They hurriedly moved through grasses and bushes, taking whatever route was shortest when listening out for any sound similar to a dog. None of them had the best hearing, and their movements weren't as graceful as the comrades they had left behind. For stealthing around at night with monsters on the prowl, they surely weren't right for this job.

Either way, Eadward would find Hilke. It had only been a day and a half, but he counted her as someone he could trust. 

Through the tall grass and past shrubbery that was well past any management, the three men kept as shrouded as possible. Brune and Bore kept behind Eadward and focused on his movement. Forward? Hiding? It was up to him to guide them through the moonlit night to their destination. It was up to Eadward if they were to survive after ignoring Vesta.

The brunette led them forward. Step by step, deeper into a thicker portion of forest. The moonlight barely touched the ground or the leaves above their head. The three were shrouded in the darkness. 

Hairs stood on end on Bore's neck. A tingle would follow down his spine. Two indicators that someone, or something, was watching them. 

"There's something near," Bore spoke.

The other two drew into defensive positions. Brune's longsword glinted in the faintest of light while Eadward's fists stayed hidden in shadow. Bore would join by pulling the polearm off of his back. They all created a triangle with their backs to one another, eyes straining against the dark.

A deep, brassy call of a hound reached their ears before a large mass passed one side. All three swerved and pointed their weapons at the area, but the beast was already gone. Ears strained against the silence, and faint steps were heard. Small steps.

"I know you want to see, but don't throw a light-producing stone." Brune didn't say anything else as he maneuvered through the darkness. He'd use his sword for guidance, flickering what light he could ahead of them.

Nothing could be seen, for the three were merely human with magical abilities. They didn't possess the enhanced sight that their elven comrades had.

All they could do was listen for the steps, continually thinking what creature it could be. Small steps, two at a time. Rhythm of a four-legged creature. For the sound earlier, it had to be a fur-based animal, not a reptilian.

"I'm getting tired of this... It's stalking us in the dark!" Bore shouted.

Eadward turned his head to Bore's voice. "Don't- It may attack us if you shout!" His whisper was harsh and angry, strong enough to possibly scare a child. But Bore was no child. 

"I don't care at this point, I'm going to try and hit it."

His steps took over the sound of the creature's own steps. A huff and a yell escaped the invisible man, but a deep bark overtook his sounds before two meaty paws pushed into his chest and shook him off balance. The two would thud together, and the large paws seemed to thin out and elongate as the two were on the ground. Bore reached one hand out to grab one paw, feeling lithe fingers covered in small cuts. The person's hand smaller than his in size.

"What..."

"You attack blindly? You could've killed me," the woman's voice spoke from above him.

Eadward and Brune hurried over to the noise, barely hearing the woman's voice. There was no way. It was her.

"Hilke... It was you?"

The two standing looked to be in black and white for the elf, her vision picking them up enough to recognize who was who. She'd go to sit up, not caring if she was still on top of the musclehead below her. They couldn't see, but her exposed skin was covered in cuts, a distorted bit also marking her face. 

"Yes. And about to be dead from this person here instead of the dragon that was hunting me."

"Talk later. We need to retreat to camp first." Brune would reach forward in the dark, offering his hand and hoping Hilke would take it. Once her hand was wrapped around his forearm, he'd help pull her up onto her feet. Bore would also get up behind her. "Did you... get any food while out hunting?"

"A rabbit and some weird lizard thing. We will find out later if the lizard is edible." Hilke replied while walking forward for them to follow her. 

And so they followed, hoping nothing else would target them on the journey back to the group.