Pins and needles filled his legs but Azael kept pressing forward against the current. He was grateful the river wasn't still swollen with melted snow like it was in early spring. It was late enough that only rains would flood the river now, and he knew the water would grow shallower as they pushed further inland.

    But unfortunately the storm from before had caused the water levels to rise enough that areas of the river were deeper than they should've been. Water lapped at his shoulders already and Azael shot a quick glance at Tissaia.

    She was breathing hard, her head craned back in an effort to keep her chin out of the water. He pushed over to her, gripping his weapons with one hand and stuck the other around her waist, lifting her slightly. Tissaia didn't protest or try to pull away. Her sapphire gaze slid to him, shining with a sliver of gratitude.

    "We've almost gone far enough," he assured her. "As soon as the water levels dip down, we'll get back on the ground."

    Tissaia managed a quick jerk of her chin, her teeth clattering together too hard to talk through. Azael peered up ahead where several massive boulders broke through the surface of the water. They appeared dry enough on top that they could climb onto them without fear of slipping off.

    That was where they would get out, he determined. From there, they'd have to hurry back towards the hidden village and hopefully regroup with Talarion and Kaius with enough time to change into dry clothes before they set out. The last thing they needed was for one of them to get sick from the cold.

    Tissaia had openly begun to pant by the time they reached the boulders and her whole body was shivering as he steered her towards them. Azael tossed his weapons on top of one of the rocks, then took hers and did the same.

    "Can you climb up?" He asked. Tissaia faced the boulder and swam closer. She hooked her hands in the cragged surface and attempted to heave herself up. Her arms trembled as water poured from her body.

    Azael joined her and hooked his shoulder beneath her thigh, wrapping his hands around her knee to help lift her leg as she managed to push herself a little higher. She braced herself against him and pulled her other leg out of the water, wedging her foot into another crevice. Her weight vanished while she hauled herself onto the rock and rolled onto her back, gasping for breath.

    Azael dragged himself out behind her and spared a few minutes to regain his breath as well, then grabbed his weapons and buckled the belt to his hips. He pushed Tissaia's over to her while she sat up. Once she was ready, he stood and helped her to her feet, not giving her a chance to refuse this time.

    He let go as soon as she was steady and began easing his way down the boulder to where it was broken from the bank. There was only a small gap between the two surfaces, at least two feet in width. Azael cleared the leap with ease, then turned to wait for Tissaia. Her legs were trembling with weariness, but to her credit, she didn't hesitate and flung herself across the gap.

    She landed with only a slight waver, and straightened before he could reach out to steady her. Rather than risking her anger by asking if she was all right, Azael set off back into the trees and she stumbled after him. They'd only been walking for ten minutes when hoofbeats sounded up ahead.

    Amber power fizzled around his hands as he slammed shields into place around himself and Tissaia, and drew his sword. Tissaia raised her bow, an arrow already primed, but before she could loose it, two familiar figures broke through the trees, leading extra horses behind their own.

    Tissaia sighed in relief and lowered her bow as Talarion dismounted and hurried over to her. "Are you all right?" He asked. "We followed your scents and found the Humans."

    "We're fine," Azael answered. "They were like that when we got there." His gaze flickered to Kaius. "Is he all right?" He asked in a lower tone.

    "Better than he was," Talarion answered. "We've got everything you both left behind. Let's go."

    Azael nodded and moved over to his mount. Sure enough, his satchel and travel pack were fastened to the saddlebags and Orilight's sheath hung near the stallion's shoulder. He spared a moment to secure the blade at his hips, then lifted himself into the saddle.

    Tissaia was heading towards her mare, but paused beside Kaius for a moment. Azael swallowed as she rested a hand on the male's knee, saying something he couldn't make out, before she reached her horse and mounted. She set off and Kaius trailed behind her, but Talarion lingered. Azael shot the male a questioning look.

    Talarion drew a deep breath, his head slowly turning from side to side. Apprehension prickled down Azael's spine as he too looked around. Nothing moved within the trees, but it was as though he could feel watchful eyes burning against his skin. Tissaia and Kaius had halted up ahead and a sharp whinny drew Azael's gaze to them.

    The female's mare tossed her head, the whites of her eyes showing as her nostrils flared. Tissaia was trying to soothe her to no avail. Kaius reined his mount next to hers and said something, to which she shook her head. The male's lips thinned, his frustration evident.

    Azael might've smiled at the fact that he wasn't the only one who struggled with Tissaia's attitude, if his own mount hadn't suddenly begun stamping a hoof and pinning his ears back. They weren't alone, and the horses knew it.

