The forest air was thick with smoke and blood. The cries of the dying mixed with the flicker of flame, casting shadows that danced across the trees.
"How... how could there be so many?" Elena whispered, her voice trembling.
She stared in horror at the scene before her — her friend Liana's lifeless form sprawled in the dirt, her robes stained red. Gareth writhed in agony within the tangle of ropes, goblins surrounding him like vultures closing in on a carcass.
Her legs buckled, and she sank to her knees. The weight of despair pressed down on her chest.
The goblins noticed her. They turned, their twisted grins widening as they began to approach, blades glinting in the firelight.
Is this how I die? Elena thought, paralyzed.
No...
A flash of steel — a broad-bladed sword cleaved through a goblin's chest, spilling dark blood across the ground.
"Run!" Derrick bellowed. His voice was raw with desperation. "Get out of here!"
Elena hesitated. If she fled, Derrick would be overwhelmed. But if she stayed...
"Go!" Derrick shouted again, his axe rising and falling as he carved through the encroaching horde.
"I... I'm sorry," Elena whispered and turned to run.
She stumbled through the trees, her breath ragged. But the goblins were fast — too fast. A pair of them closed in, knocking her to the ground.
She screamed as sharp claws tore at her robes, cold hands grasping her wrists.
This is it... she thought bitterly. My punishment for running...
The goblin's jagged nails dug into her skin as it reached for her chest —
FWOOOSH!
A blazing arrow streaked from the shadows, slamming into the goblin's side. The creature shrieked and staggered back, smoke rising from its charred flesh.
"Begone, foul things!" Amy's voice rang out, clear and fierce. Her hand stretched toward the sky, summoning another flaming arrow.
Moments later, Morris charged in, his blade cutting down the goblin that had pinned Elena. Blood sprayed across his armor as he turned to her.
"Are you hurt?" Morris asked gruffly.
"I... I..." Elena stammered, her face pale. "They're still inside... my friends... they're still—"
"We'll handle it," Morris said firmly.
Amy knelt beside her, wrapping a cloak over Elena's trembling shoulders. "You're safe now," she said softly. "We'll end this."
From the clearing came Fiona's voice, cold and filled with fury.
"Burn them," she snarled. "B