Wolves may not be the best way to describe the beasts that attacked the large group of Defias Survivors. Their fur varied from dark gray to even black, allowing them to blend in with the bleak woods of Duskwood. Yet, unlike wolfs, they wore clothes, plain tunics and trousers. They ran on all fours but bought on two paws as if they were feet. They made use of their sharp claws, deadly teeth, and brute force to overwhelm many of the Defias Survivors in the first attack. The ambush was enough to distract them from their original target, but they still fired. Filash pulled Mitaga down to take cover under the cart, avoiding the crossbow bolts which slammed against their cover while slaying the horse.

Filash recalled a grizzled hunter who told the tale of one hunt while he was in Silverpine Forest. He made a risky venture into Horde territory to bring back the nostalgia of hunting in his former kingdom. Yet, he encountered wolf men, just like these, who slaughtered the rest of his party. He fled, but was relentlessly pursued by his hunters until they choose to target a Forsaken patrol. The hunter called the wild beasts worgen, and that if a hunter encountered one, they were in for a fight between hunter and hunter.

This fight was more of hunter against hunter against hunter, making it even more deadly.

"What are those creatures?" Mitaga asked with a panicked tone, reaching into her backpack for a device.

"Worgen?" Filash answered with a cracked voice. "You have any inventions you can use?"

"I do," Mitaga pulled out the net gun she used earlier in the day. "I can only use this two more times, but-"

"Stay under the cart and keep yourself safe," Filash told her. "I'm going out there."

"Are you kidding?" Mitaga asked, immediately worried. "You'll be torn apart!"

"Not while they were busy with the Defias Survivors," Filash calmly tried to tell her, even though he was not so sure himself. "I'll make it out in one piece."

Not giving any time for Mitaga to tell him otherwise, Filash crawled out from under the wagon and towards the fallen horses. Their corpses would make for decent enough cover in the middle of a battlefield. All around him, the worgen and Defias Survivors fought each other furiously. After recovering from the attack, the men were able to handle the wild savages well enough, even though a few fell in the initial assault. Victor, flanked by his two lieutenants, unleashed sickly green bolts upon the worgen, which tore apart their fur and left them in agony. The gnome did not need to be a mage to understand that they were dealing with someone who dabbled in dark magic.

Among the chaos of the open war, Filash took note of four Defias Survivors disengaging from the worgen. They moved towards the center of the battlefield, having a new target in mind. Seltheas stood over the bodies of two fallen attackers, his sword dripping with their crimson blood. He turned in time to block the incoming club, and with a pivot of his wrist, ended his life by slashing his blade across his chest. The gnome was amazed by his swordsmanship, recognizing the reaction time and skill behind his fighting. While the night elf defended himself from the remaining three, the hunter took a quick glance around the battlefield, looking for a specific dwarf.

There was no sign of Olg in the battle.

Filash took a deep breath in, knowing that he had the battle to worry about. Olg was old and weak, but cunning and a survivalist. He was alive, just out of sight. The gnome thought it would be best to deal with the worgen instead of the syndicate. For some reason, he found himself unable to shoot down a sentient being aside from maiming shots, and that would just lure them over to his location. The worgen on the other hand, were not as intelligent, meaning that he had a fighting chance.

Filash opted out of using the scope, deciding that he did not need to use the long range function of his new rifle. Taking aim, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet flew out, striking a lunging worgen in the neck. The hunter instinctively prepared to reload it, but remembered that it was upgraded, and had five more bullets. He smirked at the thought, and started to fire upon the worgen once more, each bullet nailing a target. While the gnome reloaded his rifle, three of the wolf-like creatures started to charge towards his location. Filash hurried, but each bullet had to be loaded in separately. Mitaga managed to dispatch one with a net, sending it crashing to the ground, but the other two continued onwards.

A loud boom was heard with one of the worgen falling forward, blood leaking from his corpse. The remaining worgen, the lone wolf, jumped on top of the horse Filash used as hunter, sending the gnome falling back. Before the beast could strike, Olg tackled it from his flank, both of them falling down from the horse and onto the ground. They wrestled for a moment while the gnomes finished reloading their weapon, before the dwarf finally ended the contest of strengths by stabbing the beast repeatedly with his knife. The mentor joined the duo quickly, reloading his flintlock pistol.

"Good te see ye three safe," Olg told him. "We need te head south while Victor an' his band are distracted."

"Great thinking!" Filash complimented. "I think the two of us may be able to shoot our way out of the battle."

"What about Seltheas?" Mitaga asked, pointing towards the elven warrior while he fought against two Defias Survivors.

"Every lad fer himself," Olg grimly told her. "That, an', after threatenin' us, I feel like this is what he had comin'."

"Filash, do something to convince him!" Mitaga turned to her friend with her demand.

Hesitantly, Filash took one final glance towards the battle Seltheas fought. He had finished off most of his attackers and faced against a single, outmatched warrior. Despite their first meeting, the gnome knew that they were going to need his help. He was skilled enough of a warrior to protect them from the Defias Survivors, who would be right on their tail. Convincing Olg was going to be a problem, with his mentor being stubborn like most of his people were. He hated the idea he had in mind, but it was the only way he would be able to convince him.

"Sorry, but Olg's too stubborn," Filash sighed, then turned towards Seltheas. "We're leaving!"

Although he was faced away from Olg, Filash swore he heard Olg facepalming.

Seltheas did not show any acknowledgement to the call, but with one swift motion, cut down the remaining survivor. He turned south and started to take off, with the trio taking off after him. Filash provided covering fire for the group, shooting down three worgen while Seltheas cut down another two Defias Survivors that tried to intercept their path. Freedom and safety was within reach, but a shout coming back from the battlefield caught their attention. The gnome and his mentor turned, seeing the lieutenant with his face shown chasing after them, scowling at the dwarf in particular.

"I'm taking back my knife!" the man declared.

"Nay yer not," Olg shrugged.

Without hesitation, Olg took aim at the man with his flintlock pistol, and pulled the trigger. The bullet slammed into his upper chest, sending him collapsing down to the ground. Unlike Victor, he was not immune to such an attack, and remained unmoving in a pool of his own blood. Olg spat on the ground, and ran off. Filash took one glance towards the fallen Defias Survivor, and chased after his mentor. The gnome was unsure of what to think of the elderly dwarf's reactions, or what to make of the Defias Survivors. The group would be having a long conversation with each other, which would hopefully give them answers.

A/N: Duskwood is now behind the hunters. A long expedition through Stranglethorn is their final hurdle to get through in order to get to Booty Bay.

Until next time.