Finding a safe place to place Matt out of the fray, she climbs a tree close to the fighting, takes aim, and downs three men rushing Trent before she's spotted.

Twisting to see where the arrows came from, he looks up and scowls."I told you to get out here!" Trent snaps, rushing to block another group from moving in on Valery.

"I already called for backup! I told you we would look after the group together, which means all of us! We don't leave our own behind!" Valery snaps back, yanking her sword out.

She locks her sword with the first approaching Devil's Own, shoving him backward into another.

Gavin's war cry echoes through the trees, causing a momentary halt in the battle as he swings off a vine, landing on the closest unfortunate victim. Alan and Kalina all race towards them, ready to help. Valery takes advantage of the momentum, switching to her sword. She leaps on top of the Devil's Own closest to her.

A harsh cry ripples the air as she runs the woman through.. Everyone enters the fray, blades clashing, blood splattering. It was a song and dance they knew so well. Kalina and Valery leaped and flipped off of each other, blocking any attacks from their foes. The others took notice and followed suit, rolling and leaping off the trees, using the environment to their advantage. The Devil's Own fought, trying to overwhelm them with numbers, but the versatile Guardians kept them confused and disarrayed, crashing and getting in each other's way.

"Stay away from the mushrooms!" Valery shouts over the ring of their blades.

Kalina takes a brief glance at them, the side of her foot nearly in the patch. She nods and grabs the closest Devil's Own not looking, tossing him into an instantaneous cold sleep.

"You weren't kidding. Hold your breath," Kalina hisses as four more Devil's Own make their way towards them.

Valery hops up into another tree, climbing out of her way. Kalina steps back as she looks at the mushrooms, and they start to wiggle, loosening their spores. The four men approaching them drop, sound asleep, as do the two they are fighting against. Valery shoots them all in the neck, giving them a peaceful death.

"I LOVE what I can do... Shame those mushrooms aren't edible though. I am a wee bit peckish," Kalina mutters, grinning as she rushes to help the others.

They quickly dispatch the rest of them. Valery pulls Matt aside, trying to heal his lungs. The sounds of shouting and animalistic roars in the distance tell them it isn't the last of them. Everyone else covers them, covered in blood, dirt, and cuts, but none mortally wounded.

"Stand your ground," Trent orders. "More are on their way."

The forest air picks up around them, brushing across their shoulders and making their hair dance as it moves past the plantation.

"Matty, come on," Valery hisses, patting his cheek. "We need you."

"Valery, get back!" Trent snaps, the wind growing stronger. It pushes its way across the ground, swaying its way through the trees. "This group is even larger."

The spores from the mushrooms take flight, teased into the air by the wind. Trent sends them on their way, downwind. "Looks like we're clearing this place out, wanting to or not," Angela comments, her voice carrying a sour tone.

Trent nods in agreement.

"Brace yourself." He warns as he braces himself against the trunk of a sturdy tree. The others copy. Valery and Gavin dive onto the ground, protected by a berry bush Trent closes his eyes, scrunching his face as he pleads to the wind, trying to get it to grow even more.

The wind pounds in their ears as it beats its way through. Trees bend and flex, trying to stay standing in the gale. Dirt and branches dance down towards the plantation, swept up and carried away. The white particles disappear from the wind, the mushroom patch blown dry. In the distance, a tree cracks. Screams fill the air, their voices tight and sharp, their fear obvious. It crashes down into the earth, the thunder then the wind roaring around them.

Forehead beading with sweat, head aching from concentrating, Trent steadily encourages the wind to grow. The Devil's Own struggle to stay on their feet, holding onto tree limbs, knobs or roots to avoid being blown away. The ones unable to find something to grasp on, or lose their grip find themselves being tossed into the road down below, or smashing into the plantation and its fence, nothing but a splattered tomato. A bush, ripped up by its roots, careens past the Guardians, tumbling into the confusion downwind.

Trent staggers.

"ENOUGH!" Valery screams, trying to be heard over the gale. She rises from her spot, the wind feeling like it was going to twist her apart. She staggers under the force. "Trent, let it go!"

"You've dropped enough, we can fight!" Angela shouts, her sword stabbed into the earth to keep herself from flying.

Trent slumps and the wind dies. The quiet stillness takes a moment for them all to adjust to, shaking their heads and rubbing their ears. "Trent!" Valery shrieks, taking a wide step in his direction.

"No, stay back! Find a place to hide and get that lazy bag of bones off the ground," he orders, pointing at Matt.

She pauses before her second step can be completed, eyeing him up. Debating if she should listen. "We don't have time to hesitate, Val. It's more than you and me! Please!" Trent shouts, forcing himself to stand. Rustling sounds from the forest as the Devil's Own begin their approach.

"Trent," She murmurs, her eyes glued to him.

