It took us far longer to return to camp than it had for us to reach the gathering area, mainly because many of us couldn't move at full speed due to injuries or having to carry those who could not move, although we still made good time, but not good enough.
The sound of clashing metal, shouting, and screaming reached us as we neared the steel heart, and we didn't need to see to know what was happening. The twin horn had done as Sandra had predicted. Instead of waiting, or healing their injured, they'd pushed on, and the main battle had begun.
"Those with injuries who cannot fight moved around until you are at the back of our forces," I ordered. "As for the rest of you?"
I took a deep breath as my bark armor formed around my body and spikes hot up from the bark around my hands. "We fight."
