The assault was swift, a venomous tide crashing against the rock mountain tribe. But these weren't naive villagers; the tribe had weathered such storms before. Their response was a well-oiled machine, honed by experience. The men, clad in rough-hewn leather and muscle, fought with the ferocity of cornered beasts. They were a wall of granite against the slithering invaders. Meanwhile, the females and children were being ushered towards the hidden sanctuaries within the mountain's embrace, their safety prioritized above all else.

HaoYue, was a whirlwind of icy fury. He moved with a chilling grace, each strike leaving behind a trail of frost. The air around him seemed to crackle with a sudden, biting cold, as if a miniature blizzard had descended. The attackers, mostly snakes, writhed in frozen agony, their poisonous fangs rendered useless by the sudden drop in temperature. He meticulously ensured that no venomous strike breached his defenses.

HuanHuan and XiShi, a dynamic duo, were the shepherdesses of the fleeing females. Their focus was unwavering, their priority ensuring every woman was safely tucked away before turning to face the chaos. The whole place was a mess, honestly, a scene of controlled panic and desperate action. If only XueLing,  was here by their side. Damn it! Times like this made them miss him.  Because if he were here, it would've taken one single blow to burn them down.

ShangYun and BaiDi were flanking HaoYue, a tag team of brawn and precision, while SangYe and ShenYang, had decided to chase down some stragglers. He was going to make sure those slippery snakes wouldn't be coming back.

"HuanHuan! MuXiang has collapsed, we need you here!" A breathless male, his face etched with worry, burst forth from the fray.

"What? I'll be there. XiShi, could you please get them to the safe zone?" HuanHuan inquired, her tone a mix of concern and command. XiShi's nod was all the confirmation she needed. HuanHuan rushed to the cave, while XiShi continued to help the women.

Then, a yell pierced through the din, "XiShi, leave the place immediately!" It was HaoYue, his voice laced with urgency. The main wave of attackers had dispersed, it seemed the chaos was being brought to heel. SangYe was still on persuit, while ShangYun and BaiDi mopped up the remaining snakes. HaoYue chose to stay, a watchful guardian over the chaotic scene.

XiShi, dutifully nodded to HaoYue as she took one last straggler, a pregnant woman whose pace was slower than a snail in molasses. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream filled the air as the woman crumpled to the ground. No freakin' way. Was this a delivery room now?

XiShi could totally bolt.

This wasn't her problem.

But, ah well, fuck it. It was against her morals.....

She's not abandoning this woman.

Not happening.

" Can you make it to the nearest cave ?"

Good queens fix eachother's crowns.....