and try to bring them down quickly.”

The wolverimes charged all at once. I tried my best to kill one with shots from my arrows, but they were too fast, and I kept shaking from fear. In a way, I was very fortunate that the wolverimes did not charge directly for me, or else I would have been killed. Instead, they focused their attacks on the others, likely figuring I was easy prey and could be dealt with after the imminent threat was handled.

“Ahh!” Kara screamed as one wolverime knocked her to the dirt.

“KARA!” I cried, and without thinking, I aimed and shot the wolverime, a perfect shot into the beasts’ brain. It dropped instantly.

“Thanks!” Kara replied, right as I was knocked to the side by another wolverime. I felt pain shoot up my right shoulder when I hit the jagged rock behind me. I cried out and looked up to feel the wolverime’s hot breath and see its sharp yellowish-red teeth reach in to bite me. The next second, its head fell to the ground at my feet.

Elex’s eyes flashed. “Must I always save you Na?”

“I-If you insist.” I replied shakily in a raspy voice and she moved on.

Bracing my back against the rock and holding my shoulder, I stood up to convey the battle. It appeared we were winning. Between Elex, Leen, and kalin they killed seven. Leeann impaled one with shards of ice, Justin managed to strangle another one to its death with his whip, and Kara had brutally snapped the neck of hers.

That left just one.

The wolverime still standing threw its head back and let out a long, loud howl before Kalin was able to shoot it. It collapsed to the ground. I sighed in relief that the battle was over and everyone safe, but as I opened my mouth to speak my relief, Justin turned to me and shook his head in disagreement, a look of fear on his paled face.

Just then, as had happened before, the howl was answered. More wolverimes leapt from the cliffs. One of them clawing Kara across her face at it landed. She fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Kara!” Leeann cried out, but Leen pulled her back from the line of wolverimes. If we were outnumbered before, then this time was far worse. We stared twenty snarling, hungry, vindictive wolverimes in the face including a particularly large one with a deep, visible wound on its stomach, as if it had been impaled by a sword. It was this one who attacked Kara.

We all stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. The large one howled, and bent in towards Kara.