Because of their injuries and overall weaker-than-usual state, it took the group longer to arrive than it had been expected.
They had no clue how things were in the city, although they all imagined it must have been pretty chaotic.
With their injuries, it would have been better to stop to recollect themselves, but it was obvious someone would go after them so they kept going.
It was the right choice as the Nightmares did in fact try to go after them, but with no communication and having to spread their people around the surroundings of the city the search ultimately leads nowhere.
They could not even send everyone they had to search as some were required to stay and try to repair the damaged equipment to enter contact with the other cities and most importantly, the other members of their group.
And as they were getting near the junkyard Mares regeneration finally managed to catch up, healing his injuries.
