The sun was almost gone, leaving the ruins of Aeaea cast in an ominous, red-tinged twilight. Coyotes circled us, snarling and snapping, their eyes glinting with a hunger I hadn't seen before. Just beyond them, the massive bear guardians prowled the edges of the battlefield, watching us with dark, merciless eyes. Every muscle in my body was taut, poised for the next strike.
We were outnumbered.
I ducked as a coyote lunged at me, its sharp claws raking the air where my throat had been a second before. I twisted and drove my blade up, slicing through its side, but another one lunged immediately, its teeth bared, saliva dripping from its jaws.
"Hold the line!" I shouted, my voice nearly drowned out by the roar of a nearby bear. Gamma Eurit was by my side, wielding his axe with brutal precision, hacking down a pair of coyotes that dared to get too close. Blood splattered across his face, but he didn't flinch, his entire focus fixed on keeping the attackers at bay.
