The hunters stood confidently, their grins wide as they surveyed their supposed captives. In their minds, this was an easy victory. Gray's group looked young and unassuming, a mismatched band of creatures who seemed far from formidable.
Agape, Dawn, and Twilight instinctively tensed at the sudden ambush, their bodies readying for a fight. Twilight's hand twitched toward her bow, and Dawn's muscles coiled with barely restrained energy for his long knifes. But before either of them could act, Gray placed firm hands on their shoulders, his calm but commanding presence halting them in their tracks.
"Not yet," he said softly, his voice even.
Dawn hesitated, looking at Gray with uncertainty. He didn't understand why Gray wasn't retaliating, but there was something in Gray's demeanor—a quiet confidence—that made him hold back.