The ride was calm except for the times Ray tried to sound funny to make it less boring. It was almost midnight, they felt too tired and decided to camp there and rest for the night…but out of the blue a flaming arrow hit a tree trunk just inches away from Ray's face, making him flinch and fall down dropping the firewood.
Malin looked into the gloomy darkness of the forest to notice moving shadows and red glistering eyes:"Shadow hunters." She mumbled then yelled:
"-RUN!!!"
But it was too late to escape, the mischievous evil creatures trapped them in a big circle; they is no other way to escape then to fight.
Malin stood in front of the prince and Rosaline who was trembling with fear with Kieran who kept a poker face.
While Ellie took her bow and aimed her arrow at the devilish creatures, Ray was about to draw his sword from his sheath but his was too slow before an incubus attacked him pinning him down blocking his move.
Ellie start shooting her poisoned arrows at them however Mal was dogging their attacks with her sword.
The sound of clashing sword and the repetitive groans and yells of the blessed incubus add to that the heavy breathing of the three fighters raising the dark and unbearable tension to its approximate.
The adrenaline level increase, the sweat drops on her forehead, the taste of metallic red fluid on her dry lips and the floating dust in the air; with the somber night made the vision nearly impossible.
As much as she tried to end the fight, to go and help Ray; who was fighting three incubuses alone causing him several injuries. But they kept her occupied catching her breath.
She moved smoothly and dragging the other two behind her to where her friend was, locking their back with each other knocking and dogging the attacks.
However the number of the incubus increased and they couldn't keep up fighting.
"-I am out of arrows!"Ellie screamed unsheathing her daggers and start stabbing and kicking whoever stood on her way.
"-Malin. Leave!!!"Ray said between breaths
"-What???!!!
-Leave when you still got the chance!
-No way I am leaving you here guys!!
-Malin just go! We will handle it! The prince safety is our priority."Ellie shouted back and Malin was about to protest but Ray stopped her
"-I …..
-I said GO!!"
Malin stood still looking at Ray who was fighting for his life that he suddenly jumped on her to ditch an attack.
Unfortunately, he got stabbed in the shoulder nevertheless. Ray winced in pain and clenched his jaw.
Mal was shocked and killed the one who caused the mess but Ray pushed her with all the energy he could collect and slipped something inside her pocket to sign for her to leave.
Malin took a glance at Ellie who looked back with a 'take care look' and went back to the fight.
Kieran and Rosaline hooped on a hoarse and Mal on another one protecting their back.
They ran away rapidly with leaps, till they were far away from the battle field. Marlin stopped and a warm tear left her watery eyes, she swept it away fast and took the object that was on her pocket: a key
Kieran looked at her miserable state and asked genteelly:
"-what's the key is for?
-That's not important now. Malin are you ok? You didn't get hurt right?" Rosaline asked her with concern and anxiety took all over her, her hands shaking unstoppably with fear and her eyes bloodshot from crying.
The huntress raised her head slowly, her eyes full of rage and a sense of guilt. She looked down and answered:
"-I am fine… you didn't get hurt right?" they both hammed in agreement. She kicked her hoarse slightly on the side to move and said in a dry voice:
"- let's go.
-Where?" Kier asked, she paused for awhile then answered:
"-safe place...…