Like statues, they stood in perfect silence. Even the wind seemed to have retreated from battering the area. Leaving the world an eerie quiet. A penny dropping a hundred metres away would have been audible.

Shoulder to shoulder and armed to the bone, they were ready.

Come hell or high water, there was no turning back now.

Even if they wanted to, it wouldn't long before there wasn't much left to turn back to.

Very little could have made them as much as flinch in that moment, for everyone had attention for only one thing. The giant at their head.

Peter's head as tilted slightly backwards, looking at the greying sky above the army. His arms crossed and eyes narrowed, it was as though he noticed nothing else. Like he was oblivious to everything else.

Uncertain as to whether he admired the man or despised him for it. Kit couldn't tell.

For what Peter was waiting, Kit wasn't entirely certain. He watched the immense man in silence, waiting with nervous excitement for the order to move. Kit felt that he could have conducted electricity, the amount the fur along his spine was standing on end.

When the canon finally fired, signalling for them to move off. They stepped forward as one person. The thunderous sound of their footstep the only noise for what felt like miles. Above head, a helicopter whirred.

Max in owl form could only just be seen against the grey clouds, as he too kept look out. His tawny brown feathers marking the young man against the sky. An occasional screech could be heard from him, but otherwise nothing.

Despite the huge guard on his ever side, Kit couldn't help but feel vulnerable. With no idea as to what was going to happen next.

Yet their was a strange, almost comforting feeling as well. That every person was in the same boat, with the fears and the same aim. To survive and save the world.

No matter the outcome, Kit would be a part of something much bigger than himself. Kit only hope would end up on the right side of history.

As they walked, the silence continued. The only noise was the soundtrack of their footsteps on the earth. It was as though no one dared to breathe as they went. For fear of what be hiding in the shadows.

Romany, usually the face of calm and neutrality around others. Even she seemed to be more on edge than usual, the entire time. Her hand didn't move from the gun at her hip, prepared to fire at just about anything should the need arise.

Beside him, Vic lumbered with surprising quiet. Despite his great size, he was like a shadow as he moved. Slowly, but it didn't take a genius to know the power behind those dormant eyes. Kit had known him long enough, he knew when the bear was angry, scared or hurting.

Currently, it was a strange mix of the three running on the surface of the creature's skin.

Kit all but leapt out of his skin when a call went up from further down the line. He had been concentrating so hard on his friends, he had almost forgotten the purpose of their trip.

The first beast had been spotted.

Out of instinct, Kit an Vic stepped forward almost as one being. A growl ricocheting from Kit as he walked. Quickly the gap in the line behind them folded in on itself.

Part of Kit wondered if this was what it felt like to be a gladiator Roman times. He and the bear were out in the open.

Handfuls of others slipped from their places in the line. In a manner which was beautifully orchestrated. No more than thirty people would be fighting at once, and never in a recurring order for as long as they could.

It was done in this way to keep the energy of the line up as best as possible. So that it wouldn't leak out all in one go. As well as to ensure that the battlegrounds didn't get too crowded.

Snipers would remain on the line, to attempt to keep the beasts at bay as much as possible.

Their intention was not to kill every beast they came across, for the point would come where that became impossible. It was to drive them back to the island and leave them there to rot.

Yet there would be many hurdles in the way before they could reach their goal, and the first one wasn't going to go down without a fight.

It was one of the smaller beasts, a ten legged creature long and slender as opposed to tall and muscular like most of the enemies Kit had come to know. Similar to a komodo dragon, and the smell almost identical. It was not going to be an easy fight.

Bullets tore at it, but barely seemed to make a difference as the foot soldiers made their way forward. Doing everything in their power to force the beast further and further back. It's infuriated roars the only audible sound.

Kit dodged right when one of its many legs swung out, attempting to knock Kit's feet out from under him as the wolf got closer.

An eternity seemed to pass before they made any progress. Kit was already beginning to doubt the extent to which this was going to work. His heart reaching further into his throat the longer the battle continued. Fear beginning to build that there was nothing that they could do to stop this from happening.

He was losing faith in this before it had even properly begun.

With no intentions of giving in, regardless of how bad the battle became or how apparent it was that they had no chance of winning. Kit fought on with everything he had, again and again lunging at the mangy creature.

Finally, they were beginning to make ground. The animal let out one final roar, a sound filled with pain and anger. Then spun around and took off in the opposite direction as fast as it's ten legs would take him.

No chance of having a moment to catch his breath, Kit and Vic returned to their places in the line, and they continued their march.

"You're bleeding," whispered Romany under her breath, the concern prevalent in her tone, but she was careful to keep it quiet enough that no others were able of hearing her. Neither wanted to keep the operation up any longer than was absolutely necessary.

Very aware of the fact that their was a heavy flow of blood seeping from his hind leg. Kit only shrugged, "I'm fine." He insisted firmly, not saying anything further as they walked.

Uncertain, but she didn't say anything further. Her dark eyes dancing across the wolf, seeming to trying to decide

Grateful that he was between two friends, so no stranger would bring it up and weren't as kind to keep their voices down. He wanted this all to be over as soon as it could be, and any injury could slow their pace.

Only when he lost his other arm and all of his blood would he let that happen.

Further and further they pushed on, keeping the pace up as best as they could. As they journeyed, they came across a further seven beasts. They fought on, but Kit could feel the line growing thinner as they went.

Dropping like flies at the rate they were, Kit feared to imagine how much longer they would be able to keep this up.

Then Kit caught a sent which was all too familiar.

Sea salt.

Kit picked up the pace, until he reached the edge of the forest. To find the beasts on the edge of the shoreline. Some had already begun to make the crossing. Others seemed intent on making a last stand.

As one, the line of men and women came to a stop. Kit paused, his tail swishing from side to side, agitated. Waiting for the final order of the day.

The cry went up, and the line stepped forward.