He straightens up and wipes the sweat from his forehead. He shakes his head and props himself back against the tree. Trent shakes off the fatigue, taking up his sword. Reassured, Valery grabs Matt under the arms and drags him towards her hiding place. Her eyes lit up as she realized what he was planning. She smiled. He's told me about this so many times... Now I get to help light the fire. Fuck yes!

The Devil's Own approach with one testing step after the other. Their eyes are wide; faces, clothes, and hair are plastered with dirt and debris. Valery smirks.

If they're spooked at something like that, they'll shit their pants after this.

One step at a time they make their way close to where the Guardians lay in waiting. Valery and Gavin stand, exposing themselves. A Devil's Own towards the front of the group, grease stains on his white t-shirt, is the first to notice them. Gavin gives him a friendly wave before shooting him in the heart. The rest see this in shock and then fly into an animalistic rage.

. They take quick purposeful strides in their direction, swords raised in warning. They march past Trent and Angela, who fall in around them.

Unaware that they're surrounded, the onslaught begins. Arrows fire left and right, piercing them from all sides. Trent, Kalina, and Angela make their way through the confused ranks. Throats are slit. Arms are chopped. The Devil's Own shriek and are torn apart faster than they can see what's happening.

With their numbers dropping from the front and back of the patrol, the rest hesitate, unsure where to focus on their attack. By the time they're even aware of it, they're down to an unlucky seven, surrounded by the Guardians. As the others clash with the remaining remnants, Valery's eyes twitch toward Matt. He groans, the fingers on his right hand twitching. Valery gasps, lowering her bow.

She moves her hands rapidly, signaling to Gavin for cover fire. He nods, moving to a better position. Valery hunches over, taking long strides as she makes her way quietly over to Matt. Her eyes widened, sliding down to dodge a wild slash from one Devil's Own that broke free of the death circle they'd laid out. His eyes are wild, full of despair. Valery's sword flails up to stop the incoming attack when an arrow pierces his eye. Twisting to look at Gavin, he gives a cocky grin, nodding. Show off.

She finally reaches sleeping beauty. "Matty," she whispers, tapping his cheek. Matt groans again, his head rolling. 

"Can you hear me?" She asks quietly, placing her fingers against his throat. She tries to check for damage, sensing his lungs. Matt groans in response, licking his lips. "...Busdriver..." is all he can muster to say. His eyelids flicker as he tries to open them and fails.

"Thank the Angels," Valery sighs. "How do you feel?"

"Like I was slapped in the face. What in hell happened?" The clashing around them grows longer as the remaining few Devil's Own give into their anger, their desperation.

"Sorry about the slap. I was panicking cause you weren't... breathing for a few seconds. Thanks for being the human mushroom shield though, you did great!" She teases, a light smile forming.

There's a soft Wilhelm scream as another life leaves a body. Valery looks back to see a Devil's Own drown in his own blood, a horrible gash in his mouth. Matt groans once more, forcing his eyes open to look at her.

"What are you talking about, woman? Y'all always leave me out of the fun..." he complains, shifting like he's trying to go back to sleep. Her smile grows.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. We'll get you to camp soon."

Another lifeless body hits the forest floor before Alan notices them and jogs in their direction.

"I'll help you back," Alan offers, crouching beside them.

He wipes blood off his shirt, leaving a giant stain.

"Help! Someone, please-" The last standing Devil's Own cries, his voice cut off as Trent sends him flying with a wicked uppercut. His teeth shatter as he goes flying. Ignoring the mangled cries, Angela approaches him and runs him clean through with her sword. Alan helps Matt to his feet.

"Wait, we're good! We're good! I'm coming, too," Kalina calls, rushing over. She cringes at the mushy feeling under her boots. It was most likely bits of that last foe's brain. "Ugh, I just bought these too...."

She throws Matt's left arm over her shoulders and the two escort Matt towards camp. Trent looks around, the double battle has taken its toll on everyone. He looks at the long shadows on the ground and sighs.

"Whoo! Worked up a sweat there! Good job team! We'll have to come back eventually," he decides, taking a rag out of his pocket to wipe his own blade down. "Alright, I can't deny it. Good shit, Val. I take back what I said, those arrows came in handy with the ambush. How'd you remember me talking about that plan, anyway?"

"Cause' you talked about it like a billion times..." Valery responds, plucking her missed arrow out of the ground.

"Good point... Still came out way more badass than I was imagining it," Trent says, rubbing his chin as he tries to play out different versions in his head. He shakes his head, snapping out of the trance.

Trent heaves a heavy sigh as he slides his blade back into its sheath. "Come on, we need to get out of here. Pack up and head home. We've caused too much trouble out here for it to be safe for us to work. We don't need anyone else getting captured."

Valery nods. She runs to retrieve her dropped bow. Trent and Valery pick up the rear of the group as they make their way back to camp. To tear down the camp that they just set up.