    "Shit," he hissed under his breath. "You're telling me I froze my balls off for nothing?"

    Talarion let out a faint snort. "I'd love to hear you say something like that in front of your father and the counselors sometime."

    "Assuming we survive this, I'd be glad to oblige you."

    The shadows peeled back and five figures bolted from the trees, three animals and two Fae. Azael drew Raxys and braced himself as a brown Wolf almost bigger than his horse bore down on him, no a trace of humanity left within its garnet gaze. Not just a Shifter or a Blood Fae, he realized.

    This Fae had chosen to relinquish themselves to their animal half. They were nothing but a raging beast, unable to Shift or reclaim themselves. Whoever they once were was dead now. And he soon would be too if this creature had its way. Azael bared his teeth in a snarl that matched the Wolf's and magic sparked around him, ready to be wielded.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Vicious snarls and roars shook the air that had been silent and still only moments before. Tissaia was already firing arrows at the Blood Fae that launched themselves at Azael and Talarion. The two males were making good use of their magic and blades, tearing out chunks of the creatures' flesh with every strike.

    Kaius remained at her side, but his magic lashed around him in crimson waves and he speared it into the Fae that lunged at them. Tissaia let out a startled cry as something latched onto her leg and her mare reared up. She tumbled out of the saddle but managed to roll before the Blood Fae could get on top of her.

    Tissaia slung her bow across her shoulder and took her sword into her free hand, a shield blazing to life on her forearm. The raging male threw himself at her again, his bloodied fingers clawing against her shield while he bared fanged canines in her face. Tissaia gritted her teeth and thrust her sword towards his ribs, but he leaped back, avoiding the attack.

    A horse's shriek caught her attention the next instant and Tissaia's mouth fell open, spying her mare as she was tackled to the ground by a golden lion. Muscles rippled beneath its shining pelt, but its beauty was lost on her as she watched cruel talons rip into the mare's flanks and slice her throat open, silencing her frightened shrieks.

    Tissaia yanked her gaze away just as her opponent renewed his attack. She rolled beneath his flailing arms and lashed her sword towards his middle. The male gave a holler as blood spilled from the wound and his feral gaze locked on hers. Tissaia took a step back.

    She threw herself to the side, dodging his next attack, but the male was quick to retaliate. Before she could move again, jagged fingernails dug into her arms, piercing the skin. Tissaia gave a sharp cry, then wicked fangs tore into her. Her cry shifted to a scream and on instinct, she ripped her arm towards herself.

    Flesh sliced open and fiery pain flooded her veins, but she ignored it as she thrust her sword at the male once more. He had time to lock eyes with her before her blade plunged straight through his throat and sliced out the other side of his neck. His body crumpled, blood still pouring from the wound.

    Tissaia glanced at her arm with a wince. A sticky warmth was oozing from it, but there was no time to try to heal herself now. She spun on her heel, eyes frantically searching for any sign of her brother and the other males. She spied Talarion nearby, still seated on his horse but hanging from the saddle haphazardly as his blades flashed through the body of the other Fae.

    A furious snarl came from behind her and Tissaia cried out as she was knocked to the ground, breath fleeing from her lungs. Teeth snapped next to her face and she found herself staring at a Wolf's muzzle. Before the creature could strike, a heavy weight barreled into it and flung it off of her. Tissaia shot to her feet in time to see Azael thrust his sword into the Wolf's gut, just as it clamped its teeth into his shoulder.

    It gave a vicious shake of its head and Azael cried out as he was dragged with the movement. She could hear flesh tearing and something cracked as the beast slammed him onto the ground. Its massive claws sliced into his chest and one side of his waist, and she heard the cruel cough as his breath was knocked out. Azael gasped for air but wedged his arm between his throat and the Wolf's jaws, catching the bite that was meant to end his life.

    Tissaia nocked an arrow and let it fly, catching the creature in the shoulder. Its weight buckled onto Azael, but he pried his arm loose and splayed his palm against the Wolf's forehead, amber light flaring from his skin. The Wolf's face exploded with a spray of blood and gray tissue that splattered across her chest. Tissaia ignored it as she grabbed Azael beneath his arms and hauled him out from beneath the Wolf's body.

    "Why the fuck would you tackle it!" She hollered, giving him a hard shake as he retched down air. "Are you trying to get yourself killed! Why bother trying to protect me if I just have to fix you up afterwards?" Azael let out a weak laugh, but it was interrupted by another hoarse cry from nearby.